Belfast, MAINE (November 15, 2011) – Senator George Mitchell joined a number of distinguished guests to help break ground for a first-of-its-kind neighborhood in Maine. Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage is a community of thirty-six energy efficient homes built to the International Passive House (Passivhaus) Standard on a 42 acre setting of rolling hills and pasture in the picturesque coastal town of Belfast. It’s rural Maine at its best and yet just a short walk or bike ride to downtown.
Senator George Mitchell with future residents of Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage
Thanks to new building technology, the savings on home heating costs in this innovative development are stunning. On the coldest day in January, homeowners will heat their homes with the same amount of energy—2000 watts—that it takes to run a hair dryer. That’s 10 times more efficient than the average new construction project built to code.
Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage is a “new” old fashioned neighborhood–with friends and neighbors just a few steps away. The homes will be built in close proximity—with privacy out the back door and community out the front door. The heart of this community is the Common House—with its library, playroom, laundry, huge kitchen and dining area—where, five days a week, neighbors can gather for dinner. Imagine coming home from work and being able to spend time with your family instead of worrying about who’s cooking! It’s modern life made easier. It’s Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage.
Senator Mitchell addressed the members of the Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage development by stating “This project is unique in several aspects, one being the commitment to community but also in a broader sense, its commitment to energy efficiency and environmental concerns.”
“There is a tendency on the part of almost every individual to believe that there is nothing I can do to solve it. It will take the combined actions of millions and perhaps billions of people from around the world to change their practices and their ways to understand the importance of environmental and energy consciousness that the people here in this community are demonstrating this in a real, practical and living way.”
Construction, which will generate an estimated 60 jobs, is expected to be complete by December of 2013. The homes will range in size from 500 square feet to 1,700 square feet, with a projected cost of $150,000 to $333,000. Two thirds of the homes have already been sold with only 12 available for sale.
Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage is a first for Maine as an environmentally conscious community with no dependence upon fossil fuels. This is a place where neighbors make decisions together, look out for one another and provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment for families, children, and individuals of all ages.
As co-founder Sanna McKim says, “it’s world peace on a neighborhood scale.” Members of this community couldn’t be happier than to have Senator Mitchell–one of the world’s most prominent peacemakers–help them celebrate today.
About Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage
Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage is a community of families who are creating an environmentally sustainable, multi-generational neighborhood that will feature homes based on the German Passive House Standard, acclaimed for their energy efficiency and design. Founded on a commitment to community and concern for the environment, Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage is reserving 85% of its land for agricultural use and open space. It is an innovative and sustainable housing option for living in rural coastal Maine. Find out more at www.mainecohousing.org.
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