In this edition of the Solar Road Tour we head to Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) located on a sun-drenched peninsula of Casco Bay, where from the front of the new SEA Center you can see alternative energy technology on display, juxtaposed with a view of oil tankers coming into Portland Harbor in the distance.

We talk to John Brautigam, program director, about SMCC’s dedication to training students how to install the renewable energy technologies of the present and future. A diversion then takes us to Scratch Baking Company where we have the ultimate delight: the solar cupcake.

SMCC’s SEA Director John Brautigam standing before a suite of solar energy systems recently installed by ReVision Energy.

ReVision recently wrapped installation of a suite of solar systems at Southern Maine Community College’s Sustainable Energy Alternatives (SEA) Center.

The SEA Center is a major part of SMCC’s efforts to become a regional center for education and training on renewable energy and sustainable building practices. The building is equipped with cutting-edge professional equipment and state-of-the-art educational tools designed to help students understand theories of building science including air infiltration, insulation issues, and thermal properties of building materials to help equip them for a career in energy efficiency and/or renewable energy.

To showcase the variety of solar energy installations likely to be encountered, SMCC had ReVision install two solar hot water systems, one with evacuated tubes and the other with flat plate collectors, as well as a modest photovoltaic (solar electric) array. All of the “guts” of the system – pipe run, tank, wiring, etc. – is on display and labeled so students can understand how it works and observe it in practice. The systems also feature robust web-based data monitoring options that will be viewable by both students and the public.

ReVision has had the pleasure of working with an SMCC Electric Engineering student, Melanie Janarelli, as an intern this summer, who helped install the system. Director John Brautigam is featured in one of our upcoming Solar Road Tour episodes, so stay tuned!

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The Salt Water Grille, South Portland, Maine

In an effort to reduce fossil fuel energy costs and CO2 emissions, The Saltwater Grille in South Portland recently had a large solar hot water system installed.

The solar hot water system provides domestic hot water for dishwashing, cooking and hand-washing, thereby offsetting the need to burn propane to produce hot water.

According to owner Mark Loring, the restaurant serves roughly 2,500 meals per week. That means approximately 6,000 gallons of hot water is used each week to keep up with their busy pace.

The solar hot water system was designed and installed by ReVision Energy. System engineer Fortunat Mueller, P.E., estimates that the system will produces roughly 60 million BTUs of clean, renewable heat energy annually, or 200,000 BTUs per day.

The system is saving roughly 600 gallons of propane annually and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 lbs. each year.

More Photos from Our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map