ReVision Energy Newsletter - June

Featured Installations

ReVision Energy Featured 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. 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.

Portland Gold LEED Home Available to View

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. The Redfern House, located on Victor Road in Portland, is available for showings. 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 or info@theredfernhouse.com.

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. The Redfern House has its own website, learn more at www.theredfernhouse.com.

Center for Wildlife

ReVision Energy & Center for Wildlife

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/.

Partners in Sustainability

Green Alliance

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. The Green Alliance is hosting a Green Businesses in the Community Expo to be held June 13th, from 11-3pm. Local green businesses will be showcased. Sustainable services from biofuels to solar, clothing merchants and a local IT company will be highlighted. This is a free outdoor family event. It will be held at Haley Art Gallery in Kittery. Please contact the Green Alliance to learn more www.greenalliance.biz/green_expo_flyer.pdf.

Get to Know ReVision Energy

Getting to Know Jennifer Hatch

I joined ReVision Energy just over two years ago, starting when ReVision first opened its Portland branch. At the time I started there were just 5 people on Portland's staff, so I have been able to experience the growth of the business and the myriad of tasks and steps that are included with that growth. My initial position was part time Office Manager. With time this grew into a full time position and my responsibilities grew as well. Currently I am the Marketing Manager for the Portland branch where my job duties include building customer relations, planning and coordinating events, and writing this stellar newsletter.

I attended school in both Vermont and SLC, UT. I graduated from Castleton State College in VT with a degree in Environmental Science. The great outdoors is where I find my peace, so following a career path that protects the environment was a natural choice for me. Previous to working at ReVision, I spent time working for various non profit organizations including The Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and The Mystic Aquarium, in CT.

When not working, I'm either skiing or running depending on the season. I often do road races in the summer for fun, and might attempt to do a full marathon this year, after conquering the half marathon last fall. I also am working to integrate my passion for skiing with my desire to act as a positive role model to young people by creating a non profit organization called Climbing Mountains, www.climbingmountains.org. This organization was started last year, but the monetary goal was not reached. The program is currently on hold for the time being, but the goal to provide this outlet for youth is still a desire of mine and when the time is right I will pick it up again. The picture above is me at Tuckerman's Ravine taken this spring.

UpComing Events

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