By Erika Blauch Rusley From professional photographers to part-time potters, creative people of all stripes are coming together in Maine’s exciting new “maker spaces” and artists’ collectives to share resources, ideas, and inspiration. Maker spaces are generally facilities with shared studios that come fully equipped for creating a wide array of items, including pottery, furniture,…
By Merritt Carey If you’ve heard of heat pumps before, you’ve likely heard of them in the context of geothermal heat pumps. There are two types of heat pumps, geothermal and air source. Air source heat pumps have long been used in warmer climates for cooling, but now, thanks to rapidly improving refrigerant technology, air…
By Lora Winslow, MELP, Environmental Advocate With 2012 being the hottest year on record in the United States and recent increases in droughts, wildfires, coastal super storms, and other extreme weather events, climate change is on the minds of many people these days. However, the topic can often be overwhelming, confusing, and discouraging; leaving us…
By Merritt Carey Most of us have heard of pellet stoves before, but pellet boilers are a relatively new phenomenon here in United States. Pellet stoves are a secondary heating source, in contrast, pellet boilers fully replace existing heating systems. In much of Europe, pellet boilers are commonly used as a primary heating source. Over…
If you’re concerned about fluctuating energy prices and want to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient, here are some resources to help you ease the impact on your wallet. HOME ENERGY LOANS Efficiency Maine offers low interest loans up to $25,000 for up to 20 years through its energy loan programs (with no closing…
An interview with Dana Fischer of Efficiency Maine Home heating can be expensive, regardless of the fuel your home uses. And increasing the efficiency of your home is the most cost effective investment you can make to reduce your home’s heating costs. We caught up with Dana Fischer of Efficiency Maine—an independent trust dedicated to…
By Erika Blauch Rusley The resonant “om” at the end of a yoga or meditation class, the brilliant view from the top of a mountain, and the movement of chi through the body during an acupuncture treatment all feel exhilarating—and even more so when shared with a group of people who are experiencing the same…
You may be surprised to learn that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside our homes and in some cases even more so. The primary sources of indoor air pollutants are building materials and finishes, household cleaners and furnishings. Did you know that houseplants can help improve your indoor…
By Erika Blauch Rusley Children are natural yogis. Consider the baby who grabs his feet with his hands or the older kid who loves to balance on one leg—they’ve inherently adopted Happy Baby and Tree Pose. A growing number of yoga studios have taken note and offer specialized classes for kids. Some studios even organize…
By Erika Blauch Rusley Relaxing with a cushiony bolster and an eye mask in a tranquil space may sound like part of a spa treatment, but those elements may also be found in a typical restorative yoga class at your local yoga studio. True to its name, restorative yoga does just that—it is a style…