BANGOR, Maine — Bangor City Council Chairman Sean Faircloth has been awarded a “gold medal” by Environment Maine in recognition of his efforts to promote energy efficiency and battle climate change and pollution.
Environment America, which has branches in each state, has selected one municipal mayor from each state to receive an award in what it calls the “Climate Olympics.” Although Bangor doesn’t technically have a mayor, the council chairman adopts the ceremonial title during their term.
Owen Mansfield, campaign organizer for Environment Maine, traveled to Bangor to announce the award.
“Each state was tasked with finding the mayor that had championed environmental policy and progressivism in that area best throughout their state,” Mansfield said. “We selected Mayor Faircloth primarily because of the work he’s done promoting efficient and renewable energy sources to prepare a city against the harmful impacts of climate change.”
Faircloth was integral in launching the city’s EnergySmart program, which effectively piggybacks on Efficiency Maine’s Home Energy Savings Program, providing additional rebates to help homeowners afford improvements on their home that will improve their energy efficiency.
“That’s just the sort of initiative Maine needs to catch up in the Northeast region,” Mansfield said.
Faircloth credited city staff for figuring out how to pay for the program — using energy savings seen at municipal buildings through reduced fuel costs — and his fellow councilors for supporting the initiative.
Faircloth also urged Bangor residents to attend an Energy Expo from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Cross Insurance Center, where more than a dozen vendors from across the region will set up booths and speak with homeowners about technologies and home improvement projects that can help them save money on their utilities bills.
Homeowners can schedule energy audits, learn about heat pumps and insulation or find out more about the city’s EnergySmart program and other financial incentives that could help them afford home energy upgrades.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.