Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative

Membership Update

July 19, 2010

 

Upcoming PAREI Events

Thursday, July 22nd and Friday, July 23rd

These two events have come together very recently.  No RSVP necessary

 

 

Home Air Sealing Demonstration: Thursday, July 22nd 1:00pm

Plymouth State University’s theater department has generously donated the use of their theatrical fogging machine to allow PAREI to conduct a pressurized blower door test on the Rumney Habitat for Humanity house that is currently under construction.  The house is close enough in the “sealed up process” to do this and provide some useful information on the remaining air leaks.  If you’re available between 1:00 and 3:00pm this Thursday, July 22 and want to see this very telling test in process, please feel free to stop by.  RSVP not required.

 

Directions:  149 Old North Hebron Road.  Off Rte 25. 1 mile west from Main Street.  ¼ mile down the road look for the Habitat sign.

 

Solar Energy Raiser**:  Friday, July 23rd Highland Street Plymouth, NH Home of Chris and Maggie Mumford  Gather 8:30am Volunteer Meeting 9:00am 

Lunch Provided

 

We will be installing a flush mount Apricus 30 Evacuated Tube Collector on an New England Farmhouse.  The collector will be piped into an existing tank currently used for heat storage for a Tarm Wood Boiler. The Mumford’s have installed an extra coil to receive the solar heated glycol.  This Raiser came together quickly so we can take advantage of the roof staging currently on the premises.  No RSVP necessary but feel free to let us know if you plan to come: sandra@plymouthenergy.org

 

Directions: Go up Highland Street from the Common in downtown Plymouth. (Bear right around the Post Office) Go past the Plymouth Fire Station and to the top of the hill (about ¾ mile up from the Common). Watch for yellow PAREI sign on the left. It’s a white farmhouse with a field in front of it.  If you get to the High School Flashing Lights you’ve gone too far.

 

PAREI has several Energy Raisers in the works coming up in Concord, Tamworth, Thornton and Bridgewater. New and past energy raiser volunteers are encouraged to check in with sandra@plymouthenergy.org to stay current on developing Energy Raiser dates. A big thanks to all of you who keep the volunteer community based Energy Raisers going strong!

 

Next PAREI Energy Exchange Membership Meeting -  Save the Date – Friday, September 17th  For more information about PAREI’s Energy Exchanges - e-mail PAREI Board President Irene Garvey graceg@metrocast.net

 

Regional Events

Solar Energy – Why Now is the Right Time – Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness         Tuesday, August 3 ▪ 7 p.m. Free
James Gamble, owner of GreenSource Energy Solutions, will provide an introduction about how to harness solar energy to make electricity and hot water. The discussion will include an overview of the latest solar technologies, applicability of solar in New Hampshire, typical costs, financial incentives, and local examples.

Introduction to Permaculture – A Framework for Greater Food and Energy Security - – Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness Tuesday, August 17 ▪ 7 p.m Free
What is permaculture and why is it important to you? What could it mean for your property and community? How does it differ from other approaches to sustainability? This session is especially useful for homeowners, community organizers, design professionals, farmers, and gardeners. If you are working toward a sustainable future and want practical tools and applicable methodologies, then this session with Steve Whitman, Plymouth State University geography professor and senior planner with Jeffrey H. Taylor and Associates, is for you!

This series is co-sponsored by New Hampshire Sustainble Energy Association

Beacon Community Project Update

PAREI and the Plymouth Energy Commission have begun organizing regular meetings for the purpose of staying well informed about the upcoming Beacon Community Project (AKA Retrofit Ramp Up and Better Buildings) – a grant to the town of Plymouth from the NH Office of Energy and Planning and the US Dept of Energy. It is still unclear exactly what this project means for the residents and businesses of Plymouth. These meetings will help us keep track of the project’s development.  The second goal of these meetings is to work on the formation of the Plymouth Energy Reduction Council (PERC) which will help to oversee the Beacon Community Project. The purpose of the PERC is to bring together all community parties interested in pursuing community wide energy reduction and to create a community wide communication vehicle to keep everyone informed. We are looking for individuals that represent varied local constituencies to participate in these meetings. If you are not receiving regular e-mails about these meetings please e-mail Sandra Jones sandra@plymouthenergy.org to add your name to the list. Minutes for the first meeting will be sent out to this list soon.  The next meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, August 9th at the Tower Room at PSU’s Lamson Library. The time will be either 5 or 6pm and will be firmed up soon.  Thank You to Plymouth State University for providing this comfortable and scenic meeting space.

 

News from NH Public Utilities Commission

 

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission is pleased to announce a new rebate program for Residential Wood Pellet Central Boilers and Furnaces.   This program provides New Hampshire homeowners with a rebate payment of 30% of the system and installation cost, or $6,000, whichever is less, for investments in residential high-efficiency (85% or greater), bulk-fuel fed indoor wood-pellet central heating boilers and furnaces that become operational, between April 14, 2010 and February 15, 2012, or whenever funds run out. 

 

The rebate program has two steps: 

·        Step 1 is a pre-approval application – once the Step 1 application is approved, the Commission will hold funds for up to three months for the completion of the installation and submittal of Step 2.  A one-time three month extension may be requested in writing, however, extensions granted after November 15, 2012 must be completed by February 15, 2012, unless all funds have been expended. 

·        Step 2 is submitted after the installation is complete. 

 

Funds for this program are made available through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act – State Energy Programs and the NH Office of Energy & Planning.  Our FAQ  page  http://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/QA%20for%20Wood%20Pellet%20Central%20Boiler%20Rebate%20Program.pdf  offers additional guidance. 

 

Wood pellet stoves have been augmenting oil heat for New Hampshire for decades.   Now it is time for wood-pellet systems to take center stage as a primary central heating system for residential units.  Technologies have advanced to the point where wood-pellet central heating systems (widely used in Europe) provide the same ease of operation as found with oil heating systems, but with efficiencies up to 90% (compared to 65% in older oil systems), and, much lower emissions. The next challenge is to develop a market for home delivery of wood pellets that would mimic and replace the oil delivery truck.

 

To meet that challenge the Office of Energy and Planning has provided $450,000 to the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission through the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA) to provide a rebate incentive to New Hampshire residents that meet criteria for bulk-fuel fed wood-pellet central boilers and furnaces.  “The goal of the program is to help spark the growth of the wood-pellet central boiler/furnace market and bulk-fuel delivery,” said Laura Richardson, of the Office of Energy and Planning. “In order for that to happen, systems need to be convenient and transparent for the consumer, and the industry needs to feel secure knowing there is a viable market.  Our goal is to encourage not just  efficient heating  and storage systems, but also fuel-shifting, and give credibility to this market.”

 

“We are excited to launch this new program,” said Jack Ruderman, Director of the PUC’s Sustainable Energy Division. “Our intent is to encourage new, highly efficient whole house heating systems that will lessen the state’s dependence on fossil fuel.”  The program does not include wood pellet or cord wood stoves.  Outdoor wood boilers are also not eligible. Ruderman noted,     

 

Visit the PUC’s Renewable Energy Rebates page at   http://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/RenewableEnergyRebates.htm to view the application.  For more information on this program, call Barbara Bernstein, Sustainable Energy Analyst, at the PUC’s Sustainable Energy Division, 603-271-6011, barbara.bernstein@puc.nh.gov 

 

 

Energy Project Connector

Announcement from Jack Ruderman, Sustainable Energy Director, PUC

 

Greetings.  People who are interested in making their homes more energy efficient or installing renewable energy systems often ask the PUC where they can find all the information they need in one place.  “How do I get a list of all the available incentives/rebates?  How do I find an energy auditor?  What will a new photovoltaic system cost, and how do I find an installer?  What programs do my gas and electric utilities offer?” 

 

Even for those of us who work in the field it can be confusing and frustrating to try to assemble this information from myriad sources.

 

Well, there is good news on this front.  The New England Carbon Challenge, a joint venture of the University of NH and Clean Air–Cool Planet, has created an amazingly helpful new resource funded with a grant from the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund in the form of a free web tool at http://myenergyplan.net/ . The Energy Project ConnectorTM was developed in partnership with NH Sustainable Energy Association and with support from UNH Cooperative Extension to help you connect with the financial tools and professionals you need to get the job done.  Other tools will join the Energy Project ConnectorTM on this site in the coming months, including the significantly enhanced New England Carbon EstimatorTM.

 

So please, check out this new service at http://myenergyplan.net/ and, as always, thank you for your continuing interest in a clean energy future for New Hampshire.

 

 

Member Sharing

This space is reserved for PAREI members to communicate with other members. Please send your Member Sharing to robbin@plymouthenergy.org

 

Chris Buckley and Jen Morris – Free Chickens to a good home!! - Chicken Coop and 10 – one and half year old chickens. Please call if interested: 536-2695.

 

Chris Buckley and Jen Morris – Free Woodstove - Vermont Castings Reliant - in good shape. Free for the taking.  Please Call 536-2695.

 

Dan Dunfey, Baker River Realty - Pesticides are Poison !

As a Real Estate Professional I feel compelled to become active in supporting  NH HB 1456 which is to restrict the use of Pesticides around Schools,Parks and anyplace children gather.   These pesticides are used for cosmetic purposes to eradicate dandelions and clover. They are applied 4-6 times a year (in New Hampshire). At issue is the effect these poisons have on pets, children, adults, wildlife, bees and groundwater. Numerous studies have been completed that conclude these chemicals are linked to increased incidents of neurological disorders, thyroid disorders and various cancers to name a few...

 What you can do is to become aware of this issue, check out www.beyondpesicides.org   for additional info, and wear white socks when you or your children walk, play or picnic at schools, parks and golf courses, if they turn blue know that you've been exposed to poison, get mad as hell and contact you PTA, Principles and Legislatures and ask them to help effect positive change, for the health of our children and the health of our planet.  For more information on local advocacy efforts please e-mail: ddunfey@yahoo.com

PAREI Membership

 

Not a member yet? Please consider joining. Download our membership form at: http://www.plymouthenergy.org/member2.pdf Or call Robbin Adams at the office at 603-536-5030 ext 3 and we’ll mail you a membership form or we can take your information and credit card number over the phone. Thank you to everyone who has become a new member recently and to all of you who continue to support PAREI through your membership renewals. This money supports our mission to increase access to renewable energy in our community and provide education and guidance to help all of our members plan for their energy future.  Also, please note, your membership benefits include a Solar Site Visit or a Home Energy Savings Walkthrough with PAREI’s Energy Solution Manager, Craig Cadieux. Be sure to check the appropriate box on the Membership form and Craig will be in touch to set up the visit. If you are not sure whether you are a member or current member you can request this information by e-mailing robbin@plymouthenergy.org

 

 

Local Foods Plymouth (LFP)

Sunnyside Farm and Solar Bike Ride

 

Despite the rainy day, cyclists came out to attend the first Sunnyside Farm and Solar Bike Ride on Saturday, July 10th as part of the Baker River Appreciation Day.  Cyclists toured several Baker Valley farms and solar installations while sampling local foods available from Local Foods Plymouth farmers and bakers. The event raised over $1500 for LFP’s operating costs. PAREI would like to officially thank all the farmers, volunteers, cyclists and the event’s sponsors: Baker River Realty,  Mauchly Electric, McLane Realty, Peppercon Natural Foods, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Thru Hiker.com

 

To learn more about how to purchase local food and reduce the amount of energy that goes into the foods you eat viist the LFP website at www.localfoodsplymouth.org

 

Also, a big thanks to all volunteers who attended the roadside and river clean up. We all felt great about the amount of trash we collected (and recycled) helping to spruce up and appreciate the Baker River Valley.

News from NH Sustainable Energy Association

A Call for Green Building Open House Tour Hosts – A message from Joanna Magoon, NHSEA Green Building Open House Coordinator

“Hello. I'm starting to put together plans for the October 2nd NHSEA's Green Buildings Open House(GBOH) tour event.  Many of you were GBOH hosts last year and I hope you will consider hosting again this year. Some of you have just heard about the tour and are considering becoming a tour host.  Either way, please read on.

 

 

 

Last year NHSEA registered over 80 green buildings on the tour. This is an increase of 66% over the 2008 total!  I'm hoping to build on that number this year and to bring out the growing number of interested folks to take this fantastic statewide tour. I can’t help but think the BP catastrophe in the Gulf might motivate more NH citizens to take a closer look at their energy options.

As most of you know, we work in conjunction with the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) to coordinate the tour. This means that both NHSEA and NESEA need to update our tour site information. This can sometimes prove confusing. Unlike many of NESEA's chapters, NHSEA maintains its own web based GBOH database with photos, general info and an interactive map. Both organizations intend to exchange information frequently, to try and make it easier for hosts. It may be most efficient to copy both NHSEA and NESEA on any e-mails you send to create or update your GBOH profile. Our e-mail addresses:   Joanna Magoon(NHSEA): info@nhsea.org   and  Michelle Rose(NESEA): mrose@nesea.org

Sometime in the next two weeks I will send you a web address to returning hosts so you can view and update your GBOH tour site information. If you'd like to join the tour for the first time please send me an e-mail so I can send you this link. You can use the link to get a sense of what kind of information about your property would be useful to post on the GBOH site. We appreciate your patience as this process is an ever evolving one!

For now, please just send me an e-mail at info@nhsea.org  and let me know if you'd like to participate in this year's GBOH tour. Remember, there is a wide variety of "Green Buildings" that are acceptable for the tour. You don't need a solar array, or a wind turbine to be included. You might have a home that has been constructed with sustainable building materials, non-toxic finishes, recycled materials, alternative building materials, etc. You may have state-of-the-art solar, wind, geothermal, etc., systems installed. Our goal is to showcase buildings that demonstrate a high quality standard of green living and working spaces in New Hampshire.

We really do appreciate your volunteering your time, effort and property to helping spread the word about sustainable energy in New Hampshire. I look forward to hearing from you.”

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­** PAREI’s Community Energy Raisers are modeled after a “barn-raising” following the tradition of neighbor helping neighbor.  The goals of the Energy Raisers are: to increase the community’s accessibility to solar energy, bring down the cost of installing renewable energy systems, to provide hands on education for the homeowner so they end up with a strong understanding of how their system works, to develop a support network of knowledgeable families; to provide local tradespeople an avenue to learn about installing renewable energy systems and to build community connections while we all prepare for life in a lower energy world. Energy Raiser hosts have volunteered at previous installations and will pay the favor forward at future Raisers. The teams for the day are Rack Installers (wall or roof), Wiring/Controller Install, Basement Plumbing, Chase Plumbing, Pipe Insulating, Tube Assembly Line, Observers/Extra Hands. Tradespeople and Handypersons with tools are encouraged to bring suitable tools. Others should bring when feasible a tool belt with work gloves, black sharpie, tape measurer, rag and utility knife.  Thus far PAREI members have conducted over 40 volunteer Energy Raisers!

 

The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative was organized to encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency practices and promote the use of renewable energy in homes, businesses and other buildings in the Plymouth region through education, community outreach, accessibility and service coordination.  The office is located at 69 Main Street in Plymouth, NH and is open by appointment or by chance. To make an office appointment or for more information call: 603-536-5030 or visit www.plymouthenergy.org Membership Forms are available on line. To be removed from this e-mail list just reply with "Remove" in the subject line.