Column: Solar in Action

Don’t miss the National Solar Home Tour on Saturday, Oct. 4. It’s your chance to see the latest developments in solar technology, up close and personal in your own community. From 9 am to 5 pm, you can visit one of six tours organized by the Maine Solar Energy Association. Homeowners will welcome you into their homes, show off their systems and answer your questions.

In my last column, I discussed solar space heaters, solar hot water systems, and photovoltaic (electricity generating) systems. On the solar tour you’ll have the opportunity to see each of these in action, and learn first-hand how well these technologies work in Maine’s climate. Find out which could be right for you.

As a vendor at Common Ground Fair (speaking of which, kudos to the MOFGA staff and volunteers for a great event!), we had the privilege of talking with hundreds of people about ways to reduce their energy bills.

Two products generated the most excitement. The first was our sturdy Maine drying rack, made from extra thick birch dowels and white pine. Its unique design allows you to dry a full load of laundry — without using any electricity or gas. The second was the SolarSheat space heater. For less than $2,000, you can pump heat into your home or workspace with no fuel costs.

Dudley Greeley, the sustainability coordinator at the University of Southern Maine, dropped by our booth. He’s been helping friends and acquaintances install solar space heaters for years, so it was great to get his perspective. Like me, he’s a big proponent of the technology. On a sunny, crisp, cold winter day in Maine, he says it’s not uncommon for a solar space heater to raise the indoor temperature to 75˚.

Imagine coming home from work to a toasty warm space — with absolutely no guilt because it’s all thanks to FREE solar energy.

Our current financial crisis demonstrates the importance of making prudent investments. Solar space heaters represent one of the best investments available in a heating system. They are clean, safe and dependable. What better deal can you find than getting free heat on every sunny winter day for decades?

But don’t just take my word for it. Take the solar home tour and experience solar energy in action for yourself.

For more information, visit www.FWHorch.com/gogreen.

Fred Horch is the founder of F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies in Brunswick, providing practical products and trustworthy advice for sustainable living. Online at www.FWHorch.com.

Column: Let the Sun Shine In

Several readers have asked about solar space heaters, mentioned in my previous column (“Invest in Your House,” Sept. 4). With Maine’s solar home tour coming up on Saturday, Oct. 4, I thought this was a good time to cover solar energy, explaining solar space heaters along the way.

The sun is your most sustainable home heating option. Each acre of Maine receives solar energy equivalent to 163,648 gallons of #2 heating oil — every year. As Thomas Edison remarked, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!”

If you live in a conventional home, you waste virtually all of the free energy the sun sends. Your roof and walls reflect solar energy, and your insulation blocks it. Your windows lose more energy than they admit. From a solar energy perspective, you live in a cave.

If you live in a modern solar home, by contrast, you enjoy free energy every sunny day. Your southern windows let in winter sun (awnings block summer sun). You have few, if any, energy-losing northern windows. Inside your home, your flooring and masonry heat up all day and radiate warmth all night.

Beyond the basic design of your house, you have several options for collecting and using solar energy.

1. A solar space heater, a metal box similar in appearance to a large sky light on a wall or roof, heats and circulates air from inside when your building calls for heat.
2. A solar hot water system heats and circulates a liquid (usually anti-freeze) to heat a water tank. Today’s systems can reliably keep water at 120˚, suitable for domestic uses such as showers but not suitable for baseboard space heating, which requires 180-degree water.
3. Photovoltaic systems use solar panels to convert sunlight into electric power, which can be stored in batteries or shared with the grid.

Most people will find that a self-contained solar space heater, requiring no plumbing or electrical connections, is the most economical way to add solar heat to their homes.

Maine’s solar home tour in October is a great opportunity to visit Mainers who are harnessing the sun’s energy to heat and power their homes. You can learn more about the systems I’ve described and see them in action. For more information, visit www.FWHorch.com/gogreen.

Fred Horch is the founder of F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies in Brunswick, providing practical products and trustworthy advice for sustainable living. Online at www.FWHorch.com

Weatherizing - September's Sustainable Living Tip

"Weatherizing" your home by sealing air leaks and adding insulation to ceilings, walls and floors is likely the most effective way you can protect both your personal climate and the global climate.

Weatherization Facts

1. "Weatherizing" a home means making it more comfortable and energy efficient in both cold winter and hot summer weather.
2. Heating and cooling a house represents the largest single use of energy for most households.
3. Due to exhaust gases from its heating system, a typical house releases almost twice as much air pollution annually as a typical car.
   
4. The energy efficiency of a home with an oil-fired boiler is measured in degree days per gallon of heating oil (K-factor). The higher the K-factor, the more energy-efficient the home.
   
5. Older homes often have a K-factor below 5. Newer homes can achieve K-factors above 10. If you take automatic delivery of heating oil, your bill should list your K-factor. (This is how your oil company determines how often to come fill your tank.)
6. Most existing homes (about 65%) need more insulation.
7. The best place to add insulation is in your attic, where 40% of all air leaks occur.
8. Oak Ridge National Laboratory recommends insulating an existing home in Maine's climate to the following standards: attic R-49 (about 16 inches of cellulose), walls R-13, floors R-30, and basement and crawlspace walls R-25.
9. After insulating an attic, the next most important weatherization task is to use weather stripping, caulk or spray foam to seal air leaks around doors, windows, sills, electrical outlets, pipes and chimneys.
10. If your basement is unheated, either insulate the floor above it, or the walls of the basement. Sealing air leaks along the walls in an unheated basement is especially important to avoid freezing pipes.
    
11. All windows at night, and north-facing windows all the time, suffer a net loss of heat via radiation. To minimize heat loss, cover them with drapes or blinds whenever possible.
12. Because heating systems are most efficient when properly sized, and are properly sized according to the heat loss characteristics of the building they heat, it is essential to reduce your heat loss through insulating and air sealing before replacing your heating system.
13. If you heat with oil, gas or wood, ensure that your flue is providing a proper draw to exhaust combustion fumes. Fresh air must be available for combustion to occur safely; many heating systems draw their combustion air from the heated living space and exhaust it outdoors. (In other words, they push hot air out of your home and suck cold air into your home.)
    
14. Solar and electric space heaters, or direct-vent combustion heaters, do not draw air out of the conditioned space.
15. Very tightly air sealed homes should install heat recovery ventilators to provide fresh air without losing heat.
16. Tightly sealed homes should also pay particular attention to possible offgasing from paints and adhesives. In general, water based and "zero VOC" products are better for indoor air quality.
17. While it is possible to improve the energy performance of an existing home, it is extremely difficult to match the performance of a new home.
    
18. Properly designed super-insulated passive solar homes in Maine's climate do not need central heating systems because sunlight provides the baseline heat.
19. The U.S. Department of Energy's EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale) is a way to rate a home's energy performance. The typical new home is a 100 on the E-Scale, whereas the typical existing home is a 130 (i.e. uses 30% more energy). An Energy Star home is an 85 on the scale.
20. The DOE's Builders Challenge rewards builders who commit to building homes with an E-Scale score better than 70.
21. 41,198 new homes have been built in the DOE's Building America research project.
22. One goal of the ongoing research is to build homes that not only use less energy, but also produce their own energy by capturing solar, wind or water energy. On an annual basis if a home produces as much energy as it uses, it is called "net zero"; if it produces more than it uses it is "net positive".
23. One industry observer predicts that by 2050, 67% of new housing starts will have an E-Scale score of 0 or better (i.e. be net zero or net positive).

Environmental Happenings

What's Happening in the Local Environmental Scene and Beyond

For the first time in recorded history, the Arctic sea ice cap is an island. Recent satellite images indicate that both the northwest and northeast polar passages are now open, making it possible to circumnavigate the globe above Europe, Asia and North America. Last year's Arctic sea ice reached a record low; this year's melt is on pace to surpass that record.

On Tuesday, September 2, oil fell to below $110 per barrel. Virtually all oil and natural gas production was shut down in the Gulf of Mexico pending an assessment of the damage caused by Hurricane Gustav.

Also on Tuesday, National Marine Fisheries Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service announced their proposal to expand the definition of endangered Gulf of Maine Atlantic salmon to include fish found in the Kennebec, Androscoggin and Penobscot Rivers. The proposal will be listed immediately in the Federal Register and a public comment period will be available for 90 days. According to Ed Friedman of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB), this decision comes in large part from pressure brought to bear by Doug Watts, Tim Watts, FOMB and the Maine Toxics Action Coalition. Between 2002 and 2007, Atlantic salmon covered under the existing endangered listing averaged fewer than 100 spawning fish annually.

Sunday, September 7 - Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Race for Space, 9 am, The Pennellville Meadows on Pennell Way (please note: new location this year), Brunswick. Fourth Annual 4-mile Run in Rural Coastal Brunswick. Proceeds benefit the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Walking Tour of Historic Pennellville Road. Fun Run for Children. Professional timing. Great refreshments and prizes. Special family pricing. For more information, call 725-0998 or visit www.btlt.org.

Thursday, September 11 - Insulate Your Home: Tips from a Pro, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to learn from Ace Insulation owner Gerard Gagnon how to insulate your home for maximum energy and planetary savings. Space is limited! To reserve a spot, please call us at 729-4050.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 19-21 - Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, 9 am to 6 pm (5 pm Sunday). Come to the Fair and see why Downeast Magazine calls Common Ground "Maine's most authentic country fair, uniting, as it does, old-time folkways with progressive ideas about living the good life on a fragile planet." While you're there, stop by our booth in the Energy & Shelter tent to see our new line of solar, wind and energy saving products. Our own Brett Thompson will be giving a talk about composting with worms on Friday at 1 pm in the Agricultural Demonstrations Tent #2. For more information about the fair, please visit www.mofga.org »

Please note: our store will close early at 5 pm on Thursday, September 18 and re-open on Tuesday, September 23 at 10 am. See you at Common Ground!

Saturday, October 4 - Maine Solar Tour, 10 am to 4 pm. View homes that are utilizing the sun to provide some of their energy and talk to the homeowners to get their perspective on how these systems work. For more information, visit http://ellsworthme.org/MESEA/

Featured Products for September

SolarSheat Space Heater - NEW!

The SolarSheat hot air collector is a self-contained and self-powered sustainable solution for space heating. Mounts on a south-facing wall or roof. No need for plumbing or electricity -- these units have a built-in solar-powered fan to blow in warm air whenever there is sun. Now anyone can go solar!
1500 watts $1,979

Learn more »

Convectair Electric Space Heater - NEW!

Perfect as a complement to a solar space heater, or anywhere you need a heating boost, the Convectair Apero electric space heater works on the proven principle of natural convection. Hangs on the wall and plugs into a regular 120 volt outlet. 1250 watts $257

Learn more »

AFM Safecoat Multi-Purpose Caulk

Seal small gaps and fill cracks around windows and doors, fill cracks in walls, woodwork and masonry, and caulk joints with this water-based, paintable caulking compound. Provides a water resistant, flexible, easy to install, non sag seal with excellent initial and permanent adhesion and without releasing any solvents or obnoxious odors.
10 oz tube $7.95

Learn more »

Pur Fill Insulation Foam - NEW!

Stop drafts around windows and doors with Pur Fill WF low-expanding polyurethane foam. Applicator gun available for rental or purchase; foam canisters screw on top. This gun-dispensed foam allows precise control with no mess or waste.
600 ml canister $14.95
Applicator gun rental fee $15/week

Learn more »

Energy Film - NEW!

Insulate your window glass without adhesive using an easy-to-apply spectrally-selective cling film. Reduce heat loss through treated windows by 12 - 18%, in effect turning regular glass into low-E glazing. Non-reflective surface retains excellent visual clarity. Blocks 97% of UV light and 70% of infrared light, while allowing 77% of visible light to pass through. Includes squeegee for installation.
24"x48" $17.95; 36"x48" $26.95; 48"x84" $34.95

Learn more »

Yolo Colorhouse Paint - NEW!

YOLO Colorhouse performs like a premium conventional paint, yet it has low odor, no harmful chemicals, and no added solvents. Green Seal certified, zero VOC, 100% acrylic, with 40% volume solids, YOLO Colorhouse interior paint has excellent hide and layout. Pick from their designer palette or custom tint to match any color.
$39.95 / gal

Learn more »

Milk Paint - SPECIAL OFFER!

Milk Paint is environmentally safe and non-toxic. Comes as a dry powder; simply mix in water. There is a slight milky odor when applied, but it is completely odorless when dry. Traditional formula is best for bare wood; the new SafePaint formula is designed for drywall.
Traditional milk paint $9.95/pint.
SafePaint $11.95/pint; $45.95/gal
BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE

Limited time offer: Buy 2 gallons of SafePaint and get one free! Offer expires 9/30/08.

Learn more »

Marmoleum Natural Linoleum Flooring

Marmoleum has been a mainstay high-quality floor covering for over 100 years because it is practical, durable, comfortable and beautiful. Made from linseed oil, rosins, and wood flour, calendered onto a natural jute backing, it is a tough yet visually striking floor covering. Appropriate for renovations, restorations and new construction.
$36 per square yard ($4/sf).

Learn more »

Insulate Your Home: Tips from a Pro, September's Sustainable Living Talk

Our next sustainable living talk is "Insulate Your Home: Tips from a Pro," featuring Gerard Gagnon, of Ace Insulation, on Thursday, September 11, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

According to the Harvard University School of Public Health, 65 percent of homes in the United States are under-insulated. Because a typical house releases almost twice as much air pollution annually as a typical car, adding insulating doesn't just reduce energy bills, it also improves air quality and combats global climate change. The most important area to insulate properly is the attic; the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 40 percent of all air leaks in the average home are in the attic.

Gagnon's talk will explain the basics of insulation for people interested in reducing their home heating costs and environmental impact. Attendees will learn how much insulating costs, how much insulation is recommended in ceilings and walls, which types of insulation are available and where they are most appropriate, and how much energy can be saved. The talk will also cover common pitfalls, and recommend cost-effective strategies whether insulating a structure yourself or hiring a contractor.

Gerard Gagnon is the owner of Ace Insulation, specializing in cellulose insulation since 1995. Cellulose insulation, made from recycled paper combined with a borate fire retardant and insecticide, is suitable for both new construction and retro-fit applications. Properly installed, cellulose insulation can reduce air leakage 50% compared to an uninsulated home.

This talk is part of the F.W. Horch series on sustainable living. Each monthly talk is held on the second Thursday of the month at the F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies store, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Space is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

News from ReVision Energy

Here's the news from ReVision Energy, our renewable energy partner:

September and October are full of exciting events.

Go Green Expo

The weekend of the 13^th & 14^th will be the Go Green Expo in Saco. The event sponsors will be giving away a Home Green Makeover to one lucky winner. You can find out more on the Go Green Expo webpage: http://www.goinggreenexpos.com/

Common Ground Fair

The Common Ground Fair is one of our favorite events to attend. This event will be held September 19-21 this year. It’s well worth attending, please stop by to see us while you are there. [Editor's note: F.W. Horch will be attending as well! Stop by to say hi at our booth as well as the ReVision Energy booth.]

Solar Tour

This fall ReVision Energy will be organizing the southern Maine portion of the Solar Tour. The Solar Tour is sponsored by the American Solar Energy Association and is a wonderful opportunity to view homes that are utilizing the sun to provide some of their energy and talk to the homeowners to get their perspective on how these systems work. There will be a various mix of homes and businesses on this tour and you can view our website to find a location near you www.revisionenergy.com. The tour is free; it is going to be held October 4th, from 10-4pm. The tour is set up like an open house style where you are welcome to view any of the homes on the list at your convenience from 10-4pm.

Column: Invest in Your House

It’s time for Mainers to start panicking about heat this winter.

As you may have noticed, heating oil is ridiculously expensive and seasoned wood is nearly impossible to find. You may be tempted to buy a new high efficiency oil boiler, put in a wood pellet stove, drill a geothermal well or switch to propane, kerosene or natural gas. My advice: don’t.

The billowing cloud of high fuel costs has a silver lining. Conservation makes more sense than ever. Before you splurge for a new heating system, consider better investments.

1. Insulate, weatherize and landscape. You probably know how many miles per gallon your car gets, but how many degree days per gallon does your home get? (The average house in Maine gets about seven.) The higher your fuel costs, the more dividends you earn when you invest in your ceilings, walls, windows, floors and doors. Think money doesn’t grow on trees? It does when you plant a wind break north of your house.
2. Upgrade your thermostat. Do you heat your whole house all the time? Your single most cost-effective investment might be a programmable thermostat. It saves you money by always turning off the heat when you don’t need it.
3. Let in the sun. Every year, a sunny 0.25-acre lot in Maine receives the energy equivalent of 40,912 gallons of #2 heating oil. Yes, you read that right: one-quarter acre of sunshine in just one year provides more energy than all the oil an average Maine home burns in 40 years. Why not use this free solar energy? Renovate your southern exposure, hang a solar space heater on a southern wall, or landscape the south side of your house for winter sun.
4. Heat yourself, not your possessions. Which rooms in your house do you actually use? Add electric space heaters to keep active areas in the 60s or 70s, make sure your pipes are insulated, then lower your main thermostat to keep the rest at 50˚. Unsure which circuits can handle the extra draw? Ask an electrician to review your wiring and label your outlets. Worried about freezing pipes? Ask the company that cleans your boiler to examine your plumbing runs.

Central heating systems are unnecessary in Maine’s high performance homes. As we build more efficient homes, we’ll solve our annual heating crisis. In the meantime: don’t panic!

For additional home heating resources and links, visit www.FWHorch.com/gogreen.

Fred Horch is the founder of F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies in Brunswick, providing practical products and trustworthy advice for sustainable living. Online at www.FWHorch.com.