Energy Fair planned in Mechanic Falls

MECHANIC FALLS — An Energy Fair is scheduled for Saturday, March 5 in the municipal gym in Mechanic Falls from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Energy Fair, sponsored by the Mechanic Falls Energy Committee is part of the education component required of a grant recently received by the Town from Efficiency Maine. There will be representatives with educational materials from Efficiency Maine, Community Concepts, Goulet Home Inspection Services, Revision Energy, University of Maine Collaborative Extension, Sustainable Collaboration Works, and the Mechanic Falls Public Library.

Folks will have an opportunity to hear about the PACE program which is an opportunity for home owners to have their home energy audited and apply for very low interest loans to conduct projects to decrease their energy dependence.

The town received two grants from Efficiency Maine for a total of $46,225. The purpose of the grant was for communities to take a look at municipal facilities and use the funds to make improvements that would reduce energy consumption and/or to use energy more efficiently.

The grant was also to be used for educating the public on energy efficient methods and improvements that they could make to their homes and to establish an energy plan for the community. At this point, the town has used the funds to hire a consultant, Barbara Dibiase of Sustainable Collaboration Works. Barbara, with experts she brought in, did full energy audits of the town office, fire station and public works.

The audit resulted in a report that had numerous recommendations for changes that could be made to save the town money by reducing energy use. This report also gave anticipated cost savings for each improvement, rate of return on investment, and the estimated energy reduction. So far funds have been expended for the consulting services and the audit and items have been purchased to give away at the Energy Fair.

Those attending will receive free gifts for attending, while supplies last and have a look at new do-it-yourself books that were purchased with the grant funds that will be available for loan from the library. The library will also be receiving two new laser thermometers and an additional kilowatt meter that folks can borrow to do their own assessments also courtesy of the grant.

After receiving the results of the energy audit, the town currently has two projects out to bid.

The first is to have the entire hot water heating pipe in both the fire station and public works insulated. Approximately 800 feet of pipe between both facilities are exposed and result in quite a bit of heat loss. The other project out to bid is to replace the three electric hot water heaters with on-demand propane heaters.

It is also looking into having additional insulation installed in the town office and having gaps and opening around the building sealed and weatherized. Over the past year, CFL bulbs are being installed when incandescent bulbs are burning out, occupancy sensor light switches have been put in and weather stripping on exterior doors to eliminate drafts have been put on. Smart power strips are being used in offices.

These power strips eliminate “ghost loads” which are draws of power even when an item is turned off and adds to electric costs.

There are many more items and projects that the Energy Committee will continue to take on over the next year.