Committee, Recycling and Energy Advisory

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University of Maine

The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Documents from Environmental Organizations Maine Environmental Collection 2018 Energy News You Can Use - Falmouth REAC 04-03-2018 Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_env_organizations Repository Citation Committee, Recycling and Energy Advisory, "Energy News You Can Use - Falmouth REAC 04-03-2018" (2018). Documents from Environmental Organizations. 203. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_env_organizations/203 This Other is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Documents from Environmental Organizations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact um.library.technical.services@maine.edu. Falmouth Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee (REAC) “Energy News You Can Use” Volume 6, Issue 4, April 2018 – Falmouth, Maine      ➢ The days are getting warmer and longer—Spring is here! How do you gear up for living sustainably in the Spring season?  ➢ Any ideas how Falmouth can be more sustainable? Use less energy? Generate less waste? We’d love to hear your ideas! Contact your Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, Kimberly Darling at kdarling@falmouthme.org with your thoughts and suggestions.     Calendar of Local Green Events-April 2018 Event Date/Time/Location Description  Spring Lawn Care Workshop   April 3 6:00pm Falmouth Memorial Library 5 Lunt Rd., Falmouth  The Falmouth Conservation Commission is putting on this Spring Lawn Care Workshop with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District. The event will be held at the Falmouth Memorial Library. Come join the conversation and learn more about YardScaping and how you can have a yard that is safe for kids, pets and the environment.   For more information on the District’s YardScaping education program,  click here.  MOFGA’s Grow-Your-Own Organic Garden   April 4 6:00-9:00pm Scarborough High School  11 Municipal Dr., Scarborough Always the most popular class at Scarborough Adult Education! Interested in learning how to grow your own vegetables organically, in a sustainable manner? Learn about the basics of soil science and how to enrich your soil to produce healthy, high-yielding plants. Cover the fundamentals of making and using compost, principles of crop rotation and how to incorporate green manures to manage nutrients in the garden. Learn how to tell the difference between cultivated plants and weeds, basic weed control strategies and cultural methods for dealing with pests. All welcome, from first-timers to experienced gardeners who want to experiment with new techniques. Receive a copy of the presentation, a resource guide and some seeds to get started!  Follow this link to learn more and to register.     Electronic Waste Recycling Day   April 14 9:00am-6:00pm USM Woodbury Campus Center 96 Falmouth St., Portland Join USM sustainability office for their annual, public event where you can get rid of all your electronic waste that’s been kicking around! In lieu of disposal costs, they are accepting donations for Cultivating Community! Accepting: TVs, Computer Equipment, VCRs, DVD Players, Home Entertainment, Telephones, Cell Phones, Cameras, Video Games, Microwaves, & Small Appliances NOT Accepting: Refrigerators, Humidifiers, Air Conditioners, Household Appliances, Batteries, Light Bulbs, Smoke Detectors, Mercury Devices, Thermostats This link will give you more event information.   Urban Runoff 5k & green Neighbor Family Fest   April 21 9:30am-12:30pm Deering High School Stevens Ave., Portland  The Urban Runoff leads into the Green Neighbor Family Fest, where families and community members take part in hands-on activities about water, learn steps to becoming a green neighbor, and have an all-around good time! The festival is the City of Portland’s annual kick off for their Greener Neighborhoods Cleaner Streams program, which encourages residents to help keep Capisic Brook clean. For more information and to register,  visit this website.   Talking Trash in Falmouth!    April 28 9:00am-1:00pm Falmouth Transfer Station Woods Rd., Falmouth     Join the Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee for this event to talk all things waste! We will be joined by ecomaine as well as Garbage to Garden, and Casella. Wondering where all this stuff goes? We’ll have experts on hand to tell you everything you need to know.  Come learn why Falmouth is a leader in recycling, and join us at the Falmouth Transfer Station, located on Woods Rd on April 28th. Have questions about recycling, composting, hazardous waste? How about bulky waste like mattresses? Spring cleaning and finding lots of paint cans? Let’s chat about what to do with all this stuff, and celebrate Earth Day! Energy News   Maine Island’s Plan to Build its own Energy Grid Could Change the Game for Remote Communities—Isle au Haut residents plan to install a sophisticated microgrid this spring that could eventually end their reliance on expensive power and heating fuel from the mainland. Follow this link for the full article. As Storms Batter Electric Grid, More Mainers Consider Cutting the Cable— For those who dream of living “off the grid,” the motivation might be to leave smaller carbon footprint or to avoid the prohibitive cost of running utility lines hundreds of feet to a home off-the-beaten path.  Some solar panel installers say they are additionally receiving an increasing number of inquiries from homeowners who have had it with lengthy and repeated power outages. Read more here.  Belfast Council Seeks $9.1 Million Loan for Public Works, Solar Farm—The total includes $260,000 for the land purchase, $315,000 for an architect and engineer, $15,000 for preconstruction management, $6,549,561 for construction of the public works facility (with $232,000 worth of work to be done by the public works department), $80,000 to add 3-phase power, $1.5 million for the new solar farm. For the full story, click here. A Passenger Rail Connection for Lewiston-Auburn? —Does it make sense for the Twin Cities to pursue a passenger rail service between Lewiston-Auburn and Portland? The state previously put up $400,000 toward a preliminary study, with Lewiston and Auburn each providing $50,000 for the study to go forward. The initiative was prompted by state Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, but officials from both cities, including Jeffers, serve on a study committee. Click here to read more.   Industry, Landowners Oppose LePage Bill to Gut Wind Power Permitting Process—The LePage administration wants to eliminate the controversial, streamlined permitting process that has drawn more wind energy projects to Maine than the rest of New England combined. Wind energy companies, construction firms and timberland owners urged lawmakers on Friday to reject a LePage administration proposal that would gut the state’s controversial “expedited permitting” process for wind power projects. Read more by follow this link.  Maine Regulators Recommend Slashing Biomass Company’s State Subsidy—Maine utility regulators are recommending that an embattled biomass company forfeit 20 percent of its $1 million state subsidy for falling well short on purchases of waste wood from Maine loggers — a reduction that some loggers say is not nearly enough. When Stored Solar won a slice of the $13.4 million taxpayer bailout two years ago, it agreed to a range of conditions. Those conditions are reviewed by the Maine Public Utilities Commission which determines whether the biomass operator has delivered on its promises. Click here for the full article.   In Other News…   It’s Been Three Years Since Maine Towns Started Banning Plastic Bags. How’s it Working? —Not every Mainer is enthusiastic about switching from plastic to paper or reusable bags, but more and more have had to do it since the first ordinance regulating single-use plastic bags took effect in Portland nearly three years ago. It took the Portland City Council more than a year of study before they voted to enact a five-cent fee on paper and plastic bags at stores where food sales count for more than two percent of their business, including grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies. Follow this link for the full article.   FEMA Drops ‘Climate Change’ From its Strategic Plan—The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal government's first responder to floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters, has eliminated references to climate change from its strategic planning document for the next four years. Read more here.     Green Consumer Tips & How-To’s &  FINALLY, the long winter has come to an end! Now it’s time to get rid of all the dust and start the spring cleaning. You may find yourself wondering what to and not to recycle, and where to bring some of these items. Reach out to REAC and your sustainability coordinator, where here to help!   Use green cleaning products. Your first step should be to use green cleaning products instead of traditional products that contain harsh chemicals. These products are better for your own health as well as the environment. This is because they're non-toxic and are generally made from renewable resources. Make your own cleaning products. You don't even need to purchase “green” specific cleaning products. You can clean just as well using homemade cleaning solutions made from baking soda and vinegar. They're known as the ultimate all-purpose cleaners and can clean nearly any surface. Essential oils also make great cleaning products. Air out your home & keeping your air fresh. One of the easiest and best ways to bring a natural and clean feeling to your home is to simply air it out. This will flow out toxins and rejuvenate your home in a completely natural way. The best part: All you need to do is open the window! Herbs and plants give off pleasant odors. You can even consider baking more often to bring some nice scents into the home. Use green cleaning services. Maybe you don't always have time to complete your cleaning on your own, especially the deeper cleaning that's usually associated with spring cleaning. Shop your local area for people advertising green cleaning services; it'll take the work out of green cleaning for you and you know you'll be doing the best thing for your home and family. Air-dry your laundry. During spring cleaning, you might be taking the time to wash many larger items like blankets and comforters. Find a clothesline and air dry these if possible. Cleaning your furniture. You can even make your own wood cleaners and polish with healthy, natural ingredients. Use a combination of olive oil and lemon essential oil to clean and polish your wood furniture. This cleaner produces a shiny and pleasant-smelling finish.                                                               

Energy News You Can Use - Falmouth REAC 04-03-2018

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1202&context=maine_env_organizations

Energy News You Can Use - Falmouth REAC 04-03-2018

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