Jen and Hans Albee celebrated their July 4 with an Open House for Energy Independence

This Independence Day ReVision employees Jen and Hans Albee (both of whom work out of our Liberty office) held an open house at their home in Brooks to celebrate their growing energy independence.

Earlier this year, Jen and Hans finished installing a 40-evacuated tube solar hot water system to supplement their Rinnai on-demand propane hot water heater.

Though on-demand Rinnais are extremely efficient energy users, nothing feels so good as hot water from the sun! Their system will generate roughly 12,045,000 BTUs of clean energy each year.

Weatherization in Tandem with Solar Hot Water

In addition to solar hot water, the Albees are participating in the Home Energy Savings Program, which will rebate homeowners up to $3,000 for approved energy efficiency projects, regardless of income.

They’re working with Curry Caputo of Sustainable Structures to air seal and insulate attic and second floor walls and drop down stairs, as well as adding better ventilation to their bathrooms.

In our photo gallery you can see some additional photos – with Hans putting on the finishing touches on the system, and the other of Hans and Simone (their dog) enjoying the sunshine over the holiday weekend:

The Causeway Club reports fossil-fuels savings of $8,000 in the first year of solar hot water pool heating.

Against the backdrop of gorgeous Acadia National Park is the historic The Causeway Club, which since 1920 has provided a low-key way to relax and recreate. One of its most popular attractions is its saltwater pool, which originally was unheated.

The first upgrade was in 1964, when the brisk Atlantic waters were heated with LP gas, which was further improved in 2008 when ReVision Energy installed a solar hot water system.

“I doubt any of your installations have produced as great a percentage savings,” says Larry Hudgens, General Manager, who reports that in the first year of service the system saved 80% of the prior year’s propane expenditure. The estimated value of that fuel is roughly $8,000. Two years later, Larry reports that the “solar pool heating system is operating as designed with a minimum of commissioning this spring.”

Harvest the Sunshine for Your Pool

Outdoor pool heating is an excellent application for solar hot water, and one that is common in sunny climates like Florida and California. Yet, Maine has ample sunshine to harvest for a pool, extending the duration of swimming season and dramatically reducing the cost of fossil-fuel based water heaters.

Pool heating can take advantage of the very simplest type of solar hot water collector, flat plate plastic collectors made by manufacturers like Heliocol. These collectors use an existing pool pump to direct pool water through a series of valves to the solar collectors. Pool water enters the solar collectors at the bottom and rises to the top through the individual tubes of the collectors, heated by sun the entire time. This warmed water is directed back to the pool, and the cycle continues until the pool is warmed.

More advanced systems can use regular flat plate solar hot water system to provide both domestic hot water and pool heating, which is a helpful dual purpose system (though they are ineligible for federal and state rebates).

Low Profile, High Performance

In addition to being an efficient way to heat a pool, the collectors are low-profile. So much so, that Larry tells us, “It is one of the more innocuous installations I have ever seen. We have a summer full of poolside members and I bet none of them even notice the collectors.”

But they do notice the warm salt water!

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On average a domestic solar hot water system will save an oil-burning household 300 gallons of heating oil each year.

Dick and Nancy Crowley were interested in why their current system did not seem to be producing adequate hot water for more than a couple showers per day.

After looking at historical fuel usage, we found that the boiler’s high mass combined with its inefficient tank-less coil meant a summertime efficiency of roughly 8 percent!

Using the Sun to Shut the Boiler Down

ReVision Energy’s experience installing solar hot water systems to replace the tank-less coil configuration has shown that the majority of the oil burned throughout the summer simply goes up the flue, or heats the basement.

In the Crowley’s case this meant that for every gallon of oil used to heat water for showering and dishwashing, roughly 12.5 gallons were lost to boiler standby.

ReVision custom-designed a solar hot water system using an Apricus 40-tube collector for primary domestic water heating, with an electric element for backup on cloudy days.

Let the Sunshine Spill!

On a good sunny day the solar collector harvests enough energy to raise the tank by about 67 degrees. The boiler now sleeps through the summer months, and is only called to heat the house – its intended function. Dick commented after the ReVision crew had completed and commissioned the system- “I’ve never taken a hotter shower than I do now!”

From our Residential Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

Meg Simone and Dave Eiermann contacted ReVision Energy to collaborate on their new construction – a home that was to incorporate sustainable material sources, and designed for high efficiency despite the harsh winters of the White Mountains.

The 30-tube Apricus evacuated tube array provides Dave and Meg with 80% of their hot water annually and, by reducing fossil-fuel usage, cuts CO2 emission by about 4,000 lbs.

You can visit their blog for information on sustainable living and their projects, with a focus on original and local woodwork.

From our Residential Solar Photo Gallery:

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This solar hot water system will save an estimated 175 gallons of propane and 2,500 lbs of CO2 emissions annually.

Dr. Barry Rock has grandkids, as well a first hand knowledge of forest ecosystems as seen from space.  One of his areas of expertise at UNH-Durham is the factors contributing to the changing climate and the effects of atmospheric CO2 pollution.

ReVision employee and NH branch manager Will Kessler recalls lectures at the university that had descriptions of the “atmospheric sewer” produced by the SO2 and NO2 emissions of the mid-twentieth century, and vivid accounts of NASA’s first missions using satellite imaging to map the chemistry of forest canopies from above.

Dr. Rock and his wife Gerrie have shown their commitment to the environment by adding an evacuated tube solar hot water system to their house.  By only calling on the propane boiler for rare backup water heating, the system is estimated to save about 175 gallons of propane, and roughly 2,500 lbs of CO2 annually.

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

The Beachmere Inn’s solar electric system generates 5-8% of the Inn’s power needs, and solar hot water has reduced oil use by more than a third!

The Maine Innkeepers Association highlighted The Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, a certified Maine Environmental Leader in Hospitality, in their most recent newsletter.

The Innkeepers Association also recognized that the inn has been independently family owned and operated for the past 72 years.

We featured The Beachmere Inn last May, when we noted how Beachmere took their green initiatives to the next level by installing 3 active solar hot water systems and a 5 kilowatt solar electric system

In the first two months of service, the solar hot water systems reduced oil consumption by 34%. Their solar hot water systems supply hot water for a 32-room main building and generate domestic hot water in employee housing buildings

The 5kW solar electric system covers 5-8% of the Inn’s total demand. According to their website, by mid 2009 more than 7,800 KW kilowatt hours of clean electricity have been produced by the solar array, eliminating 13,100 lbs of CO2.

Here’s a summary of the energy saving measures that The Beachmere Inn reports on their website:

• Solar Panels have been installed for Thermal Hot water for over 32 rooms as well as in our employee housing building.
• Solar Photovoltaic Panels have been installed for production of 5 – 8% of our energy needs.
• As of June 24, 2009 over 7,800 KW has been produced by solar power a savings of 13,100 Lbs. of Co2.
• Compact Fluorescent bulbs will be in used in all lighting
• Cold water laundry processes are being used to save electricity by eliminating the need to heat hot water for the laundry systems through Ozone technology.
• Energy star appliances are chosen first for any appliance replacement
• High efficiency heating & cooling units were installed in 2008 for Beachmere West
• Additional insulation was installed in the exterior walls and ceiling for better building envelope efficiency in Beachmere West.
• In 2007 we installed efficient, timed irrigation for the lawn and drip irrigation for our planting beds, in 2008 that effort has continued.
• High efficiency Low E Eagle windows are installed in Beachmere West (2008) and were used for all the window & door replacement at Beachmere South (2008) and in the Victorian (2000 – on going).
• Since 2000 we have been replacing old inefficient oil burners with Buderus boilers in the Victorian, South and West buildings.

In addition to their commitment to reducing energy and using energy from clean, renewable sources, The Beachmere Inn has a host of green administrative, cleaning, and building practices.

The Maine Environmental Leader in Hospitality distinction recognizes all of these efforts, and in fact, The Beachmere Inn has “one of the highest totals in certification scoring points.”

Sarah Diment, owner at The Beachmere Inn, feels, “It’s important to take steps towards environmental efficiencies as a smart business move. We know by becoming ‘greener’ we have a direct impact on bettering our environment. Our guests appreciate our efforts and implement some of what they see here in their homes.”

Visit the Maine DEP website to learn more about Maine’s Environmental Leader program, or call 1-800-789-9802.

Congratulations again, Beachmere!

Receiving the Leed for Homes Innovative Project Award
Photo courtesy Bright Built Barn blog

The Bright Built Barn recently won the prestigious 2009 LEED for Homes Innovative Project Award from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The award recognizes projects, developers and home builders who have demonstrated leadership in the residential building marketplace.

Phil Kaplan from Kaplan Thompson Architects and Tedd Benson from Bensonwood went to Phoenix, Arizona to accept the award at GreenBuild, the USGBC Annual Conference, this past December.

A write-up of the event is available on the Bright Built Barn blog.

We also received this report of performance of Bright Built Barn‘s solar systems, one year later:

I’m happy to report that [BrightBuilt Barn] has exceeded all expectations.

On a subjective level, it has been a joy to live and work in – warm in the winter, cool in the summer, light and airy and lovely to look at all year round. I am also delighted to report that I have not had one minute of trouble with any of the systems – high praise indeed from a guy who hates maintenance and repair, and who has had his share of woes while living in a number of conventionally built houses over the years. The solar systems in the Barn are simple, with few moving parts, and highly reliable – so far, they just work.

BrightBuilt Barn Generated a surplus of more than 5000 KW/hrs in 2008-09

ReVision installed the solar hot water and solar power systems in this innovative, net-zero building.

In its first year, the home’s PV system generation a surplus of 5094 kilowatt-hours – or enough energy to power 5 conventional homes for a month.

Building owner Keith Collins goes on to say that “The Barn does, in fact, power my conventionally built main house (over 15 years old and no paragon of energy efficiency) which sits about 100 feet away, and has produced over 60% of that home’s electrical use.”

You can see real-time system performance of the Bright Built Barn online at brightbuiltbarn.com.

Ben Tipton’s house is smaller than many conventional homes, uses sustainable building materials, and has a PV and solar hot water system

Last year we discussed the construction of a sustainable four-person household built by the Tipton family in Woolwich, Maine.

Completed in October 2008, Ben Tipton recently shared data about his home’s energy performance with us.

Over the course of the year, Ben Tipton reports that his Maine solar power system generated about half of his family’s energy needs, and that his current home uses roughly 2800% less propane for heating and hot water than his previous home.

Here are some details:

Thank you to all that helped on our house. Even if you did not pound a nail your support, encouragement and friendship has been felt all along the way. I now have one year of data and the numbers look really good. No place to go from here but down. I have posted them here and on the blog. We could not have done it without all the help.

Here is the final first year tally…..

• Cost per day: $0.93
• Kw created on site: 1415
• Kw sent out to the grid: 700
• Kw purchased from grid: 2614 (wind and eco-friendly hydro power)
• Yearly Cost: $339.86
• Monthly utility Cost: $28.32
• Total Kw used: 3329
• Propane for cooking: 25 gal
• Wood: 1.5 cords sustainably harvested from the land

So what is a net carbon impact this year??? The only thing that wasn’t made on site or in Maine was the 25 gal of propane. Our last house used over 700 gallons propane, 3 cord of wood and 5000kw. I have to say that these number are impressive and have exceeded my expectations. I owe a huge Thank you to all that helped on this project.

Ben

As part of Ben’s and his family’s commitment to sustainability, they continue to look for ways to reduce their energy consumption and sustainably produce what energy they do use.

You can follow Ben’s story on his blog, Simple Living in Maine.

From our Residential Solar Photo Gallery

See more installations on our Solar Projects Map