We caught up with Jeff Edelstein, creator of Portland Greenfest to find out what all of the hubbub was about. The fourth annual Portland Greenfest takes place on Saturday, September 9th from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in Portland’s Monument Square! The eco-fair features music, art, local food, kids’ activities, exhibits, workshops, and demonstrations. Jeff Edelstein is…
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Buses will be bringing people to the 2017 Common Ground Fair from several locations around the state, sponsored by several Maine Adult Education programs, in a further effort to reduce carbon footprint and traffic load. Travel costs vary by distance; Fair admission price is $8 for bus riders (and free for all members). To sign…
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Fall is a great time to indulge in locally-grown food. Below is a list of Maine farms where you can pick your own low-spray and organic apples; a family-friendly activity that fosters an even deeper connection to your food. And picking your own fruit is a perfect way to get large amounts for canning and…
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Appraising & financing high-performance homes By Parlin Meyer Few people who embark on the adventure of building a new home have done so before. If you are venturing down this road, there are key things to know before the first shovels hit the ground. And a significant portion of this knowledge lies in the financing…
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By Travis Ritchie It seems that 2017 is the year for the return of the electric car in America, with the release of three mass market high-range vehicle models that offer the opportunity to go more than 200 miles on a charge. Look around—a hybrid can be spotted at every stoplight and you’ll probably see…
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By Steve Caulfield If you need a new water heater and your basement is somewhat humid and musty, you might consider a heat pump water heater to solve two problems: heating the water and conditioning the air. Heat pump water heaters may sound complex, but they operate just like your refrigerator in reverse. The refrigerator…
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By Laura Seaton Have you ever sat by your windows in January and felt the heat being pulled from your body? Do cold drafts chill your home? Windows are a major source of heat loss—especially the antique, single-pane windows found in Maine’s historic homes. But cold windows are not limited to older homes—even newer, double-paned…
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Fall is a great time to prepare for the upcoming heating season, and many Maine homeowners are now relying on heat pumps for most of their heating. More than 20,000 high-efficiency ductless heat pumps have been installed in Maine homes and businesses in the past 3 years. So whether you are considering a ductless heat…
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By Christine Fisher THERE’S A NEW MAINE-MADE BUILDING PRODUCT on the market, and while it began as a way to prove that masonry homes can be energy-efficient, it has found another welcome yet unintended niche: the healthy home market. Based on German design, Comfort Block™ is a 16-inch thick concrete block with three pockets of…
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By Lynn Ascrizzi If you’re looking for more eco-friendly ways to reduce your use of chemically laden plastics and synthetics in your home—think wool. Today, the renewable virtues of wool’s natural fibers are gaining new devotees among people alarmed by scientific studies that show how plastic-based fibers contaminate our environment. For instance, synthetic fleece jackets…
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