Howard Carter receives eco-Excellence award

Howard Carter, deputy directory of the city's wastewater treatment plant, has received the 2011 eco-Excellence award from Ecomaine's recycling committee. The award recognizes environmentally friendly initiatives of citizens, municipal and business employees.

Carter received the award for his efforts and incorporating green technology into operations at the wastewater treatment plant as well as other city operations.

In nominating Carter for the award, the city noted the following accomplishments:

• The use of geothermal heat from the effluent at the wastewater treatment plant is one of Howard's major accomplishments. Geothermal energy can be used for both heating and cooling. At the treatment plant, the effluent water is warmer than the ambient air temperature in the winter time and therefore less energy is required to raise the air temperature. In the summer, the effluent water is cooler than the ambient air temperature and less energy is needed for cooling as well. This geothermal energy is used to both heat and cool the maintenance building as well as the processing building. There are very few communities within the State that are using this technology and even fewer are using it to its fullest advantage.
  
  
• The Saco Wastewater Treatment Plant also uses photovoltaic solar power to heat the office area as well as the maintenance garage. This direct vent can have heat coming out at up to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Photovoltaic solar is also used to heat a superstore water heater intended for the eye washing station and the shower and bathroom facilities within the maintenance garage. This tank can hold up to 120 gallons of water.
  
  
• The Treatment Plant has also put into place many sky tubes that use the natural ambient light to light up the labs, the garage and maintenance building and a few other outbuildings. Sky tubes take the daylight and magnify it thus reducing the amount of indoor lighting needed, especially since most buildings are only used during the day time.