Solar Press Release - Sea Coast Management Company
February 12, 2008

Falmouth, Maine - Retirement and Active Adult Communities Offer Hybrid Vehicle, Solar Options in Keeping with Company's Sustainability Goals

OceanView at Falmouth and The Highlands and Highland Green of Topsham - retirement and active adult communities operated by John Wasileski and Sea Coast Management Company are offering to install solar hot water systems on existing homes "at cost" in order to encourage the conversion.

The offer is in keeping with the voluntary pledge the communities have accepted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Governor's Carbon Challenge - a program administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) that requires participating companies to sign a pledge to inventory, track and reduce their carbon emissions.

"Being part of a responsible community that helps protect the environment is increasingly important to our customers. And it's not just the Boomers," said Wasileski. "By embracing sustainable practices and providing our residents with options such as solar power we're appealing to the marketplace and doing right by the environment."

Wasileski is a leader in Maine's retirement community industry and former Environmental Studies major at McGill University in Montreal. Wasileski also served as an intern for The Environmental Careers Organization and was influenced by Ray Anderson�s book entitled Mid-Course Correction. All three of the Sea Coast communities are embracing internal sustainability practices and performing outreach to their resident population.

The company-wide sustainability initiative includes using 5% bio-diesel - a vegetable oil-based fuel that reduces net carbon dioxide emissions - in all of their diesel equipment. A comprehensive recycling program, energy efficient lighting, solar hot water systems, natural gas as the primary heating - and a even an extensive wellness program - are all components of Sea Coast's commitment to sustainability, according to Wasileski.

OceanView at Falmouth has installed a large-scale solar hot water system located on their Hilltop Lodge. The system utilizes 360 evacuated-tube collectors mounted on the roof and building supplies hot water for the 69 residential apartments, including food and maintenance service, in the Main Lodge and Hilltop Lodge buildings of OceanView at Falmouth. A similar but larger system is also in place at OceanView's Falmouth House, as well as the 20' x 60' adjacent pool and the barn at Whipple Farm.

Wasileski also co-founded the Cathance River Education Alliance (CREA), a non-profit that seeks to encourage environmental education in the local community by using the nature preserve at Highland Green to develop and perform environmental curricula. Highland Green's new Community Center includes solar panels that will supplement the energy received from the grid. Another sustainability initiative at Highland Green extends to the Scottish-style golf course - which is pursuing the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary program certification. This program reduces the ecological impact of the golf course, while simultaneously preserving the quality, challenge, and playability of the course.

The solar hot water systems at all three communities are being designed and installed by Energyworks, Maine's full service renewable energy contractor. Specializing in solar, solar thermal and high efficiency wood boilers, Energyworks serves all of southern and mid coast Maine with offices in Portland and Liberty.

"We have a unique opportunity to help lead by example by transitioning our company to become more sustainable and also by educating our customers about the renewable energy and other green options that are currently available," said Wasileski, owner of The Highlands, Highland Green and OceanView at Falmouth. "In the end I think we'll find that doing good turns out to be good for the bottom line as well."

-END-