SunPower solar electric panels on a boathouse
overlooking Casco Bay in Falmouth

Efficiency Maine, a subset of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, reopened its rebate program on Monday June 29, 2009.

This is a great opportunity for people who are considering a solar hot water or solar electric installation.

UPDATE: The rebate program has continued into 2010!  See Efficiency Maine’s website for more details.

Solar hot water rebates, both commercial and residential, will be awarded in the amount of $1,000, and buildings that are Energy Star or Maine Home Performance rated may be eligible for a $1,500 rebate.

For all solar electric systems, the rebate amount awarded is $2,000.

In addition to the state rebates, you can receive up to 30% off a solar power or solar hot water installation thanks to federal tax credits.

The rebates will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. If you think you are going to purchase a solar hot water or solar electric system and have it installed in 2009 or 2010 please contact our office to receive help in filling out the state rebate application.

Even with the heavy rainfall we received more than 100 people attended our Summer Solstice Grand Opening Event last Friday.

The grand opening was a chance for people to view our new showroom and to receive an understanding of our systems. In our showroom are two of BioHeat’s high efficiency wood boilers, a Scantec and a Froling.

The Froling is hooked up and will provide heat for our offices and warehouse come winter. There is a 10 tube solar hot water collector array on display, as well as a solar hot water flat plate.

A Stiebel Eltron dual coil solar storage tank sits on the showroom floor and receives solar gain from evacuated tube collectors that are on our roof.

A SunPower solar electric module and inverter are also available to view.

Our showroom is open Monday through Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm. Appointments are not necessary but are suggested to ensure the best possible person will be here to discuss your solar energy or wood boiler needs.

The grand opening event was also a chance for community members to get to know each and other sustainable local businesses or organizations.

We are appreciative to all those who helped to make this event a success and would like to thank the Pete Kilpatrick Band, Allagash Brewing Company, Maine Mead Works, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Katie Made Desserts, Mad Girl World, MEBSR, Maine Green Building Supply, FW Horch Sustainability Goods, Reverb, Sierra Club, and Move On.

Kristen from the Center for Wildlife poses with non-releasable education falcon, Freyja, before the new solar hot water system at CFW’s main building.

The Center for Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation center based in Cape Neddick, Maine installed solar hot water collectors on their roof to supply the domestic hot water load of their main office building.

Two Chromagen flat plate solar hot water collectors are working to heat water in a 52 gallon solar storage tank. This tank acts to preheat their existing hot water tank. An electric component acts as a back up heat source for times when the solar is not able to meet the tank’s setpoint temperature. This ensures a consistent supply of hot water at the tap.

On a good sunny day, the solar system will produce a 60-80 degree temperature rise in both tanks, producing more than 14 million BTUs of clean renewable heat energy. By reducing the amount of electricity the Center will consume to heat water, over 4200 lbs of CO2 emissions will be eliminated on an annual basis.

The Center for Wildlife’s staff and volunteers provide medical care, safe sanctuary and humane treatment for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife until they can be released back into the wild. The Center has been established for 23 years and focuses on educating the general public and provides school programs to raise awareness of the many wonderful wild species that live among us.

Learn more by visiting www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org.

More Photos of the Solar Hot Water Installation:

Ann Logan and Chris Eccles left England in 2006 to build a new home in Maine. Ann, a US citizen with family ties to Maine knew that Maine had attractive sunny summers, but that winters could be long and cold. Building a home with energy efficient systems in place would ensure low energy costs for years to come.

“Concerned about the effects of global warming, US dependence on fossil fuel and volatile fuel costs, we decided to build a solar home,” Ann says.  “We wanted to live a modern lifestyle in a value for money home that consumes less energy than the typical US household.”

The home was designed to be passive solar, utilizing the natural energy from the sun for heating purposes. The home is well insulated with good windows to provide for minimal heat loss. There is a wood burning stove that supplies some of the heat load when burning.

The homeowners have installed a solar active hot water and heating system, designed and installed by ReVision Energy, with a high efficiency propane boiler acting as the backup. They use energy efficient appliances and plan to install a solar electric system that is grid-tied in the near future.

The solar hot water array is made up of (3) 30 Apricus evacuated tubes heating a 160 gallon Stiebel Eltron solar hot water tank. This system generates enough hot water for all of the domestic hot water needs.

Excess heat from the system can go into the radiant floor heating system providing some of the space heating needs of the house.

This is most effective in spring and fall when modest heating is required, but even in winter it can contribute. On a sunny summer day, the system can heat 160 gallons of water from cold up to about 170 degrees F. In winter, it can reach about 115 degrees F in a day, which is more than hot enough for a shower or bath.

To learn more about the steps Chris & Ann took to build themselves an energy efficient home, visit their website: www.downeastsolarhome.com.

The Redfern House, a Gold LEED Certified Home, is Available for Viewing

A newly constructed home located in Portland is expected to receive a Gold rating from the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes Program.

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and provides a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction for new design or renovation.

Tours are scheduled for Saturday morning June 13th and Tuesday evening June 16th. Catherine Culley of Redfern Properties is organizing the tours and can be reached at 207-221-5746.

The Redfern House is utilizing resource efficient materials and renewable energy systems.

It is less than 2000 square feet, and has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. It has been designed and built to be healthy, extremely efficient, highly durable, and ecologically responsible.

The home is constructed with FSC certified lumber, local materials and materials that are high in recycled content and low in embodied energy. It was built with passive solar design with south facing exposure to maximize thermal gain. Solar shades block sun heat but not light in the summer months. There is high R-value insulation and a tight exterior envelope.

A grid tied solar electric system provides for a portion of the homes electrical needs. Solar thermal evacuated tubes heat water for the domestic hot water supply of the home, as well as cover a portion of heat for the radiant floor heat distribution system.

Other features of this home include non toxic paints, cellulose insulation, a detached garage and resource efficient framing. Being located in the downtown region, it’s accessible to public transportation and to Greater Portland’s resources.

The Redfern House was designed by LEED accredited architect Chris Briley. Chris is the founding principal of Green Design Studio based in Yarmouth, Maine.

ReVision Energy designed and installed the solar hot water and solar electric systems on the home. Horizon Residential provided consultation on insulation, ventilation, and heating performance. Horizon is also serving as the ‘rater’ for the home in a number of the LEED categories.

Other sustainability partners that helped to make this project a success were Cuddledown, Furniturea, Green Designs, Ember Grove, Angela Adams, and Back Cove Yardscaping.

UPDATE: Read about Redfern earning the Platinum LEED Certification!

More Photos from Our Gallery:

This summer solstice come out to celebrate sustainable living by attending ReVision Energy in Portland’s grand opening event!

We just moved to Presumpscot Street, Portland, Maine and have been very busy setting up our workable showroom that highlights the solar power and solar hot water systems we install.

The grand opening is a chance for you to view our showroom, learn about renewable energy and solar power, and meet other local community members, non profit organizations and business owners who are committed to sustainability.

The event will be held on Friday, June 19th from 4-8pm. It will be held at our Portland location: 142 Presumpscot St. Portland, ME 04103. Fred Horch, Sustainability Goods and Maine Green Building Supplies will have a display set up with information to hand out. There will be a solar electric bike demo by eastcoastebikes.com and live performance art by madgirlworld.com. Pete Kilpatrick and band will be playing thanks to Reverbrock.org! Free drinks will be provided by Allagash Brewing Company of Portland. There will be a moon bounce for the kids, and so much more! Please be sure to attend this must do event of the summer, and bring your friends; the event is free to all. We will be donating any money we receive for site evaluation sign ups that night to the Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility.

There’s so much going on; come join in the summertime fun!

June 11th – Solar Open House, Portland

Come join us for another one of our Solar Open Houses at 433 Summit Street in Portland. The home has a 44-tube Apricus solar hot water collector array heating an 85 gallon Marathon hot water tank with automatic electric backup. The event will be held Thursday, June 11th from 6-7:30 pm. The event is free and welcome to all. Meet at 6pm to go on this open solar house tour.

June 13th – Spring Running Riverfront Festival 11-9pm rain or shine

This festival is a celebration of life in, on and along the Kennebec River. The festival highlights & promotes the historic, cultural & economic connections of Augusta to the spring herring run & Kennebec River.

There will be booth exhibits focusing on local natural resources, sustainable businesses and renewable energy. Great entertainment will also be provided for this family friendly affair. For more information on this event go to: www.springrunning.com

June 13th – Green Businesses in the Community 11-3pm at the Haley Art Gallery located at 178 Haley Road in Kittery (off of Rt 1)

Join the Green Alliance as they promote green goods and services from your own community. There will be presentations, kids workshops, and sustainable food vendors. Call Haley Art Gallery for more information 207-439-7612.

June 19th – Summer Solstice Grand Opening Event!

ReVision Energy in Portland has relocated to 142 Presumpscot Street.

Please tell all your friends to join us for free food and drink and the opportunity to see ReVision’s renewable energy systems in our new showroom.

This event starts at 4pm and goes until 8pm. There will be art and entertainment including a live performance by the Pete Kilpatrick band. FW Horch Sustainability Goods and Maine Green Building Supplies will have a display set up with information to hand out. There will be a moon bounce for the kids, and free food and drink available for all.

This is a fundraiser for Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility. People interested in a solar evaluation at their home or office can sign up at the event and the $150 deposit will be donated to MEBSR. A free site visit will also be raffled off. Please contact our office with questions: 221-6342.

June 25th – Solar Open House Arrowsic to be held at 37 Stonetree Road in Arrowsic, ME 04530 from 6-7:30pm

View this well insulated, passive solar home that is utilizing flat plate solar hot water collectors to provide the domestic hot water load for this home. This is a great opportunity to meet with the homeowner, Al Heath, who also provides consulting services to home owners and businesses who are looking to build or renovate efficiently. The event is free, and welcome to all. Meet at 6pm to go on this open solar house tour.

July 9th – Solar Open House Kittery to be held at 8 Devons Wood Drive in Kittery, ME 03905

The event will be showcasing a newly constructed well insulated home. These young homeowners decided to incorporate solar hot water into their home design and also installed wiring for a solar electric system to be added when they are ready. Come meet the homeowners to hear the processes they took when designing their new home. The event will be from 6-7:30pm. The event is free, and welcome to all. Meet at 6pm to go on this open solar house tour.

ReVision Energy has recently become a member of the Green Alliance. This Portsmouth based non profit is a growing union of green businesses all along Maine and New Hampshire’s seacoast region.

The Green Alliance works to promote sustainable businesses, raising their company profile through collaboration, consumer education, and through shared business strategy.

The Green Alliance is run by director Sarah Brown of Kittery. Her drive and dedication have made the Green Alliance successful, currently over 50 businesses strong.