Indoor Air - October's Sustainable Living Tip

As you tighten up your home for winter, it's all the more important to protect indoor air quality by choosing heaters, paints, finishes and cleaning products that don't emit noxious fumes.

Indoor Air Quality Facts

1. According to the EPA, indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air even in the largest and most industrialized cities.
2. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors.
   
3. While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution.
4. Appliances that burn oil, gas or wood create potentially deadly air pollutants such as carbon monoxide; vents must take that pollution outside where it will be diluted.
5. Solar and electric space heaters are clean ways to heat your home that do not contribute to indoor air pollution.
   
6. Some types of paint, finishes, furniture, carpet, and cleaning products continuously emit pollutants.
7. When painting, you can avoid dangerous fumes by choosing "zero-VOC" water-based acrylic paint or milk paint.
   
8. You can improve indoor air quality by choosing resilient flooring such as Marmoleum natural linoleum instead of carpeting. Carpeting harbors dust mites and other sources of pollution.
   
9. Mold grows in moist areas, particularly on surfaces where condensation forms.
10. Install exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to remove warm, moist air that can lead to condensation and mold.
11. Another way to prevent mold is to insulate well and prevent warm air from flowing over cold surfaces. Spray foams and dense pack cellulose are effective insulation materials that also prevent air flow.
12. Petroleum-based fragrances and air fresheners found in conventional cleaning products can negatively affect indoor air quality.
13. Certain types of insecticides and moth balls contain extremely toxic chemicals that can contaminate indoor air. Use safer alternatives, such as boric acid traps for ants, glass traps for fruit flies, and pheromone traps for moths.
    
14. According to the EPA, eliminating the sources of indoor air pollution is the most effective long-term strategy for improving indoor air quality in most homes.
15. Ventilating a home, bringing in fresh outdoor air and exhausting stale indoor air, is also important. In a typical home, exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens vented directly to the outdoors provide sufficient ventilation. But in extremely tight construction in Maine's climate, a special-purpose heat recovery ventilator, which exchanges indoor and outdoor air without losing heat, may be necessary.
16. An air cleaner may help individuals with allergies or particular sensitivities to indoor air problems that cannot be removed (such as built-in cabinets or carpets in rental units). Research is underway examining the effectiveness of houseplants and other non-conventional means of improving indoor air quality.

Environmental Happenings

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/

Thursday, October 9 - Solar Power: Electricity from the Sun, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to learn from John Capron of ReVision Energy how to generate electricity from the sun. Space is limited! To reserve a spot, please call us at 729-4050.

Thursday, October 30 - Powering Up Maine: How businesses are coping with rising energy costs, 1 - 4 pm, The Wyndham Hotel, South Portland, a half-day event to help businesses learn about choices and resources for coping with energy costs and demands. $35 includes your food and beverages at the reception. For more information, visit http://www.mainebiz.biz/symposium08.html

Saturday, November 8 - Go Green Expo, 10 am - 4 pm, Mt. Ararat High School Gymnasium, Topsham. A free consumer expo open to the public, featuring keynote Kurt Adams who will will speak on "Green Energy in Maine: Fighting Climate Change and Growing Our Economy" at noon.

Featured Products for October

Maine-Made Drying Rack

Our best seller at Common Ground Fair, this large drying rack features a unique design, thick birch dowels, and a lifetime guarantee from the craftsman who makes them here in Maine!
Large drying rack $75

Learn more »

SolarSheat Space Heater

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. Now anyone can go solar!
5,000 BTU/hr $1,979

Learn more »

Convectair Electric Space Heater

Perfect as a complement to a solar space heater, or anywhere you need a heating boost. Hangs on the wall and plugs into a regular 120 volt outlet.
1250 watts $257

Learn more »

Pur Fill Insulation Foam

Stop drafts around windows and doors with Pur Fill WF low-expanding polyurethane foam. 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 »

Yolo Colorhouse Paint

YOLO Colorhouse performs like a premium conventional paint, yet it has low odor, no harmful chemicals, and no added solvents. Best of all, real paint posters are available so you can see the actual color on your wall before you paint!
Gallon $44.95

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.
$36 per square yard ($4/sf).

Learn more »

News From ReVision Energy

ReVision Energy has been in the news. Pat Coon speaks with NPR about the growing rate of employment opportunity within the renewable energy industry. You can listen to his interview to hear what he has to say about how this industry is growing and how help from the state can improve it.

http://www.mpbn.net/asx/080909greenjobs.asx

ReVision Energy had the opportunity to work with Kaplan Thomson Architects and a handful of other design companies to construct an office studio in Rockport, Maine. This office studio was a demonstrative project called BrightBuilt Barn. The goal is to use the building techniques used in BrightBuilt Barn to create reasonably priced, easy to assemble homes that use a fraction of the energy of conventional homes. You can view more about this project in the two links below.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=209134&ac=PHbiz

www.brightbuiltbarn.com

Solar Tour

Don’t forget this October 4^th is the American Solar Energy Society’s National Green Buildings Open House. This event is a wonderful opportunity to view homes and businesses that have solar installations in place and to talk to the homeowners who are living with them. This event is open house style; you are welcome to view any of the homes during their available hours at your leisure. To find a participating home close to you please look on our website www.revisionenergy.com

Other Events Coming Up:

The Maine Biz Symposium ~ Maine Biz will be hosting a Symposium called Powering Up Maine: How Businesses are Coping with Rising Energy Costs & Demands. This is a half day event to help businesses learn about choices and resources for coping with energy costs and demands.

http://www.mainebiz.biz/symposium08.html

Go Green Expo in Topsham ~ The Southern Maine Midcoast Chamber is hosting its second annual Go Green Expo at Mt. Ararat High school in Topsham, Maine. The event will be November 8 from 10-4pm. ReVision Energy will be there and will be presenting, time not yet confirmed. We hope to see you there!

http://www.midcoastmaine.com/chamber-info/release.php?nID=322

Solar Power: Electricity from the Sun

F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine St., Brunswick, will host a talk by John Capron, of ReVision Energy, titled "Solar Power: Electricity from the Sun," on Thursday, October 9, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

For each five hundred and fifty square feet (25'x22') of sunny, south-facing roof space in Maine, solar photovoltaic panels can generate 6,500 kilowatt hours of electricity every year -- well over 100% of an average family's annual power consumption. As Mainers consider higher energy prices and rising levels of global greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, many are turning to the sun to generate electricity reliably and cleanly on their own rooftops.

Capron's talk will explain the basics of generating electricity from the sun. Attendees will learn how photovoltaic systems work, how much power is available to be harvested from the sun, which types of solar electricity systems are available today, and how much they cost. The talk will also cover common questions and concerns, such as how a homeowner can find out if her roof is sunny enough, how long an installation will take, whether a system will pay for itself in energy savings, and what financial incentives are available.

ReVision Energy (www.revisionenergy.com) is a full service renewable energy company offering design, sales, installation and service. Formerly known as Energyworks, ReVision Energy has emerged as an industry leader, having installed more than half of all solar energy systems in Maine for the past three years. Their engineers from MIT and Brown University have a combined 25 years experience in the design, installation and service of renewable energy systems.

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.

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.

Composting - August's Sustainable Living Tip

Compost year round to ease the burden on your local landfill while building soil fertility in your own landscape.

Composting Facts

1. Composting is the best way to handle food scraps and other solid waste that can decompose into a beneficial soil amendment.
2. Anything that was once living can be composted, including kitchen scraps, yard clippings, paper, cardboard, meat, fish, bones and wood.
3. The easiest items to compost are vegetables, coffee grounds, leaves, grass clippings, and other soft plant trimmings.
4. A kitchen compost pail makes it convenient to collect and transport food waste to another location for composting.
5. A successful composting process breaks down waste into a rich humus without producing foul odors or attracting pests.
6. Finished compost improves soil fertility, providing minerals and nutrients that are essential for plant growth.
7. Any soil can be improved by adding compost: sandy soils will better retain water and clay soils will become less dense.
8. You can compost outdoors or indoors, in any climate and any season, using a variety of tools, techniques and equipment.
9. Depending on the mix of materials, you will produce about 1 liter of compost for every 8 liters of garbage.
10. According to the EPA, at least 40% of the municipal solid waste stream could be composted instead of landfilled, incinerated, or dumped at sea.
11. It is a common misconception that putting food waste in your garbage helps the operation of incinerators and landfills; it does not.
    
12. Wet food waste reduces the efficiency of incinerators, because water doesn't burn.
13. Rather than breaking down naturally, organic materials in landfills persist and can release dangerous gases and contribute to water pollution.
14. Aerobic (with oxygen) decomposition is faster and does not produce the foul odors associated with anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition.
15. During an aerobic composting process, microorganisms combine oxygen from the air with hydrogen and carbon in the waste materials, to release energy and water and carbon dioxide gas.
16. During an anaerobic composting process, microorganisms employ slower metabolic pathways to release energy and methane and other gases that do not contain oxygen.
17. Water, air and warm temperatures are necessary for aerobic composting.
18. With suitable composting conditions, you can produce compost in a few days.
19. The fastest and most reliable way to compost all year round is to chop waste into small pieces and use an automatic composter like the NatureMill, which includes a fan, heater and mixer.
20. You can compost in simple piles, burial pits, above-ground digesting bins, tumbling bins, and composting worm bins.
21. Watering and turning a compost pile can dramatically improve the speed and consistency of the results.
22. All organic materials contain varying amounts of nitrogen and carbon. "Green" materials such as plant clippings, kitchen scraps and manure have a higher nitrogen content than "brown" materials such as dry leaves, cardboard and paper.
23. The ideal ratio of nitrogen and carbon for decomposing microorganisms to thrive, requires roughly equal amounts of greens and browns.
24. Storing shredded, dry fall leaves in a garbage can or bag is a good way to keep a ready supply of browns for use in the spring and summer.
25. Tissue paper, paper towels, newspaper, office paper, cardboard, wood chips and sawdust are other sources of browns.
26. If you add too many greens, your mixture may begin to smell bad. If you add too many browns, your mixture will take longer to turn into compost.
27. Finished compost is black or dark brown in color, uniform in consistency, and earthy in odor.
28. Composting recycles nutrients to benefit lawns, gardens, trees and bushes, and houseplants.
29. You can mix compost into your garden soil, use it for sprouting seeds, enrich potting soil with it, apply it as a mulch, or simply spread it on your lawn.

Environmental Happenings

Former Vice President Al Gore on July 17 challenged the United States to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources within ten years. He proposed creating a national grid to connect wind power in the Dakotas with cities to the east and west. In issuing this challenge, Vice President Gore echoed the efforts of the The Apollo Alliance, a "coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, cut the carbon emissions that are destabilizing our climate, and expand opportunities for American businesses and workers."

According to a joint press release from Maine Audubon and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, during a month-long comment period which ended July 11, Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission received 1,762 comments opposing Plum Creek’s development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. Of these, 1,517 stated specific opposition to development at Lily Bay. Six people contacted LURC during this period to voice support for Plum Creek’s plan as currently envisioned. By 85.8 percent, all comments received by LURC during this comment period oppose Lily Bay development, an additional 13.9 percent oppose the entire Plum Creek proposal, and only 0.3 percent support the plan.

A Moosehead Conservation Framework agreement among The Nature Conservancy, conservation partners, and landowner Plum Creek would conserve more than 400,000 acres around Moosehead Lake. The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club and the Forest Society of Maine are jointly raising public and private funds for the project. The total cost of the easement and fee purchases will be $35 million.

On Tuesday, August 5, oil fell to below $120 per barrel. Many market observers believe the drop in oil prices is due to a decline in demand. For example, U.S. gasoline demand in July 2008 was 2.4% below last year's consumption. Forecasters expect overall annual gasoline demand for the rest of the year to be between 2% and 5% below 2007's level of 390 million barrels per day. If so, U.S. consumers will burn between 7.8 and 19.5 million fewer gallons of gasoline this year than last. This will be the first annual decline over the previous year since 1991.

Saturday, August 9 - Field Trip: Glacial Geology of Merrymeeting Bay, Brunswick High School. Join surficial geologist Tom Weddle, a 22 year veteran of the Maine Geologic Survey, and Friends of Merrymeeting Bay for an exciting walk back in geologic time. The group will meet at 8:30 am in the front parking area of Brunswick High School. Pre-registration is required for this trip. Please register with trip leader Tom Weddle at 729-6122 or Thomas.K.Weddle@maine.gov

Sunday, August 10 - Hydrogen Vehicles Visit Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth. The Hydrogen Energy Center (HEC) and Maine Clean Communities (MC2) are pleased to bring a fleet of hydrogen vehicles to Portland Head Light (Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth) on Sunday August 10, 2008 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

Thursday, August 14 - Free Hot Water from the Sun, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to learn from Master Plumber George Doughty how to heat your water with free solar energy. To reserve a spot, please call us at 729-4050.

Tuesday, August 26 - Maine Railway Transportation Forum, 5:30 - 8 pm, Glickman Library, University of South Maine, Portland Campus. An overview of the economic potential of Maine's railway system. Sponsored by the Sierra Club and Fishman Realty Group. For more information, please call 761-5616 or 775-6561.

Sunday, September 7 - Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Race for Space, 9 am, Livesay Field (Corner of Middle Bay & Pennellville Roads), 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.

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. For more information, please visit www.mofga.org »

Featured Products for August

Kitchen Compost Pail

Do you compost? Our stainless steel compost pail is a stylish way to collect your food scraps for the compost pile or bin. Beautiful enough to leave on the kitchen counter. Easy to carry and clean. Carbon filters in lid contain odors. Holds about a gallon. $33.50 Learn more »

Home Composting Made Easy

Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for composting in your own backyard. Instead of overburdening your local landfill, learn how to turn kitchen scraps, yard trimmings and paper scraps into "black gold" for your lawn and garden. $2.95 Learn more »

Rain Barrels

Garden thirsty? Harvest the rain to water your garden and plants. Save money on water bills while helping to protect your local rivers and aquifers. Storing rain water keeps storm run off from overloading your community's storm drains. Using rain water instead of pumped well water or treated municipal water keeps salts out of your garden and keeps water in aquifers and reservoirs for other uses. In stock again after a dry spell (we sold out earlier in the year), our rain barrels are re-used food-grade plastic barrels. $85 Learn more »

NatureMill Indoor / Outdoor Electric Composter

Looking for the fastest, easiest and most fool-proof method to turn kitchen waste into rich compost? Try a NatureMill Plus. We've never seen a composter work as quickly and reliably as the new NatureMills. This year's models (Plus, Pro and Pet Friendly) are a huge advance over last year's. The NatureMill Plus composts up to 120 pounds of food waste per month--and this isn't just marketing hype. It really does work. You can use it indoors or outdoors throughout the year, even in rain, sleet or snow. These NatureMills are giving our worms bins a run for their money for year-round composting! Learn more »

Can O Worms

For those more inclined to compost biologically than mechanically (see NatureMills above), we offer vermiculture. Conveniently compost your kitchen scraps all year round with the help of hundreds of hungry red wigglers. Now is the perfect time to start a worm colony. By the time cold weather comes you'll have a healthy population built up and ready for winter! Plus, next spring you'll have a nice supply of worm castings, the very best fertilizer you can make. Learn more »

Worm Castings

Have you tried worm castings on your houseplants or container garden? If you have, you know what an incredible treat these are for potted plants! For maintaining plant health and vigor naturally, nothing beats worm castings. Learn more »

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Why drink bottled water? Because you can refill your own reusable bottle! We carry a full line of stainless steel water bottles. They are rugged, reliable and virtually indestructible. Our one liter size with a plastic sport top is $17.95. Learn more »

News from ReVision Energy

An update on the State Rebate Program:

When the state abruptly suspended its solar hot water rebate program on June 20^th because Mainers had consumed all 2008 rebate funds in just six months, there were a large number of applicants in the pipeline who thought for sure they would be getting a rebate. Rather than turn these applications away, the state has decided to distribute 2009’s rebate money. As it stands now there is no rebate available for solar hot water until 2010. You might be able to help us fix this problem by contacting your state legislators to let them know that Mainers believe renewable energy rebate funding should be a priority.

http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_officials.php »

Investing in renewable energy is a win for everyone: lower fossil fuel costs, lower emissions and less money flowing out of Maine. Almost every penny that our great state spends fossil fuels flows somewhere else when it could be supporting the local growth of renewable energy jobs and industry here in Maine.

So you still want to find a way to get the system you wanted, right?! That’s what we thought, which brings us to the subject of financing. Bangor Savings Bank (www.bangor.com) is currently offering loans as low as 6.75% for renewable energy systems. A home equity loan from your local bank is another great way to finance an energy efficiency upgrade—typically the energy savings from a system will be enough to cover the loan payment.

The good rebate news is that there will be a $100,000 pool of lottery rebates for grid-tied solar electric systems. Applications can be submitted starting December 1^st this year. Those who are awarded the rebate will receive $2,000 toward the installation of a solar electric system, which must be commissioned in 2009. We can help you apply for a PV lottery rebate. Please call 221-6342 or email jen@revisionenergy.com and we’ll get the ball rolling.

Other ReVision Happenings:

It’s still summer, but most Mainers are thinking heating season. At ReVision Energy we have wood and wood pellet boilers in stock and ready to go. Please call us to see if a wood boiler is something that may be of interest to you. We have also updated our website. You can view a lot of information online. Please go to www.RevisionEnergy.com.

Mark your calenders this fall.

• September 13-14^th is the Go Green Expo in Saco.
• October 4^th is the Solar Tour held by the National Solar Energy Association, and
• November 8^th is the Go Green Expo in Topsham.

We’ll keep you updated.

Be Well,

ReVision Energy LLC

Solar Hot Water, August's Sustainable Living Talk

F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine St., Brunswick, will host a talk by George Doughty, of George F. Doughty Plumbing and Heating, titled "Free Hot Water from the Sun," on Thursday, August 14, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

Solar hot water systems heat water for domestic uses such as showers, dish washers, clothes washers and sinks. During the day, heat from the sun is collected and then transferred to a storage tank, providing hot water whenever needed. Most systems in Maine are designed to operate all year round. Often solar hot water systems work in conjunction with electric heating elements, which provide back up heat in periods of cloudy weather or excessive hot water use.

Doughty's talk will explain the basics of solar hot water systems for people interested in reducing their exposure to high energy costs. Attendees will learn how much solar hot water systems cost, how much hot water they can provide, and how much energy they can save. The talk will also cover common pitfalls, and recommend cost-effective strategies whether building a system yourself or hiring a contractor.

George Doughty brings more than 3 decades of experience to the subject, having installed his first solar hot water system in 1980. George F Doughty Plumbing and Heating is a full service father and son team. In addition to his plumbing and heating business of 35 years, George has been a promoter of alternative energy since the 1980's when his business, The Back Forty, sold hundreds of solar systems throughout New England as a supplier for the National Solar Water Heater Workshop. George is a Master Plumber, Master Oil and Solid Fuel Technician, Certified Solar Installer and was an instructor for the Solar Installer's course.

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.

September's talk will feature Gerard Gagnon of Ace Insulation, sharing home insulation tips and tricks from a professional.

Column: Green Challenges

You’re on the farmhouse porch at Elderberry Pond in upstate New York, past sunset on a July evening. The frogs sing and the fireflies dance. The leaves of the apple trees rustle. You feel the Earth’s turning, your ears and imagination attuned to the intensity of life all around.

Merby and Lou Lego, my wife’s aunt and uncle, began farming at Elderberry Pond more than 20 years ago. Starting with land that had been in conventional corn and soybean rotation, they spent 15 years rebuilding soil fertility to support their 100-acre organic apple orchard, farm and restaurant.

While few of us have an organic farm and gourmet restaurant, all of us who are striving to “go green” face the same five challenges Merby and Lou have tackled:

1. Commitment. An organic farm commits to growing healthy crops from healthy soil, without synthetic chemicals and federal corn and soybean subsidies. You might commit to powering your home from clean electricity, without coal mining or governmentally-subsidized nuclear power. The first step in going green is making a commitment.

2. Priorities. A farmer must know the carrying capacity of his or her land, and which crops to plant to improve the soil. You need to know your budget, and which projects need to happen first. Will you buy a hybrid car, or move downtown so you can walk to work and shop? The second step in going green is setting your priorities.

3. Learning. When Merby and Lou started farming, they had no formal training. Undaunted, they threw themselves into an experiment on 100 acres. What are the possibilities for your life? Read, talk with experts, immerse yourself in the excitement of discovery as you go green.

4. Adaptation. Elderberry Farm sits on a limestone ridge; Merby and Lou have never been able to grow blueberries, but their potatoes are amazing. Your home might be surrounded by trees, unsuitable for solar power. But your landscaping could provide energy-efficient shelter from winter storms and shade from summer sun. Go green in a way that makes sense for you and your particular circumstances.

5. Sharing. In January and February, the restaurant at Elderberry Farm closes so Merby and Lou can give talks at farm conferences around the country. At conventional farm conferences, Lou tells me, the norm is secrecy and competition, whereas at organic farm conferences, you’re supposed to be honest and nice. As you go green, remember to share what you discover, so others can follow your path.

I hope you find the courage and resources to surmount these challenges in going green. And if you visit upstate New York, I encourage you to enjoy the restaurant at Elderberry Pond and all it represents!

For related resources and links, please 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.

Local Environmental Scene

What's Happening in the Local Environmental Scene

In June the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted a preliminary permit to the Maine Tidal Energy Company to study the feasibility of the Kennebec Tidal Energy Hydroelectric Project, proposed for a site under the river between Chops Point in Woolwich and West Chops Point in Bath. Some environmental and governmental groups are concerned about the location, because of its potential impact on wildlife and recreational use of the Kennebec River.

Sears Island is the largest undeveloped publicly-owned island on the East Coast. A recent plan brokered by several environmental groups and the Maine Department of Transportation calls for building a container port as well as an environmental education center on the island. The most controversial element of the plan is to allow developers in other parts of the state to drain wetlands in exchange for promising not to develop the wetlands that already exist on Sears Island. Proponents of the "Umbrella Mitigation Bank for Transportation" claim that it will lead to a net gain of wetlands protection compared to what would otherwise happen, while opponents stress that it will permit the destruction of wetlands throughout the state.

As the summer rush of beachgoers begins, biologists are saying the endangered piping plover is already having the worst breeding season in nearly 20 years on Maine's beaches--making it especially important for people to pay attention and respect the birds' needs. According to the Times Record, only 19 pairs of state-endangered piping plovers are currently nesting on beaches in southern and Mid-coast Maine -- including Reid State Park in Georgetown -- down from 35 pairs last year and a high of 66 in 2002.

Oil prices over the Fourth of July weekend hit a record $145 per barrel, while the US national average gasoline price reached almost $4.10. But even at $5 a gallon, the price of gasoline in the United States would be a bargain compared to Europe. In May the average price in the European Union was $8.70 per gallon.

Plans for wind farms continue in Maine. TransCanada has proposed building a 44-turbine, 132-megawatt commercial wind power project in northern Franklin County. FirstWind's Stetson Mountain 38-turbine, 57-megawatt wind farm, under construction now, will be the state's largest wind farm when it comes online. The Mars Hill 28-turbine, 42-megawatt wind farm is currently the state's largest. It has generated over 165 million kilowatt hours of electricity since beginning operations in March 2007.

Thursday, July 10 - Build Your Own Solar Mower, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to learn how to convert a gas mower to a solar battery charged electric power. An audacious idea to save the planet!

Friday - Sunday, July 11-13 - Maine Bike Rally, Fryeburg, Maine. This three-day event features more than 30 rides to choose from both off-road and on-road, some as short as five miles, others 100 miles long. Learn more »

Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 15 - August 7 - Organic Arts Program at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. In this all-ages six-week gardening and art project, families can grow and harvest food in a community garden in the morning, then create art about organic lifestyles in the afternoon. Open to parents and children; $30 per adult and $10 per child, per day. For more information, please contact Michelle Lisi-D'Alauro at (207) 837-9580.

Thursday, July 24 - Androscoggin Source to the Sea Paddle, Brunswick to Bath, 7 am to 1 pm, with Friends of Merrymeeting Bay. Experienced paddlers only. For more information, please contact Ed Friedman, 666-3372.

Saturday, July 26 - Bird Sounds Stroll, Bowdoinham, 6 to 8 am, with Friends of Merrymeeting Bay. For more information, please contact Will Broussard, 837-9520.

News from ReVision Energy for July

On Friday, June 20 we were informed that the Maine State Solar Rebate has been suspended for the rest of the year due to the overwhelming interest in solar hot water systems by Maine residents. Simply put, the rebates have been gobbled up.

The good news is that they have been used up because this was a successful program and helped to encourage hundreds of people to venture towards alternative energy systems. The continual rise in fuel prices and the growing awareness of the environmental and geopolitical challenges of our dependence on fossil fuels is starting to make people look for steadfast alternatives. Solar energy systems are just that.

As the state rebates are running out, however, good loan programs are popping up. Financing an energy saving investment like a solar hot water or solar electric system, especially when done at below market rates, can result in a ‘payback’ in the very first year as your savings more than pay for your loan payments (not to mention the $2k you’ll get back on your taxes next year if you act soon).

Financing Options:

There are loans that may be available to help you finance an installation. One option, offered through the Maine State Housing Authority, is called the H.E.L.P. loan, or home energy loan program. This loan can be applied for up to $30,000 with a 3.9% interest rate for home improvements that increase the home’s energy efficiency, including solar hot water installations. Here is a link to H.E.L.P. loan info: http://www.mainehousing.org/PROGRAMSHelp.aspx?ProgramID=32

A home equity loan can be another way to fund your installation. In our experience, the monthly fuel savings from a solar hot water system and boiler control improvements can often exceed the monthly payments of a home equity loan, thereby making the investment ‘cash flow positive’ from the moment the solar hot water system is commissioned. We recommend that you contact your mortgage-holding bank to see what rates might be available. ReVision Energy has also been notified that Bangor Savings Bank is developing a targeted loan program to help homeowners fund home efficiency upgrades including solar hot water installations.

Like many of you, we wish the state rebate had not run out before summer even began. We encourage you to contact your elected officials and let them know that you think the rebate program is helpful to Mainers looking to offset their energy bills and that you want to see it re-instated as soon as possible. Follow the link below to find your elected officials:

http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_officials.php

At ReVision Energy we are here to help you find a system that makes sense for you. Please view our website to learn more about the installations we provide: solar hot water, solar electric systems, as well as wood or wood pellet boilers. Call us at 221-6342 to see if you have a good home for one of these systems.

Happy 4^th of July to everyone – and wishing a safe return to all the men and women in service and away from home.

Featured Products for July

Rain Barrels

Garden thirsty? Harvest the rain to water your garden and plants. Save money on water bills while helping to protect your local rivers and aquifers. Storing rain water keeps storm run off from overloading your community's storm drains. Using rain water instead of pumped well water or treated municipal water keeps salts out of your garden and keeps water in aquifers and reservoirs for other uses. In stock again after a dry spell (we sold out earlier in the year), our rain barrels are re-used food-grade plastic barrels. $85 Learn more »

Neuton Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

Don't have time to build your own battery-powered mower? Try a Neuton! America's #1 selling battery-powered mower, the Neuton is a superbly designed mower. Just squeeze the handle and off you go. No fumes and no cord. A fully charged battery lasts 45 minutes, and it's snap to swap in a spare battery if your lawn takes longer. Order direct from manufacturer Learn more »

Rechargeable Acculoop Batteries

These new nickel metal hydride batteries come fully charged and ready to use. Not only are they reusable up to 1,000 times, but the Acculoop batteries hold their charge much better than other brands. Learn more »

NatureMill Indoor / Outdoor Electric Composter

Looking for the fastest, easiest and most fool-proof method to turn kitchen waste into rich compost? Try a NatureMill Plus. We've never seen a composter work as quickly and reliably as the new NatureMills. This year's models (Plus, Pro and Pet Friendly) are a huge advance over last year's. The NatureMill Plus composts up to 120 pounds of food waste per month--and this isn't just marketing hype. It really does work. You can use it indoors or outdoors throughout the year, even in rain, sleet or snow. We hooked ours up to a Kill-a-Watt to see how much power the heater, fan and mixing bar use. At just 17 watts (about 2 kWh per week), we think the electricity consumption is well worth it to produce compost so quickly and easily. (It's certainly better to use this energy to make compost at home than to truck your garbage to the landfill.) These NatureMills are giving our worms bins a run for their money for year-round composting! Learn more »

Can O Worms

For those more inclined to compost biologically than mechanically (see NatureMills above), we offer vermiculture. Conveniently compost your kitchen scraps all year round with the help of hundreds of hungry red wigglers. Now is the perfect time to start a worm colony. By the time cold weather comes you'll have a healthy population built up and ready for winter! Plus, next spring you'll have a nice supply of worm castings, the very best fertilizer you can make. Learn more »

Worm Castings

Have you tried worm castings on your houseplants or container garden? If you have, you know what an incredible treat these are for potted plants! For maintaining plant health and vigor naturally, nothing beats worm castings. Learn more »

Clean Electricity - July's Sustainable Living Tip

Instead of gas, oil, pellets or wood, choose clean electricity for your household energy needs.

The Path to Sustainability

We believe that in terms of sustainability, "green" electricity is the best option today and in the foreseeable future for all household energy needs. Efficient products are on the market now for space and water heating, refrigeration, lighting and all other household activities; it is relatively easy for consumers to go "all electric". Of all the possible energy options (including biofuels, pellets, wood, and hydrogen), electricity has the clearest path to sustainability. Maine's electricity grid is already powered in part by clean energy sources such as rivers and wind. Many more clean options are in our future -- much sooner than many people realize.

Energy Facts

1. Electricity is a sustainable option for home heating and other household energy needs because it can be cleanly generated from many inexhaustible sources, including the sun, wind, rivers, and tides.
2. Mainers can sign up for green electricity. Paying a little extra on your monthly power bill ensures that the grid is supplied by clean and renewable energy sources, and provides capital for new clean power plants.
   
3. Solar is available throughout Maine, with little variation in solar intensity among sites.
4. Wind is available in Maine along the coast, mountain ridges, and offshore, with huge variations in energy intensity among sites and height above ground level.
5. More than one hundred large-scale hydroelectric facilities are operating in Maine, producing more than 12 million gigajoules (GJ) of electricity per year.
   
6. Since 2006, more than a dozen tidal power projects have been proposed in Maine.
   
7. One acre of Maine woods managed for sustainable harvest could yield 25 GJ (one cord) of hardwood per year.
8. The roof of an average-sized house in Maine (1,400 square feet) in full sun receives about 625 GJ of solar energy per year. This is the energy equivalent of a 25 acre wood lot.
9. Each year the average home in Maine uses about 136 GJ of energy: 22 GJ (6,000 kilowatt hours) for electricity, and 114 GJ (108 million British thermal units) for space and water heating.
10. If you have an average-sized home in full sun, every year you could meet all your home's energy needs (heat, hot water, lighting and appliances) by collecting, storing and using just 21.76% of the solar energy that reaches your roof.
11. The efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells that produce electricity are between 6% and 40%; the types most commonly available today are about 16% efficient.
12. The efficiency of photosynthesis (the natural process plants use to build wood and other tissues) is about 5%.
    
13. Maine has a net metering law which allows you to get credit for sending electricity to the grid. This means that you can install solar PV cells without needing batteries to store the electricity they produce.
    
14. Completely covering an average-sized home's roof in Maine with today's 16% efficient solar PV cells would generate about 100 GJ (27,777 kWh) of electricity every year, of which approximately 70 GJ (after balance of system efficiency losses) could be fed into the grid to "spin your meter backward."
    
15. In 2007, the Maine Solar House near Wells, Maine, fed into the grid almost 17 GJ (4,707 kWh) of electricity using 384 square feet of 13-year-old solar PV cells (enough to cover about 27% of an average sized roof).
16. Solar PV cells have no moving parts, emit no noise or pollution when generating electricity, require no fluids and little maintenance, continue to operate reliably in extreme cold and hot weather conditions, and have an expected lifetime of more than 30 years.
17. Every year, a typical home on the Maine coast (wind profile area equivalent to a 6.4 m diameter rotor), assuming an average wind speed of 4 meters per second (m/s), deflects about 41 GJ of wind energy. Assuming a higher average wind speed of 6 m/s, the same home deflects about 139 GJ of wind energy.
18. The theoretical maximum efficiency of a wind turbine is 59%, because it must allow some wind to flow through it (i.e. if a turbine attempts to use all of the wind's kinetic energy at any given moment, it stops airflow and thus loses the ability to capture energy at future moments).
    
19. A small 400 watt turbine (rotor diameter 1.17 m) at a 4 m/s wind site will generate about 0.65 GJ of energy per year. At a 6 m/s site, it will generate 2.1 GJ per year.
20. Microhydro run-of-river turbines in streams and tidal flows can be smaller than wind turbines for the same energy output because water is about 800 times denser than air.
21. No data exists for the energy production of tidal turbines in Maine. In April 2008 a 1.2 MW turbine was installed in Strangford Lough in Ireland, the world's first commercial tidal power station.

Build Your Own Solar Mower - July's Sustainable Living Talk

Notice: Due a broken link in August's newsletter, you may have been directed here by mistake. Our talk on August 14 will feature George Doughty, speaking about "Free Hot Water from the Sun." Details about August's talk are available here »

F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine St., Brunswick, will host a talk by Guy Marsden of ART*TEC titled "Build Your Own Solar Mower," on Thursday, July 10, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

As featured in Popular Science Magazine, Guy Marsden will show the 22" lawn mower that he converted to operate from solar charged battery power. Marsden will demonstrate how to remove the gasoline motor from a lawn mower and replace it with an electric motor and a battery. The battery can then be charged from solar panels mounted on the roof of a garden shed.

A solar mower cuts just as well as the original gas powered unit, but is much quieter, uses free energy and emits no pollution. The battery lasts 20-30 minutes on a charge and can re-charge in 4-6 hours on a clear sunny day. Converting a gas mower to solar is featured as one of "Ten Audacious Ideas to Save the Planet" in the July 2008 issue of Popular Science Magazine.

Marsden will discuss the conversion process in detail and share sources for the parts. He will bring the mower and a second mower deck that he has refurbished that will be available for sale should anyone wish to get a start on this project.

Lawnmowers produce a significant amount of pollution as they have no pollution control equipment at all. The Electric Power Research Institute of Palo Alto claims that replacing half of the nearly 1.3 million walk-behind gas mowers used in the United States with electric mowers would eliminate the equivalent hydrocarbon emissions of 2 million cars.

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.

For more information, please visit www.FWHorch.com.

Composting on the Fourth of July

Of all the ways I've worked to help save the planet, I'll always cherish one unforgettable Fourth of July. I volunteered myself and my in-laws for the “recycling” crew at the Festival for the Eno in Durham, North Carolina. Despite the heat and humidity (both 97), we reported for duty.

I then discovered the organizers had decided to expand “recycling” to include “composting” for the first time. Our job was to stand knee-deep in garbage, sorting out recyclable plastic from a sea of water melon rinds, cotton candy cones, half-eaten plates of nachos, and other rotting refuse.

I learned three valuable lessons:

1. My mother-in-law and father-in-law are amazingly forgiving people.

2. Recycling is just the tip of the garbage iceberg.

3. A little planning goes a long way when it comes to composting.

In the years since, I've discovered that composting is actually easy—it's less work to make compost than to haul heavy garbage bags—and arguably even more important than recycling. What better future can you imagine for your garbage than to replenish the Earth?

If you're having a family get together for the Fourth and want to make it a little greener this year, think about a composting plan. Some tips:

• Figure out ahead of time what you're going to compost. Separate containers make it easy for guests to do the right thing; you won't have to sort through their garbage.

• A family picnic is the perfect opportunity to start making a batch of compost. Food scraps like corn husks and watermelon rinds can go right in your compost bin. Use your judgment for other types of waste.
  
  Easy to compost:
  vegetables, fruits, grass, bread, coffee grounds, paper towels, tissue paper
  
  Harder to compost without odors or vermin:
  cheese, fats, oils, butter, meat, fish, shrimp and lobster shells
  
  Difficult, dangerous or impossible to compost:
  pet waste, bones, pressure-treated sawdust, wax-coated paper board, plastics
  

• You can buy plates, cups and even forks, knives and spoons that will compost completely. There are also garbage bags that look and feel like plastic, but are made out of corn so they will compost.

• If you don't own a compost bin and don't want to make a pile, you can still compost. Just dig a hole and bury your food and paper waste about 18 inches deep. In a year or so, worms and soil microorganisms will convert your garbage to “garden gold”.

If you have a good plan and people pitch in, you'll be digging through rich soil by next summer. It sure beats the alternative.

Composting Links and Resources

• Home Composting
  University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin #1143
  http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/1143.htm
  
  
• How Compost Happens
  University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin #1159 http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/1159.htm
  
  
• Composting Bins
  http://www.fwhorch.net/garden-and-composting/composting-bins.html
  
  
• Compost Pails
  http://www.fwhorch.net/garden-and-composting/compost-pails.html
  
  
• Composting Tools
  http://www.fwhorch.net/garden-and-composting/composting-tools.html
  
  
• Composting Supplies
  http://www.fwhorch.net/garden-and-composting/composting-supplies.html
  
  
• Composting Books
  http://www.fwhorch.net/garden-and-composting/composting-books.html
  

Local Environmental Scene

What's Happening in the Local Environmental Scene

Tuesdays and Fridays - The Brunswick Farmers Market on the downtown mall is open for business from 8 am to 2 pm, rain or shine, May through November!

Saturdays - The Saturday Farmers' Market at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick is open for business from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, rain or shine, May through November!

Wednesday, June 4 - Maine Council of Churches' Environmental Justice Program is organizing a program on Community Supported Fisheries at 6:30 pm at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Brunswick (132 McKeen Street). Lucie Bauer, a member of First Universalist Church in Rockland, will tell how her church and its members have benefited from a 3-year relationship with a local farm and this winter's first Community Supported Fishery in partnership with the Port Clyde Fishing Co-op. Jennifer Plummer, program staff for Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, an organization that is fostering cooperation between scientists and fishermen to preserve the fishing resources and protect working waterfronts, will talk about how communities and individuals can be part of the solution through community supported fisheries.

Wednesday, June 4 - Gateway 1 Steering Committee Meeting, 4 - 6 pm, Rockland Library. Gateway 1 is a landmark long-term strategic land use and transportation planning project for the Midcoast Route 1 region in Maine. It explores new ways of combining transportation and land use decision-making, balancing community growth and local values with transportation services and needs. For more info, visit www.gateway1.org.

Monday, June 9 - Local Living Economies, 7 - 8:30 pm, a film at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick. Kaleidoscope presents a Bioneers original film featuring social activist hero Judy Wicks on promoting regional development and improved quality of life. With special guest speaker Fred Horch of F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies discussing "How to Save the Planet One Customer at a Time."

Tuesday, June 10 - Brunswick voters will decide whether to demolish the old high school to build a new elementary school on the site. Hundreds of migratory chimney swifts roost during the summer in a chimney on the old building. A new roost is being planned that will allow the birds to continue visiting Brunswick during their summer migration even after the old high school and its chimney are gone.

Thursday, June 12 - Drive an Electric Car, 6 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to test drive a neighborhood electric vehicle.

Friday - Sunday, July 11-13 - Maine Bike Rally, Fryeburg, Maine. This three-day event features more than 30 rides to choose from both off-road and on-road, some as short as five miles, others 100 miles long. Learn more »

Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 15 - August 7 - Organic Arts Program at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. In this all-ages six-week gardening and art project, families can grow and harvest food in a community garden in the morning, then create art about organic lifestyles in the afternoon. Open to parents and children; $30 per adult and $10 per child, per day. For more information, please contact Michelle Lisi-D'Alauro at (207) 837-9580.

News from ReVision Energy

Jen Hatch from ReVision Energy (formerly Energyworks) writes,

ReVision Energy designs and installs solar hot water and solar electric systems, but did you know that we also install wood and wood pellet boilers? The cost for home heating is becoming an increasing concern and many homeowners are searching for alternative fuels to protect themselves from the rising price of oil. Please check out the section on wood boilers on our web site as this may be a solution to your heating needs.

http://www.revisionenergy.com/woodboilers.html »

Please call us with any questions here at ReVision Energy at 221-6342. We are always available to discuss your home energy use and offer you advice on ways to increase your home's efficiency.

New Products

Here's what's new in our store for June 2008:

• AccuLoop NiMH rechargeable batteries
  AccuLoop batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times. But unlike other brands of NiMH batteries they keep most of their capacity over time. AccuLoop batteries come fully charged, ready to use, and lose only 2% of their capacity every month.
  
  
• AccuManager 20 Battery Charger
  Rapidly and efficiently charge rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V batteries. You can mix and match battery chemistries -- this unit continuously monitors, conditions and maintains the quality and durability of your NiMH, NiCD, or RAM Rechargeable Batteries. Extend battery life to the maximum and provide optimal performance. You can charge one to four AA, AAA, C, or D rechargeable batteries independently or together, and also charge two 9V NiMH or NiCD rechargeable batteries at the same time. Fully recharges high capacity batteries.
  

Rechargeable Batteries - June's Sustainable Living Tip

June's Sustainable Living Tip from F.W. Horch:
Save money and reduce waste with rechargeable batteries.

Battery Facts

1. One rechargeable battery can replace up to 1,000 disposable batteries.
2. According to the EPA, Americans purchase 3,000,000,000 (three billion) batteries every year.
   
3. For pollution-free recharging, choose "green electricity" (made in Maine from hydropower and wind facilities). Or choose a battery charger with a built-in solar panels or adapters for plugging in to a solar panel.
4. Small disposable alkaline batteries (sizes AAA, AA, C and D) start at above 1.5 volts and drop unevenly to 1.0 volts during discharge, whereas nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries stay at a relatively constant 1.2 volts for most of their discharge cycle.
5. A nine volt battery is six smaller 1.5 volt batteries wired in series.
   
6. Older types of NiMH rechargeable batteries would self-discharge at about 1% per day, requiring frequent recharges. Newer NiMH batteries lose only about 0.07% of their charge per day, making them much more practical for many uses.
   
7. NiMH rechargeable batteries are qualified as non-hazardous.
8. Lithium ion rechargeable batteries (typically used in laptops and cell phones) are also qualified as non-hazardous.
9. The older nickel cadmium (NiCad) rechargeable batteries are hazardous and must be disposed of as household hazardous waste. Avoid this type of battery if possible.
   
10. Lead acid rechargeable batteries (typically used in cars and uninterruptible power supplies) are hazardous and should be recycled.
11. Disposable alkaline batteries manufactured before 1996 could contain mercury and should be considered potentially hazardous.

Recommended Products

• Acculoop rechargeable NiMH batteries
  

Electric Car Test Drive

F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine St., Brunswick, will host a "Meet the Electric Car" test-drive and educational event with Maine Electric Vehicles from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, June 12th.

Maine Electric Vehicles will have two different models of "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" on hand for test-drives on Maine Street in Brunswick -- the Miles Automotive ZX40 four-door mini-SUV model (www.MilesAutomotive.com) and the Zenn Car -- a two-door sporty model (www.ZennCars.com). These low-speed electric vehicles are federally regulated to go 25 miles per hour maximum. Electric vehicles are especially well suited as a first car for a teenage driver, or a second "around town" car for busy households. Electric vehicles are clean, quiet, reliable and affordable -- at a cost of less than a penny per mile.

In addition to the vehicles, representatives of Maine Electric Vehicles will be on hand to talk about the current and future state of this up-and-coming technology. With highway-speed electric cars due to be available soon, consumers will have a real choice when it comes to meeting most of their driving needs without reliance on petroleum fuels.

Topics to be covered will include a side-by-side comparison of electric vehicles compared to conventional internal combustion engines and gas-electric hybrids, a look at American driving patterns and vehicle use, the environmental impact of electric vehicles, and the state of the electric car industry.

The owner of F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, Fred Horch, will be on hand to discuss the state of the sustainable products movement.

Maine Electric Vehicles is Maine's first electric car dealership which took shipment on its first electric cars in 2007. It currently shares space at Portland Saab on Route One in Falmouth. Please call Marketing Director Kal Rogers at 233-9970 for any further direct inquiries.

For more information, please call 729-4050 or visit www.FWHorch.com.