Member Spotlight

Paul Braren

Sustainability Consultant, TinkerTry.com, LLC

Paul currently has 21,000 YouTube subscribers for his 700 videos on PCs, EVs, home tech, efficiency and more. Check it out if you have a moment!

jeremy latriano

“Upon becoming a member, I quickly connected with others on a similar sustainability journey. It’s inspiring!.”

Tell us about your work.

I’ve spent over 30 years in IT, traveling globally to help companies maximize their technology investments. Since 2011, I’ve published more than 1,100 technical articles and produced over 700 videos on my website, where I thoroughly enjoy sharing my expertise with others. I’m also a frequent podcast guest and public speaker. As a lifelong early adopter, I’m driven to share hard-won lessons learned, practical tips, and honest assessments of what actually works. I also offer consulting for those navigating home automation projects and the broader shift toward a more sustainable, comfortable, and energy-efficient lifestyle.

What’s your role in sustainability?

I enjoy studying the technology driving the energy transition unfolding all around us. My optimism for a brighter future grows as I experience firsthand what all-electric living is really like. The technology enabling this shift has all the makings of a better, healthier life, both indoors and out. I hope to have a meaningful, positive impact through the technical content I create about sustainability, including solar, battery storage systems, EVs, Virtual Power Plants, and heat pumps.

What’s your Why?

Upon becoming a member, I quickly connected with others on a similar sustainability journey. It’s inspiring! I love learning from their firsthand experiences and the challenges they’ve overcome. Those stories have been invaluable, and the spotlight tours have been especially motivating, seeing what once seemed improbable become possible right here in Connecticut.

Tell us about a project you are proud of. 

Back in 2022, my wife and I, empty nesters at the time, set out to find our forever home. Already impressed with the savings from our heat pump water heater and two EVs, we had a clear vision: complete energy independence with no fossil fuels. We found a suitable home nearby and renovated it to be all-electric for heating, cooling, ventilation, and transportation. I’m happy to say that by 2024, we reached our net-zero energy expense goals and learned a whole lot in the process.
screen shot

What motivates you?

I really enjoy listening to the stories from people I meet who are at various places in their journey toward renewable energy. Sharing what I’ve learned to help make their journey a little easier, then hearing their excitement build as they get closer to their goals, that’s what really makes my day.

What are your hobbies? 

I’ve been working with computers and electronics since my teenage years, but my most recent passion is using a variety of AI models in both my personal and professional life. My home can always use improvements, and I’ve tackled tough technical challenges like optimizing energy savings and automating comfort controls with AI’s assistance, producing results far more capable than what any consumer product currently offers. There’s a lot of joy in developing innovative solutions that have a direct, positive impact on our everyday living.
latriano snow boarding

Fun Fact:

I get outdoors as much as I can. Running up stairs, bell towers, steep roads, and mountains has always been my thing. Living in Ithaca, New York for a few years probably had something to do with that (the gorges and hills don’t give you much choice!). Ithaca also left a lasting impression on me as a place with one of the most ambitious municipal climate targets in the country: community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030!