See you in a January for a good old meet-and-greet happy hour at Flatbread in Rockport! All ages, friends, neighbors, colleagues welcome.

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Climate change and sea level rise are already driving our high tides higher, causing coastal floods up and down the shores of Maine. This Fall and Winter, we experienced some of the highest predicted tides of the year. In order to adapt to rising tides, we need to increase our understanding of what water level and weather conditions lead to local flooding.

Join the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s virtual community discussion to explore the data contributed to GMRI's Coastal Flooding Community Science project during high water events this season. Share and discuss with your coastal neighbors what you observed during high water events and the impacts you saw in places you care about throughout the Gulf of Maine.

Observing change and having conversations about climate impacts is an important step to building a climate-resilient and thriving future.

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Please join Sustainable Brunswick on Tuesday, January 13th from 5 - 6:30 PM at Curtis Library in the Morrell Meeting Room as they welcome Bill Guindon (Mass Care Coordinator for the Maine Emergency Management Agency) and Josh Katz (previously of MDOT) for double feature presentations that dive into best practices for both ecological and personal preparedness this winter. Bill Guindon will discuss winter weather hazards and conditions faced here in Maine, cold-weather preparedness tips, and practical steps for improving personal and community preparedness. Josh Katz, leaning on his 23 years of experience with MDOT working with road salt and water supply issues, will cover the history of winter road maintenance, current practices, and the environmental impacts of road salts on your well and the local ecosystem. Curtis Library will also have various items on display from their Library of Things to inspire attendees to borrow and choose the right tools and supplies for preparedness and sustainability. 

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Event Information:

Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Location:  Colby College: Harold Alfond Athletics & Recreation Center, Waterville, Maine (Directions)

Race Day Schedule:

• Venue Opens for warm-ups at 7:00 a.m.

• Registration opens at 7:15 a.m.

• Heat #1 at 8:00 a.m.

• Walkers Start at 8:00 a.m.

• Kids Fun Run at 8:25 a.m.

• Heat #2 starts at 8:40 a.m.

• Heat #3 at 9:20 a.m.

• Event end:  10:30 a.m.

See you on January 11, 2026!

About Indoor Insanity

Join us in January for a race event unlike any other in Maine!  Get out of the cold and head indoors: no ice underfoot, no frigid gusts in your face, and no snow overhead.  Who knew running in circles was SO much fun?  Music, camaraderie, and running (for a cause!)

Join us at our Native Seed Center for a hands-on exploration of growing native plants from seed, and establishing diverse landscapes using seed-grown plants. Weather permitting, we’ll first explore the grounds to demonstrate ecologically-responsible seed collecting. Then we'll sow seeds! All participants will leave with a pot of seeds for home.

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passivhausMAINE and E2Tech present Climate Migration in Maine at the new phME headquarters in Freeport, Maine on Tuesday, December 2nd from 4:30PM-7:30PM. This program will take a deep dive into the realities of Climate Migration in Maine, with a data-driven presentation by Laura Yeitz of the Office of the State Economist and a moderated panel with speakers representing perspectives on Affordable Housing, Innovation, Policy, Immigration, and Dev.

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Women, Trans, and Non-Binary Folks in Construction and the Trades

Join us for a casual and fun meetup to connect, share experiences, and build a supportive community in a safe and inclusive space.

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Join Local Wood Works and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association for a day in the woods to observe an in-progress 25-acre sustainable timber harvest and sawmill demonstration. The family will build a small cabin with Eastern Hemlock, Northern White Cedar, and White Pine milled from the woodlot and using harvest income.

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Don’t miss the first annual Green Living Fair on Thursday, October 16 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. This FREE event is designed to provide tips and tricks for living sustainably. Enjoy special food tastings, gardening tips and even a take home guide for greener living. Special guests include:

• Bessie’s Farm Goods

• Freeport Climate Action

• Replenova Farm

• Tripping Gnome Farm

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension

• Chris Toy Upcycled Designs

The Thrift Shop at FCS will also be open for evening shopping. If you’re interested, any clothes you purchase at the shop can be upcycled with iron-on patches or bring your own pieces to embellish.

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Sustainability Matters Fall 2025 3 CEU Class October 6, 2025 2 – 5 pm

Portland Museum of Art Auditorium followed by a reception at the Downtown Social

Sustainability Matters 2025: Understanding Flood Risks: How Some Maine Communities are Preparing for the Future

Back to back storms in Maine including the December 2023 Grinch Storm that caused the worst river flooding since the 1800’s and the two coastal storms that damaged or destroyed 60% of our working waterfront as well as damaging buildings, infrastructure and topography with record-breaking water levels and storm surge. The estimated damage to public infrastructure in Maine alone was $90 million, with an untold cost to FEMA and private insurance, businesses and the public.

Mainers immediately responded with funding from the state and flood insurers to assess the costs to rebuild with higher resilience in anticipation of even worse to come. Once again, the Sustainability Advisory Group of the Greater Portland Board of Realtors is calling on local experts, this time to detail the community response to rebuilding better.

How have Maine communities approached reducing storm and flood damage to topography, public infrastructure, and private property, both residential and commercial? i.e. elevating sea walls, piers, wharves, roads and bridges; introducing nature-based infrastructure; limiting floodplain development; and more.

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Sunday, October 5, 2025  |  10:00 am - 2:00 pm  |  Wentworth School  |  20 Quentin Drive, Scarborough 

Celebrate being green in your community! The Town of Scarborough is hosting its third annual Sustainable Scarborough Day, bringing together everyone from the environmentally conscious to the eco-curious for a day of learning and fun.

Meet with experts, local businesses, nonprofits, and enthusiasts on topics ranging from sustainable living, efficient homes, transportation, landscapes, recreation, waste management, land conservation, and climate action.

All activities will be based at Wentworth School. Test drive an electric vehicle, listen to some live music, do a fun, hands-on activity, learn from experts. 

This is a family-friendly event with activities for all ages!

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retrofitMAINE’s inaugural one-day symposium — focused on advancing high-performance retrofits and energy education. Bringing together builders, architects, contractors, policymakers, renters and homeowners, to share case studies and expertise, and to build momentum for Maine’s retrofit movement.

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The next Home + Energy Chats webinar is coming up on September 17th!

There is still time in 2025 to take advantage of federal tax credits while investing in solar, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other technologies that will make your home more efficient. But what about when tax credits are no longer available in 2026? We’ll discuss the cost benefit analysis of investing in the efficiency of your home with or without tax credits.

+ Bridget Gifford, Senior Program Manager, Efficiency Maine
+ Jesse Lore, Founder, Greenwave EV
+ panelist to be announced, ReVision Energy

Home + Energy Chats are sponsored by Royal River Heat Pumps

Click here to register

When:  Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 10 AM - 3 PM 

 Where:  2179 Heald Hwy, Union, ME 

 What to Expect: 

• Reuse Marketplace: Shop for unique, handcrafted items made from reclaimed materials, including furniture, jewelry, art, and more! Support local makers and take home one-of-a-kind treasures.

• Chestnut St. House Exhibition & Sale: Witness the transformation of materials salvaged from an historic house in Camden into stunning creations. Many of these showcased items will be available for purchase.

• Second Story Internship Creations: Explore and purchase works crafted by participants in our paid summer internship program. These young builders and craftspeople (ages 16-24) have spent the summer learning deconstruction, material processing, and design/build skills, culminating in this event.

• Live Music: Enjoy performances on instruments made from reclaimed materials.

• Food: Grab a bite from local food vendors.

• Community Engagement: Learn more about Radical Reuse and how it’s shaping a more sustainable future in Midcoast Maine.

Learn more: secondstorybuilders.com/festival

Wild Seed Project’s latest guide Gardening for Biodiversity: Native Plants for the Northeast, celebrates the dazzling diversity of adaptations found across native plant species. It’s a step-by-step guide to creating a garden full of life.

This time, we'll be up in the Midcoast, at the incredible Avena Botanicals gardens.  This space is not regularly open to the public, and it is a beautiful place to celebrate biodiversity. Join us for a tour of the gardens, great conversation, and a giveaway! 

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This focused, half-day training covers the key requirements of the 2021 IECC energy code, with an emphasis on code compliance and air barrier strategies. Designed for builders new to or experienced with Maine’s updated energy codes, this session provides clear, practical guidance to help you confidently meet current standards.

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This focused, half-day training covers the key requirements of the 2021 IECC energy code, with an emphasis on code compliance and air barrier strategies. Designed for builders new to or experienced with Maine’s updated energy codes, this session provides clear, practical guidance to help you confidently meet current standards.

Learn more

Join E2Tech for us a morning of networking at Orange Bike Brewing on July 24 from 7:30-9:00 AM!

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Habitat loss is the primary cause of declining wildlife populations, and learning how vital native plants are to wildlife and how much our landscape choices matter is one of the most critical steps we can take to divert such loss. We’ll begin with a short online lecture followed by an interactive workshop and field study at the Gardens. Students will learn how and what to manage in the landscape and how to incorporate certain native plants to create welcoming habitats that attract wildlife, conserve natural resources, and encourage biodiversity. 

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This class is designed for new entrants to the energy efficiency industry, as well as industry support personnel. It is the starting point for the professional certifications, providing an overview of Building Science and energy efficiency, residential construction and mechanical systems. Participants challenge a 100-question online test to earn a Building Science Principles Certificate of Knowledge.

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Join Startup Maine and the ClimateTech Incubator at Northeastern University in collaboration with the Villager Cafe and the Midcoast Climate, Energy + Green Building happy hour series for a midcoast meetup for individuals and businesses in the climate tech, clean tech, and entrepreneurial spaces. Those who are startup curious are also encouraged to attend!

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Calling all environmental, energy, clean technology, and other professionals in the Bangor area--join E2Tech for an after work evening of networking at Sea Dog Brewery in Bangor.

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Join E2Tech for a morning of networking at Orange Bike Brewing on June 26 from 7:30-9:00 AM!

While their excellent beer won't be on tap for breakfast, Orange Bike Brewery is the perfect venue, with indoor and outdoor space and just a hundred yards from lots of free parking on Marginal Way, with easy on-off access to I-295. 

Gluten Free pastries, fruit, and coffee will be provided.

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Join Wild Seed Project at Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment for a hands-on demonstration of how to care for your newly germinated native seedlings. This event will focus on demonstrating the nursery style of dividing and planting, and how to best apply that to a home garden setting.

Participants go home with a pot of plants to grow on for their own garden!

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This event is RAIN OR SHINE!

The sale starts at 9 am with a ceremonial ribbon cutting (we often have folks lined up to have first pick) and runs until 3 pm. There will be more species available than ever, with many of the usual suspects, but also some less common species such as Flowering Big-bracted-dogwood, Inkberry, and Crowberry. List coming soon!

We’re very excited to be welcoming some special guests for talks in the Education Center at this year’s festival:

11:30 am-12:15 pm –  Gardening for Wildlife – Seana Cullinan, Larkspur Design 

12:30 – 1:15 pm – Incorporating Meadows into the Landscape – Owen Wormser

1:30 – 2:15 pm – Honey Bees; Not so Sweet for our Native Pollinators? – Shawn Jalbert, Native Haunts

2:30 – 3:15 pm – Rain Gardens that work: Choosing plant communities that will thrive and engage communities in Stewardship – Ryan Corrigan, Parterre Ecologic

Wednesday, June 4 at noon ET
Register via Zoom

Looking to add value to your property while creating new, flexible-use living space? You might be interested in an accessory dwelling unit (ADU): a small home separate from your main house that can be used for aging in place, housing family members, generating rental income…you name it! But it isn’t as simple as just dropping an ADU into your backyard. You’ll want to consider zoning, your site, financing and more. Join us for this episode of Home + Energy Chats with experts from Backyard ADUs, Knickerbocker Group Prefab Pods, and BrightBuilt Home as we explore ADU infrastructure, construction techniques, zoning, and creative ways to approach financing. We’ll demystify the ADU process, and you’ll walk away ready to get started reinvesting in your property!

+ Parlin Meyer, Director, BrightBuilt Home 

+ Chris Lee, Owner, Backyard ADUs

+ Julien Jalbert, Design Studio Leader, Knickerbocker Group

Photo courtesy of Backyard ADUs

Thank you to the Home + Energy Chats sponsors