Portland’s famed Becky’s Diner now sports 8 flat plate solar hot water collectors to help wash all those dishes.

The Forecaster reports:

When Becky Rand renovated her iconic diner on Commercial Street four years ago, she wanted to add solar heating panels but couldn’t afford to do it.

She made sure the necessary plumbing was installed, though, so if the funds became available, she would be able to add a solar hot-water system in the future.

So when ReVision Energy called Rand and told her about a grant available through Efficiency Maine and federal stimulus funds, plus a tax incentive, she jumped on the opportunity.

“That made it affordable for me,” Rand said.

Rand worked closely with ReVision over the next year and a half, filling out the many necessary forms and documents to make her solar-heated hot-water system a reality.

Finally, last week, the eight panels and a 160-gallon water tank were installed. Rand said that in the height of the summer, when the diner is the busiest and is using the most hot water, the panels should provide all the heat she needs for hot water.

… “For people like me, with grandchildren, you want to think you’re leaving something nice for your grandchildren,” Rand said. “Maine is special – we don’t appreciate what we have here, how beautiful it is. I want that maintained.”

The system, which is tied in to an existing natural gas heating system, will offset roughly 1,131 therms of natural gas each year and produce 248,000 Btus a day in the summertime. Inside the restaurant is a display panel that tracks system production and tank temperature for real-time analysis of system production.

Next time you’re looking for a nice bowl of chowdah, you can rest easy knowing the water washing your dishes at Becky’s is heated by the sun!

George Longstreth’s dreams of a solar home started nearly a decade ago, when he had a crude off-grid system installed for a seasonal beach cottage on Baker’s Island, MA. “It was basic, just four small panels, but it was enough to run the microwave for a few minutes or brew a pot of coffee. It got me thinking about how this technology could be applied for a normal home.”

This thinking process lead him to Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vermont, where he learned the basics of green building and passive solar design. Then, he scoured Northern New England for an ideal location to build his solar home, a search that took him from Southeast New Hampshire to Portland, Maine, before he found the property of his dreams in Kennebunkport.

“It was a beautiful property with good access to solar south,” he says, “That’s when I started assembling the best team of local contractors to make the project happen.”

His search for a solar contractor brought him in contact with a number of companies in Southern Maine, but he chose ReVision Energy because “you knew what you were doing.” After a preliminary meeting with engineer Geoff Sparrow, ReVision worked with George and his architect, Hans Warner, to design a 8.28kw solar electric system to be mounted on the home’s south-facing roof along with 2 flat plate solar hot water collectors for his domestic hot water supply.

Solar PV + Geothermal = Synergy

Solar is just one part of the renewable energy systems in Longstreth’s new home. George also contacted Dr. John Logan of Water Energy Distributors for advice on installing a geothermal system. Dr. Logan connected George with New Energy Solutions of Standish who designed and installed a geothermal system consisting of two heat pumps, one for 1st floor radiant heat, and another for cooling and 2nd floor heating.

“It was great when I got all these smart people in the room together to talk about the synergy between renewable energy systems,” George says, “Our predictions are that the solar will provide around 50% of the electricity used for geothermal heating during the heating months, and 100% of my household ‘plug’ loads the rest of the year.”

Designing a home that is mostly renewable-powered requires being very conscious about energy use, and Longstreth’s home takes this concept to heart. His home is heavily insulated, consisting of a double-framed 2×6 + 2×4 wall system filled with compacted cellulose insulation, for a R40 rating in the walls and R60 in the ceiling. His home takes advantage of its south-facing orientation to incorporate passive solar features, such as windows installed for optimum solar gain and a special 1 1/2″ slab to collect passive heat.

Investing in Solar

As his project nears completion, George looks forward to a life of minimal energy bills. “The new home uses no oil whatsoever, very little electricity and very little propane. We bucked the attitude of ‘fly now, pay later’ to ‘pay now, fly later.’ The tight-fisted Yankee in me can’t let this bountiful renewable energy go to waste while we purchase oil from our enemies overseas.”

George estimates that his mechanical systems made up about 25% of his overall project budget, and that with state and federal incentives, his renewable systems were cost-competitive with installing a traditional heating system. “It’s a no brainer, and we’re already seeing results. After our first month, our electric bill went from around $80 to -$10! We can’t wait to see how it performs long term.”

Just up the road from our Portland showroom is Oceanview at Falmouth, a unique retirement community that makes smart growth a core part of its mission. Solar hot water is a major part of that smart growth.

Since 2007, Oceanview at Falmouth has installed numerous solar hot water systems, including:

• 360 tube array on Hilltop Lodge
• 12 flat plates on Falmouth House
• Heliocol collectors for their pool
• 14 collectors instaled on their newest expansion to the Main Lodge

We visited as part of our ongoing Solar Road Tour, taking the opportunity to speak with Oceanview’s Sales & Marketing Manager, Gloria Walker, and resident John Radebaugh, M.D. We learn a little bit about Oceanview’s environmentally-minded vision of growth and how solar hot water is a crucial part of that vision.

Solar Thermal A Clear Environmental and Economic Winner

Chris Wasileski, who works in Seacoast Management’s Development Office, took some extra time to speak with us about the big picture of solar energy in our world.

“We have always been interested in solar energy, from both a social and environmental standpoint, but for it to work as a business there needs to be a solid case on the side of economics,” he says, “This sweet spot is what has lead us to invest in so much solar hot water over the years. We found that solar thermal offers great payback and great potential – there are strong incentives and rebates, which when combined with impressive fuel savings have made these investments clear winners for us.”

After partnering with ReVision on nearly a dozen projects, Chris says his experience “Has been very easy, ReVision is my go-to firm for solar hot water. They are as critical to our business as the plumbers we work with.”

In addition to saving money, solar hot water helps Oceanview achieve a greater vision of raising awareness of fossil energy alternatives and encouraging their adoption. “By having these systems all over our buildings, we’re showing our customers, clients, and staff that we believe in solar energy, and help them to believe in it, too. Since the Carter era, the biggest question mark with solar has been whether it is cost feasible, and I believe we’re showing that it is. We look forward to a renewable energy future for everyone.”

Big thanks to Oceanview for letting us tour the facility, and to Dr. Radebaugh for sharing his story with us. Stay tuned next month for our final leg of the road tour for 2011, which sends us up to Midcoast Maine.

Miss Solar Road Tour Episodes?

We’ve had a lot of fun touring Maine and New Hampshire on our journey. Prior videos on our blog:

• Episode 5: Highlands Solar Hot Water, Bowdoin College
• Episode 4: SMCC’s Alternative Energy Education Program and Scratch Baking Company
• Episode 3: Paul Ledman’s High Performance Apartments at 62 Cumberland Ave, Portland
• Episode 2: Melissa Coleman on Cranberry Ridge, Freeport Library
• Episode 1: Gritty’s and LL Bean sport solar hot water in Freeport, Maine

More Photos from our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

When Bill Babb and his wife Barbara retired from their jobs as school teachers, controlling monthly costs was an important way to maintain the good life. Investing in financial markets looked shaky, and they wanted to see something positive result from their efforts. After seeing a presentation by a former student, Hans Albee, they started looking seriously at a solar energy investment – and they liked what they saw.

“For years, the upfront cost was an issue with solar,” Bill says, “But when we looked at it recently we were pleasantly surprised – the cost of solar panels had dropped considerably, and with state and federal incentives, we found we could purchase a system that would be a better investment for us than the stock market. Barbara and I both agreed that the cost of energy will only rise, and rise faster than it has in the past.”

As a pragmatic environmentalist (and climate change skeptic), Bill was attracted to solar’s minimal impact on the natural landscape. He likes that his clean power doesn’t add turbines to untouched landscape, block up or contaminate waterways, or contribute to air pollution. He also likes the impact solar has had on his monthly bill.

“We were expecting the system to produce around $50 a month of power, but so far it’s produced closer to $60-70,” Bill says. “We’re happy to be banking some power for the winter months, and seeing our electric bill dramatically reduced. The system has done everything I wanted it to do from day one.”

Solar Hot Takes it Farther

Bill and Barbara’s positive experience with solar electricity lead them to adding a solar hot water system, which further reduces their home’s fossil fuel needs by allowing their boiler to go dormant for 5-6 months of the year. We caught up with Bill just a few weeks after the system was installed, and he reports that so far, it had stayed well above the 110 degree mark that would trigger his boiler to turn on.

“The furnace has been turned off for weeks and we have had plenty of hot water, even without changing our lifestyle” Bill says, “On days that are a cloudy mix with little direct sun, we’re surprised at how much heat the system produces. We like it!”

Our Solar Road Tour takes us a little further up the coast, where we visit The Highlands in Topsham, a unique retirement community with a strong environmental commitment.

In 2007 The Highlands installed what was Maine’s largest solar hot water system at the time, a 540 evacuated tube system expected to pay for itself in 6 years due to its dramatic reduction in fossil fuel use. The Highlands expanded this year with 24 flat plate solar hot water collectors on their Maine Lodge.

For The Highlands, solar hot water is a win-win: the collectors save their business thousands of dollars a year in fuel costs, while helping to preserve the memorable local environment that appeals to their residents. In this video, we talk to Highlands Sales Consultant, Don Wessels, as he tells us a bit about the system, its value to Highlands, and their commitment to sustainability.

In the second half, we check out a sizzling 48 flat plate solar hot water array on top of Bowdoin’s Thorne Dining Hall… you can see system performance for Thorne (as well as many other campus buildings) online!

Miss Solar Road Tour Episodes?

We’ve had a lot of fun touring Maine and New Hampshire on our journey. Prior videos on our blog:

• Episode 4: SMCC’s Alternative Energy Education Program and Scratch Baking Company
• Episode 3: Paul Ledman’s High Performance Apartments at 62 Cumberland Ave, Portland
• Episode 2: Melissa Coleman on Cranberry Ridge, Freeport Library
• Episode 1: Gritty’s and LL Bean sport solar hot water in Freeport, Maine

More Photos from Our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

Farming and gardening is, of course, the original use of solar power, but the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA) went the next step and installed the 21st century evolution: an 11.7kw solar photovoltaic array. This grid-tied system has no moving parts, no batteries, just fifty-two Solon Blue 225 watt panels tied to two inverters that will convert sunshine into electricity for the next several decades.

This 21st century system marks the latest step in the restoration of a 200 year old barn – a true symbol of old tradition meets new technology! This unique and highly visible project was a great opportunity for some video coverage, and in this 7-minute feature we hear from Vernon LeCount from MOFGA and John Luft from ReVision Energy’s Liberty office about the installation and MOFGA’s long-term ambitions about renewable energy.

MOFGA provides year-round services to organic farmers and gardeners, but they may be best known for their big upcoming event: the Common Ground Fair to be held this September 23-25. The fair is the premiere celebration of rural traditions and sustainable living and attracts over 60,000 people each year.

We’ll be there the whole weekend with staff from all three branches. Be sure to keep an eye out for the new PV system as you approach the south parking lot, and talk to us about any questions you’ve ever had about solar, energy efficiency, and green building.

Thanks again, MOFGA, for making a big commitment to sustainable energy, and to Darryl Czuchra Production Services, who went above and beyond in the creation of this video.

More Photos in Our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

For Cheryl Frederick, Assistant Professor of Captive Wildlife Care and Education at Unity College, the tipping point for energy came this past semester when she had a guest lecturer in her classroom talk about coal.

“There is nothing clean about coal,” she remembers, “And our environment is in crisis. I thought – I need to go beyond teaching this to living it.”

That decision brought her to ReVision Energy, who she learned about through colleagues at the university who were familiar with our work. She appreciated not only the lofty recommendation she received, but that she would be employing Unity alumni for her project.

PACE Financing Makes it Possible

Cheryl’s system took advantage of the new PACE program by Efficiency Maine, a low-interest loan tied to the value of your home specifically made for renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Maine is the first state in the country to offer PACE financing and Cheryl’s may be one of the first home to use it for solar electricity. But despite the newness of the program, she says the experience was great.

“The whole process took about a month,” she says. “Now our money now goes to the loan instead of the utility bill, and if we stay here long enough we’ll get most or all of our electricity for free. It’s an amazing program – we wanted to do solar and the PACE loan made it possible.”

Solar As a Form of Entertainment

Cheryl, like many solar electric system owners, finds herself having lots of fun watching the performance of her system through her web-based monitoring portal. She can now see how much power she generates in a given day and check in from anywhere with an internet connection.

“It’s like watching stocks go up – you have a nice sunny day and then get to see how much power you generated,” she says, adding “The website also tells you what your carbon offset is and how many trees you have saved.”

She finds that being aware of how much power she’s generating makes her more aware of how much power she’s using. “We have become more careful about our power use, and are hoping to bank more power this summer than we use.  That way, we can use more electric heaters this winter to offset our oil use.”

The best part? “I feel like I’m finally doing my part,” she says, “Instead of cutting down trees, I’m saving them.”

The Morning Sentinel reported on the new TerraHaus eco-friendly student housing at Unity College.

Beth Staples writes:

Belfast-based G*O Logic architect Matthew O’Malia and carpenter Alan Gibson designed and built the nation’s first dorm to meet passive house certification standards.

The standards, the highest international standards for energy efficiency, require that the dorm use 90 percent less energy for space heating than standard buildings.

… A solar hot water system installed by ReVision Energy of Liberty and Portland will provide hot water for showers and washing dishes.

Jesse Pyles, Unity’s sustainablilty coordinator, said 10 of the college’s 500-plus students were chosen by lottery to live in the cottage.

The lottery winners agreed to participate in educational programs, including giving tours of the one-of-kind dorm.

Read more at The Morning Sentinel.

Photos from Our Solar Project Gallery