USGBC Maine Hosts Energy Efficiency Home Tour in Portland, Maine

    PORTLAND, ME, June 03, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- As temperatures start to increase, find out how you can reduce your electric bills, all while keeping your home comfortable for every season. On Wednesday, June 6, join the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Maine Chapter, Kaplan Thompson Architects and Kolbert Builders to learn how Maine homeowners can save money on utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012 11 AM
WHAT: Home Tour
WHO: Phil Kaplan/Kaplan Thompson Architects, Dan Kolbert/Kolbert Builders, Stew MacLehose/Homeowner, Naomi Mermin/USGBC Maine, Katye Charette/USGBC Maine
WHERE: 34 Hartford Avenue, Falmouth, ME
WHEN: 11:00 AM

The architect, builder and homeowner will be on hand to walk through a Falmouth home to highlight its energy efficient features. Diane Milliken of Horizon Residential Energy Services and Naomi Mermin and Katye Charette of the USGBC Maine Chapter will also be available Wednesday to discuss ongoing efforts in Maine to strengthen energy codes, including upcoming town votes to adopt the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC).

Energy codes set minimum energy-efficiency standards for the construction of new home. A homeowner can save an average of $243 a year on utility bills when the home is built to meet the standards of a model energy code. Energy-efficient homes are also easier to keep warm or cool consistently throughout the house, and help curb pollution by consuming less energy.

USGBC, NEEP and other local organizations have been working with Consumers Union, the public policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, to educate the public on the benefits of MUBEC. For more information on MUBEC and this initiative, visit http://ourgreenenergyfuture.org/posts/geography/maine.

Founded in 2003, the Maine Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is Maine's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The Maine Chapter currently has over 250 members that span Kittery to Bangor. The organization hosts monthly educational seminars on various topics which can be seen on their website at www.maineusgbc.org.

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