May 2021
Filtration, ventilation & dehumidification
More people than ever are working from home but, unfortunately, most of us don’t have homes that were designed and constructed with the kind of high-quality air systems that many offices have. And though we know how important clean air is to our health, the place that most of us usually think of as safe—our home—too often has poor indoor air quality. In this article, four experts provide insight on what’s going on in our homes and what we can do to make them healthier.
Weatherization is Step 1

We reached out to Dana Fischer, former home energy efficiency guru for Efficiency Maine, to see if he would share some sound and simple advice for how Mainers can approach home energy efficiency improvements. Where to start? What’s most important? And what he’s learned along the way over the last two decades of helping Mainers make their homes more comfortable, healthy, affordable and efficient. Here’s what he had to say.

An ounce of prevention, or a pound of cure

We know that certain things we do to improve the comfort, durability and performance of a home cost more than doing the bare minimum. We can often quantify those costs. But what about the savings? What problems are we avoiding or minimizing down the line?
Use this not that: Insulation

Everyone agrees that we need to insulate our homes to lower energy consumption and improve comfort. Choosing the right insulation not only improves energy performance but also improves indoor air quality, resists mold and improves durability.
From the archives
Expanding access to solar

You’ve likely been hearing a lot about community solar options in the past year, as several large companies have been marketing their lower electricity prices and off-site solar. Want to learn more?

The lawn that loves you back

We reached out to a few local organic lawn care experts to find answers to some of lawn owners’ most common questions and concerns – from how to safely deal with pests to how to fertilize properly.

Women in high performance building in Maine

So many skills we have as women are valuable in the construction industry, even if you never intend to swing a hammer. In this article, we highlight some of the amazing Maine women in construction.

Upcoming virtual events
Tuesday, May 18, 6pm 
Women have traditionally held a smaller percentage of jobs in the building sector than men. But that is changing and no place more so than here in the great state of Maine. Maine’s green building community is home to many female architects, builders, engineers, designers and more. They have gained recognition throughout the region and beyond for their expertise and contributions to the field. What is it like to be a woman in today’s high-performance building community? What tips and lessons learned do these women have to share? Join us for a conversation with:
  • Emily Mottram, RA, Mottram Architecture (moderator)
  • Anna Heath, Carpenter and Certified Passive House Consultant, Maine Passive House
  • Claire Betze, P.E., BuildingWorks LLC
  • Heather Thompson, Owner, Thompson Johnson Woodworks
Tuesday, May 20
Attendees will learn the background, biology and current status of native bees in Maine; how Maine residents, businesses, and industry can all play a role in reversing the decline of pollinators; see examples from municipal, agricultural, and commercial sectors on recent work happening in Maine to encourage pollinators; and learn what we all can do to create or enhance the habitat of native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
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