In the film, Rose is first introduced in the form of an elderly woman – spunky but well-advanced in her years – accompanying a group of modern-day . . . → Read More: YEEC Co-Founder Cynthia Raymond 1913-2011]]> When I first met Cynthia Raymond in 2005, she immediately reminded me of Rose – the plucky, fictional heroine of James Cameron’s classic 1997 film, “Titanic”.

In the film, Rose is first introduced in the form of an elderly woman – spunky but well-advanced in her years – accompanying a group of modern-day treasure hunters in search of a famed jewel rumored to be on Titanic.  We don’t meet this version of Rose very much as the movie progresses but she reappears dramatically in the unforgettable conclusion.  When Rose quietly passes in her sleep in the final moments, a series of photographs flash by chronicling the long accomplished life she lived after surviving the Titanic and losing her true love.

While the character of Rose was fictional, Cynthia was not.  Born a year after the sinking of the Titanic, she had already accomplished so much in her life by the time I met her.  You could feel it in her presence, in her voice, in her passionate enthusiasm for the things she cared deeply for.  I wasn’t just impressed by what she had done – but what she was still doing at age 92 when I first met her.

Throughout her long life, she was a passionate advocate for protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and celebrating the beauty of nature. A prolific writer of letters-to-the-editor, her written voice was always articulate, vibrant, and classy.  When energy and environmental policy was being discussed at town meetings, Cynthia was often there in the audience – quietly speaking with her presence.  I’ll never forget the time I saw then state senator, Peter Bowman come to one of our meetings at the library.  Surprised, I asked him why he was there given his busy schedule.  His response, “when Cynthia Raymond asks me to come to a meeting, – I come to the meeting!”   She was just that kind of person.

I’m honored to have known and worked with her, and for my daughter to have met her.  She will be missed.

York Energy Efficiency Committee

WATERBORO – Andrew Doyle and his wife Melissa are looking forward to winter – or at least to the money they’ll be saving on their heating bills.

With the help of a loan from Efficiency . . . → Read More: Homeowners warm up to PACE program]]> From the KeepMEcurrent.com news site comes a good example of homeowners taking advantage of Efficiency Maine’s PACE Loan program.

WATERBORO – Andrew Doyle and his wife Melissa are looking forward to winter – or at least to the money they’ll be saving on their heating bills.

With the help of a loan from Efficiency Maine, the Doyles’ home has undergone an energy audit and is now better outfitted to conserve oil. The loan money is available under a federal program known as Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, which is designed to help people make their homes more energy efficient. It’s a program the Doyles thought was too good to pass up.

The Doyles spent about $2,500 heating their two-story Old Alfred Road home in Waterboro last winter, which came as quite a shock to both their wallets and their psyches, particularly because the couple had previously lived in a small, one-bedroom apartment in Arundel.

Andrew Doyle said the house was in “pretty good shape” when they purchased it more than a year ago. But, even keeping the thermostat at around 58 degrees, the cost to heat the home was far more than the couple expected.

The Doyle home is heated primarily with oil, although there is also a propane insert in the living room. Andrew Doyle said he first found out about the PACE program when he was searching the town of Waterboro’s website.

“As soon as I read about PACE, I knew that’s exactly what we needed, so I called the contractor the next day,” he said.

Read the rest of the article to find out how the Doyles took advantage of the program and what they expect to save from the improvements. PACE loans are also available to qualifying York residents.

There’s only a quarter as much land in farming in Maine as there was 100 years ago, but that’s changing. There are more farms today (up around 50 percent since 1992), more acres in . . . → Read More: New Farmers Find Their Footing]]> Author and New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman writes about the resurgence in sustainable farming, even in New England.

There’s only a quarter as much land in farming in Maine as there was 100 years ago, but that’s changing. There are more farms today (up around 50 percent since 1992), more acres in farms and more money generated by farming than there were 20 years ago.

Part of that growth has been spurred by people like Eliot Coleman, who has practiced intensive organic gardening since 1968 at Four Season Farm in Harborside, Maine.

In some circles he’s a hero for his innovative approaches to fertilizing, greenhouses, tool-making, teaching and more. He’s probably inspired as many farmers as anyone in the Northeast, and his books, especially “The Winter Harvest Handbook,” have taught the art of season-extension to thousands of gardeners, including me. (His place isn’t called Four Season Farm for nothing, and, remember, this isn’t San Diego.)

Read the rest of the article.

However, it still may be worth your time to . . . → Read More: Estes Oil energy fair]]> Because some people are a bit confused about the advertised “energy fair” on Route 1, we should make it clear that this is not affilitated in any way with the York Energy Efficiency Comittee or the fairs that the committee organized in the previous two years.

However, it still may be worth your time to stop by the event at the Estes Oil & Propane office near York Corner on Saturday, June 4 from 11:00 to 3:00. Here you can learn about the energy efficient oil and propane products that Estes Oil sells. They are also offering “free tshirts, oil raffle, and more.”

“Although 4.99% interest is not as low . . . → Read More: PACE home energy savings loans arrive]]> As of April 4, 2011, eligible* Maine home owners will be able to borrow up to $15,000 to upgrade their heating systems, weatherize their homes, and cut their heating bills. Efficiency Maine will provide the loans at a rate of 4.99%. As noted on the Villagesoup.com site:

“Although 4.99% interest is not as low as what is available from local banks, some homeowners will find the easier qualifications of PACE a big help,” says Richard Riegel Burbank, President of Evergreen Home Performance.  ”The real advantage of PACE is for the homeowner struggling to pay heating bills.  You can still qualify even if your credit rating got bruised during these past few years of hard times.  You can also get a loan for any equity you have in your home, up to 100% of its value.  Most banks will not loan up to 100% of value at 4.99%.” ?

…The loans which range from $6,500 to $15,000, can have up to a 15 year payment period and are transferable upon the sale of a property. Projects estimated to save 25 percent or more on heating costs will qualify for PACE.  In addition there are still some rebates of up to $1500 from Efficiency Maine’s Home Energy Savings Program.  The rebate funds are running low and rebate reservations are currently estimated to run out in June according to the Efficiency Maine website.   Homeowners have the next few months to take advantage of both programs at the same time.  Additional incentives for solar and heating equipment improvements also are available.

…The Maine PACE Loans program was seeded by $30 million in funds provided by an American Recovery Investment Act (ARRA) grant from the Dept of Energy.

More PACE information is available at www.efficiencymaine.com/pace or by calling 1-866-376-2463.

* State law requires that towns must pass an ordinance enabling PACE before local homeowners become eligible for the loans. The York Board of Selectmen is currently considering putting the PACE ordinance on the May 2011 ballot so that York residents can apply for the loans.

If you’re building, remodeling or simply want to be more “green” you will learn what it means to be “green” in relation to your home. Ron has a wealth of information to share that will help . . . → Read More: Living in a Green Home]]> The following course will be offered through York Adult Education on Tuesday, March 29, from 6:00 to 9:00pm.