By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The crowd may have been leaner than the previous year, but each one that came through the doors of the John A. Millar Civic Center was introduced to a host of alternative energy options.
Southern Aroostook Development Corporation (SADC) hosted its second annual Alternative Heating Expo Saturday, Sept. 13.
Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
TAKING A LOOK — A couple stops to inquire about Harman Stoves with Ian Crane, right, of Aroostook Milling Company’s Stove Shop during the annual Southern Aroostook Development Corporation Alternative Heating Exposition held Sept. 13 at the Millar Civic Center in Houlton.
Last year, more than 300 people came to the expo, but there were a host of activities happening on Saturday in the Shiretown ranging from a junior high soccer tournament, baseball tournament, Maliseet Recognition Day, Project Graduation events, high school football to the Ricker College reunion to name just a few.
“A little over 200 attendees went through the exhibits this year,” said Jon McLaughlin, executive director of SADC. “The number was down because of many events and beautiful weather to finish outside projects.”
This year’s expo featured about 30 vendors.
“Folks who attended were focused and they asked many good questions,” McLaughlin said. “Sales were made from the floor as well as many appointments made, so it was successful as far as what SADC was trying to accomplish. That being said, giving folks a chance to see all forms of alternative energy in one easy-to-see location and for our vendors to make sales of systems that will reduce dependency on oil and keeping more money in The County” is always worth the effort.”
With heating costs on the rise, it was a perfect time to consider the latest in wood stoves, pellet stoves, pellet boilers, solar, hybrid hot water, heat pumps and geothermal just to name a few of the alternatives available. In addition there were the latest and most energy efficient systems on display that made use of non-renewable, but more readily available fossil fuels such as propane and coal.
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| SOMETHING DIFFERENT — Jeff Bouchard of Houlton reads information about a new brand of pellets being offered during the second annual Alternative Heating Exposition held Sept. 13 at the Millar Civic Center in Houlton. | EXPLANATION – Josh McLaughlin, left, and Jon Harbison are in a discussion on how a MESys (Maine Energy System) AutoPellet wood pellet boiler works and its efficiency. |
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| QUESTION – Dr. Donald Woods, left, asks a question to one of the Daigle Oil Company biofuel representatives during the annual Alternative Heating Expo on Sept. 13 at Millar Civic Center. | TAKE A LOOK – Paul Libby of Fort Kent, a certified energy auditor, points people attending the Alternative Heating Expo to his booth. |
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| SHOOTING THE BREEZE — Larry McCarthy, left, and Frank McPartland shoot the breeze while at the second annual Heating Alternative Expo. McCarthy was on hand to check out heating alternatives, while McPartland was helping to run McPartland Plumbing and Heating’s booth. | INQUIRING — Rob Grenier, right, talks to a customer about spray foam insulation. |
