Energy strategy key to economic vitality
As the fall winds drop the last leaves to the ground and usher in the first signs of winter, businesses, institutions and individuals around Washington County are responding to the rise in energy costs by planning or implementing energy-saving measures. Whether it is an ecumenical collaboration on a community "warming" space or an urban farm's plan to install a small wind turbine, people are increasingly looking to new ideas and solutions to their energy needs. Despite the recent drop in petroleum prices, Washington County residents have felt the pressure of high energy costs for a number of years. President William Cassidy of Washington County Community College states, "I hope people don't relax and lose some of their sense of urgency with these lower current prices." This feeling is echoed across the county and can be seen in an array of measures being taken from well-established institutions to smaller businesses.
"We're an urban farm," says Richard East of Growing Concern. Tucked away at the back of Manning Street in Calais, the six-acre horticultural farm, greenhouse and landscaping operation is beginning the first of many changes in response to rising energy costs. East explains, "The horticultural business is an energy hog; we have to figure out which is the most expensive unit of energy that we have. For us, that's our two service trucks." For 2009, Growing Concern is planning to replace one service truck with an electric truck built by Tiger Truck of Oklahoma. East calculates that the average gasoline cost of running the two trucks is $225 per month. The new electric truck is expected to run for about 70 miles on one charge, or two days of average use. In addition, Growing Concern plans to install a 30-foot Skystream wind turbine that will be tied into their company's electricity system. East has a long-term dream for his greenhouse operation involving raised bed benches that would be filled with sand for thermal storage. He explains that the air ventilation system would interact with the benches, creating a thermal-siphoning system for heating throughout the night. He notes, "That's the kind of research we'll make time for over the winter. It's the sort of research work that our universities used to do, but are now limited in doing because we don't prioritize our investment in infrastructure." He adds, "Greenhouse businesses are going to move to the Carolinas if some of our technologies don't start changing soon."
A wind turbine, wood-fired boilers and solar hot-water collector are all part of the strategy David and Julie Barker are using to meet their business needs. As the owners of The Inn at Schoppee Farm B&B and Helen's Restaurant, both located in Machias, their 2008 plan included the installation of two wood-fired boilers, which replaced 5,500 gallons of fuel oil with approximately 20 cords of wood for Helen's Restaurant alone. In addition, the Barkers estimate that they use about 15 cords of wood for their inn. Unlike older wood-fired outdoor furnaces, their Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved models have been shown by independent laboratory testing to emit .37 lbs. per million British thermal units (MBTU) versus 1.8 lbs. per MBTU found in older furnaces. Using a high-fired gasification process, David says, significantly reduces smoke output and increases efficiency, but all wood-fired technologies depend upon proper use of the furnace and the proper storage and seasoning of firewood.
When they first purchased the inn, the Barkers immediately switched over to outdoor wood furnaces. "We knew we couldn't stay here if we had to rely on heating oil, so we had to find other options," Julie Barker comments. But the model they purchased smoked, and even though it was placed at a distance from the main residence, Julie remembers smelling the smoke that came through the old farmhouse walls. Finding the right combination of technologies took some time, and David and Julie mention the difficulty they encountered as small business owners navigating the paperwork involved with federal and state low-interest loan programs. "It's a lengthy, cumbersome process, particularly when the technology isn't proven," David adds. The Barkers hope to implement phase two of their energy measure plan in 2009, with the installation of a 35-foot wind turbine at the B&B and a solar hot-water collector system at Helen's. David Barker comments that while the turbine would supplement the inn's energy needs, he hopes that the solar hot-water system would supply the bulk of Helen's hot-water needs. "Our goal is to get away from using fossil fuels as much as we can," David says, summing up the guiding principle of their energy plan.
The multi-pronged approach used by Growing Concern and the Barkers is echoed in the strategies used by nonprofits and for-profits alike. Barry Wadsworth, chair of the Building and Grounds Committee of the nonprofit Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport, remarks that the institution is embarking on a significant long-term plan for energy savings. "We do have an old historic building that has maintenance requirements. We need to pay attention to energy issues more than we ever have in the past, as does everyone." The committee is focusing on those parts of the building's maintenance that have the highest impact on energy conservation. New storm windows were just installed in the main section of the building, and the committee plans on adding an additional 12 inches of insulation to the existing eight to 10 inches located in the attic. Expert Energy Systems was hired to complete 99% of interior air-sealing work over a two-day period. The main section of the library is still using a heating system installed right after World War II with an oil burner that was replaced 30 years ago. Wadsworth notes that "we'll take a big bite out of the fuel we're consuming," if they can raise the funds to replace the existing furnace with one that will match the small radiant heat unit used in the children's wing to create a combined radiant and forced-hot air system. He estimates that this fundraising challenge could be as high as $20,000.
Looking at energy measures from a different perspective, both the Calais food pantry and St. Ann's Episcopal Church of Calais are creating "warming" spaces where area residents can come during the day. Understanding that the only energy savings option available to many residents is to lower their thermostats to an uncomfortable level, both entities have worked together and with others using an ecumenical approach. St. Ann's will use its parish hall as the location of the Loaves and Fishes Café, scheduled to open a week or so after Thanksgiving. The new building has already saved the church 1,000 gallons of heating oil because of its energy-saving foam-core concrete structure. Father David Sivret mentions that soup and sandwiches will be served but that volunteers are needed to help with cooking and teaching games and crafts.
Also hoping to be open soon, the Calais food pantry is in the process of renovating its second floor space as an additional warming room. The food pantry hopes to be up and running by the winter and is actively looking for volunteers to help during the day. "We're certainly looking for donations to help with the warming center and for volunteers to spend four hours or so at the center helping with staffing," says board President Arthur Carter.
While Washington County's educational institutions are to a certain degree reliant upon system-wide policies and bond issues to fund their projects, both the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) and Washington County Community College (WCCC) have implemented multi-year energy plans as part of larger efforts to create infrastructure efficiency. Cynthia Huggins, president of UMM, states, "UMM, as a member of the University of Maine System, will step out and be a leader in this initiative as businesses and citizens explore ways to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels." Like the Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport, UMM's Torrey Hall had a significantly older boiler. Along with replacing the boiler with updated equipment, they also installed heat recovery ventilators with variable frequency drives, and occupancy sensors for heating and lighting. Basic measures such as using more efficient lighting, insulating steam pipes and conserving water were combined with larger measures such as replacing old windows with more efficient models. Along with implementing these wide-ranging measures, they are actively engaged in installing "Keep ME Warm" weatherization kits in area homes. The kits were provided by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
WCCC has taken many similar steps as part of a five-year campus master plan that is reviewed and updated annually. But along with energy saving steps such as new windows and the changing out of 21 exit signs to a more efficient incandescent and compact fluorescent technology, they have been analyzing building use and energy consumption loads with the aim of consolidating classroom assignments through efficient scheduling. Cynthia Moholland, assistant dean of enrollment management/registrar, comments that they have recently submitted a grant application to the Maine Community Foundation for student gasoline cards. "It's tentatively based on commuting distance and income guidelines," she states, and also notes that the total grant, with matching funds, would amount to $10,000.
Student awareness is as important as any resident's awareness of energy issues. "I like to think we are better stewards, like in our homes," says WCCC President Cassidy. "We are looking at a combination of available resources and efficiencies we can take advantage of." Those are words that any business or residential owner will recognize as being the key to their own success in an emerging new world of energy technologies.