Sustainable Energy Conference 2010
Keynote Speaker David Littell
David Littell will be speaking on Maine's unique position in renewable development, and how the state is approaching the issue of maintaining high quality ecosystems while permitting projects that will reduce Maine's electrical and energy carbon footprint. Commissioner Littell will also brief the conference on his recent report to the legislature regarding how Maine can adapt to climate change. WORKSHOPS In the wake of an unsteady oil market, many home owners are looking for alternative sources of stationary heating. Sam Zaitlin, of Renewable Energy Storage of Maine will be discussing Electric Thermal Storage (ETS). A new twist on an old idea, ETS uses off-peak electrical rates to deliver heating at a lower cost. The concept is simple - at night, when electricity is no longer at a premium, ETS will use electricity to store heat in thermal bricks. During the day, the heat is circulated around your home to warm the space. ETS works with forced air or hydronic heating systems, as well as wall-mounted, single room space heating. ETS can also be integrated with a hot water system, to provide hot water at off-peak rates.
The latest generation of home wind systems makes installation and usage easier and more transparent to the homeowner - "plug and play" systems with built-in inverters, stand-alone towers, and lighter, quieter turbines. Evolo Energy Solutions website: http://evoloenergysolutions.com ENERGY AND OUR HOME Eighty percent of Maine’s houses are heated with oil. But oil is getting more expensive. It is getting scarce because the discovery of new wells does not keep up with growing demand any more. It is imported from countries not friendly to us and burning it damages the environment and threatens the climate that supports life on earth. What can we burn then, instead of oil?, you may ask, and there are no palatable answers. But re-frame the question and broad new possibilities appear: Is there a better way to keep warm and comfortable? The answer is yes.
Bring your notepad, a pencil and have your thinking hat on. This will all be useful information.
Water Energy Distributors website: http://www.northeastgeo.com/main/ec.cfm
GRID SOLAR PROJECT There is a current proposal on the table to spend $1.5 billion on new transmission lines to handle Maine's growing energy needs. GridSolar suggests using this money instead to install decentralized solar power generation where it's needed - thus simultaneously removing the need for transmission lines and their associated energy losses, as well as increasing Maine's renwable energy generation. The GridSolar Project represents a new vision of the electric grid of the future – a vision based on the concept of a Smart Electricity Grid and distributed solar generation. Rather than expand the transmission system to bring electricity to Maine’s cities and towns, the GridSolar Project provides electricity to those communities using distributed solar generation located within the communities in combination with investments in a smart electric grid to promote energy efficiency and demand response. The GridSolar Project ensures that the jobs and property tax revenues from new renewable generation benefit Maine and not Canada or some other state in the northeast. GridSolar's website: http://www.gridsolarme.com/Home_Page.html Maine has a large wood fuel resource located close to where people need heat. It can be used responsibly, sustainably and economically to keep many people warm. A small percentage of Maine’s sustainable wood harvest can heat a substantial portion of Maine homes and businesses. Maine is 90% forested and yet we are 80% dependant on oil for heat. To address this, Pat Coon, founder of ReVision Heat, will focus his workshop on automated wood pellet boilers as a technology that can go head to head with oil. The workshop will begin with an exploration of simple, inexpensive boiler control upgrades, then move through weatherization and insulation, on-demand water heaters and solar hot water. Modern, efficient, clean burning pellet and wood boilers and stoves will be the major emphasis. Come take a look at these simple yet effective ways to stop heating our homes with oil. Revison Energy's Website: http://www.revisionheat.com/about-revision-heat/#q1
EXHIBITS
TRAVELING PHOTOVOLTAIC EXHIBIT With the cost of photovoltaic installations dropping (the price of many arrays has decreased by half in the last 18 months), more and more people are considering solar power for their home. Designer and builder Blair "Tump" May will be showcasing his traveling solar model, which puts out roughly 2 kWatts of electricity. Blair will be on hand throughout the conference for one-on-one discussions about installation of photovoltaic systems, pricing, layout, and design. He will also be showing some of the PV systems which he himself installed at Chewonki. ELECTRIC BIKES
ELECTRIC CAR
Electric cars are actually much simpler vehicles than those using internal combustion engines - which means that there are fewer problems and much less maintenance. They're also fun, easy to drive, and much, much quieter for a more relaxing driving experience.
Chewonki's campus is a showcase of some of the latest renewable energy systems in Maine. Join us on a tour of our solar rooftops - solar thermal, photovoltaics, and hybrid modules - as well as Chewonki's hydrogen system, geothermal unit, and biofuels shed. The tour will also include our teachable demonstrations of these systems. We use these "teaching tools" to elucidate renewable energy concepts to teachers, students, and professionals. For more information contact: Peter Arnold or Tom Twist
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As Commissioner of Maine’s D.E.P, David Littell heads an agency of 410 scientists, engineers, biologists, and environmental specialists who protect Maine’s water, land and air resources. He implemented far-reaching initiatives like Maine’s Climate Action Plan, protections for threatened high-value wildlife habitats, and controlling toxics in consumer products. During his tenure, the DEP has focused on internal innovation to lower costs in processing more than 4,000 permits annually while increasing environmental protections.
Chewonki will be hosting John Rush, of
Evolo Energy Solutions, to speak on the topic of residential wind systems. Wind power is easily the fastest growing renewable technology today, and offers a very feasible alternative to coal-produced electricity. 
This is what this workshop will explore. Beginning with a brief review of what has been already achieved – including houses that do not need a heating system at all because they are over 90% more energy efficient than ours and utilize every scrap of energy to be found nearby. But, what about the houses we now have, some over 200 years old, leaky and uninsulated? – We will learn how an energy audit can help define what needs to be done to increase the energy efficiency of our homes. We will learn how energy and the forces of nature interact with our houses and how to work with those forces rather than against them. And we will learn most of the common techniques developed to bring our house up to par in energy terms, drastically reducing energy consumption and improving comfort, health and safety.
Geothermal energy is one of the most promising and economical means of residential heating. In this seminar, John Logan, of Water Energy Distri-butors, Inc., speaks on this up-and-coming renewable energy. Geothermal energy can be used anywhere on earth – not just places which have a high underground temperature. Geothermal installations use the constant temperature of the earth (45-55 degrees F) to heat homes in the winter, and cool them in the summer. A heat pump is used to maximize returns. It is estimated that geothermal installations produce 4-5 units of energy for every unit expended, and can operate at a third of the cost of conventional heating systems.
A revolutionary idea is sweeping Maine, and many people aren't even aware of it. Rich Silkman, of Grid Solar will be speaking on the proposition of decentralizing Maine's energy grid - with solar power. 
East Coast Bikes will be on-hand with several electric-assist bicycles to test drive. Using much of the same technology as hybrid cars, these electric bikes utilize forward motion and regenerative braking to charge a battery pack. This energy can then be used by the rider to lighten his or her biking load - using the 100%, 50% or 0% electric-assist setting to determine how much help you want from the bicycle. Stop by and try them out! 
Zero emissions from driving 100% electric cars means no pollution and no greenhouse gasses coming out of your tailpipe. And because they are so much more efficient than fossil-fuel cars, the energy that goes into making the electricity is reduced by several fold - it's like getting up to 200 miles per gallon (its energy equivalent).
Tours of Chewonki's Sustainable Campus
    
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