by Jennifer Philion
While many Plymouth State alumni embrace the idea of sustainable living, Craig Cadieux ’83 and Heather Huckins ’87 are constantly seeking ways to turn that idea into reality in their own home.
Heather, Aime, and Craig show off “CHET,” the truck Craig converted to completely electric power. Visible in the back are their solar greenhouse, chicken coop, and sun shower.
“I’m willing to experiment,” Craig says. “If something doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But if it does, great!” Projects at the couple’s home in Bridgewater, NH, have included installing a wood pellet boiler and a solar hot water system. “In the next two years I’d like to work on a bigger solar hot water system, using metal roofing material with piping integrated,” he says. Other projects include converting a three-season greenhouse for year-round use, and running their chicken coop—home to six chickens—entirely on solar energy.
Craig’s line of work gives him plenty of ideas to bring home: as the energy solutions manager for the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI), he conducts energy audits and educates people about reducing energy use and finding alternative sources. “I joined the organization as a member five years ago, and I’ve worked there full-time for about a year and a half,” he says.
He credits a solar energy class he took at Plymouth State with getting him interested in renewable energy. “It really opened my eyes,” he said. “The sun is an incredible energy source. Why aren’t we using it?”
A Conservation Mindset
Heather, who is the manager of Purchasing and Contract Services at PSU, calls Craig “the major engineer” who takes on the household’s big projects. “I do a lot of the little things,” she says. “Composting, recycling, buying in bulk, washing and reusing instead of throwing something away. I’ve always had a conservation mindset; I’m not a big consumer.”
Ongoing projects the couple shares include their organic garden, along with changing the landscaping of their 3 1/2-acre property. “It’s a great experience to grow your own food,” Heather says. They get leaves brought in every year to make compost, and their chickens wander the garden, controlling insects and providing natural fertilizer. “We got rid of a lot of the grass lawn, and we’ll bring in more fruit trees,” Craig says. “We’re working to create an ‘edible landscape,’ both for wildlife and for our own consumption.”
CHET
In 2008 as gas prices where rocketing towards $4.00 a gallon, Craig and Heather decided to recycle a 1998 Chevy S-10 by converting it to run completely on electric power. By removing the engine, gas tank, exhaust system, radiator, and other internal combustion components, Craig installed a 26 hp electric motor and a bank of 18 – 8 volt batteries and created CHET: Craig and Heather’s Electric Truck. The truck plugs into a normal household outlet and within 10 to 12 hours the truck is ready to travel up to 40 miles at normal road speeds.
Top photograph: Heather, Aime, and Craig show off “CHET,” the truck Craig converted to completely electric power. Visible in the back are their solar greenhouse, chicken coop, and sun shower.
Tags: CHET Craig Cadieux Heather Huckins PAREI sustainability
