By Raine Raynor
Photos by Salty Lens Photography unless noted

This April marked a resounding fifth year of the Green Home + Energy Show, the annual sustainability-focused expo produced by the same team behind the Green & Healthy Maine HOMES magazine.

With more and more people becoming interested in energy independence and sustainability, the show fills a key niche in facilitating the sharing of knowledge around making homes more energy efficient, environmentally friendly and healthy to live in.

Over 70 exhibitors join every year, and 2025 brought the second year of the Sustainable Landscape Expo expanding the show’s focus to the garden, too. A wide selection of workshops, shopping from local artisans, and test drives at an Electric Vehicle Expo make for a full day of programming.

Homeowners, students, and professionals from across New England have made it a tradition to return to the South Portland based show year after year.

“We had so many of our questions answered by various vendors and exhibitors. What a wealth of information! And everyone was so friendly. I have a whole list of ideas that we want to try on our property now! The show was well worth the trip,” said one returning attendee from the Boston area.

“We always enjoy connecting with people in the community!” said a returning exhibitor at a design-build company. “This is a place where we can also observe the current climate with client questions and interests.”

2025 brought new exhibitors, new electric vehicle models to test drive and, as a bonus, a Girl Scouts booth selling cookies. “Met a lot of great people, saw a lot of new trends in renewable energy and energy efficient construction, got to test drive a Lucid Air,” said a Wells-based attendee.

A pillar of the Green Home + Energy Show is giving back by donating a portion of ticket sales each year to a Maine nonprofit with an environmental mission.

The Ecology School’s campus on River Bend Farm is solar-powered and built to the Living Building Challenge, and advanced certification measuring sustainability in the built environment. COURTESY PHOTO.

This year, $1,700 from ticket sales was donated to The Ecology School at River Bend Farm. This nonprofit school in Saco, Maine encapsulates sustainability through living, learning, working and playing in ways that are regenerative. Their new Dining Commons and Dormitory buildings are solar-powered and built to the international “Living Building Challenge” green building standards. The 313-acre farm & forest campus models ways to grow food, power buildings, and choose building materials to minimize human impact on the ecosystems we inhabit.

Previous Green Home + Energy Show beneficiaries include Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, WindowDressers, Maine Foodscapes and Wild Seed Project. Donations from the past five Green Home + Energy Shows now total over $16,000.

With the Green Home + Energy Show’s focus on sustainability in the home, reducing waste at the show itself was also a top priority. 90% of waste was diverted from landfill, thanks to a partnership with Garbage to Garden that added compost and recycling receptacles throughout the venue. In lieu of single-use event decorations, lush plants were rented from Broadway Gardens to add a touch of greenery before being returned for a future event. Finally, people leaving for the day were encouraged to return unwanted programs and handouts so other attendees could reuse them.

The Green & Healthy Maine HOMES team is thrilled by the growing community around the Green Home + Energy Show. They are looking forward to another excellent show in early April 2026.

Please contact info@thesunriseguide.com if you would like to participate next year or nominate a nonprofit for a future event.