The gift‑giving season is here and so is the cold weather. With that in mind, three organizations came together to help some homeowners save a little money on heating costs while giving back to Mother Earth. In a project announced earlier in the year by 350 Downeast in collaboration with Machias Savings Bank (MSB) and Window Dressers, the trio conducted a three‑day workshop starting December 13 for the purpose of assembling insulating window inserts for families in the area.
     "This was a spirited show of community teamwork all coming together at the right time," says Dr. Mark Brown, founder of 350 Downeast. "These insulated inserts will help families in the area lower their heating oil usage and reduce the carbon footprint all at the same time. This workshop is the first of many more we will be planning to bring the Machias community together in an effort to positively impact our environment."
     Members of 350 Downeast solicited customers for the window inserts, measured the windows and provided transportation for the frames and other materials from Rockland to Machias.
     Over the course of three days, volunteers assembled 183 window inserts for 26 homes in the Machias area, with over half of them provided free to low‑income families via grant money from New England Grassroots Environment Fund and MSB. Window Dressers, a nonprofit company out of Rockland, provided the wooden frames, materials and the know‑how in assembling the window inserts. To date, the organization has provided over 7,200 insulated inserts statewide.
     An average-sized insert, once installed, is estimated to save 10.5 gallons of heating oil. Based on that estimate and given the current cost of heating oil, this project will garner homeowners a combined savings of $5,500 and also result in a significant reduction in Washington County's impact on global climate change.
     "It is a great project with many community benefits," says Larry Barker, president of MSB. "Lower heating bills for many people, less oil being burned mean a positive impact on the environment and the great feeling of community spirit that is enjoyed by all when so many come together to make a difference in the community." In addition to providing volunteers, MSB also provided financial support and the use of the Edward J. Hennessey Training Center for the project.
Other people and groups involved in the effort were Melissa Moffett of MSB, who organized volunteers and planning for the workshop, Machias Rotary members, who offered time and support, and Pat's Pizza, which provided complimentary pizzas as lunch for all of the participants in the workshop.
Laura Pierce, who lives in Whiting and was both a volunteer and customer of the workshop product, cannot get over the impact the window inserts are having on her home heating. "This was a super easy way to keep the cold weather out and the heat in," says Pierce. "I live in a really old house. It was always cold, and the wind would roar through the windows. But after the workshop was over, I came home and popped the inserts into the window frame and immediately noticed the difference. And the most exciting part is I actually helped make them."
     The 350 Downeast organization is a climate change action group in Machias that started in 2017. It is a local piece of a bigger organization, 350 Maine. In places such as Bangor, Portland and now Downeast, this grassroots campaign is bringing groups of concerned citizens together to discuss, create and implement action plans in hopes of causing change when it comes to people's dependence on fossil fuels. Anyone interested in learning more about the group, participating in future workshops or becoming a member can contact the group through the website <www.350Maine.org/downeast>.