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.

Fossil Fuel Free

On May 22, 2008, crude oil hit $135 per barrel. The next day, gasoline reached a record U.S. national average of $3.88 per gallon. Will our American way of life soon be unaffordable?

Nope--we'll just use less fossil fuel.

Consider life in the United States in 1856. Our modern conveniences depended on oil. We used it to light our homes, lubricate our clocks, and keep our trains running. But it wasn't petroleum--it was whale oil.

What happened? In 1857, a commercially viable kerosene lamp was invented. Within four years the market for whale oil had collapsed.

You probably find it hard to believe that we'll give up fossil fuel as easily, right?

Well, here's my family's plan to be free of fossil fuel without waiting for a magic "kerosene lamp":

1. We're becoming energy efficient. We switched to energy-efficient lights and appliances and now use just 10 kilowatt hours of electricity per day. If we were designing a new home, we'd choose passive solar heat, built tight and super well insulated. But we like to walk or bike to work, school and shopping, so we decided to stay in our in-town 1828 federal-style house. We did an energy audit, then installed weatherstripping, added insulation, and upgraded from forced hot air to radiant floor heating.
   
   
2. We'll use electricity and solar heat instead of oil or gas. We'll install solar hot water for showers, dish washing, etc. We're planning to replace our oil boiler with a solar-assisted electric heat pump. Before too long we hope to trade in our gas minivan for an electric model (we're excited to have Maine Electric Vehicles at our store for a talk on June 12).
   
   
3. We'll generate our electricity without fossil fuel. Today for about 21 cents per kWh, we can choose "green electricity" from hydropower dams and wind farms instead of the "standard offer" from fossil and nuclear fuel. For about $3 per day, we could generate our own electricity with solar panels, as Bill and Debbi Lord do at the Maine Solar House.

Fossil fuel won't disappear entirely from our lives, just like whale oil didn't disappear completely. (Did you know the last bottle of whale oil in the U.S. was sold in 1978?) But the high cost of fossil fuel will disappear from our budget, as we choose better alternatives.

Related Information and Resources

• www.EnergyStar.gov - energy efficient appliances
• hes.lbl.gov - home energy audits
• www.RevisionEnergy.com - solar hot water
• www.MaineEV.com - electric vehicles
• www.EnergyMaine.com/mresignup/ - green electricity
• www.SolarHouse.com - Maine Solar House
  

May Announcements

We have two quick announcements that couldn't wait until next month, and a schedule of our upcoming sustainable living talks to share with you.
-- Fred Horch, Founder

We're Hiring! Hillary Shende, our wonderful customer service manager, is leaving us. But she has a good excuse--she and her husband Vin are expecting! Know anyone who is good with people, computers and details who would like to help our customers save the planet? We are accepting applications for a permanent, part-time sales clerk to work Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 2 pm. Applicants should send a cover letter and one-page resume to us via email at info@fwhorch.com. The primary responsibility of the position is to take good care of our customers. Deadline to submit a cover letter and resume for consideration in our first round of interviews is Thursday, May 15. New Newsletter Software We've switched our newsletter software to iContact to make sure we reach your in box. We hope this will be a seamless transition, but we'd appreciate hearing about any glitches you may discover. At the very bottom of every newsletter, you will now find a link for managing your subscription (you can unsubscribe at any time) or forwarding this newsletter to a friend. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know by phone at (207) 729-4050 or in person in the store. In short, our policy is to send our monthly email newsletter only to people who want it.

Sustainable Living Talk Schedule Mark your calendars! 7 pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month there is always something interesting happening at the store as part of our sustainable living talk series. Thursday, May 8: Crafty Local Eating - Amy and Jeff Burchstead of Buckwheat Blossom Farm discuss how to eat locally and affordably. Thursday, June 12: Electric Cars - Test drive an electric car. This talk starts early at 6 pm to give everyone a chance to get behind the steering wheel! The following future topics are tentative possibilities: July 10 - Converting a gas-powered lawn mower to battery-powered and solar rechargeable. August 14 - MOFGA update and Common Ground Fair preview. September 11 - DIY solar hot water. October 9 - Efficiency Maine buttoning up your home for the winter. November 13 - ReVision Energy going solar. December 11 - Sustainable gift giving. Have a topic you'd like to see covered? Let us know! 729-4050

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Local Environmental Scene

What's Happening in the Local Environmental Scene, May 2008

MaineEnvironmentalNews has launched a great new environmental news site for Maine. Check it out www.MaineEnviroNews.com

Saturday, May 3 -- Bowdoin's 5th Annual Solarfest on Saturday afternoon, on the main Bowdoin quad in Brunswick. SolarFest is a community event that promotes sustainable and renewable energy. Listen to a solar-powered band, eat some solar-cooked food, enjoy a moon bounce, and meet people who are raising awareness and offering information about alternative energy.

Sunday, May 4 -- The Great Maine Bike Swap (Second date, different location), 10 am - 2 pm, UME Orono's new Student Recreation and Fitness Center. The bike swap offers a great way to buy and sell used bicycles. A portion of all sales supports the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's education and safety programs. www.bikemaine.org/bikeswap.htm

Thursday, May 8 -- Crafty Local Eating , 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us for a talk by organic farmers Amy and Jeff Burchstead on the topic of local food. Come learn how to eat locally and affordably year round.

Friday, May 16 -- Planning for Peace in the Post-Petroleum Economy , 7 pm, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Join Noma Petroff and Peaceworks for a discussion of peace after oil.

Saturday, May 24 -- Run for the Sun , 9 am, Downtown Mall, Brunswick. Run for the Sun 5K Road Race is to create a fund for student-led initiatives at Brunswick High School that promote sustainability or environmental education. /www.brunswick.k12.me.us/bhs/academics/service_learning/run_sun/

News from ReVision Energy

Jen Hatch from ReVision Energy (formerly Energyworks) writes,

Please support Brunswick High School in their efforts to green up. They are going to be hosting a 5K road race, Saturday, May 24 at 9am. The event is called Run for the Sun and all proceeds will go towards a fund setup for student-led sustainability initiatives at Brunswick High School. Follow the link below for more information:

http://www.brunswick.k12.me.us/bhs/academics/service_learning/run_sun/index.htm

We will be attending the Smart Energy Expo in Kennebunk Saturday May 10, from 12-5pm. This will be held at the held at the Kennebunk High School. The Kennebunk High School Interact Club, the Class of 2009, freshman science students, the Energy Advisory Team from M.S.A.D. 71, and the Kennebunk Rotary are putting the event together in cooperation with Maine Partners for Cool Communities.

We are also attending Maine's Home & Lifestyle Expo which will be May 17 and 18 at the Knox Mill Complex on Washington and Mechanic Street in Camden.

Hope to see you at some of our many events this summer! As always, please call our office to find out how we could put renewable energy to work for you, 221-6342.

Be well,
Jen

New Products

Here's what's new in our store and on our web site for May 2008:

• Heirloom Organic Seeds
  Come to our store for a selection of heirloom organic vegetable seeds from Fedco. We sell open-pollinated varieties (not hybrids) so you can save your own seed from year to year.
  
  
• Grow-an-Herb
  Grow your own herbs from seed, indoors or outdoors. A great project for kids or cooks. Easy to grow, guaranteed!
  
  
• Grow-a-Tree
  There is something magical about growing your trees from seed. Choose from a variety of hardwood species including white birch, american elm, sugar maple and apple.

Eating Local - May's Sustainable Living Tip

Eating locally-grown food is a delicious way to help save the planet.

More to know about Eating Local

1. The average Maine meal travels 1,800 miles from farm to table, according to Russell Libby, executive director of MOFGA.
2. 80% of the food calories consumed in Maine are produced out of state.
3. Ten calories of fossil fuel energy is consumed for every one calorie of "conventional" food eaten, due to processing, packaging and transportation.
4. If every Mainer spent just $10 per week on locally-grown food for six months, $100 million would circulate in Maine's economy.
   
5. One acre of a small organic farm in Maine can support 40 people, according to Eliot Coleman, author of Four Season Harvest.
6. During World War II, home "Victory Gardens" provided 40% of the vegetables eaten by the general public.
7. Raised beds and "lasagna" gardening allow home gardeners to grow more produce with less work than conventional tilled bed methods.
8. Home composting of kitchen scraps can help maintain soil fertility without synthetic chemical fertilizers.
9. Organic herbs can be grown indoors year round on a kitchen window sill.
10. Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a way to support your local farmer. By buying a share at the beginning of the season, you provide the farmer with the money needed to buy seeds and operate the farm. In return, you reap the rewards of fresh, local and healthy food direct from the farm.
11. Planting heirloom organic seeds, rather than hybrid seeds, allows you to share and save seeds from year to year.
12. For maximum environmental benefit, eat in season. It takes a lot less energy to grow tomatoes in Maine in the summer than the winter!

Crafty Local Eating

Join us for "Crafty Local Eating," a talk by Amy and Jeff Burchstead of the horse-powered Buckwheat Blossom Farm. This free event will be from 7 to 8:30 pm on Thursdy, May 8, at our store, 56 Maine Street, in downtown Brunswick, Maine.

"Come learn how to eat locally and economically year-round," says Amy Burchstead, who with her husband Jeff has a small, organic, horse-powered farm in Wiscasset. "We’ll explore the ins and outs of farmers’ markets and CSAs and cover the basics of the easiest and most economical crops to grow and store yourself - from container gardening to the kitchen garden."

By some estimates, the average meal in Maine has traveled 1,800 miles before it reaches the dinner table. Only about 20% of the calories Mainers eat come from food grown in state. At their talk, the Burchsteads will discuss the hidden costs of buying out-of-season food that must be transported long distances. Attendees will learn about several options for eating locally-grown food around the year in Maine, including community supported agriculture (CSAs), farmers' markets, and farm stands.

The Burchsteads will also introduce aspiring gardeners to the easiest and most economical crops to grow yourself. The basic steps of testing and improving soil, planting, controlling weeds and pests, watering, and harvesting will be covered. Helpful techniques such as container gardening and lasagna gardening will be described. In addition, the Burchsteads will explain how to plan for winter by storing root crops, freezing and fermenting garden produce, and over wintering crops in the garden.

Other topics that will be covered at the talk are the definitions of "local" and "organic", the importance of knowing your farmer, and the "dirty dozen" conventional crops to avoid.

Free informational handouts will be provided. Seating is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

The talk is part of the F.W. Horch series on sustainable living. Each monthly talk is held at the F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies store, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick on the second Thursday of the month. June's talk will feature the chance to test drive electric cars from Maine Electric Vehicles.

For more information, please call 729-4050.

Local Environmental Scene - April Events

Saturday, April 5 -- 'Eat Locally, Act Globally', a talk by Wendy Holm, from 10:30-12pm at the Curtis Memorial Library. Holm is an agronomist from British Columbia and leads trips to Cuba to bring together farmers and chefs to learn from each other about sustainable agriculture. See www.brunswicktrinidad.org or email tlphillips@suscom-maine.net FMI.

Saturday, April 5 -- 3rd Annual Local & Sustainable Foods Conference: Growing Our Skills and Our Community, 9:30 am - 8 pm, Unity Performing Arts Center, Unity. Sliding scale cost. The conference features skill and issue based workshops, panel discussion, a Maine FEEDS Maine style breakout session and two keynote speakers, both of whom are working to protect their food independence. Sessions followed by a local foods dinner. foodformainesfuture.org/blog/

Wednesday, April 9 -- "Thwings Point Archaeology", a talk by Maine Historic Preservation Commission archaeologist, Lee Cranmer. Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB) on Wednesday, April 9th, 7:00 p.m. at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick for the seventh presentation of their 2007/2008 Winter Speaker Series. www.FriendsOfMerrymeetingBay.org

Wednesday, April 9 to Sunday, April 13, and Wednesday, April 16 to Saturday, April 19 -- Tour a LEED Platinum House in Freeport, Maine. The Cranberry Ridge home is the first in the Northeast, and only the fourth in the country, to receive LEED-H platinum status, as awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. House is open for self-guided tours between 10 am and 4 pm. Cost is $15; proceeds benefit Freeport Community Services. www.FreeportUSA.com/leedhouse.html

Saturday, April 12 -- Maine Garden Day Workshops, Educational Displays, and Trade Show, 7:15 AM to 3:15 pm, Central Maine Community College, Auburn, Maine. We'll have a table there for F.W. Horch, so swing by and say hi! www.umext.maine.edu/mainegardenday/

Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 -- Midcoast Sustainable Energy Expo, Central Lincoln County YMCA, Damariscotta. Friday, 12:00 - 6:00 pm, Saturday, 9:00 - 4:00 pm. Last year's Sustainable Energy Expo was an unqualified success. Over 2,000 visitors came to see over 45 exhibits and participate in various educational programs. Based on this success, the Expo is now an annual event. This year will bring together people who are marketing, designing or manufacturing renewable and sustainable energy products or offer services to improve the efficiency of existing energy systems. We'll have a table there for F.W. Horch; hope to see you at the Expo! www.midcoastgreencollaborative.org/expo.html

Saturday, April 19 -- South Portland Earth Day Clean Up, 9 am - 12 pm, at various locations throughout South Portland. The South Portland Land Trust is teaming up with local groups in the area and are asking individuals and organizations to participate. Groups can choose whatever locations they prefer. Contact Richard Rottkov at rrottkov@yahoo.com

Monday, April 21 to Saturday, April 26 -- Earth Week 2008 at Frontier Cafe in Brunswick. Films and discussions all week long at 7pm. Additional show times on Friday and Saturday. www.ExploreFrontier.com

Tuesday, April 22 -- Earth Day Celebration, 10 am - 2 pm in Portland's Congress Square. This year's theme is Transportation: "You CAN get there from here!" Lots of fun and information, with the square closed off to car traffic until 2 pm. The Portland Bike Meetup group will be providing valet bike parking.

Thursday, April 24 -- "Renewable Energy from Maine's Forests", talk by Pete Didisheim, Natural Resources Council of Maine, 7:30 pm Shannon Room, Hubbard Hall, Bowdoin College. Didisheim will talk about opportunities for renewable energy projects from Maine's northern forests.

Saturday April 26 -- Brunswick Bike Fair, 11 am - 2 pm, Downtown Mall. The Brunswick Sustainability Group invites you to take part in a Bike Fair in Brunswick. The goals of the Bike Fair are to encourage attendees to view bicycling as a viable means of transportation in and around our community, to motivate people to get on their bikes, and to celebrate current bikers. Our hope is that the fair, through gear and safety demonstrations, group rides, and information by a number of organizations, will motivate people to view and ride bicycles as more than just a form of exercise but as an effective and efficient form of transportation. F.W. Horch is proud to be a supporter of this event! BSG Bike Events Contact: Maggie Soulman, ecosquirrel@hotmail.com, 617.512-0437.

Saturday, April 26 -- Chewonki Foundation Pathways to a Sustainable Future, Sustainable Energy Conference, 8:30 am-4 pm, at the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset. This unique and vibrant program is responsible for developing materials and demonstration projects on a wide range of topics, from solid-waste management to the use of renewable fuels, such as solar, wind, hydro, bio-fuels and hydrogen. $48- $58 to register, see www.chewonki.org/pathways/pathways_conferences.asp.

Sunday, April 27 -- The Great Maine Bike Swap, 10 am - 2 pm, Sullivan Gym at USM. The bike swap offers a great way to buy and sell used bicycles. A portion of all sales supports the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's education and safety programs. Valet bike parking provided. See www.bikemaine.org/bikeswap.htm.

Sunday, April 27 -- Green Streets Earth Day Bike Parade, 12:30 - 2 pm, Sullivan Gym at USM. In conjunction with the Bike Coalition's Bike Swap (see above). This is a fun event for for all ages and abilities! The parade will run in a loop from the Swap at USM’s Sullivan Gym, down to and around the Back Cove Trail, and then return to the Swap (complete with police escort!). portlandgreenstreets.org

Sunday, May 4 -- The Great Maine Bike Swap (Second date, different location), 10 am - 2 pm, UME Orono's new Student Recreation and Fitness Center. The bike swap offers a great way to buy and sell used bicycles. A portion of all sales supports the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's education and safety programs. www.bikemaine.org/bikeswap.htm

News from ReVision Energy

Pat Coon of the newly-named ReVision Energy writes,

I've got a couple of things I'd like to get out to the world of energy aware citizens:

1. Brite Built Barn. This is a net zero building we've been working on that has a cool blog and tracks a neat project. We'll share more info on this project next time...

2. Adam Cote is running for the first district's seat. He has worked in renewable energy and seems like an excellent candidate. I'd like to get out the word about his candidacy.

3. Here's a link to a green build course put on by Waterfall Arts in Belfast. It should be really good. Check it out here.

Jen Hatch from ReVision Energy's Portland office writes,

Happy Spring to all!

April showers bring May flowers . . . and an abundance of trade show events that we will be attending!

Coming up:

MidCoast Sustainable Energy Expo at the Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta
Friday, April 18^th from 12-6pm
Saturday, April 19^th, from 9-4pm
For more information email: midcoastgreencollaborative@gmail.com

The Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset presents a Sustainable Energy Conference on April 26^th from 9-5pm. If you have questions regarding the conference, please feel free to contact: pathways@chewonki.org

May 10^th – Smart Energy Expo 12-5pm at the Kennebunk High School
Sponsored by the Maine Partners for Cool Communities
For information contact Jennifer Niese at: turnstone@gwi.net

May 16^th – MEBSR Conference at the Abromson Center, USM from 8 -5:30pm
What is sustainable business and how can your company benefit from incorporating it into your business operations? Come hear the compelling experiences of business large and small as their behind-the-scenes strategies, stories, and bottom line profits are presented from a variety of angles.
We invite all businesses and individuals, members or not, to join us on May 16th at the USM Abromson Center in Portland, for this inspiring gathering in a casual atmosphere to gail tools and skills for building a vibrant and rewarding future for Maine businesses.
MEBSR is a network of Maine businesses working together to achieve sustainable business success. Join today and become part of a business community focused on integrating people, planet and profit.
Contact Sanna McKim for more information: 338-8908

Hope to see you at one of these events! As always, please call our office to find out how we could put renewable energy to work for you, 221-6342.

Be well,
Jen