Environmental Happenings

The United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10, 2010. Representatives from the world's governments are meeting to decide what, if anything, to do about climate change after the Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012. You can learn more about the conference and even "virtually participate" through the official UN Climate Change Conference web site.

Events in Maine

Wednesday, December 8 - Last of the Kennebec Log Drives, 7 pm, Bath City Hall Auditorium. Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay to hear Dave Calder talk about the last of the Kennebec Log Drives. A former log driver, Dave grew up in the Skowhegan area and started working on the river drive at the age of sixteen. Dave worked on the drive 10 years until it ended in 1976. Following that, he worked in heavy construction until he retired. Dave has written some songs and stories about river driving which he performs on occasion. Aside from writing he enjoys reading, gardening, some traveling, and time with his grandchildren.  Dave lives in Canaan with his wife, Maureen, their dog and three goats. The FOMB Winter Speaker Series takes place monthly from October-May on the second Wednesday of each month.  For more information, contact Ed Friedman at 666-3372.

Thursday, December 9 - Sustainable Season's Greetings, 7 - 8:30 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us for our next Sustainable Living Talk, featuring Shari Burke. Sustaining our own personal peace of mind, sense of well-being, feelings of joy, and personal connections with others can be challenging during the frenzy of activity that is culturally and often personally expected of us in December. Come discuss how we can meet this challenge to create a different kind of holiday experience -- one that is more meaningful and joyful for us and better for the planet.  Free and open to the public. Space is limited; please call us at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Friday, December 10 - Ventilating New & Existing Homes, 8 am - 12:15 pm - Central Maine Power Company, Augusta. Properly ventilated homes minimize the risk of exposure to indoor environmental pollutants (radon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, combustion pollutants, chemicals) and minimize the risk of moisture damage in the building envelope and subsequent biological contamination. This program stresses why controlling ventilation in a home is necessary to protect occupant health. It will discuss the most common sources of indoor air pollution in homes and how they get there, and what physical processes are present (air flow, pressure, moisture) that affect indoor air quality. The program provides practical strategies to achieve core ventilation goals. Limited space available.  To register, contact Dick Tarr at Lapointe Lumber Company, 622-5025.

Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service.  Check them out at

• http://www.meetup.com/Brunswick-Permaculture/
• http://www.meetup.com/portlandpermaculture/

A transition town group is active in the greater Brunswick area. Find out more about them and their events at

• http://www.meetup.com/Transition-Town-Brunswick/
  

For more news about Maine's environment, check out Maine Environmental News

Reusable Gift Wrap - December's Sustainable Living Tip

Dress up your gifts in reusable raiment. It's a simple, easy way to "give green" this season. Here are some ideas and inspiration to get you started.

Reuse. Common items can make interesting and practical gift wrap:

• dinner napkins
• reusable shopping bags
• bandanas
• scarves
• hats
• towels
• fabric squares cut from old clothes
• hair scrunchies (for tying up)

Furoshiki. Try using a simple square piece of cloth (called "furoshiki" in Japanese) to wrap just about anything. Like origami paper folding, furoshiki gift wrapping is an art. Learn more about this tradition here:

• Furoshiki techniques

Make Your Own Gift Bags. Add an extra element of originality to your gifts with homemade gift bags. Here's a blog showing you how to make these in a snap:

• Make Your Own Holiday Gift Bags

Track-a-Sack. If you'd like to encourage a friend or family member to try using a reusable gift bag, consider giving them a gift in a "Track-a-Sack" WrapSack. The sight of an overflowing trash bin the day after Christmas inspired The WrapSack founders to start selling reusable gift wrap bags. But they knew that just because something can be reused doesn't mean it will be. So they invented a way to track the progress of each bag as it is re-gifted. In their words, tracking gifts bags is "not just to protect our planet but also to see the journeys they take and hope that those journeys will bring people together so that there is just a little more peace on earth."

We sell Wrap Sacks in our store, available in a variety of sizes and patterns. In addition, we also offer reusable greeting card covers to eliminate the waste of paper envelopes.

Decorate Recycled Paper. While most people will be happy to receive and give gifts in reusable wrapping, others just won't get it. For them, consider rescuing and decorating paper from the recycling bin to use for gift wrap.

Children's Art. If you have school-aged children, you probably have a larger supply of drawings and paintings than display space on your refrigerator or walls. Your child's artistic excess makes great wrapping paper, especially for gifts given to their proud grand parents and teachers.

Plain Brown Paper. You can make classic and classy plain brown wrapping paper from paper shopping bags turned inside out. This paper provides a sturdy protective covering, and has the added advantage of being easy to compost. I'm often asked by concerned gardeners and home owners whether they can successfully and safely compost colorful holiday wrapping paper due to the coatings on the paper, residues from the bleaching process, and chemicals in the inks. While I personally shred and compost all types of paper, including wrapping paper, uncoated unbleached plain brown paper is the best for composting.

More Ideas. For more information and inspiration, check out the stories of these people who have gone to extremes to live with less garbage:

• The Clean Bin Project
• No Impact Man
  
• Green Garbage Project
• The Zero Waste Home
• Fake Plastic Fish
  

Sustainable Season's Greetings

Join us here at the store, F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick, for a discussion with Shari Burke titled "Sustainable Season's Greetings," on Thursday, December 9, from 7 to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

Shari is a sociocultural anthropologist and self-professed Christmas junkie with an interest in the intersection between cultural and personal stories. With her husband Bill Burke, she founded the Center for Cultural Preservation to help people record their own life stories and to create space where community members can come together to share and listen to the stories of others. Through years of listening and helping people tell their stories, she has learned how to cut through cultural noise to discover what better ways are possible to experience the holidays.

"I learned a long time ago, through unhappy experience, that cultural ideas about what Christmas should be do not work for me," says Shari. "So I threw out what didn't work and came up with my own ideas about what does work. Everyone tells me how peaceful Christmas is at my house. I like that because it shows that the possibility for a better way is there for all of us -- we just have to find it."

Sustaining our own personal peace of mind, sense of well-being, feelings of joy, and personal connections with others can be challenging during the frenzy of activity that is culturally and often personally expected of us in December. According to Shari, we can meet this challenge to create a different kind of holiday experience -- one that is more meaningful and joyful for us and better for the planet.

Shari will discuss some of the larger issues surrounding Christmas in the United States, including the increase in waste production and personal stress, and offer practical solutions that will allow us to lighten our environmental impact while simultaneously brightening our own holiday celebrations. She welcomes your personal stories as well. Attendees are encouraged to share their own ideas about creating a meaningful holiday if they so wish.

"We have much to learn from each other," notes Shari. "We'll provide a calm space for listening to one another and for exchanging ideas."

More information about the Burkes and the Center for Cultural Preservation is available online at www.CenterForCulturalPreservation.com.

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 if you are interested in attending please call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Good Giving Day the Friday after Thanksgiving at F.W. Horch

Come visit our store in downtown Brunswick to celebrate "Good Giving Day" on the Friday after Thanksgiving between 9:30 am and 6 pm. We'll share ideas on celebrating the holidays with practical gifts that minimize waste, and acts of generosity that build community. In addition, we will collect food and funds for the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Project. Bring in a donation and you'll be eligible to win a free gift in one of our hourly drawings.

Every year we look for ways to give back to the community that supports us. We sell organic seeds, gardening tools, composting and canning supplies, but we realize that growing and preserving your own food is not possible for many in our society. That's why we are raising awareness and support for our local soup kitchen and food bank, helping to provide healthy and nutritious meals to those who are in need.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is conventionally known as "Black Friday," associated with crowds marking the start of the Christmas shopping season. Among counter-culture activists, it is celebrated as "Buy Nothing Day," a protest against mindless consumerism. Being a sustainable living store, F.W. Horch seeks to provide you with gift and giving ideas that sustain meaningful relationships, cut down on the amount of waste generated during the holiday season, and make a positive difference in our community and beyond.

You don't have to choose between fighting the crowds at the big box stores or staying home alone in protest! Join us on Maine Street to shop at local businesses, support local organizations, and strengthen our community.

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program
MOST NEEDED ITEMS

Tuna
Peanut Butter

Baked Beans – regular & large
Rice – small & medium

Pasta
Spaghetti Sauce
Canned Tomatoes – regular

Canned Fruit
Canned Veggies – Green Beans, Corn, Peas

Soup
Hamburger Helper – Tuna Helper

Instant Potatoes and Stuffing
and…

Any other non-perishable items you would like to donate including personal care products.

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program – 84A Union Street, Brunswick, ME  04011
207.725-2716   www.mchpp.org     mchpp@suscom-maine.net

Brunswick Earth Art 2010 Event

Fans of the Earth will be able to join with others to promote creative ways to curb climate change on Sunday, November 28 in Brunswick. Earth Art 2010 will take place that day from 2 to 3 PM on the Town Mall. This will be one of many gatherings worldwide between the 21^st and 28^th sponsored by the climate advocacy group 350.org. Led by Bill McKibben, the group intends for Earth Art to “spread a warning” as well as “a message of hope… to cope with the most dangerous problem we’ve ever faced, and begin to work our way towards a clean, renewable future” (from www.350.org).

Brownie Carson of the Natural Resources Council of Maine is scheduled to give a welcome speech. There will also be an open mic for sharing environmental action ideas. The event will culminate in a group photo to capture attendees’ costumes, banners, and other visual art. The emcee will be Brunswick and Bowdoin grad Tyson Weems, who recently founded a Maine non-profit called The Health League in order to promote personal, community, and environmental health.

According to the 350.org website, “350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide – measured in Parts Per Million (PPM) – in our atmosphere. Measurements indicate we presently have 388 PPM. The group considers 350 to be “the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.” That will take collective will and creative action. Using art to help celebrate, educate, and activate, writes McKibben, is a way “to reach past people's heads to their hearts.”

Everyone who cares about Mother Earth and wants to see constructive action to deal with global warming is invited to attend this event and make a statement. Participants are invited to wear a costume, bring a creative piece of Earth Art on a large poster or banner or just come and support others. It’s a celebration and call for constructive action.

Jeff Gillis from Well Tree will be photographing the event from his bucket truck. The event will take place rain or shine. For more information, contact: sfweems68@yahoo.com

Environmental Happenings

F.W. Horch hours: Mon by appointment, Tue-Sat 9:30-6, Sun Closed.

 

The US Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration and Conservation Initiative is a public/private effort that has been working since 2008 to develop and implement a unified plan to restore and protect the ocean and coastal habitats of the Gulf of Maine.  A draft plan, calling for investment of over $3 billion into Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, is now available for public comment.  According to the Boston Globe, "The plan, when finalized, will be made available to the US Congress to be considered alongside similar plans for the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Florida Everglades, and other degraded aquatic ecosystems whose ecological health is considered vital to the nation’s economic well-being."

Read and comment on the plan by visiting the Gulf of Maine web site at www.gulfofmaine.org.

 

Local Events

Wednesday, November 10 - Words for the Wild, 7 pm, Dresden Public Library, Bridge Academy, Rte. 127, Dresden. Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay for the second presentation of their 14th annual Winter Speaker Series. This program, “Words for the Wild,” features Gary Lawless, Gulf of Maine poet, publisher and co-owner of Gulf of Maine bookstore in Brunswick.  Canoeing down the Concord River in 1839 Henry David Thoreau penned the famous question: “Who hears the fishes when they cry?”  As Thoreau and many others speak out from and of their heart-land, so too Lawless reaches deep into the Gulf of Maine bioregion to carry its message to all who will listen.  Gary Lawless is a nationally recognized poet and has published 16 poetry collections, 12 in the U.S. and 4 in Italy including Caribouddhism and Poems for the Wild Earth. His writing deals with issues of environmental and social justice, and listening to the voices of the underprivileged and overlooked. Gary has traveled throughout the world, reading and sharing his poetry and leading workshops for traditional and nontraditional audiences.  The FOMB Winter Speaker Series takes place monthly from October-May on the second Wednesday of each month.  For more information, contact Ed Friedman at 666-3372.

Thursday, November 11 - Living Sustainably and Saving Money, 7 - 8:30 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us for our next Sustainable Living Talk. This month we invite "Mr. Sustainable," Guy Marsden of Woolwich, to discuss the practical steps he has taken in his own life to reduce his environmental impact. Guy notes, "I do not believe that sustainability comes into conflict with living comfortably. My family has made very few sacrifices in the process of reducing our energy footprint." Come find out how you can live more sustainably and save money, too! Free and open to the public. Space is limited; please call us at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Tuesday, November 16 - Among the Bears, 6:30 pm, Colonial Theatre, 163 High St, Belfast.  Naturalist and acclaimed black bear specialist Ben Kilham will present "Among the Bears," a slideshow and stories about New England's black bears.  Kilham has lectured widely and been featured in a number of TV shows and magazines including Field and Stream, National Geographic and People.  He has raised 26 cubs over a span of nearly 20 years and successfully returned them to the wild. His experiences have given him new and startling insights into the lives of bears. Black bears exhibit behaviors thought to be found only in humans and great apes, such as an intricate system of communication and cooperation, empathy and altruism.  Admission will be $8, $5 for students and free for children younger than 8. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance, which conserves land in the headwaters of the Sheepcot River in Freedom, Liberty, Montville and Palermo. For more information about SWLA and its educational and recreational programs, visit swlamaine.org; or contact Buck O’Herin at 589-3230 or buckoherin@fairpoint.net.

Thursday, November 18 - Wine and Chocolate Party to Celebrate Environmental Health Strategy Center's 8th Anniversary, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, Whitney Art Works, 492 Congress Street, Portland. Join the Environmental Health Strategy Center to celebrate their work to secure a clean and healthy environment where we live, work and play, and develop sustainable solutions. Stop by for a glass of wine or to sample some organic chocolate, celebrate some of our heroes from the past year, and visit with EHSC staff and friends to talk about what's ahead in 2011! For more information, visit www.preventharm.org

Saturday, November 20 - Maine Pesticide Summit, 9 am - 3 pm, Brunswick Unitarian Church, 15 Pleasant Street, Brunswick. Laura Stevens of Toxics Action Center invites you to participate in a day of sharing, discussion and strategy around the issue of reducing pesticde use in Maine.  Best-selling author, journalist and Maine resident Paul Tukey will be the keynote speaker.  According to Laura, "Communities across Maine have been up in arms against pesticide use lately. From Scarborough to Camden, and Fryeburg to Yarmouth, citizens are saying 'Stop the Spray'! Opportunities abound for reducing pesticide use in Maine: We're one of nine lucky states in the US without a pre-emption law, making pesticide bans in towns legally feasible. And there is political support for change at the state level as well."  For more information, contact Laura Steven at 871-1810 or laura@toxicsaction.org.

Sunday, November 21 - By Land and By Sea, 4 - 6 pm, The Peace Center at Midcoast Friends Meeting, 77 Belvedere Road, Damariscotta.  Community Chowder Supper will follow a presentation, By Land and By Sea, that examines a growing movement linking farmers and fishermen around their common challenges and opportunities to build local foods systems and food security. Amanda Beal and Ellen Tyler, Tufts graduate students and local foods advocates, will share the outcome of this project in Maine. The supper will include seafood/sea vegetable chowders, breads and desserts Donations accepted.  For more information, contact Andy Burt at 882-6848.

###

Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service.  Check them out at

• http://www.meetup.com/Brunswick-Permaculture/
• http://www.meetup.com/portlandpermaculture/

A transition town group is active in the greater Brunswick area. Find out more about them and their events at

• http://www.meetup.com/Transition-Town-Brunswick/
  

For more news about Maine's environment, check out Maine Environmental News

Tip: Beat the Tax Credit Deadline

November's Sustainable Living Tip

Take advantage of the federal tax credits for energy efficiency. Purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment, to receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500.  Improvements must be "placed in service" in an existing home between January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010.

 

Facts about Consumer Energy Tax Incentives

1. The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended many consumer tax incentives originally introduced in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and amended in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
2. A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government.
   
3. If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. For details, visit the Energy Star web site, Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency.
   
4. Consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016; the previous tax credit cap no longer applies.
   
5. Individuals and businesses who buy or lease a new hybrid gas-electric car or truck are eligible for an income tax credit for vehicles "placed in service" starting January 1, 2006, and purchased on or before December 31, 2010. The amount of the credit depends on the fuel economy, the weight of the vehicle, and whether the tax credit has been or is being phased out. Hybrid vehicles that use less gasoline than the average vehicle of similar weight and that meet an emissions standard qualify for the credit.
6. The hybrid vehicle credit will be phased out for each manufacturer once that company has sold 60,000 eligible vehicles. At that point, the tax credit for each company's vehicles will be gradually reduced over the course of 15 months. See the IRS's Summary of the Credit for Qualified Hybrid Vehicles for information on the status of specific vehicle eligibility.
   
7. Alternative-fuel vehicles, diesel vehicles with advanced lean-burn technologies, and fuel-cell vehicles are also eligible for tax credits. See the IRS summary of credits available for Alternative Motor Vehicles.
8. The Recovery Act modifies the credit for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles purchased after Dec. 31, 2009. The minimum amount of the credit for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles is $2,500 and the credit tops out at $7,500, depending on the battery capacity. To qualify, vehicles must be newly purchased, have four or more wheels, have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 lbs, and draw propulsion using a battery with at least four kilowatt hours that can be recharged from an external source of electricity.  The full amount of the credit will be reduced with respect to a manufacturer's vehicles after the manufacturer has sold at least 200,000 vehicles.  The credit will then phase out over a year.
9. The Recovery Act also provided a tax credit for plug-in electric drive conversion kits. The credit is equal to 10% of the cost of converting a vehicle to a qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle and placed in service after Feb. 17, 2009. The maximum amount of the credit is $4,000. The credit does not apply to conversions made after Dec. 31, 2011. A taxpayer may claim this credit even if the taxpayer claimed a hybrid vehicle credit for the same vehicle in an earlier year.
10. The Recovery Act law also creates a special tax credit for two types of plug-in vehicles: certain low-speed electric vehicles and 2- or 3-wheeled vehicles. The amount of the credit is 10% of the cost of the vehicle, up to a maximum credit of $2,500 for purchases made after Feb. 17, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2012.  To qualify, a vehicle must be either a low speed vehicle propelled by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery with a capacity of 4 kilowatt hours or more, or be a 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle propelled by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery with the capacity of 2.5 kilowatt hours. A taxpayer may not claim this credit if the plug-in electric drive vehicle credit is allowable.

Living Sustainably and Saving Money

Guy Marsden of Woolwich will give a public talk entitled "Living Sustainably and Saving Money" at F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick on Thursday, November 11 at 7 pm. Guy will speak from his own experiences about his efforts to live as sustainably as practical while also saving money and reducing his carbon footprint. The event is free and open to the public.

"I do not believe that sustainability comes into conflict with living comfortably," says Guy. "My family has made very few sacrifices in the process of reducing our energy footprint."

Guy's presentation shares practical steps on the path to living sustainably -- from simple no-cost things like turning down the water heater, on up to installing solar panels. Along the way he will share anecdotes and personal stories about his journey. As an electrical engineer he will also demystify electric power: attendees will learn what a kilowatt hour is and why this measure of electrical energy is important to know.

 Guy documents his solar installations, including the solar building heating system he designed and installed and the solar domestic water and solar power systems he installed, on his web site at www.arttec.net.


Space for this talk is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

This event is part of the F.W. Horch series on sustainable living. Each monthly workshop is held at the F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies store, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick on the second Thursday of the month.

For more information about the F.W. Horch sustainable living series, please call 729-4050 or visit www.FWHorch.com.

Environmental Happenings

Environmental Happenings

F.W. Horch hours: Mon by appointment, Tue-Sat 9:30-6, Sun Closed.

Don't Forget to Vote!

Election day is November 2. As usual, there will be state bond issues.

Question 3 on your ballot asks, "Do you favor a $9,750,000 bond issue to invest in land conservation and working waterfront preservation and to preserve state parks to be matched by $9,250,000 in federal and other funds?"

For the full gory details of how this money would be used, you can read Part J of Maine Public Law Chapter 645. In short, $9.25 million would go to the Land for Maine's Future Board to leverage $9.25 million in other funds; $0.5 million would go to the Bureau of Parks and Lands to preserve state parks and properties managed by the Department of Conservation.

Local Events

Wednesday, October 13 - Climate Change: Perspectives and Realities, Surprises and Opportunities, 7 pm, Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center, Bowdoin College, Brunswick.  Dr. Paul Mayewski, Director & Professor at the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine Orono, is a world-renowned glaciologist and climatologist. He will discuss his research findings from around the globe including Greenland, Antarctica, the Himalayas, Tibet, and Tierra del Fuego. Dr. Mayewski's research has documented abrupt changes in the world's atmosphere, produced naturally and by human activity. He has been honored with numerous international scientific awards, published more than 300 papers and led more than 50 expeditions to remote regions. This lecture is sponsored by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, and co-sponsored by Bowdoin's Arctic Studies and Environmental Studies Programs.

Thursday, October 14 - Designing and Building a Photovoltaic Powered Solar Hot Water System with Internet Enabled Energy Monitoring, 7 - 8:30 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us for our next Sustainable Living Talk. This month we invite Phil Shelton to explain his "Zero Net Energy" solar hot water heating system. Phil asks, "Why add to your electric bill when you can power your solar hot water pumps from the sun too?" Come find out how you can use a solar photovoltaic-powered pump on an evacuated tube solar hot water system, and how to design and install a monitoring system that provides a more accurate measure of the hot water actually being delivered for use. Free and open to the public. Space is limited; please call us at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Friday, October 15 - A National Ocean Policy: Moving Ocean Management into the 21st Century, 7:30 pm, Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center, Bowdoin College, Brunswick.  The way in which the United States manages its marine resources is undergoing major changes. The new National Ocean Policy recently unveiled by the Obama Administration could have significant implications for many stakeholders and for the health of marine ecosystems. The Bowdoin College Coastal Studies Center is hosting a symposium October 15-16, 2010, to examine the implications of these policy reforms. The symposium kicks off Friday, Oct. 15, at 5:30 p.m., with a reception and poster session in Morrell Lounge, Smith Union, followed by the keynote address by former Maine Congressman Tom Allen '67, co-founder of the House Oceans Caucus.  The symposium continues 8 am - 6:30 pm, Saturday in Smith Auditorium, Sills Hall, with presentations by experts including 2005 MacArthur Fellow and Visiting Coastal Scholar Ted Ames, Island Institute President Phillip Conkling, University of Maine Professor of Marine Sciences and Economics Jim Wilson, and others. Registration is required; the events are free and open to the public.  For more information, visit the Bowdoin College web site.

Sunday, October 17 - 3rd Annual Kennebunk Green Living Expo, Noon - 5 pm, Kennebunk High School, Kennebunk.  Educational exhibits will include renewable energy companies, green builders, and organizations ranging from local farmers to the Maine Energy Education Program, Efficiency Maine and Borealis Breads. Local food, music. Solar, wind, geothermal exhibitors. Energy efficiency products, services & incentives. Green lifestyle companies: jewelry, clothing & more. Raffle to benefit Kennebunk High green projects. Free admission. Co-sponsored by Kennebunk High School’s eKo Club and the town of Kennebunk’s Energy Efficiency Committee. For more information, visit Kennebunk High School's eKo Club web site.

Wednesdays, October 20 to November 10 - Fishes and Loaves: A Study of the Covenant between Land and Sea, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, The Peace Center of Midcoast Maine, Midcoast Friends Meetinghouse, 77 Belvedere Road, Damariscotta.  What if there were no fish?  This question is at the center of a five-week program of study and reflection about how our oceans and fishing communities are being affected by environmental changes. "Using films and guest speakers, we will learn about the environmental changes currently taking place in the oceans and how these are impacting Maine fishing communities," explains Andy Burt, co-creator of the study and the local facilitator. The public is welcome to attend any or all of the Wednesday evening programs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm beginning on October 20 at the Midcoast Friends Meetinghouse in Damariscotta.  The study, sponsored by The Peace Center of Midcoast Maine, concludes on Sunday, November 21 with a program and Chowder Supper from 4 to 6 pm.  For more information about the program or dinner, please contact Andy Burt at 882-6848 or 380-5387.

Thursday, October 21 - Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Forum On Energy, The Environment, And A Sustainable Maine Economy, 6:30 - 9:00 pm, University of Southern Maine's Hannaford Hall, Portland. Maine environmental organizations will host a forum for citizens to hear our gubernatorial candidates discuss topics critical to Maine's future, including clean air and water, climate change and energy, wildlife and land conservation, and a sustainable economy. The event is free and open to the public. The event begins at 6:30 pm with coffee and dessert; the forum will begin at 7:30 pm. Susan Sharon of Maine Public Broadcasting will moderate. Hosted by Conservation Law Foundation, Environment Northeast, Maine Audubon, Maine Center For Economic Policy, and the Natural Resources Council of Maine. MOFGA and many other environmental groups in Maine are co-sponsoring the event. For more information, email Judy Berk at judy@nrcm.org or call 430-4103.

Sunday, October 24 - The Art of Local Food, 5 - 7 pm, Summit at Point Lookout, Ducktrap Mountain, Northport.  Savor an autumn evening with neighbors who love Maine’s environment.  The Art of Local Food supports the environmental work of the Natural Resources Council of Maine and showcases the culinary talents of Maine chefs. Appreciate their artful use of the catch of the day, locally-produced fruits, vegetables, cheeses and meats, and other Maine-made products. Enjoy a cash bar featuring Maine beers, wines, and spirits, live music by Tom Luther and Justin Walton, and a breathtaking view of Penobscot Bay as the moon rises.  For $40, all of which supports NRCM’s work to protect Maine’s environment (and $20 of which is tax-deductible), what better way to celebrate Maine’s bounty?  Space is limited.  For reservations visit www.nrcm.org/artoflocalfood.asp or call Joyce Gracie at 430-0128.

Saturday, November 6 - Go Green Expo, 10 am - 4 pm, Mount Ararat High School, Topsham. Save the date for the 4th Annual Go Green Expo. You and your family and friends will discover how easy it is to make your home a green home. Find everything from hybrid cars, to alternative energy, to recycled building materials and consumer products and services. All with sustainable living in mind.  New this year is a “Go Green Science Fair” featuring exhibits from area school students. There will be a food court, children’s activities and wonderful door prizes.  Admission is free and there is plenty of free parking for all!  For more information, visit the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber of Commerce web site.

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Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service.  Check them out at

• http://www.meetup.com/Brunswick-Permaculture/
• http://www.meetup.com/portlandpermaculture/

A transition town group is active in the greater Brunswick area. Find out more about them and their events at

• http://www.meetup.com/Transition-Town-Brunswick/
  

For more news about Maine's environment, check out Maine Environmental News

Tip: Compost Fall Leaves

October's Sustainable Living Tip

Collect your leaves for making great compost. For quick results, make a pile at least three feet tall and three feet in diameter, add a compost activator, water thoroughly, and turn every few days. Another option is to allow your leaves to dry in the sun, then collect and store them under cover or in garbage cans for use throughout the year. Dry leaves are a good source of "browns" to add to your kitchen "greens."

 

Facts about Cold Weather Composting

1. To make compost, you W-A-N-T four things: water, air, nutrients and temperature.
2. Now that fall has arrived, outdoor temperatures start to fall below the range that supports composting. You can still collect materials, but the composting action will slow down the colder it gets.
3. Making a big pile of leaves helps keep the temperature in the center of the pile high enough to complete the composting process before winter comes.
4. The trick to successfully composting fall leaves is to ensure that you remember to provide the water, air and nutrients needed, in addition to building a large enough pile that will retain heat.
5. Water is essential to making compost. You'll need to water your pile of leaves to get things started, and you may need to add water every few days. Building a pile in the sun will help with heat, but will require extra water. Building the pile in the shade will retain more moisture, but doesn't take advantage of the sun's energy for heating things up. Some people like to build their pile in the sun and cover the top with black plastic. This keeps some moisture in and also collects heat to keep those microbes toasty.
   
6. Periodically turning your pile will allow air to circulate. Aerobic microbes require oxygen to do their work. In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic microbes take over. If that happens, be prepared for odors. Ensure an adequate supply of oxygen for your microbes by turning your pile every few days. And if odors do develop, remember the best remedy is fresh air.
7. A pile of leaves by themselves won't compost as quickly as a pile of leaves with some added nutrients. Compost activators supply the missing nutrients--mainly nitrogen. Other sources of nitrogen include manure and kitchen scraps. If your leaf pile doesn't seem to be "cooking," try adding water and an activator to speed things up. But once temperatures fall too low, if your pile isn't cooking you may just have to wait for warmer weather.
   
8. Besides building a big compost pile, you have other good options for using your leaves. Shredding them and using them as mulch around bushes and trees, or on garden beds, is a simple and sustainable approach. After all, your trees are expecting their leaves to feed their roots for next year.
9. Another option is to store your leaves to use when you take your kitchen compost out. Whenever you empty your compost pail from your kitchen, it's a great idea to cover your scraps with dried leaves. Now is the time to collect those leaves for use the rest of the year.
10. If you shred your leaves they'll take up a lot less space, and break down into compost quicker when you add them to your compost pile. You don't have to buy a shredder; a weed wacker in a garbage can works well. Just remember to wear eye protection and be prepared to get covered in little leafy bits.
11. We're often asked whether you can continue to add things to your compost pile in the winter. The answer is yes! Just don't expect much to happen. On the positive side, you don't have to worry about odors once things start freezing. That means you don't have to be as concerned about adding browns to your pile. Late fall and winter is the time of year when you can "dump and run" with your kitchen compost pail and get away with it. The rest of the year, it's a better idea to cover your kitchen scraps with a layer of "browns" (shredded leaves or sawdust or the like).
    
12. If you're the type that doesn't want to just wait until spring for your compost, consider bringing your composting action inside. Worm bins are a fun choice. You can use leaves as the top dressing in your worm bins. Simply bury your food scraps under the leaves and let worms eat your garbage. In a few months, your hard-working pet worms will turn both your scraps and your leaves into beautiful castings.
13. If you start your garden from seeds, you really ought to try worm castings for your seedlings. My favorite mix is half and half worm castings and coconut fiber (also called "coir"). Many people consider coir to be more sustainable than peat moss. Some peat bogs are being harvested faster than the peat forms. Coir, on the other hand, grows on coconut trees--it's the stringy stuff in the coconut husk. Plus, if you think about it, every coconut is just a big seed.  The coir is designed to help that seed grow. So it makes sense to use coir for seedlings.
    
14. A great spot for a worm bin is down in the cellar next to your boiler. Worms like it dark and dank. You can provide a good home to some deserving invertebrates and save yourself the hassle of taking your kitchen scraps outside this winter by keeping a worm bin.
    
15. Now is the best time to start a worm bin to produce castings in time to use for your spring seedlings. It's never too early to be planning for next year's garden!

Solar Hot Water Talk

On Thursday, October 14, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, we will host a workshop by Philip Shelton titled "Designing and Building a Photovoltaic Powered Solar Hot Water System with Internet Enabled Energy Monitoring." Please join us at the store for this free talk.

Solar hot water systems are a common upgrade to many high performance homes in Maine. While free solar energy heats the water in these systems, many of them rely on house electric power for the pumps that circulate fluid between the solar collector outside and the hot water tank inside.

"Why add to your electric bill when you can power your solar hot water pumps from the sun too?" asks Phil. "After being told by a 'professional' that it could not be done, I set out to design and build a system that was truly Zero Net Energy."

Phil's free workshop will cover solar hot water system design, basic plumbing techniques and low cost system monitoring devices. He will show how you can use a solar photovoltaic-powered pump on an evacuated tube solar hot water system. Harnessing solar energy for your pumps provide two advantages. First, your solar hot water system is more reliable; it continues working even during power outages. Second, your pump speed matches the available solar energy: when more heat is available, your pumps circulate faster.

During the workshop, find out how to design and install a monitoring system that provides a more accurate measure of the hot water actually being delivered for use. You will learn how to use inexpensive monitoring hardware to determine how much energy -- and money -- your solar hot water system is actually saving.

"All the energy for my entire system, including radiant heat for our greenhouse, comes from the sun," says Phil. "The performance of our system is posted live on the Internet at www.sunnyhotwater.com."

Phil is perhaps best known for designing and building the world's largest rotating globe for DeLorme Mapping in Yarmouth, Maine. Computer controlled, 42' in diameter and built with 3 miles of aluminum tubing, it made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999.

Phil honed his skills as a wooden boat builder on Long Island, New York, before heading to the wilds of Washington County, Maine. He bought 30 acres of woodland, three miles from electricity, and built a log cabin from the trees on the land. After living for five years without electricity or running water (unless you count "running water" up from the stream with galvanized buckets) and with a second son on the way, Phil decided to move towards civilization. He landed a job at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine, and taught boat building for ten years.

His lifelong goal, as a boat builder, was to design and build his own boat and sail around the world. After ten years of off and on construction, the 42-foot gaff rigged cutter "Iwalani," equipped with a modified wind generator, was finally launched. Phil and his wife Amy left Maine in 2000 and successfully returned three years and 30,000 miles later. At Williams Farm, in Georgetown, Maine, they continue to pursue a self-sustaining lifestyle.

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 if you're interested in attending we encourage you to call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Environmental Happenings

Global News

BP reports that it has spent $8 billion due to the Deepwater Horizon drill rig explosion that killed eleven people and caused an uncontrollable flow of oil from the Macondo reservoir into the Gulf of Mexico between April 21 and July 15. BP successfully stopped the leak by capping the well. A relief well is expected to be in place by mid-September that will allow the company to permanently "kill" the leak from the bottom. The Macondo oilfield, which is owned by the United States, is estimated to contain 45 million recoverable barrels of oil, worth less than $4 billion at today's prices. BP has a 65% stake in the field, Anadarko Petroleum Corp has 25% and MOEX Offshore 2007, a Houston-based unit of Japan's Mitsui & Co, holds 10%.

State News

Maine homeowners can get up to $4,500 for energy efficiency projects with state and federal incentives. For details of the Home Energy Savings Program, visit EfficiencyMaine.com.

Local Events

Tuesday, September 7 - Public Forum: "Food and Energy," 7pm-9pm, Frontier Cafe, Brunswick.  All voters in legislative District 66 in Brunswick are invited to a series of public forums between September 7th and 15th to meet their candidates for Representative to the Legislature and to discuss key issues. Each forum will take place from 7 pm to 9 pm. The schedule will be as follows: "Food and Energy," Tuesday, September 7th, at Frontier Cafe; "Transportation and Redeveloping the Base," Monday, September 13th, at Curtis Memorial Library; and "Health Care and Education," Wednesday, September 15th, at Curtis Memorial Library.

Thursday, September 9 - Deep Energy Retrofit, 7 pm - 8:30 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us for our next Sustainable Living Talk. This month we invite Al Heath to explain his deep energy retrofit of a 1940’s duplex in Bath, Maine, into an energy efficient, well insulated single family home. His goal was to double the efficiency of the building -- reducing the heating cost to the bare minimum. Free and open to the public. Space is limited; please call us at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Friday, September 10 - Rally to Restore the Shad, 3:30 - 6:30 pm, Brunswick Mall Gazebo. Rally to restore the American shad to the Androscoggin River. Gather at the gazebo in downtown Brunswick, then march with the giant shad down Maine Street to the Topsham bridge. Rally to be followed by a press event and refreshments at the Frontier Cafe. Bring friends! For more information, contact Neil Ward, Program Director of the Androscoggin River Alliance, at 933-5268 or nward@fairpoint.net.

Friday, September 17 - Sedgeunkedunk Symposium and Celebration, 1 - 4 pm, Fields Pond, Holden.  The Friday afternoon symposium will emphasize research on changes to the ecosystem since the Meadow Dam was removed in 2008 and will highlight the dam removal process as a model for ongoing restoration projects in other parts of the Penobscot River watershed as well as a model for other communities that may own dams and are exploring ways for changing the dams that they own.  For more info visit habitat.maineaudubon.org.

Sunday, September 19 -  Brunswick Topsham Land Trust Race 4 Space, 9 am,  Livesay Field
Corner of Middle Bay & Pennellville Roads, Brunswick.  The 4 mile route passes 6 beautiful properties protected from development by conservation easements or open space plans. An open meadow, soccer field, cow pasture, coastal farm, sledding hill and bird sanctuary. Turn around is at a small swimming beach and boat launch. PLUS! Walking tour of nationally registered historic district and kids fun run (distance dependent on age). Register at www.active.com "Race 4 Space."

Friday - Sunday, September 24-26 - Common Ground Country Fair, 9 am - 6 pm Fri & Sat, 9 am - 5 pm Sun, Common Ground Education Center, Unity. Join hundreds of vendors, exhibitors and demonstrators, more than 1,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of fairgoers to share knowledge about sustainable living; eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food; buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts and useful agricultural products; compete in various activities; dance; sing and have a great time. Come visit our store's booth in the Energy & Shelter section. For directions, visit www.MOFGA.org. See you at Common Ground!

Monday, September 27 - Birds of the Gulf of Maine, 7pm, Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick.  Shearwaters, Storm-petrels and Phalaropes.  Luke Seitz will present photos and tales from his summer as the whale and seabird spotter on the Odyssey Whale Watch out of Portland, Maine as well as other pelagic birding experiences on the Gulf of Maine. Luke is a birder, photographer and artist from Falmouth, Maine.  Free and open to the public. Refreshments. Contact: Ted Allen 729-8661.

Saturday, October 2 - Apple Day, 10 am - 2 pm, Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth.  Autumn is a dynamic and bountiful season well worth celebrating. Discover how Maine’s wildlife prepares for the coming winter in all sorts of interesting ways through migration challenges, scavenger hunts for young and old, games, and kids crafts. Our annual harvest festival includes something for everyone - cider pressing, storytelling, organic markets, live music, contra dancing, and more!  For more info visit habitat.maineaudubon.org.

Sunday, October 3 - Belgrade Lakes Member Paddle, 9 am - 2:30 pm, Castle Island Boat Launch, Long Pond, Belgrade Lakes.  This paddle is open to Natural Resource Council of Maine members and area residents who want to join us for a beautiful fall paddle on Long Pond. NRCM staff and Ellen Blanchard, a local naturalist, will be leading this trip for you.  If you don't have your own kayak, you can rent one for $25 per person by contacting Stacie Haines at shaines@nrcm.org or 430-0127.

Tip: Clean and Efficient Heating

September's Sustainable Living Tip

Take advantage of state and federal incentives to improve your home's heating efficiency, then start  switching away from fossil fuel to heat your home. Solar supplemented by electricity is the most sustainable heating system, and it's easy to get started.

 

Facts about Clean and Efficient Heating

1. Conventional houses waste 90% or more of the energy they use for space heating, compared to houses built to the Passive House standard.
2. The Passive House standard is the industry leader in energy efficiency, having been successfully pioneered in Europe and now reaching Maine.
3. Federal and state incentives are available to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, including up to $4,500 through Efficiency Maine's Home Energy Savings Program.
4. The key to achieving the dramatic improvements in home heating efficiency necessary to reach the Passive House standard is to air seal the building envelope and provide fresh air ventilation using a heat recovery ventilator.
5. Another important aspect of Passive House design is to use passive solar gain, which can be achieved through windows and solar air space heaters that ensure solar energy can enter the home during the day, but prevent heat from leaking back out at night.
   
6. Houses built to the Passive House standard in Maine will maintain a temperature of at least 10 degrees C (50 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout winter when their ventilation and heating systems are turned off. You can leave these houses unheated in the winter without risk of freezing. Passive House heating systems are needed only for comfort.
   
7. While it is challenging to retrofit many existing homes to Passive House standards, the principle of controlling air flow can be applied to every home to improve its heating performance.
8. A professional energy audit is the first step to qualify for state funding under the Home Energy Savings Program.
9. A good energy audit will help you understand how your home uses energy, so you can prioritize your energy upgrades.
10. A blower door test, which uses a big fan to suck air out of your house, is one of the best ways to identify air leaks and to check that home energy work has been done properly.
11. An infrared scan, using a camera that measures surface temperatures, is another important diagnostic tool that allows you and your contractors to see where energy leaves your house.
12. In most existing homes, it is not cost effective to control all air leaks; enough air will flow uncontrolled in and out of the structure to maintain healthy indoor air quality.
13. But if you are able to control air leaks to the point where a blower door test shows fewer than 0.3 air changes per hour during the heating season, then you should install a heat recovery or energy recovery ventilator.
14. Heat recovery ventilators exhaust stale outdoor air and bring in fresh outdoor air in a way that transfers heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air. This helps maintain a higher indoor air temperature, but can lower indoor relative humidity because outdoor air is usually dryer than indoor air.
15. Energy recovery ventilators perform the same function as heat recovery ventilators, but also help transfer humidity to maintain not only a higher indoor air temperature but also a higher indoor air relative humidity.
    
16. If a ventilator fails, windows can be opened to provide fresh air.
17. As homes are "tightened up" by sealing places where cold air enters and warm air leaves, it becomes more important to consider ways to maintain indoor air quality.
18. It is a good idea to choose paints, finishes, and cleaning products that do not emit noxious fumes. A surprising number of household products contain petroleum-based fragrances that irritate human respiratory systems.
19. As you improve your home's energy performance, you increase the affordable options for heating your home.
    
20. A conventional 2,500 square foot home in Maine that is not well insulated would require a heating system rated between 30,000 and 40,000 watts. This is equivalent to about 24 electric space heaters.
21. Doubling the efficiency of this home would allow it to be heated with 12 space heaters; raising it to Passive House standards would allow the entire house to be heated with just three electric space heaters which would typically be integrated with the ventilation system.
22. Solar space heaters are a way to turn conventional homes into passive solar homes. These units can be installed on a southern wall or roof. Without the need for electricity or plumbing, they circulate air from inside your home, through a heat collector, and back into your home, effectively harnessing the free energy that is delivered to your home every sunny winter day.
    
23. In the long term, our society must make the transition away from burning all types of fossil fuel, including propane and natural gas.
    
24. Although a fraction of our electricity here in Maine is generated by burning fossil fuel, much of it is already sourced from clean renewable sources.
25. In the future, we can generate all of our electricity from clean and renewable sources here in Maine.
26. If you want to help jump start the conversion of our economy to a sustainable clean energy future, you can install a grid-tied renewable energy system. The most reliable systems use solar photovoltaic panels. The electricity you generate will flow into the grid, displacing the need to generate electricity from non-renewable resources.
    
27. With current technology, it is much easier to stop burning fossil fuel for home heating than to stop burning fossil fuel for transportation, so it makes sense to start our society's transition to clean energy by changing the way we heat our buildings.
28. One of the advantages to using electricity for home heating, from the perspective of the overall sustainability of our society, is that the delivery system for electricity is largely in place. Since most homes already use electricity for lighting and appliances, we are committed to maintaining this infrastructure.
29. Building a new distribution system for natural gas throughout Maine is an unsustainable and unnecessary expense. Private and public funds will be tied up in this venture that could be better put to use increasing the heating performance of our housing stock and improving the reliability of our electric grid.
30. Delivering cord wood or pellets throughout Maine places a huge burden on our roads.
    
31. Although work is being done to develop renewable sources of solid and liquid fuels, these energy strategies do not lend themselves as easily to distributed production as electricity generation.
32. Most homes and businesses in Maine with a sunny roof can be used to generate electricity; few residential and commercial properties are suitable for fuel production.
33. The heating systems of the past were based on wood; the systems of the present require fossil fuel; those of the future will likely be solar electric.
34. If you are building a new house, you can be part of the solution for a clean energy future by choosing to build to the Passive House standard.
    
35. If you plan to live in an existing house, you can still help bring about a clean energy future by improving your home's heating performance, installing a solar space heater, and switching your home to electric heat room by room.

Deep Energy Retrofit

Join us for our next Sustainable Living Talk on Thursday, September 9, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. We'll host Al Heath for "Deep Energy Retrofit."

 

"You don’t have to build a new house to have a super-efficient home, but you do need to follow basic rules of building science and not so common sense," says Al. "Saving 10-20% is fairly easy.  Saving 50-90% is a much bigger challenge."

 

Al purchased a duplex in Bath and has converted it to a super-efficient single family home with goal being to reduce the total energy load (heating + electrical) by 75%.  From basement to attic he restructured the entire envelope using a combination of techniques and materials that lend themselves to retrofit.

 

"Home energy usage is twenty two percent of the US carbon footprint (twice that of private cars).  A deep energy retrofit home will not only save you money, but be much more comfortable, improve indoor air quality and increase re-sale value.” says Heath. "The time to act is now, before the next price hikes."

Al is a Energy Auditor and Consultant in Bath.  Photos and more information are available at www.ColdClimateHome.com.  He can be reached at 522-4588 or al@coldclimatehome.com.

Our monthly Sustainable Living Talks are held at our store, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick, on the second Thursday of each month. Free and open to the public, but please call us at 729-4050 to let us know you're coming so we have enough seats for you.

Environmental Happenings

F.W. Horch hours: Mon by appointment, Tue-Sat 9:30-6, Sun Closed.

 

Global News

 

Federal officials have reopened more than 5,000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico to fishing, now that a temporary cap is in place over the damaged oil well from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. More than one quarter of United States waters in the Gulf remain closed to fishing. Officials estimate that at least 200 million gallons of oil flowed into the ocean between April and July. Scientists are now investigating the effects of this unprecedented event, with particular concern about the widespread use of chemical dispersants that were used to keep the oil suspended in the water.

 

State News

 

Maine homeowners can get up to $5,500 for energy efficiency projects with new state and federal incentives. According to Efficiency Maine, "Homeowners simply need to sign up by August 31, 2010 and submit their Rebate Reservation Form by September 30, 2010 to be eligible." For more information, visit Efficiency Maine.

 

Local Events

Thursday, August 12 - Pulling the Plug: Rethinking Energy in Maine, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick.  Bode von Franken is the artist also known as Robert Van Vranken. He now lives off grid in Brunswick, due to a series of unintentional events. Join Bode to explore the journey from the familiar life connected to the electricity grid to the unexpected freedom of living off grid. For more information, please call 729-4050. Free and open to the public.

Monday, August 16 - Image Gazer Film Festival, 12:00-1:30 pm, Ellsworth Grand Auditorium.  See the Natural Resources Council of Maine's documentary film, "Protecting the Nature of Maine," being shown as part of the Image Gazer Film Festival. The film will be shown from  along with another film, "Planting Hope." A one-day pass to view all movies is $10, a three-day pass is $25.  For more information, visit www.imagegazer.org.

Tuesday, August 17 - Product Stewardship State Legislative Forum, 2:15-5:15 pm, Holiday Inn by the Bay, Spring Street, Portland.  Join legislators, government, business representatives, solid waste officials, and environmental advocates to learn how business and states are turning today’s trash into tomorrow’s products at The Product Stewardship State Legislative Forum.  This forum is taking place in conjunction with the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference. Free and open to the public, this event is sponsored by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Council of State Governments, and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.  For more information, contact Matt Prindiville at mprindiville@nrcm.org or 430-0144.  Register online today.

Saturday, August 28 - Phragmites Removal Project, 10 am – 2 pm, Abagadasset River, Bowdoinham.  Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay to continue their effort (started last summer) eradicating a discrete and isolated stand of Phragmites located on the Abagadasset River. Cut and bag the seed heads, then squirt a dose of herbicide down each hollow stem. This method is labor intensive but is effective and selective - the herbicide is only applied directly to individual plants. An experienced, licensed applicator will be present to assist.  If you would like to take part in this rewarding opportunity to kill invasive plants and help protect the natural communities within Merrymeeting Bay please sign up with Misty Gorski at 737-8508 or fomb@suscom-maine.net.  For more information, visit Friends of Merrymeeting Bay online.

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Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service.  Check them out at

• http://www.meetup.com/Brunswick-Permaculture/
• http://www.meetup.com/portlandpermaculture/

A transition town group is active in the greater Brunswick area. Find out more about them and their events at

• http://www.meetup.com/Transition-Town-Brunswick/
  

For more news about Maine's environment, check out Maine Environmental News

Pulling the Plug: Rethinking Energy in Maine

We will host a talk by Bode von Franken titled "Pulling the Plug: Rethinking Energy in Maine," on Thursday, August 12, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

Bode von Franken is the artist also known as Robert Van Vranken. He now lives off grid in Brunswick, due to a series of unintentional events.

"I slowly stumbled into being completely off the grid," says von Franken. "One disaster led to another, and now we're completely free."

Von Franken's talk will explore the journey from the familiar life connected to the electricity grid to the unexpected freedom of living off grid. He will share his personal experiences during his journey to energy self-sufficiency on Pennellville Road in Brunswick.

Von Franken is best known as the artist Robert Van Vranken. His visual work, shown in New York at OK Harris Works of Art and in San Francisco at Jenkins-Johnson Gallery, has been described as "intellectually stimulating paintings of mysterious architectural spaces." A native of New York State, Van Vranken graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine and received an M.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute. He has received many awards, including residencies at the Djerassi Foundation and the MacDowell Colony. More information about him and his work is available online at www.rvvart.com.

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.

Hope you can join us!

Think Beyond Petroleum

July's Sustainable Living Tip

Help our country go "beyond petroleum." Most people think we need to drill for offshore gas and oil to meet our energy needs. Show them otherwise by choosing cleaner energy sources now.

Facts about Going "Beyond Petroleum"

1. According to Reuters, 56 percent of Americans polled in June 2010 believe offshore drilling is necessary for the United States to produce its own energy and not rely on other countries for oil.
2. Deep water drill rigs in the Gulf of Mexico are used to extract both oil and natural gas from rock formations under the ocean.
3. Oil and gas are global commodities, so it's hard to predict how lowering demand in the United States will affect any particular drill site. But lowering demand for fossil fuel anywhere in the world reduces the need to drill offshore for oil and gas everywhere in the world.
4. In the short term, you can help our country become more energy secure by reducing the amount of oil and gas you burn.
5. You will have the most impact on your consumption of oil and gas by focusing on three areas: 1) hot water, 2) transportation, and 3) home heating.
6. Installing low-flow shower heads and washing your clothes in cold water are two easy and effective ways to reduce your energy demand for hot water.
   
7. You can heat most of your domestic hot water (for showers, dish washing, laundry, etc.) this year and every year in the future with a solar hot water system.
8. Unless you carefully size your solar hot water system or can manage your demand, you will probably need a backup heat source to guarantee hot water is available all the time.
9. You can minimize your consumption of fossil fuel by choosing electricity or wood, rather than propane or natural gas, as the back up heat source for your solar hot water system.
   
10. Combining trips, carpooling, walking and bicycling more, and ensuring your tires are properly inflated are all ways you can reduce the amount of gas you burn for transportation.
11. Improving fuel efficiency will slightly reduce our country's need for oil. Switching to fully electric cars, trolleys and buses will dramatically reduce it.
12. Electric cars will be available in the United States starting in 2011, with mass market availability expected by 2012. Nissan estimates that by 2020 electric cars will account for 10% of the global market.
13. Batteries in electric cars may act as buffers to allow intermittent electricity sources like wind turbines to power a larger percentage of the grid without the need for natural gas turbines. If cars are plugged in to the grid while parked, their batteries can be charging when wind turbines are spinning, and discharging when wind turbines stop and the grid needs more power. Currently, stand by sources like hydro and natural gas need to be available to complement wind turbines and other intermittent renewable energy sources.
14. Weatherizing your home by sealing air leaks and improving insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy consumption. Efficiency Maine is running a summer special, giving up to $5,500 in state incentives to complete projects by August 31.
    
15. Installing zones and setting back your thermostat are also extremely effective energy conservation measures.
    
16. Replacing an old, inefficient heating system with a more efficient model is another way to reduce your energy consumption. But if you decide to replace your heating system you may want to consider switching energy sources as well.
17. In the long term, you can help our country achieve energy independence by choosing other energy sources instead of oil or gas.
18. According to the US Energy Information Administration, there are no natural gas or oil reserves in Maine.
19. Solar is the most significant energy source available to most Mainers. It is delivered daily throughout the state and can be harnessed with systems that are extremely durable and easy to maintain.
20. Wood is another energy source widely available. Systems that burn wood require more maintenance than systems that harness solar energy directly.
21. Wind is available to few Mainers. The best wind resources are along ridge lines, the coast, and offshore. Systems that harness wind energy tend to be difficult to maintain.
    
22. Electricity is a good choice for lowering your consumption of fossil fuel. Even though some natural gas is burned to generate electricity in Maine, you will still reduce your fossil fuel footprint by substituting electricity for heating oil, propane or natural gas. This is because much of the electricity in Maine is generated by hydro and biomass power plants, and an increasing amount is being generated by wind and solar.
23. If your house is currently connected to the public power grid, you can help clean up how electricity is generated in Maine by installing solar electric panels on your roof. Not only will you begin to supply your own power, but any excess power you produce will be used by your neighbors.

Environmental Happenings

Thursday, July 8 - Living Simply in an Affordable Solar Home, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick.  In 2008 Ben Tipton and his family sold their large home in Vermont, gave away or donated most of their possessions and moved to Maine. They now live more simply in a nearly carbon-free house, paying less than a dollar a day for utilities.  Join us to learn how Ben's family made the journey to "footprint reduction."  For more information, please call 729-4050. Free and open to the public.

Friday, July 9 - Friends of Highland Mountains, 7 pm, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Jonathan Carter of Forest Ecology Network and Karen Pease of Friends of the Highland Mountains will show a documentary DVD and speak about the proposed 48 turbine wind project proposed for the Highland Mountains in western Maine. Join them to find out why they believe "industrial wind isn’t green and is destroying Maine’s mountains." Free and open to the public.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 9, 10, 11 - Maine Bike Rally, 1 pm, Brunswick High School. Bicyclists from across Maine, New England, other states, and Canada will gather again this summer for the 22nd annual Maine Bike Rally. The Maine Bike Rally is a combined effort of local enthusiasts, the Casco Bay Bicycle Club, Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. The three-day event features both on-road and off-road rides as well as an accredited time-trial event. Riders can choose from more than 30 rides that vary in length from a short five miles to a 100-mile century ride winding through country lanes and shorelines. This year's event will be held at Brunswick High School with check-in and set up for campers beginning on Friday, July 9 at 1:00 pm. Bicyclists from Bath, Brunswick, Durham, Freeport, Harpswell, Topsham, and West-Bath ride for $15/person or $30/family meals not included. For more information, visit www.mainebikerally.org.

Saturday, July 10 - Merrymeeting Bay Bird Walk, 6:30-8:30 am, Bowdoinham.  Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay to learn about the diversity of birds found around Merrymeeting Bay. Led by Will Broussard, ornithologist and acoustics expert, this walk will provide numerous opportunities to see, hear, and learn more about the birds utilizing the abundant resources around Merrymeeting Bay. From eagles and ospreys to indigo buntings and Baltimore orioles, this is one walk you won’t want to miss!  Pre-registration with trip leader Will Broussard at 837-9520 is required.

Saturday, July 10 - Seasonal Organic Recipe Demonstration, Augusta Farmers' Market, Turnpike Mall (Exit 109 off Interstate 95). The Maine Organic Farmer and Gardeners Association's Organic Marketing Consultant and Resident Chef Cheryl Wixson will host a "Show and Taste" event at the Augusta Farmers' Market. A long-time local foods advocate, Wixson inspires eaters of all ages to enjoy the pleasures of local eating. Plan on leaving inspired to cook, with ingredients and recipes in hand! Wixson's "Show and Taste" will be one in a series of special events at the Augusta Farmers' Market this summer. For more information, contact Sarah Lincoln-Harrison via email at sarah@ecofarm.org or by phone at 781-771-2034.

Sunday, July 11 - Georges River Land Trust Gardens in the Watershed garden tour, 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine. Seven diverse, lovely gardens in South Thomaston, Thomaston and Cushing. Tickets $25 in advance; $28 on tour day. Gourmet bag lunch available by pre-order. For more information, call 594-5166 or email info@grlt.org

Saturday, July 17 - Local Foods Breakfast at Morris Farm, 8-11 am, 156 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset. Grace Goldberg, volunteer Chef at Morris Farm, also known for her work as the Give Peas a Chance Pea Soup Booth cooker at the Common Ground Fair, works magic in the kitchen with wholesome, organic, local ingredients. Menu includes eggs, home fries, blueberry scones, rhubarb coffeecake, coffee and tea. Adults $10, kids 5-12 $5, 4 and under eat free. For more information visit www.morrisfarm.org or call at 882-4080.

 

Saturday, July 17 - Boyd Street Bash, 11 am to 1 pm, Portland. Join Cultivating Community to celebrate the Urban Gardens, the Diversity of the Neighborhood and Urban Sustainability.  For more information, visit www.cultivatingcommunity.org

Friday, July 23 - Newforest Institute Open House, 9 am to 4 pm, Newforest Institute, 66 Monroe Highway, Brooks.  Join Bill Errickson & Lauren Buyofsky for instructional, hands-on permaculture garden projects in the morning, followed by lunch and a tour of the farm in the afternoon. Tour starts at 1:30 pm. Come for the morning, afternoon tour, or both!  Free, but please pre-register by calling 722-3625, emailing Bill@NewforestInstitute.org, or visiting www.newforestinstitute.org

Saturday, July 31 - Artisan Bread Fair, Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, Madison Avenue (210 North), Skowhegan. Wood-fired oven demonstrations, artisan bread samplings, and opportunities to talk with professional bakers and explore the best books, tools, and delicious accoutrements to artisan bread baking. For further information visit www.kneadingconference.com or contact Dusty Dowse, Fair Director, dowse@maine.edu, cell 717-4578.

Living Simply in an Affordable Green Home

We will host a talk by Ben Tipton titled "Living Simply in an Affordable Green Home," on Thursday, July 8, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

In 2008 Ben Tipton and his family sold their large home in Vermont, gave away or donated most of their possessions and moved to Maine. They now live in a nearly carbon-free house, enjoying a simple life with more time to spend as a family.

"We wanted to build a solar home that the average person could afford," says Ben. "We have succeeded and now our utility costs are less than a dollar a day."

Ben's talk will explain their family's journey to "footprint reduction." In addition to building an affordable solar home, they are growing some of their own food, live locally and sustainably. They believe you don't have to have a lot of money to live small. There will be a short presentation followed by an open discussion on the theme "I cannot change my past carbon footprint, but I will do everything possible to limit my children's."

Ben is not a leading expert and holds no awards or degrees in sustainability. He does, however, try to live with low impact on the earth and to teach his children about being good stewards of the planet. Recently his family's near zero energy home, which is part of the Solar Homes Tour, was featured in Design New England. His common sense and down to earth view of sustainability recognizes that it all starts with each person's story. "I hope you are inspired by my story," he says, "and I hope one day your story can inspire me."

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 if you're interested in attending please call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Environmental Happenings

F.W. Horch hours: Mon by appointment, Tue-Sat 9:30-6, Sun Closed.

 

Global News

 

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst oil spill in United States history. According to Time magazine, by the end of May the undersea gusher had released at least 20 million gallons of crude oil -- almost double the amount of oil spilled off the coast of Alaska by the Exxon Valdez. BP, the company responsible for the event, has used nearly one million gallons of chemical dispersants on the surface and at the wellhead in an effort to break up the crude and accelerate the evaporation process. Scientists warn that the effect of the oil and chemicals together could devastate wildlife populations in one of the world's most productive ecosystems.

 

United Nations climate talks involving representatives from 182 countries opened in Bonn, Germany, on Monday, May 31. The goal of the meeting is to pick up where last December's Copenhagen Accord left off, and set the agenda for next December's 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Mexico. Under the non-binding Copenhagen Accord, developed nations indicated that they would provide "new and additional resources, including forestry and investments through international institutions, approaching $30 billion for the period 2010-2012 with balanced allocation between adaptation and mitigation."

 

Local Events

Saturday, June 5 - Merrymeeting Bay Shoreline Cleanup, 12-2 pm, Abbagadassett Point in Bowdoinham or Butler Cover in Bath.  Celebrate National River Month with Friends of Merrymeeting Bay for their annual Merrymeeting Bay Cleanup. This year volunteers will gather in two locations.  Help your community by scouring the shoreline for trash; make this magnificent watershed even more beautiful. You can bring the kids too!  Pre-registration is required. To register for the Bowdoinham cleanup please contact Helen Watts at 666-3920 or 522-9366. For the Bath cleanup please contact David Barber at 442-9335 or boatshop@gwi.net.  Trash will be collected, documented and sorted for recycling and disposal. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear and bring work gloves.

Sunday, June 6 - FRESH the Movie, 4 pm, Colonial Theatre, Belfast.  Premier screening of FRESH the Movie, followed by interactive talk on the topic of revving up the connections between traditional family farms and local consumers. Led by a panel including John Piotti, Executive Director, Maine Farmland Trust; Troy Nelson of Nelson Family Farm, a fifth generation cattle farmer in Palermo who sells his meat direct off the farm and at the Camden Farmers' Market; Dr. Joseph Anderson of Belfast Pediatrics, a local advocate of the 5-2-1-0 Initiative, which teaches and promotes the integration of healthy habits in every area of children's lives; Vyvenne Ritchie of Healthy Waldo County. Sponsored by Our Town Belfast (a Maine Downtown Network community organization), the Belfast Farmers' Market, Healthy Waldo County and the Belfast Co-op. Maine-made drinks and snacks. More about the film at freshthemovie.com. For more information or to purchase tickets contact Anne Saggese 338-0651 or Larraine Brown at 323-2747 Advance tickets available at the Green Store on Main Street in Belfast and at Sweet Henry's at the Belfast and Camden Farmers' Markets.

Tuesday, June 8 - Maine primaries and referendum.  Don't forget to vote!

Tuesday, June 8 - Healthy Eating As A Vegan, Vegetarian or Omnivore, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Barrel's Community Market, 74 Main Street, Waterville.  Panel discussion hosted by the Sustain Mid-Maine Coalition. Cheryl Wixson, MOFGA's Organic Marketing Consultant, will serve as the omnivore panelist.

Wednesday, June 9 - Music Inspired by the Environment, 7-10 pm, Liberal Cup, Water Street, Hallowell.  Join host Allison Wells and other Natural Resources Council of Maine  staff for an open Mic Night.  Bring your guitar, shakers, and your favorite environment-inspired songs, or just come, meet NRCM staff, and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and the Liberal Cup’s homemade English pub-style food and beverages.  NRCM staff will be performing some of our own favorites – and inviting you to sing along!  Admittance is free and open to the public.  If you would like to perform a song, please email your song title and artist to beth@nrcm.org.

Thursday, June 10 - Going Solar: Energy From the Sun, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to learn how to harness the sun's energy for heat and power. John Capron of ReVision Energy will explain how solar power systems work, how much solar energy is available at different times of the year for space heating, hot water and electricity, and how much different options cost. For more information, please call 729-4050. Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, June 15 - Evening paddle on the Cathance River, 6:30-8:30 pm.  Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay member and kayak guide, Ian Ramsey, for an evening paddle on the Cathance River.  To pre-register please contact Ian Ramsey at 751-7569.

Wednesday, June 16 - Sustainable Living Presentation, 6 - 8 pm, Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth.  Dr. Catherine Elliott, Extension Specialist and co-author of "Living Sustainable: It’s Your Choice," will explore the concept of sustainable living, discussing three of the barriers to living sustainably in the United States and suggesting ways to overcome them.  If you wish to adopt sustainable living practices, such as buying local foods, service, and products; spending more time outdoors; being more active; reducing carbon footprints; reducing use of toxic substances; living within your means and sharing rather than buying, or wish to reduce waste by reducing, reusing, recycling, repurposing, refusing, composting, or donating, this presentation is for you.  Free and open to the public.  UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals.  For more information on the Tidewater Learning Center, to donate to the building campaign, to get involved or to learn about future events, visit: www.extension.umaine.edu/tidewater/ or call 780-4213.

Friday, June 18 - LL Bean Green Expo, 10 am - 4 pm, LL Bean, Freeport.  Visit LL Bean's flagship store in Freeport for a day of green events. See "The Big Green Bus," a bus that runs on waste vegetable oil; learn about "Bean Green," LL Bean’s commitment to environmental stewardship; try "Greening your Home," with representatives from Efficiency Maine, Revision Energy, and Sunrise Guide; watch "Local Sustainability: Maine Roundtable," a multi-media presentation by The Green Living Project showcasing sustainability-related projects in Maine; and enjoy a "Pedal Power Smoothie," whipped up by a bicycle-powered blender.

Saturday, June 19 - Cathance River Education Alliance 10 Year Anniversary, Wild Duck Pub, Highland Green. Celebrate a decade of CREA with hikes, golf, games, a band, cookout, and ecology center tours. Speakers: John Rensenbrink, John Wasileski, Rick Wilson, and Angela Twitchell, Executive Director of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. For more information, visit creamaine.org.

Friday, June 25 - Meet Your Farmer premier, 6 - 9:30 pm, Strand Theatre, Rockland. Eight short documentaries by filmmakers Cecily Pingree and Jason Mann tell the diverse stories of eight Maine farms: from Aroostook to York, from potatoes to dairy, from large commercial operations to small farms that sell directly to local people. Farm-Fresh Food from 6:00-7:15 pm. 7:15 pm doors open. 7:30 pm films start with commentary and Q&A. 9:00-9:30 pm: Coffee and Chocolates. Tickets: For the entire event - $20 for Maine Farmland Trust members; $25 for non-members. Film and coffee reception (doors open at 7:15) - $10. Purchase tickets through Maine Farmland Trust by calling 338-6575 or by emailing Anna Abaldo
. More about Maine Farmland Trust at www.mainefarmlandtrust.org

Friday, July 2 to Sunday, July 4 - Northeast Permaculture Convergence, MOFGA Common Ground Education Center, Unity.  The 6th Annual Northeast Permaculture Convergence hopes to continue the tradition of bringing the permaculture community together to share, learn, collaborate and celebrate.  For more information, please visit northeastconvergence.wordpress.com.

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Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service.  Check them out at

• http://www.meetup.com/Brunswick-Permaculture/
• http://www.meetup.com/portlandpermaculture/

A transition town group is active in the greater Brunswick area. Find out more about them and their events at

• http://www.meetup.com/Transition-Town-Brunswick/
  

For more news about Maine's environment, check out Maine Environmental News