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February, 2009 | |||
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 Tipton Residence – Woolwich, Maine Tipton Residence Woolwich, Maine Homeowners in Woolwich recently moved from Vermont to Maine and built their home integrating energy conservation methods to ensure long term energy savings with little dependence on fossil fuels. The Tipton family's home was built by the Shelter Institute, also located in Woolwich. ReVision Energy installed a combination solar system comprised of a 60 tube solar hot water array mounted on the roof and a 1.6kW solar electric array mounted in an awning style on the south facing wall of the home. The solar electric awning is strategically sized and placed to provide both active and passive solar design for this building allowing full sun exposure to the interior space in the winter months, and cool shade during the summer months. The solar hot water system is providing this family of four with most of their domestic hot water with an additional zone provided to send any excess heat into their radiant floor heat distribution system. The heat and hot water is backed up by a Seisco Electric Boiler. A wood cook stove provides central heating and cooking for this 1200 square foot home. Propane is only used for cooking when the fire is not burning. The Tipton's estimate they will use on average 25 gallons of propane each year and one cord of wood to meet most of their heating and cooking needs. Other sustainability factors that provide this home with energy efficiencies are:
The house was built small in size on purpose, so there is less house to heat. There is one bathroom, and utilities are kept to a minimum. Ben Tipton says that "the small size of the house limited our use of natural resources, provides for a way to reconnect the family unit and greatly decreased maintenance costs." When asked how the system is working for him so far, Ben reports "Yesterday I was out cutting some siding; when I triggered my saw I noticed my meter stopped. I thought it was odd, went over to check it out and noticed that the electric meter was running backward. That moment was worth every penny spent on this house. Thank you all." You can listen to Ben speak more about his home by attending Intro to Solar, an event being held at the Shelter Institute at 9:30 am February 7th. Go to Upcoming Events to learn more.   Duvall Design – Rockland, Maine Duvall Design Rockland, Maine ReVision Energy worked with Duvall Design of Rockland, Maine to design and install a 7.56 kW grid tied solar electric system as well as a 300 tube solar thermal system. The solar electric, or PV system, consists of (36) 210 watt panels and is utilizing one inverter to produce approximately 10,000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity every year. The system is connected to the utility grid, a second meter tracks the electrical consumption provided by the solar panels. If the system is producing more electricity than the company is able to use at any given time, they will receive a credit on their next bill. That credit will carry forward for up to 12 months or until it is used. The solar thermal system generates 55,000 BTU's of clean energy annually, offsetting approximately 500 gallons of oil. The solar thermal system provides heat for the domestic hot water used in the sinks, and also provides hot water for the radiant heat distribution PV awning of the building. Both systems combined will offset approximately 20,500 pounds of CO2 on an annual basis. This is equivalent to the emissions released driving 50,000 miles in a medium sized car, or making 9 trips from Maine to California and back. Duvall Design creates unique fabric structures inspired by natural forms, fabricating and installing structures for architectural, retail and exhibit applications. Charles Duvall is the owner and artistic vision behind Duvall Design. His decision to incorporate sustainable energy systems into his buildings was an environmental and an economical one. As a business owner he is eligible to take 30% of the cost of both systems as a federal tax credit. | |||
 Lunch & Learn Program Free Lunch and Learn Program at Your Workplace Would you like for a ReVision Energy representative to provide a lunchtime presentation at your work place? ReVision Energy is offering a free lunch and learn program, where we will send one of technicians out to talk about energy efficiencies and active solar installations for the home and business owner. We're happy to do this free of charge and will even provide the pizza! We would like to set it up for a time when at least 15 or more interested employees will be available to attend. | |||
 "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the Become a Renewable Energy Advocate Do the following thoughts appeal to you?
Perhaps you have considered a long term energy savings plan that incorporates the use of renewable energy. If you have friends and neighbors who have also considered these ideas you may benefit by leveraging together to receive a discount for installing multiple solar systems. In honor of President Obama, ReVision Energy is offering a Be That Change discount. Within your community if two of you sign up together, each doing your own solar hot water, solar electric, or combination system, you will each receive $200 off the bottom line of your proposal. If you get four members to sign up we will take off $400 each person's proposal. Six or more members equal a $600 discount a piece! How do you start? Start by becoming a renewable energy advocate for your community. We will give you the tools to help you spread the word to the members of your town. We will set up site evaluations for the same day to maximize efficiency. No installations will begin until all the members of the group have been contracted to start. If you would like to learn more, please call or email Jen at 221-6342 or jen@revisionenergy.com | |||
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Getting to Know Judy Perry
Judy came to Maine from New York's Hudson River Valley. While in New York, she studied Art and holds a BA from Western Connecticut State University and an MFA from Vermont College. Prior to her work at ReVision Energy, Judy spent time working in galleries and art centers. She paints boldly colored semi-abstract oils that reflect the power of the natural world, its vibrancy and beauty. Her interest in the lives of other artists led to an ongoing interviewing project called 'Artists and Writers in their own words'. Many of her interviews have been published in newspapers, journals, catalogs and magazines. You can go to www.judyperrystudio.com to learn more about her artwork.
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 February 5 - Getting Off Oil: Making the Switch from Oil to a High Efficiency Cord Wood or Wood Pellet Central Heating System Come and learn from the experts how these carbon neutral, cost effective systems may be your sustainable heating solution. View a system in action and learn how these gasification boilers can significantly reduce or eliminate your need for oil! This seminar will be located at ReVision Energy's north location: 91 W Main Street Liberty, ME 04949. The event will be held on Thursday February 5th, from 5-7pm. The event is free, and all are welcome. Please call or email Holly with any questions 589-4171 or holly@revisionenergy.com.
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F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies Helping you get the most value from your renewable energy systems is our goal at F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies. Offering everything from one of Maine's largest selections of CFL lighting to a full line of water-saving shower heads, we can help you make the best use of your energy. Years ago, as The Green Store in Brunswick, we introduced many of our customers to Energyworks. Today, though our names have changed (we're now F.W. Horch and ReVision Energy, respectively), our shared vision of a sustainable renewable energy economy remains steadfast. Whether you're getting ready to go solar and need to rent a Kill-a-Watt meter, or you already have gone solar and need a solar laptop bag to recharge your computer, come and see us! We're at 56 Maine Street in Brunswick, and online at www.FWHorch.com. Warmly, | |||
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Solar Investments are Best Bet in Down Economy Lost your appetite for the stock market lately? If you find yourself looking for a better investment option in these unsavory economic times, you're not alone. The good news is that clean energy from the sun continues to flow freely toward planet earth, just waiting to be harvested to produce renewable energy and solid investment returns. If you have an 8 to 15-year time horizon in which you wish to grow your money, solar energy is a great opportunity. Solar electric and solar hot water systems can be viewed as unique 'investment vehicles.' These renewable energy systems produce measurable 'income' because they reduce or eliminate fossil fuel energy costs. As energy costs escalate over time, the value of the energy savings (i.e. your income stream) increase. Let's say you want to reduce your oil consumption, and household carbon footprint, by installing a solar domestic hot water system. The installed cost for a system that will meet the demand of a 4-person household is roughly $11,000. The federal government provides a $2,000 tax credit incentive for you to do this project and the state of Maine provides a $1,000 rebate (unfortunately, this program is on a 'lottery' basis, so it is not guaranteed that you will receive the state rebate). In homes where an oil boiler is being used to produce domestic hot water, the savings from the solar hot water system average about 300 gallons annually while CO2 emissions are reduced by more than 5,000 lbs. per year. Read More Blogs HERE >> | |||
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ReVision Energy is Available All Winter We want to remind everyone that we do work all through out the winter. We are able to do indoor work when the weather conditions are poor and save the roof work for when the weather is more favorable. As always, please call us with any questions you may have. We would be more than happy to help you find a long term solution to your energy saving needs. Thank You! | |||
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Judy Perry has been with ReVision Energy since the company was first getting started. She has been managing the Liberty branch since August 2004. Her support and managerial skills have provided the business with continued growth and success throughout the years. She has been a backbone of support and an invaluable employee for not only the Liberty office, but for ReVision as a whole. You may have met her at a trade show event, or spoken with her on the phone. 
Judy resides in a small farmhouse on three acres not far from the Penobscot Bay. There she is able to grow food, harvest the sun and rainwater to meet some of her needs. Of her decisions to employ sustainable living practices, Judy says, "It deepens my connection to my home and to the land, while also connecting me to the larger landscape. That interconnectedness is in many ways the same relationship that I explore in my paintings." Judy has a solar hot water system on the roof of her home that is keeping her propane usage to a minimum. Her energy efficient appliances and other measures keep her electric bill at $20-30 a month. You also may see her driving around in her 1985 Mercedes 300TD grease car! 