ReVision Energy Newsletter - November
2009 Green Buildings Open House
The 2009 Green Buildings Open House was a big success! 20 homes between ReVision Energy's two offices were excited to show off their installations to help educate others about renewable energy. The Falmouth home pictured here was featured on the southern Maine tour and features Energy Star rated appliances, recycled and non toxic building products and densely packed cellulose insulation. Evacuated tube solar hot water collectors provide virtually 100% of domestic hot water year round and supplemental radiant space heating in the shoulder seasons. Because the home is so well-insulated, it only has a low mass electric on-demand boiler to backup the domestic hot water and space heating. Dan Kolbert of Kolbert Building and Construction was the general contractor on the job, Kaplan Thompson Architects of Portland designed the home. We would like to thank all of those who participated in this year's Open House, for helping to make it a remarkable success! |
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Redfern House in Portland Receives Platinum LEED Certification
We were impressed when we heard that the designers of the Redfern House intended to build a home so efficient that it would not need a fossil fuel boiler (no oil nor gas) - even in Maine's cold climate! The finished product has exceeded everyone's expectations, resulting in a Platinum 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.
Located on Victor Road in Portland, Redfern is another super-efficient creation of Catherine and Jonathan Culley of Redfern Properties in Portland. The Culleys, who are refreshingly passionate about green design, set out to build a home that was both green and affordable. Catherine explains that "green design doesn't work if only a few people can afford it. We wanted to make it so that it's attainable for more people - so that sustainability is less 'pie in the sky.' Redfern Properties chose to work with LEED accredited architect Chris Briley to come up with the design of the home. Chris is the founding principal of Green Design Studio, based in Yarmouth.
Coming in at just under 2,000 s.f., the two-story, 3 BR, 2.5B Redfern House is built with resource efficient materials and incorporates renewable energy systems by ReVision Energy. The home is constructed with FSC certified lumber and local materials that are high in recycled content and low in embodied energy. The passive solar design with broad south-facing exposure maximizes annual solar gain. Mechanical shades block sun heat, but not light, in the summer months.
ReVision Energy designed and installed the renewable energy and mechanical systems. The 90-tube solar hot water system provides virtually 100% of domestic hot water year round and a significant fraction of radiant space heat (it is important to remember that solar space heating only works with low-temp radiant distribution systems). The solar storage tank is backed up by a low mass, high efficiency electric on-demand hot water heater which is powered by a 2 kilowatt grid-tied solar electric 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 assessable to public transportation and to Greater Portland's resources. 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. Learn more at www.redfernproperties.com.
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As part of our long-term commitment to building a sustainable future, ReVision Energy recently joined Maine Audubon's Corporate Partnership program. We are proud to support Audubon's dynamic education programs for all ages and their science based approach to conserve Maine's natural resources.
ReVision Energy is working with Maine Audubon to bring solar energy demonstration projects to the Gilsland Farm visitors' center and state headquarters in Falmouth. Audubon has additional locations in Holden, Scarborough, Bremen, Elliotsville and Rockland. The organization offers a wide array of programs each year for children and adults. Pictured is Maine Audubon's Apple Day which ReVision Energy was proud to be a sponsor of this year. Learn more about your local chapter by visiting www.maineaudubon.org.
Getting to know Will Kessler
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Will Kessler comes from Burlington, VT by way of the mid-Hudson Valley of New York. A veteran of the double bass, music may be the only thing constant to his life. He has Natural Resources degrees from Cornell and UNH, and a fascination with ecological designs as well as a love of open air. It is his dream to someday build a house using low-energy and sustainable methods.
After his undergraduate studies, Will spent some time abroad in Europe as both a street musician and English teacher, before returning to work in renewable energy system design and installation. He wears a number of hats running ReVision Energy's New Hampshire branch office, one being marketing, and another being technician. He is optimistic that the ReVision map will soon show a third shop for solar thermal and photovoltaic system installation in the seacoast region.
Currently, Will lives with his wife Marta within earshot of the train station in Dover, New Hampshire. In his free time he plays in the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, rides his bicycle, and enjoys the local natural resources, such as wild mushrooms (pictured above, a nice Grifola frondosus), sunlight, and lobster.
November 7 - Go Green Expo in Topsham 10am - 4pm:
The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber is hosting their third annual Go Green Expo event at Mount Ararat High School Gymnasium on Rt 201 in Topsham. There will be a number of vendors available promoting their energy efficient products. ReVision Energy will be there and will also be presenting on the fundamentals of solar hot water and solar electric systems. This event will be free and open to the public. For more information visit the events section on the Chamber's website.
November 20 - Forum and E2Tech Annual Meeting 7:30am - 9:10am
John Brautigam, Maine PUC Energy Programs Director, and Tim Vrabel, Deputy Director, will provide details on the $37 million coming to Maine to be distributed among industrial, municipal, commercial and residential sectors from within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In addition Efficiency Maine is in communications with the Department of Energy regarding another opportunity that could represent approximately $60 million for Maine. This event will be held at the Maine Audubon in Falmouth. For more information visist E2Tech online.
November 21 - Home Energy Conference, Hartman Union Building, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH 8:30am-4:30pm.
The New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association's fall conference will focus on ways to make efficiency and clean energy a commonplace practice at the home, and a good policy in the town. Representatives from ReVision Energy will display renewable solar technologies for home and business, and be available to answer questions about renewable applications and economics.
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