Courtesy Ian Douglas

“See, it’s like sticks of butter,” says Kristin Harris, describing the modular blocks that make up her home in Vineyard Haven. When Kristin and her husband, Ian Douglas, made the decision to move to the Island full time, they chose modular construction after discovering its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits compared to traditional stick-built homes. Read more about the Douglas family’s sustainable, net-zero home here. 

Paid Advertisement 

Quick Links

Skip scrolling! Here's what you'll find in this edition of the Bluedot Newsletter:

• On The Road To A Sustainable Home

• Buy Better: Cozy Comforts for Chilly Days and Nights

• Dear Dot: Should I Turn Down My Water Heater?

• Recipes for Herby Bean Dip and Caramelized Onion Dip

Paid Advertisement with Rooted Insight

Rooted Insight’s personal identity workshops guide you through a journey of self-discovery and growth, helping you align your strengths and values with conscious action. In our 1:1 sessions, you’ll gain clarity on how to live in harmony with your purpose and contribute to a sustainable future—for yourself, your community, and the planet.

On The Road To A Sustainable Home

You don’t need a modular, net-zero home in order to be a part of the clean energy transition (although it’s a step in the right direction). Local renewable energy cooperative Vineyard Power is helping homeowners with all sorts of projects geared toward reducing energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels. Starting with a no-cost home energy audit will establish a baseline for your home: How tight is the building envelope? Do appliances need to be updated to be more energy efficient? Is there an old gas- or oil-burning boiler that needs to be replaced with air source heat pumps? After the audit, Vineyard Power will make recommendations for ways to improve efficiency and lower utility bills.

Adding solar panels to your home is another powerful way to bring down energy costs and make your household more resilient. Vineyard Power is working with Island governments, nonprofits, and critical facilities to bolster resilience by tying rooftop solar into battery backup grids, so services won’t be interrupted in the case of an outage.

These choices can feel overwhelming but Bluedot Living and Vineyard Power have created a simple, easy-to-digest roadmap for anyone looking to take the first step: whether it’s receiving a home energy assessment, income-eligible energy coaching, or purchasing an electric vehicle. All of these resources are also available in Portuguese.

Sponsored

The MV Chamber turns 100!

2025 marks a century of supporting our island community. Celebrate with us as we roll out exciting new programming throughout the year. Don’t miss out—join today and be part of this milestone!

Try Climate Cafés, the Climate Psychology Alliance, Climate Awakening, Climate Psychiatry Alliance, the Work That Reconnects Network, Climate Critical Earth (focusing largely on support for BIPOC), and the Good Grief Network, which operates something like a 12-step group.

Paid Advertisement with Monday

Picture a world where workflows are finely tuned, automated to perfection, and seamlessly integrated with your favorite apps. It's not just a platform; it's a revelation—a space where managers gain unparalleled visibility into team processes, ensuring each project is a resounding success. Step into the future of work management with monday.com, where efficiency isn't a goal; it's a given.
From startups to industry giants, monday.com has transformed how teams work. Why not let your team be the next success story? Start your free trial today

Thanks to organizations like ReFED, consumers are much more cognizant of food waste. In 2025, a number of factors are playing into reducing food waste: high food prices, rising prevalence of GLP-1 medications that shift peoples’ eating habits, and better policy and data collection related to food waste hotspots. Stay informed with this year’s ReFED Food Waste Forecast, and read the most recent updates on Martha’s Vineyard that could determine the status of commercial and at-home composting for decades to come. Also, check out our feature story on ReFED’s founders (and Vineyard residents) Betsy and Jesse Fink. 

Buy Better Marketplace:

Cozy Comforts for Chilly Days and Night

If you purchase anything via one of our links, including from Amazon, we may earn a small commission.

Books, Books, and More Books

What’s a cozy day at home without a good book? You can find almost any volume at a great price on ThriftBooks. The site lists books by condition, with many in perfect shape, and offers a number of rare books and first editions that can be fun to browse.

Shop today or read our review.

The Perfect Puzzles

Puzzlers be warned: British-made Wentworth puzzles may become your next obsession. Fortunately, your family will be able to enjoy these puzzles for generations. There’s just nothing else like the feel of putting together the laser-cut wooden pieces, including the themed “whimsy” pieces that really add to the fun. Shop today or read our review.

Warming Teas

Oregon-based Mountain Rose Herbs prioritizes sustainability and ethical sourcing in the selection of its wonderful teas and tea blends. The brand offers loose-leaf and bagged teas as well as quality tea-making tools, including steeping implements and a handy tea bag squeezer (no more burned fingertips or ripped tea bags!). Shop today or read our review.

Paid Advertisement with Money Pet

Veterinarians nationwide reported that corporate managers pushed clinics to focus on profit, with vets often paid based on revenue. This encouraged them to see more pets, order more tests, and upsell services, creating a growing burden for uninsured pet owners. Pet insurance could help you offset some of these rising costs, with some providing up to 90% reimbursement. View Money’s top pet insurance picks to see plans starting at only $10/month.

DEAR DOT: Should I Turn Down My Water Heater?

– Illustration by Elissa Turnbull

Dear Dot,

What should I do with the temperature on my water heater when I leave for a week’s vacation?

–Wayne, West Tisbury

Dear Wayne,

Your question raises something of a tempest in a water heater. On the one hand, heating water for our homes uses roughly ⅕ of the energy consumption of the average U.S. household. So we might as well take the opportunity, if we’re away from our homes for more than a long weekend, to reduce that consumption (and the subsequent bill) when it’s as simple as turning the temperature on our water heater down to 120°F or “vacation” mode if your model has it. Even my math-challenged brain knows that makes cents. 

You can also insulate an older tank and the pipes that carry the hot water to our faucets, which will further reduce energy consumption and cost. (And don’t forget to occasionally flush your hot water tank to improve its efficiency. Mr. Fix-It shows us how.)
 

Dot has more to say about water heaters and the role they play in reducing our carbon pollution. Read on.

See more Dot here. Got a question for her? Write her at deardot@bluedotliving.com

Herby Bean Dip

This simple, flavorful dip combines canned white beans, fresh herbs, lemon, and garlic for a quick and fresh snack that comes together in a matter of minutes. If you like it super herby, you can double the herbs. See the recipe here, and check out this other caramelized onion dip recipe here.

From The Field: Coexisting with Polar Bears

International Polar Bear Day is on February 27, around the time when pregnant polar bear moms retreat to their dens to birth and nurse their cubs. In one Manitoba town, you’re just as likely to see a polar bear on your trip to get groceries as you are your (human) neighbor.

The Keep-This Handbook

February break starts tomorrow, and if you’re looking for a delicious local meal, head to the West Tisbury Library for a free soup and bread lunch. The Ag Society’s winter fundraiser, the Meat Ball, is coming up on March 8, and Felix Neck’s final Climate Cafe is March 9. 

Looking for more sustainable resources? Consult Bluedot’s Ultimate Simple, Smart, Sustainable Handbook to Martha’s Vineyard.

Britt Bowker has been writing and editing for newspapers and magazines across New England, spending a lot of her time on MV.

Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for 20 years. Anywhere near the water is her favorite place to be.

Lucas Thors is a reporter and associate editor at Bluedot Living.  He lives on Martha's Vineyard with his English springer spaniel, Arlo, and enjoys writing about environmental initiatives in his community.

SIMPLE / SMART / SUSTAINABLE / STORIES

Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com

Unsubscribe from Bluedot Living – Martha's Vineyard | Unsubscribe from All Bluedot Living Newsletters

Bluedot, Inc., 2945 Townsgate Road, Ste 200, Westlake Village, CA 91361, United States