York Goes Green

Photo by Amy Bevan, Seacoast Online 5/1/10

Nice article in the weekly:

YORK — After playing a major role in the town’s adoption of several energy efficiency policies in recent years, the York Energy Efficiency Committee is now focusing on educating the public through events like the Energy and Climate Fair, held Saturday, May 1, at York Middle School.

The fair brought together nearly 50 vendors and nonprofit exhibitors, and offered local student presentations, public speakers and children’s activities, all in an effort to share information on sustainable and efficient living.

The second annual event was organized by York residents concerned about “peak oil” — the concept that the Earth’s supply of oil is limited and the availability of oil will soon decline — global warming and other environmental issues believed to be the result of consumption of oil and waste disposal practices.

Paul McGowan, co-coordinator of the event, said the committee’s mission was to raise awareness and create a movement for more efficient practices throughout York and the surrounding area.

“We’re trying to educate people on the need to respond to challenges in energy, climate change and sustainability,” said McGowan.

Read the rest here

May 6th, 2010 by Eric | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Greetings Everyone!!

Well, the turnout for the fair was a little lighter than we had hoped – but a giant thank you for everyone who attended and volunteered with the set-up, clean-up and everything in between.

We’ll be meeting this coming Tuesday (5/11) at 7pm in the library to do some analysis of what we might want to do different next year, as well as ideas for how we can become more involved with Harvestfest.

In case you missed it, there was a great article in the York Weekly about the fair, you can read it here

Take care!
Eric

Eric Hopkins
Chairman
York Energy Efficiency Committee
eric@yorkgoesgreen.org

May 6th, 2010 by Eric | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Directions:

York Middle School is located at 30 Organug Road in York Village. For those coming from out of town and looking for directions, go to this map.

April 19th, 2010 by Eric | Tags: york energy and climate fair | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Maine Partners for Cool Communities reports on a bill (LD 1717) recently passed by the Legislature which will help to establish an innovative financing program for energy efficiency and clean energy improvements in communities across the state.

The program known as PACE or Property Assessed Clean Energy, allows property owners to borrow money to pay for energy improvements. Unlike a loan, PACE financing is paid back over a 20 year period as an assessment on the property tax bill (or similar method) and would stay with the property throughout the life of the loan. Those individuals that pay for energy improvements are the ones benefiting from the savings generated. There are no up front costs and the program is voluntary.

The PACE legislation authorizes municipalities to establish a loan program to provide financing for clean energy improvements to property owners via local ordinance. The legislation authorizes municipalities to enter into PACE agreements with property owners, provide financing, and collect PACE assessments to repay the loans. Municipalities will be able to use federal grants or other “funds available for this purpose” to establish PACE programs.

PACE financing is designed to help the state in its goal of weatherizing every Maine home by 2030. Like other communities, York will have the option of participating in the PACE program.

April 13th, 2010 by wayne | Tags: legislation, PACE | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Greetings Everyone!

1. Next meeting: Tuesday 4/13 7pm at York Library

On the agenda: Cathy Goodwin from the Chamber of Commerce will talk about how YEEC can partner with the chamber during Harvest Fest this year. Also Tom Page, a local engineer, will be delivering a short presentation on “Peak Oil”.

2. “NO IMPACT MAN” screening is being held Friday, April 23rd at 7pm in the York Library in celebration of Earth Day. Please come join us for an enjoyable film and lively discussion to follow.

3. Latest on the Energy Fair [May 1st]

a. We are still looking for volunteers the day of the fair who can help work the front and assist in set up, and break down. Please email Debbie Archambault debbie [at] travelexpertsofyork.com to let her know when you are available – even if you’ve already talked to me about it.

b. Hannaford has agreed to help sponsor the fair. They will have a booth at the fair, and have graciously allowed us to set up a marketing poster board at the front entrance inviting people to come.

c. The fair is really shaping up to be a lot of fun – even more going on than last year – with school presentations, great speakers and tons of interesting vendors and presenters. Hope you can make it!!

d. Please consider bringing a friend or telling people about the fair. We are hoping to get a good turnout.

4. We are on Facebook. If you haven’t already “friended” us, please consider doing so.

That’s all for now – hope to see you at the Fair!!

Eric Hopkins
Chairman
York Energy Efficiency Committee

April 13th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Plans are being finalized for the Second Annual York Energy & Climate Fair, which will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 9:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m at the York Middle School. The fair is going to be even bigger and better than last year’s very successful event.

Check http://yorkgoesgreen.org/york-energy-and-climate-day/ for the latest details.

And be sure to read the April 7 York Weekly article on the fair by Ron McAllister.

As Ron suggests, why not drop by and learn something new? There will be plenty on display that you will find useful to you, your family and your community.

April 8th, 2010 by wayne | Tags: york energy and climate fair, York Weekly | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The York Energy Efficiency Committee is again offering rain barrels for sale at a real savings. This year’s price is $75 for interested area residents — a 40% discount from the usual retail price $125. This great price is available because we order in quantity from SkyJuice New England and have a central pick-up point. It’s an opportunity to protect the environment and to support a local York business. Rain barrels save water, helping to decrease storm water runoff and to recharge our groundwater. And your garden will thrive!

Rain barrels collect rainwater from your roof either where it streams off your roof or from your downspout. ¼ inch of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof will fill two 60-gallon rain barrels! Connect a drip irrigation, soaker or garden hose or water with a watering can. Your garden and house plants will love this naturally soft water. Think of the savings: less summer usage of town water and conservation of your well water.

You become part of the local watershed by releasing rainwater from the rain barrels into your gardens to slowly soak into the soil. This decreases storm water runoff and helps recharge our local groundwater. March has been an unkind reminder of what storm water runoff can do to our wonderful community. Be part of the solution!

The York Energy and Efficiency Committee will be holding the second annual York Energy, Climate and Sustainability Fair on May 1st at the York Middle School. The Committee will organize a bulk delivery to be made that day – 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the school. For more information on the Fair visit http://yorkgoesgreen.org/york-energy-and-climate-day/. Last year’s fair was a wonderful event and we expect this year to be bigger and better! Mark it down on your calendar and tell everyone you know!

Dorothy Healy is the coordinator of the sale for the York Energy Efficiency Committee. Email Dorothy.healy@gmail.com for more information or use the attached 2010-Rain-Barrel-Order-Form (PDF).

Next steps: Order your rain barrel(s), pick up on May 1st and enjoy the Fair to learn more about what you can do to meet the challenges facing us in energy conservation and climate change.

What better way to spend a Saturday morning in the spring? Buy a rain barrel, learn more about water harvesting and drip irrigation for your gardens. Be part of the solution!

April 1st, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

For the past 4 years, Heather Henriksen has participated in an annual not-for-profit Earth Day event selling home compost bins. This year she has teamed up with Holly Grimes and White Pine Programs. White Pine Programs is a local nonprofit educational organization which provides children with nature-based programs designed to “renew connections to the earth and deepen awareness of place through nature- based learning.” $5.00 from every bin sold will go towards helping a child attend a program who otherwise may not be able.

Please download the order form (PDF), print out a copy, and return as soon as possible to the address listed on the form. The deeply discounted price is $43.50.

Orders will need to be received by April 30th. Don’t delay if you would like one!
Bin pickup date is on May 18 from 2-4:00 p.m. at The Marketplace in Cape Neddick on Route 1.

Join many of us who have learned home composting is easy, fun and rewarding!

April 1st, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (3)

March 27th, 2010 by Eric | Tags: no impact man | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Vinalhaven Island wind turbines

An interesting new technology designed to take advantage of the intermittent nature of renewable energy like wind and solar. From the article at Ecoseed.org:

Six units of Steffes Corporation’s electric thermal storage will go into operation this week on Vinalhaven Island, Maine to test over the coming months what could be the future of renewable energy storage for windy states: distributed energy storage.

The technology will make it possible to utilize generated wind power at night by distributing and storing electricity in the form of stored heat.

Steffes Corporation and its distributor Thermal Energy Storage of Maine L.L.C. have provided the electric thermal storage units for this week’s test of a decades-old electric heating technology married to smart grid technology. The goal is to utilize renewable energy instead of oil for heating. Wind power generated at night is stored as slow-release heat in very dense ceramic bricks, then released on demand to economically heat buildings.

Vinalhaven is one of the Fox Islands off Maine. Last summer, the Fox Islands Electricity Cooperative Inc. voted to build wind turbines for electricity and they now make their own renewable energy from three 1.5 MW wind turbines. However, like 80 percent of Maine, the island’s residents have until now been dependent on oil for home heating.

…The addition of smart grid technology to Steffes’ electric thermal he…ating units makes it possible to store renewable energy in home units that can monitor and regulate and store electricity as heat, and then slowly release that heat as needed over a 24-hour period.

Distributed electricity storage as heat brings a solution to storing and then utilizing cheaper night-time wind power as home heating, and will be good for the island’s residents individually, saving them money on home heating, while also regulating wind on the grid.

It is also much better economically for the islanders because, as members of the Fox Islands Electricity Cooperative, they have been selling their wind energy to the mainland at comparatively low rates.

Read the rest of the in-depth article.

March 19th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (3)

The town Energy Steering Committee (a separate group from the York Energy Efficiency Committee) completed its analysis of 36 municipal facilities and presented the selectmen on March 8 with a prioritized list of the most energy-intensive buildings. The next step is to hire a firm to conduct in-depth audits in order to prioritize building improvements. From the May 10, 2010 York Weekly story:

Selectmen on Monday night gave the York Energy Efficiency Steering Committee the go-ahead to pursue requests for qualifications in an effort to find a company to conduct an energy audit of the top 15 carbon-offending town buildings. The goal is an eventual overhaul of all those buildings cited.

Town Hall tops the list of buildings that contribute the most carbon dioxide per square foot, according to an analysis conducted by the committee. It is followed by the police station and York Senior Center, which are located in the same building on Main Street. Next are the school district’s administrative office on Route 1 and the York Village Fire Station on York Street.

Voters approved $100,000 in May for energy upgrades.

The committee has also received $10,000 in planning money, called a template grant from the state, said Committee Chairman Jeff Beaudoin.

The committee analyzed 36 buildings. The list reflects the most inefficient buildings as well as the largest contributors to CO2 emissions.

“The biggest carbon contributors were whittled down to 15,” said Beaudoin, “and ranked by square footage and most carbon outputters.”

. . . Chairman Mike Estes recommended the committee start posting requests for qualifications and return to the board with a list of companies from which to solicit proposals for the job of an energy audit.

Read the rest of the article, York to pursue study of CO2-offending buildings.

March 12th, 2010 by wayne | Tags: news, Steering Committee, York Weekly | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment