A webinar series all about green & healthy homes

Home + Energy Chats is a webinar series that brings together green building industry experts and those interested in learning more about healthy, efficient and sustainable homes. You won't want to miss these insightful conversations. Sign up for our newsletter and be sure to follow along on Facebook & Instagram to never miss an episode!

New episode!

One homeowner’s journey to efficiency and accessibility

As we age, it's important for housing to support our needs and changing abilities. This episode, we talked with homeowner Dennis Tefft about his journey designing and building a new home in Brunswick, Maine that facilitates aging in place with a Parkinson's diagnosis. The single-story 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1800 sq ft home prioritizes energy-efficiency and incorporates universal design throughout—a concept of designing environments to be usable by anyone regardless of age, size or ability. We chatted with Dennis about why universal design is so important, how he achieved his goals and advice for others considering a similar project.

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watch Recordings of past home + energy chatS

Making the shift to whole-home heat pumps

Oct. 2024

Swapping out that old boiler for whole-home heat pumps can reduce energy costs and improve your home’s comfort year-round. And, as with any heating system, other factors also play a role in your home’s overall energy efficiency. Wondering what energy upgrades might make sense for you? This episode, we were joined by three of Maine's foremost energy efficiency experts to debunk myths, answer your questions, and discuss how improvements like insulation and air-sealing impact a heat pump’s performance.

Carpentry & Construction TrainingS in Maine

Jan. 2024

Whether you are a homeowner who wants to boost your DIY skills or a professional looking to stay informed, there are many opportunities in Maine to increase your knowledge in modern approaches to residential construction. We chatted with three Maine organizations providing education in this space on the many opportunities available to increase your homebuilding and construction skillset.

BUILDING SCIENCE 101

Dec. 2023

Building science is a field of knowledge that draws upon engineering, architecture, and science to design innovative high-performance buildings. We chatted with the founders of the Portland, Maine area’s monthly Building Science Discussion Group to learn about some of the basics behind modern building science.

Paying for Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Nov. 2023

Planning to make energy and efficiency upgrades to your Maine home in the near future? We chatted with Andy Meyer, Senior Program Manager at Efficiency Maine to learn about state and federal incentives, rebates, tax credits and loans for insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric vehicles, appliances and more.

Backyard composting

June 2023

Learn how to compost your food waste in your own backyard! We discuss the science behind composting, various methods and set ups, how to compost with bears and critters in the area, and more in this session.

Offsite construction for high performance homes

May 2023

Planning to build a new high-performance home? Learn about the off-site building process from three companies that have pioneered the use of modular and panelized methods for building homes that are energy efficient, healthy, comfortable and durable.

DESIGNING HOMES FOR ALL

March 2023

How do we design and retrofit homes so that they are accessible to people of all ages and abilities? So they are flexible and grow with us as our needs change? We chatted with three experts who have designed and built homes here in Maine (and beyond). We learned what the terms accessible design, universal design and aging in place mean—plus how and why to incorporate them into your sustainable home, and simple modifications that can be made to existing homes to support aging in place.

  • John P. Gordon, Maine Licensed Architect

  • Jeff Malloy, Self-described “Motivated quadriplegic” who designed his own accessible home 

  • Ashley Richards, Certified NAHB Aging in Place Specialist

Tips to improve home air quality

Feb. 2023

The quality of indoor air drastically impacts our lifelong health. ⁠In this episode, learn practical tips to improve your home’s indoor environment for you and your family’s health. We cover common indoor air quality concerns and recommendations for addressing them.

Embodied carbon in residential construction

Dec. 2022

What is embodied carbon, and what can we do to reduce it in new construction? The BEAM estimator is a tool that is making it easier for architects, designers, and builders to calculate the carbon impact of various building materials–in other words, the amount of carbon generated during the manufacture, transportation and installation of materials. We also learned about TimberHP, a Maine company developing a carbon negative insulation product line.

What does the Inflation Reduction Act mean for ME?

Nov. 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the largest clean energy bill in US history. The IRA includes investments that target individuals and businesses, alike. This session focused on the benefits and incentives for individuals and homeowners to help transition away from fossil fuels. From home energy-efficiency improvements and appliance upgrades to heat pumps and electric vehicles, we covered what was known as of Fall 2022.

Understanding solar options for your home

Nov. 2022

Thinking about solar and wondering what options are available for your home? In this episode, we explored on-site solar, community solar and battery storage.

How to get started improving your home’s efficiency and comfort

Oct. 2022

Learn how to evaluate your home and make efficiency improvements while taking into consideration important prep work to ensure your home is also safe, healthy, durable and structurally sound. We covered available rebates and financing options, as well as the tools and resources offered by Efficiency Maine including the contractor locator, cost of home heating calculator and cost of water heating calculator.

Don’t treat your soil like dirt

May 2022

The products and practices we use in our yards directly impact the quality of our lakes, rivers and ocean. We talked to three Maine experts about practicing healthy yard care to protect and improve water quality for generations to come.

Building a nontoxic home

April 2022

The materials and methods that we use to build our homes can have a significant impact on occupant health for years to come. For a growing number of people, exposure to certain chemicals commonly found in building materials can be especially problematic. And because most of us spend more time at home than anywhere else, there’s reason enough to take note.

Small homes are BIG!: Tiny Homes & Accessory dwelling units

Feb. 2022

Whether you are looking for an affordable housing solution for yourself, adult children or aging parents, or a way to reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint, tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) offer an appealing solution. Other benefits include income generation, opportunities for aging in place, flexibility, and in the case of many tiny homes, also mobility. We chatted with four industry experts who are paving the way for these high-density housing options in Maine.

What is a Pretty Good House?

Dec. 2021

There are so many questions related to energy efficiency and home performance when planning a renovation or building a new home. What technologies are important to invest in? Which will give you the biggest bang for your buck? Which best help ensure the health and safety of occupants? ⁠The Pretty Good House: A Guide to Creating Better Homes (2022) provides a framework and guidelines to help you prioritize price and performance. ⁠Join in on an engaging discussion with three of the book’s co-authors.

All about mold

Nov. 2021

Few words are scarier to homeowners than “mold.” Yes, mold can be serious. But it doesn’t have to be terrifying. Consider this episode your primer on mold, mildew and fungi. Armed with a biological understanding of what makes mold thrive as well as tips on how to prevent it from growing out of control in your home, mold doesn’t have to be a nightmare.

The Climate benefits of local wood

Oct. 2021

Local Maine wood is not just a beautiful building material – it’s an important resource for keeping carbon emissions down in the construction process. Plus, the harvesting and processing of local wood keeps jobs in Maine and stimulates the local economy. We chatted with the experts about how to access the best timber in the state, and why it can benefit your home building project in more ways than one. Listen in on the conversation with these industry leaders:

Are heat pumps right for my home?

Sept. 2021

Heat pumps have proven to be an effective heat source in the cold Maine climate, offering an affordable option to reduce both heating costs and carbon emissions. Thinking about a heat pump for your home? Check out the conversation with these industry experts:

Landscaping with Native Plants

June 2021

Interested in incorporating native plants into your landscaping? From attracting pollinators to minimizing resource inputs, we chatted with the experts about the benefits that native plants provide, and explore varieties well suited for Maine landscapes. Whether you’re a total novice or a well experienced gardener, you’ll learn selection and maintenance tips and tricks to ensure a happy, healthy native landscape. Listen in on a conversation with:

Women in Green Building

May 2021

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:

The Future of Cars is Electric!

Apr. 2021

Maybe you’ve been hearing all of the news about car manufacturers phasing out gas-powered vehicles and you’re wondering if an EV could be for you. This episode covers everything you need to know about buying and driving an electric vehicle in Maine. Learn about the different types of EVs and the models currently available on the market. Discover the ever-growing network of EV charging stations in Maine, how to find them when you’re on the road and the plans for future stations. And don’t miss the details on Efficiency Maine’s EV rebate program!

The Value of Green Home Improvements

March 2021

There are many ways to improve the health and efficiency of your home, while making it more comfortable and reducing its draw on our natural resources (and potentially even your bank account). Wondering what value this could add to your property? The first conversation in the Home + Energy Chats series will explore how various home improvements, such as air sealing and insulation, solar energy, heat pumps, balanced ventilation systems (such as ERVs and HRVs), electric car chargers and more are being received in today's real estate market. And if you're selling your home, what you need to know to be sure that your home is valued accordingly.