I. State Resources
Efficiency Maine
This program is a statewide effort to promote the more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce energy costs, and improve Maine's environment.
Finance Authority of Maine (FAME)
The Energy Conservation Loan Program provided on behalf of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) offers low-interest loans to improve energy efficiency in Maine workplaces.
Office of Innovation & Assistance
This program is for your business, organization, and you. Be an "Environmental Leader!" Visit program areas and see what you can do.
II. Business Energy Saving Tips
Lighting
· Turn off lights (and other equipment) when not in use.
· Install occupancy sensor switches in seldom-occupied areas like closets, storage areas, and conference rooms- any area/room where people may forget to turn out the lights.
· Adjust lighting levels to match needs. Remove un-needed lamps, ballasts, and/or fixtures. Check current lighting levels against IES recommended levels. Use lower levels of general lighting and more task lighting to directly illuminate work areas and reduce computer screen glare.
· Make use of free day lighting, where possible. Turn off or dim lights when day lighting is available, or use automatic dimming controls. Use high reflectance ceiling tiles and light colors on walls, partitions, and carpeting to carry daylight into interior space.
· Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs) wherever possible. CFLs only use only about half the energy, plus, they last 10-12 times as long, saving on replacement bulb cost and labor.
· Replace incandescent and fluorescent exit signs with light emitting diodes (LEDs) or the latest solid-state technology. LEDs exit signs use about 1/10th the energy of an incandescent bulb. Plus they can last for 100,000 hours!
· Schedule cleaning services during the day. If you must clean the building at night, use the minimum number of lights, only as needed.
· Replace T-12 fluorescent fixtures with energy saving T-8 fixtures and electronic ballasts. Design the new system for the lighting level needed for the building use, using IES standards. Use parabolic reflectors to reduce glare. Supplement with task lighting.
· Install controls on exterior lighting. Install motion sensors, time clocks, or photoelectric sensors on exterior parking lots and security lighting.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
· Give your HVAC system a pre-season tune-up. HVAC system performance declines without regular maintenance. Have cooling systems checked every spring, heating units every fall. Treat water in evaporative condensers regularly. Ask your HVAC contractor about an annual maintenance contract. You will save money and be more comfortable.
· Use free cooling. Install economizers to use outdoor air for cooling when outdoor temperatures are lower than indoors.
· Install ENERGY STAR ceiling fans to create air movement. Air temperatures can vary up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit between floors and ceilings. Moving air also feels cooler due to convective cooling.
· Set thermostats higher in summer. Set thermostats at 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher during the cooling season; turn A/C systems off when the building is unoccupied and back on one hour before the start of business.
· Set thermostats lower in winter. Set thermostats at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower during the heating season when the building is occupied, and 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit when the building is unoccupied or used only for storage.
· Weatherize window air conditioners. Make sure the area around the window or over-the-door air conditioners is sealed properly. Use an insulating exterior cover in winter.
Hot Water
· Reduce hot water temperature. If hot water is needed just for general use, like hand washing, reduce the temperature setting on the hot water tank to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or lower. If a higher temperature is needed for a specific piece of equipment, consider a booster heater.
Motors
· Purchase high efficiency replacement motors. Specify motors that meet NEMA Premium Efficient when purchasing new or replacement motors. Re-winding old in-efficient motors may not be cost-effective, compared to new highly efficient motors.
· Do not oversize motors Specify replacement motors sized to meet load requirements, as closely as possible. Oversized motors are inefficient.
· Use variable frequency drives (VFDs) where appropriate. Install VFDs on motors with variable load patterns, like pumps and fans.
· Check and maintain motors regularly. Check belts and pulleys frequently and tighten as needed. Lubricate motors regularly and replace bearings when worn.
Office Equipment
· Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, and other office equipment. The ENERGY STAR label means that the equipment is energy efficient. If you lease equipment, insist on energy efficient models, you are paying the electric bill!
· Turn off office equipment at night. Be sure computers, printers, copiers, and other office equipment is turned off at night, on weekends and at other times when not in use. If the equipment has a power-saver mode, be sure it is enabled. Screen-saver features are designed to protect computer screens, not to save energy.
· Share equipment. Sharing equipment like printers and copiers reduces idle time, saving energy and equipment cost.
Refrigeration Equipment
· Purchase high efficiency equipment. Refrigeration options like hot gas defrost and evaporative condensers can yield returns of as much as 50 percent.
· Check gaskets and closing mechanisms on refrigerator doors frequently. Close a dollar bill in the refrigerator door, and then pull. If it comes out easily, check for worn gaskets or out-of-adjustment closing mechanisms.
I. State Resources
Efficiency Maine
This program is a statewide effort to promote the more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce energy costs, and improve Maine's environment.
Maine State Housing Authority
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides money to help low income homeowners and renters pay for heating costs.
The Low Income Assistance Plan (LIAP) helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for electricity costs by providing a credit on their electric bills.
MaineHousing’s Weatherization Program and Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP) provide grants to low-income homeowners and renters to reduce energy costs by improving home energy efficiency.
The Appliance Replacement Program helps low-income people to reduce their energy costs by replacing older home appliances that are inefficient and expensive to operate.
MaineHousing’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) offers loans at a low fixed rate for home improvements that increase home energy efficiency.
Community Action Program Agencies
Aroostook County Action Program (Aroostook County residents)
(800) 432-7881
Coastal Economic Development Corp. (Sagadahoc & Lincoln County residents)
(207) 442-7963
Community Concepts, Inc. (Androscoggin & Oxford County residents)
(207) 743-7716
Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (Kennebec & Somerset County residents)
(207) 859-1635
Penquis Community Action Program (Knox, Penobscot & Piscataquis County residents)
(207) 973-3500
People’s Regional Opportunity Program (Cumberland County residents)
(207) 842-2988
Waldo Community Action Partners (Waldo County residents)
(207) 338-6809
Washington-Hancock Community Action (Washington & Hancock County residents)
(800) 828-7544
Western Maine Community Action (Franklin County residents)
(207) 645-3764
York County Community Action Corp. (York County residents)
(207) 324-5762
II. Home Energy Saving Tips
Appliances
· Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.
· Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during longer periods of non-use to cut energy costs and improve longevity.
· Do not place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
· Reduce Phantom Load. Many appliances continue to draw power when they are switched off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.~ The recommended method for finding phantom loads is turning off all lights at night and looking for any LEDs or other glows in the house. Any device that requires resetting after a blackout or power surge is a cause of phantom load.
· Appliances and electronics really add up on your energy bill. When it is time to replace, remember these items have two price tags: purchase price and lifetime energy cost. When shopping for new appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, etc.) and electronics (TV, computer, etc.), demand the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is the government’s rating program that shows you which items are more efficient than typical models. ENERGY STAR items will save you money over the product’s useful life.
Cooking
· Don't preheat your oven, and use the smaller of the two ovens if you have a dual unit. Cook complete meals of several dishes simultaneously in the oven.
· If you have a microwave oven, use it for reheating and cooking small quantities of food.
· Cook on range top burners when practical instead of in the oven.
· Use the smallest pan necessary to do the job. Smaller surfaces require less energy. Match the pan size to the element size. For example, a 6" pan on an 8" burner can waste over 40% of the heat produced by the burner.
Dishwasher
· Operate your dishwasher only with full loads. And if the manufacturer's instructions permit, open the door of the dishwasher at the end of the last rinse cycle, rather than using the drying cycle.
· Choose a dishwasher with several wash cycle selections. If your dishes are only slightly dirty, you can use the light or energy-saving wash cycle, it uses less water and runs for a shorter period of time.
Laundry
· Use lower temperature settings on your washing machine, preferably the cold water cycle, and only use cold for rinses. The temperature of the rinse water does not affect cleaning.~Load the washing machine to capacity. Washing one large load will take less energy than washing two loads on a low or medium setting. When you don't have a full load, match the water level to the size of the load.~~
· Don't over-dry clothes that you are going to iron. Take clothes out of the dryer while they are still slightly damp to reduce the need for ironing - another big energy user. Over-drying can cause shrinkage, generates static electricity, and shortens fabric life. If you have room, you can also "hang your clothes out" to dry.
· Clean the dryer filter after each use. A clogged filter will restrict airflow and reduce dryer performance.
· Dry full loads when possible, but be careful not to overfill the dryer, because air needs to circulate around the clothes.
Refrigerator
· Unplug and properly dispose your extra refrigerator if it's used mainly for occasional cold drinks or ice cubes. You could reduce your annual energy bill by as much as $160 by doing so.
· Open refrigerator/freezer doors only when necessary.
· Keep refrigerator coils (on the back or the bottom of the appliance) clean.
· Make sure the seals on your refrigerator, freezer and oven doors fit tightly. Easily perform this test by leaving a lit flashlight inside a closed appliance and if you see light around the gasket, replace the gasket.
Cooling
· Only cool the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms.
· Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
· During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
Air Conditioning
· Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
· Check the air conditioner (AC) filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your cooling system, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life.
· When buying a new AC unit, look for a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 13 or higher on central systems and the ENERGY STAR label on room units.
Fans
· In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of AC, and ventilate at night this way when practical. Using fans to supplement AC allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy. Fans cost less to use than AC.
· Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
· Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are effective when operated at night and when the outside air is cooler than the inside.
Heating
· Only heat the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms.
· Adding area heaters to warm just the occupied rooms in your home will enable you to keep the rest of your home at cooler, more economical temperatures.
· Turning down the thermostat by 1 degree F, can save 25-30 gallons of heating oil per year.~
· Turn down your thermostat to 55 degrees when the house is unoccupied. It takes about 1 hour to heat the average house to a desired temperature. It is~a common myth that turning the thermostat down makes you burn more heating oil in warming up the house again.~Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home. At night when you are sleeping, around 60 degrees should be comfortable.~
· During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
· Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.
Fireplace
· Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney. Also, close the fireplace damper when not in use.
Furnace
· Check the furnace filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating system, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life.
· An ENERGY STAR qualified furnace, when properly sized and installed, along with sealed ducts and a programmable thermostat, can save up to 20 percent on heating bills
Insulation
· Other effective places to add insulation include unfinished basement walls and crawlspaces. Insulating walls can be more complex, but it can be worthwhile to do if you have little or no insulation now. Check with a contractor for advice.
· Keep in mind that insulation and sealing air leaks will help your energy performance in the summertime by keeping the cool air inside.
· Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
Landscape
· Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not to block the airflow. Place your room air conditioner on the north side of the house. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
· Trees that lose their leaves in the fall give protection from the summer sun and permit winter sunlight to reach and warm your home. Plant trees on the south, east, and/or west sides of your home. Be sure to shade the AC unit. Create a windbreak with evergreen trees and shrubs to stop chilling winds.
Lighting
· Turn off lights whenever they are not needed, even for one second.
· Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). CFLs can give the same amount and quality of light as incandescent bulbs, yet use one-third the amount of energy and last ten times longer.
· Use dimmer switches or timers on lights.
· Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when purchasing lighting fixtures. These fixtures meet federal energy-efficiency and quality guidelines, without a sacrifice in performance. These lights also operate at cooler temperatures.
· Replace halogen floor lamps and torchieres with compact fluorescent models. Halogen floor lamps pose a fire hazard due to the extremely hot temperatures produced by the high-wattage bulbs and cost more to operate. An energy-efficient compact fluorescent model produces as much light, runs cooler, and uses only a fraction of the electricity.
· Keep bulbs and fixtures clean. Dirt will absorb the light and reduce the efficiency.
· Incandescent light bulbs are outdated; 95 percent of the energy used goes to heating the bulb, adding unwanted heat to your home in the summer
Water
· About 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths.
· Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher.
· Switch to cold water washing of laundry in top loading, energy-inefficient washing machines to save energy—detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean.
· Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at “warm,” so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 130 degrees.
· Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use.
· A water tank insulation wrap costs about $20 and helps hold the heat inside. Add pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes going into your water heater—it is cheap and easy to install.
· When it’s time to replace your hot water tank, buy the most efficient one possible. Consider a tankless, on-demand system (these won’t work for everyone, so talk to your installer).
· Install energy-saving showerheads in your home. You'll reduce hot water use and cut water costs by 10% to 16% without affecting comfort.
· Repair all leaky faucets. One drop per second can waste as much as 10 gallons of water in a week.
Windows
· During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows. In winter, let the sun in.
· Storm windows can reduce heat lost by single-paned windows by 25–50 percent during the winter. As an alternative, you can improve your windows temporarily with plastic sheeting installed on the inside.
· Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter wastes money. A handy homeowner can seal up holes to the outside by weatherstripping doors and sealing windows and other gaps along the home’s foundation. A combination of air sealing and adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawlspaces provides tremendous energy savings and increased comfort.
· In warm climates, where summertime heat gain is the main concern, look for windows with double glazing and spectrally selective coatings that reduce heat gain.
· Weatherize your home—caulk and weatherstrip any doors and windows that leak air.
I. State Resources
General Assistance
Each town has a General Assistance Program to help people in emergencies. You may be eligible even if you work or receive other benefits such as: food stamps, veterans' benefits, or Social Security income. To request General Assistance, contact your town office. Find contact information for any city or town government.
I. State Resources
Department of Education
According to Jim Rier, “Here are some thoughts quickly that might be helpful. As you can see most of these efforts are ongoing but recent. ~We are currently looking at new initiatives to get an accurate up to the minute picture of energy usage, both buildings and busses, and the challenges that schools will face in this budget cycle and the next. DOE efforts have included:
· The bus routing software to help with fuel efficiencies – recently purchased, upcoming trainings and implementation by DOE
· Facility Management software – RFP being finalized – will assist districts in energy tracking cost, consumption, and allow them to compare to other districts
· Fall Maine School Facilities Summit – one day energy conference specific to existing school facilities
· New school construction projects – constructed to a very high energy standard – includes alternative energy sources – benchmarked to LEED or CHPS standards
· Utilized limited federal monies to install wood boilers in 2 schools in western Maine~ (QZAB program)
· Working on the development of a fund, Renovation Fund or Other, to fund energy retrofit projects consistent with the High Performance Schools Program
· Post energy analysis of wood boiler projects, geothermal projects, and other energy efficient information on DOE construction website to assist in getting information out to school districts
· Have supported LEED and CHPS certification and training for professional staff to assist DOE funded projects and to provide a resource to districts
· Have worked closely with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)~ and Maine School Management Association (MSMA) in developing a High Performance School Program assessable to all school districts.~ This program has included funding from the PUC over the past 5 years.
· Support for Facilities Analysis for school districts looking for assistance in the consolidating of facilities
· DOE co-sponsored a large energy conference in April for school districts – very well attended and successful
· DOE supported and amended statutory and rule changes that required new school projects and major renovation projects to be designed to a minimum of 20% higher than code
· DOE co-sponsored Benchmark Maine which is a manual that provides a prescriptive approach to meeting the states higher energy code
· DOE has co-sponsored training for architects, engineers, and school facilities managers on Benchmark Maine
· Major Capital School projects have supported energy efficiencies through supporting larger solutions to school projects that have incorporated up to 4 schools into single new facility – consolidation of facilities has become a very important element of that program
· DOE has developed and amended rules to promote transportation efficiencies in new school sites
I. State Resources
Go Maine
This program provides services and information to commuters and other travelers who live, work, or travel in the State of Maine: carpool ridematching, vanpool formation, transit information and bicycling and walking information.
Local Bus Services/Commuter Shuttles
764-1290
992-4670
443-8363
ShuttleBus (Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach-Scarborough-South Portland-Maine Mall)
282-5408
888-THE-ZOOM
Coastal Trans (Knox, Lincoln, Sagdahoc Counties, Brunswick-Harpswell)
800-444-6207 or 800-289-6605
667-5796
877-5677
783-9186
The Lynx (Penobscot & Piscatquis Counties)
866-853-5969
METRO (Greater Portland Transit District) (Portland-Westbrook-Maine Mall)
774-0351
800-244-0704
324-5762
459-WAVE
767-5556
800-439-7865
364-2135
784-9335
800-596-2823
Island Explorer (Bar Harbor and points throughout Mount Desert Island/Acadia National Park (seasonal))
288-3340
324-5762 x2928
824-2282
COAST (Dover NH-Somersworth NH-Berwick ME)
603-743-5777
Dineen Bus Lines (Portsmouth/Kittery Naval Shipyard)
439-4440
J&D Express (Portsmouth/Kittery Naval Shipyard)
283-4110
800-639-3317
800-552-8737
800-696-2463
800-258-7771
Ferry Services
Casco Bay Lines (Peaks-Little Diamond-Great Diamond-Long Island-Diamond Cove-Chebeague-Cliff Islands)
774-7871
Lincolnville-Islesboro & Bass Harbor-Swans Island-Frenchboro)
596-2202
846-3700
367-6516
Cranberry Isle Ferries
667-5796
Passenger Rail
Amtrak Downeaster (Portland-Saco-OOB-Wells-Dover NH-Durham NH-Exeter NH-Haverhill MA-Boston MA (North Station))
800-USA-RAIL
I. State Resources
Local Government
Find contact information for any city or town government.
Maine 2-1-1
Provides centralized and streamlined access to health and human service information and resources.
Operation Keep ME Warm
This is a public and private collaboration aimed to help our neighbors most
in need throughout the state of Maine cope with the rising cost of fuel.
Volunteer Maine
Serves as a one-stop source for volunteer information.
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