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News and Highlights
WindowDressers, an energy-saving enterprise, expands
What began as a project to reduce heating costs for the First Universalist Church in Rockland has mushroomed into a plan to help anyone on the Midcoast who wants to cut energy consumption.
Last year the church shaved 25% off its heating oil tab by installing polyolefin window inserts built by volunteers, who call themselves WindowDressers. (Wall insulation around window frames and ceiling fans were also installed). The church’s treasurer, Karl Kehler, says, “We’ll continue to save that much off our energy bills every year for probably the next ten years. The inserts will be put in place each fall for the winter months, but they are crystal clear so you can hardly tell they are there.”
The success of the First Universalist project prompted several WindowDressers to take their efforts into the larger community. This past winter, they built 214 windows for 20 families in the Rockland and surrounding area. Current plans are to expand to 100 homes and 1,000 inserts next winter. “On the average, we expect homeowners to realize a 15-20% savings in home heating costs,” predicts Dick Cadwgan, WindowDressers’ founder, who learned of the polyolefin inserts at a Midcoast Green Collaborative training session held in Damariscotta. The inserts are the invention of Topher Belknap of Edgecomb.
There are no qualifying criteria to purchase the inserts. They will be available on a first-come-first-served basis to low income homeowners, low income renters, who pay their own heating bills, and other homeowners wanting to reduce the budgetary impact of high oil prices or the environmental impact of using fossil fuels. The big challenge for the WindowDressers is to muster volunteers to assemble inserts. As last winter, plans are to offer the polyolefin energy savers for just the cost of materials. And WindowDressers hopes to provide them free to those facing severe financial hardship.
“We’re looking for sponsors to assist in that effort,” Cadwgan explains. “We’re helped considerably by Coastal Opportunities, which will contribute time and effort to the project,” he adds.
Frank Mundo, a co-leader at WindowDressers, says, “At this point, we need people-power (volunteers) to make up teams to assemble inserts and deliver them to homeowners. We have approached area churches to help but men or women of any community group can join to make a significant contribution, helping neighbors and environment at the same time. Since inserts last for more than ten years, this project offers a really good return on investment.”
“Anyone concerned with conserving energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels can do something beyond writing letters or buying a hybrid car,” Mundo continues. “WindowDressers offers a hands-on solution for those who want to take a different, unique approach to preserving the environment. To that end, Nancy Glassman of Green Sneakers has volunteered her group to spread the word as well as help identify homes that are good candidates for energy-saving inserts.”
If you want to lend a hand on this project, call the First Univesalist Church.
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Coastal Opportunities was established in 1971, as The Coastal Workshop. It is a private, nonprofit corporation whose mission is to assist adults with mental retardation to become participating members of their social and economic community.
The Green Sneakers Project was created by Maine Partners for Cool Communities (mpcc). It sends volunteers trained in weatherization door-to-door with a message for local homeowners about how to save money by weatherizing their homes.
The Results of Our BOOK SALE are IN!
Quality was unusually high, and this showed in our profits. Proceeds are $1455.83, just $4.12 short of 2004’s high.
We are working to sell a few leftovers to dealers, so we may break the record.
An amazing number of volunteers (45) discovered how much fun sorting and selling books can be, and how it builds friendships. We are so grateful to this strong team! Afterward, three libraries sent workers to choose books them for other sales, so your gifts rippled out. We delivered hand-picked books to Bartlett Woods, Penobscot School, the Ferry Landing, Pen Bay Hospital, and Bay Chamber Concerts. Jed Shepardson took the rest in two truckloads to Goodwill. Thanks to everyone, and esp. Eleanor and Peter Richardson for organizing this important fundraising event.
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Caring Network
We are blessed to belong to a community that cares deeply about our members. We want to do all we can to provide care and support during times of need.
Our new Caring Network is how we can reach out to everyone in our community. The Caring Network is a group of people in our church who are available to offer care and support when needed.
You can reach the Caring Network by calling Aimee, our church administrator (594-8750) who will contact the Caring Coordinator, Louise Cadwgan. She will ask a member of the Caring Network to contact the person who may benefit from care and support. If you know of someone in our community who might appreciate a little extra TLC please call.
When you receive a call from a member of the Caring Network, they may ask if they can visit you to learn more about how the Caring Network might be most helpful. Would you like visits from church members? A ride to the doctor's office or to church? Or perhaps a week of homemade suppers while you're recovering from surgery? Perhaps you would feel comforted by one of our own Care Quilts made by church members? What would you like the congregation to know about your situation, such as lighting a candle during Joys and Sorrows? You and the person from the Caring Network can decide what will be most helpful to you. The Caring Network will check in with you as often as you want for as long as you want. They will organize the care and support you've asked for so you don't have to.
Members of the Caring Network volunteer for a year at a time. They organize care and support for parishioners when needed. There is also a Caring Network Resource List of church members who are willing to help on an as-needed basis, such as preparing meals, offering rides, providing pet care or grocery shopping.
Contact Louise if you would like to be a member of the Caring Network or be on the Resource List. You can sign up on the Resource List in the church lobby.
Environmental Justice Work
Approved for Green Sanctuary Certification
The Green Sanctuary Committee at the First Universalist Church in Rockland submitted a 26 page application to the national Unitarian Universalist Association detailing the church's efforts towards adopting practices that support sustainable living. In early November it was announced that our church was approved, thus becoming the 5th church in Maine to achieve this certification and the 115th in the USA.
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