Left to right: Lin Lufkin, site manager, Jen Albee of ReVision Enery and homeowners Shawn and Amanda Umble celebrate the opening of the Umble's home. Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity Greater Bangor.
ReVision Energy has been honored to be part of several Habitat for Humanity projects over the years, the earliest in 2008 (where we installed solar hot water for a home in Portland , the first Habitat LEED home in the area) and again in 2010 (installed a high-efficiency boiler for a home in Freeport ) and most recently, where we installed a solar PV system to help a new energy efficient home in Bangor power much of its energy needs. The home, destined for the Umble family, was wrapped up just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
"Environmental stewardship is a longstanding focus at Habitat, so we were thrilled to see a renewable energy system feature prominently in this build," said Seamus Higgins, President of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor board. "Our ReStore already diverts untold tons of landfill waste by reclaiming and reselling used and salvaged building materials, but this PV array was a giant leap forward for that part of our mission. Habitat for Humanity Greater Bangor (HFHGB) made a commitment in our strategic plan last year to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and [ReVision's] donation made that happen on our very first house since. I am personally hopeful that with its highly-visible location in the heart of Bangor, this house can serve as a model for others with its incorporation of modern HVAC technologies in a classic urban setting."
The project was featured in the Bangor Daily News , which highlighted how the combination of solar electricity, and an efficient electric heat pump, will help the Umble family to control energy costs:
"Habitat basically has the philosophy of building a suitable house but not an extravagant house," said Lin Lufkin, site manager for the construction of the Umble's home. "[The couple] were living in subsidized housing in Bangor and their expenses were tied to their income, so as they tried to improve themselves, their expenses went up. The new setup of this house will help them be able to live more economically."
ReVision Energy workers installing solar panels on a donated solar electric system for a Habitat for Humanity home in Bangor, Maine
The 3kw PV system donated by ReVision Energy consists of 12 Q-Cell 260watt panels, and should produce around 3,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. If used for heating, those 3,100 kilowatt-hours will provide the equivalent of roughly 300 gallons of oil each year, cost and carbon free, for the Umble family, for 25+ years.
