Thermal Energy Storage of Maine
Supported by these trusted companies
Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) Heating:
Affordable, Dependable Home Heating Options for Mainers
The Cobb Family Cape Elizabeth, ME The Cote Family
Sanford, ME The Anderson Family
Dear Fellow Mainer,
Thank you for taking a few minutes to learn a little more about Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) home heating options.
My name is Adam Cote, CEO of Saco-based Thermal Energy Storage of Maine. My partners and I started this company because we found a surprisingly simple answer to one of the biggest challenges facing Maine families every year: the high and unpredictable cost of heating our homes and businesses.
Mainers are more dependent on home heating oil (68.7 percent) than people in any other state in the country. Now there is a new option for reducing costs by supplementing or replacing your home heating system with affordable, dependable Electric Thermal Storage heating.
ETS heating systems use lower cost off-peak electric power to store heat in units that look almost identical to typical room heaters or home furnaces. They are made in America by North Dakota-based Steffes Corporation. There are over 100,000 ETS systems in use in the United States and Canada alone, and many more in Europe where ETS heat systems are very common. ETS is a tested, proven and
dependable heating technology.
The savings from ETS heating start immediately and continue for years. But now is the time to act! Through December 31, 2013, qualified Central Maine Power customers are eligible for up-front rebates of $1,500 on ETS supplemental or space heaters (up to 3 units) and $4,500 on full house units. Once installed, you will immediately begin saving by heating your home for the equivalent of approximately $2.90 per gallon of heating oil if you live within CMP territory or as low as $2.25 per gallon in some municipal utility areas (Houlton, Kennebunk, Madison). Finally, unlike many heating systems, ETS units require almost no regular service, cleaning or maintenance over the course of their 20-plus year life. ETS units are incredibly convenient. They don’t require cutting, splitting or stacking wood, removing ash, or buying and lugging bags of wood pellets. There is no need to arrange for fuel deliveries. No need for chimneys or cutting vents through your walls. And they are supported by some of the best known companies in Maine, including Central Maine Power Company and Dead River Company. Finally, ETS is an important energy technology with significant environmental benefits. Maine’s congressional delegation supports national legislation to promote energy storage technologies as an important way to help Maine and the nation integrate local, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, tidal, biomass and hydro power. ETS systems, just like electric vehicles, have the unique and important ability to act as “batteries” for storing and using locally generated energy.
We hope you find this white paper helpful and are eager to answer any further questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to call us.
I put a whole house ETS heating system in my own home in Sanford, Maine last year. It kept our family warm and toasty all winter – and we saved $1,250 versus what we usually pay on our home heating costs. ETS home heating really is as easy as “set it, forget it and save.”
Sincerely,
Adam Cote
CEO Thermal Energy Storage of Maine & ETS Customer
The Cote Family ETS Customers Sanford, ME
Photo taken by Elizabeth Beaudoin
What is Electric Thermal Storage home heating?
How does it work?
The Technology.
Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) heating systems convert affordable, off-peak electric power into thermal energy (heat) and release the stored heat with 100 percent efficiency as needed based on how you set the thermostat.ETS heating units contain electric heating elements (just like electric ovens) which are surrounded by special high-density ceramic bricks and enclosed in insulated cases. The bricks can store large amounts of heat for extended periods of time. The units automatically heat the bricks during off-peak hours (between 8:00 pm and 7:00 am in CMP territory, may vary elsewhere) and release the heat as needed to maintain the comfort level you set on the thermostat.
Tested and Proven Heating Solutions.
Electric Thermal Storage is not a new or untested technology. Steffes, the North Dakota company that manufactures these systems, has been in business for almost 40 years. ETS systems have a life expectancy of twenty-plus years and require little or no maintenance. In fact, here in Maine many ETS systems installed by Central Maine Power (CMP) and Bangor Hydro during the 1980s are still running well and keeping homeowners and businesses warm.Today’s affordable, dependable ETS heating systems are 100 percent efficient and used in some of the coldest parts of the United States, Canada and Europe. Here in Maine, well known and trusted companies like CMP and Dead River Company are supporting ETS supplemental and home heating systems.
Two Types of ETS Units.
There are two types of ETS heating systems:What is “off-peak” power?
At night when most people are asleep and businesses are closed there is much less need for electricity in the power grid than during so-called “peak” daytime hours. Utility companies offer consumers lower rates during these “off-peak” hours, typically between 8:00 PM and 7:00 AM. ETS heating systems are hard wired to a second, separate electric meter that allows you to store this lower cost “off-peak” power overnight and release it as heat as needed, throughout the day or night.Forget What You Know About Electric Heat.
Modern Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) supplementaland whole house heating systems are sophisticated, highly insulated technology that store affordable, “off-peak” electricity and release it with 100% efficiency. For each unit of off-peak electricity an ETS unit
Room or Supplemental Heating Units
Whole House Systems
ETS room units supplement and dramatically reduce the cost of an existing home heating system. ETS supplemental systems are 100 percent efficient versus traditional home furnaces which typically have seasonal efficiency in the 70 to mid-80 percent range.
Whole house ETS units are similar in size, shape and purpose to a typical central furnace or boiler and are set up to work with an existing forced hot air or circulating hydronic (hot water or steam) heating system.
“My wife said she
actually forgot our ETS
home unit was installed
because we don’t have
to do anything. We
don’t have to call for
fuel delivery or pellets
or have any kind of
maintenance. And
we’re saving a lot
of money. That is
incredibly important
when tallying our
family budget.”
– Jeff Anderson, Portland, ME
ETS supplemental and home heating saves money
Save $1,500 or $4,500 up front on the cost of supplemental or whole house heaters.
Through December 31, 2013, Central Maine Power Company is offering qualified customers $1,500 rebates on supplemental heating units (up to three units and $4,500) which typically cost $3,250 to $4,000 fully installed. The CMP rebate on whole house units, which typically cost $12,000 to $15,000 fully installed, is $4,500. And these rebates are given as a discount off the price of the ETS system when purchased, so you don’t have to come up with the full cost of the unit and then wait for the rebate check to arrive.Heat at the equivalent of approximately $2.90 per gallon of home heating oil.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates home heating oil will cost $3.64 per gallon this winter. We have no idea for sure, given events in the Middle East and other factors, what the actual cost will be. However, what we do know is that electricity prices have remained stable and predictable relative to many other energy sources in the recent past. In fact, CMP reports that the average residential customer’s overall electricity bill dropped nine (9) percent from 2008 to 2012. This means Mainers using ETS equipment are heating their homes and businesses with relatively stable energy prices for the BTU equivalent of about $2.90 per gallon of oil.Virtually no maintenance cost over 20+ year life of ETS unit.
Most home heating systems require at least annual maintenance by a trained technician, and may require service calls during the season. These maintenance costs can amount to several hundred dollars each year. ETS units are incredibly simple, reliable and require no routine maintenance, annual cleanings or servicing. ETS does not require a chimney, so no need for chimney cleaning costs either.ETS heating units pay for themselves quickly through savings.
Steffes reports that ETS heating systems typically pay for themselves through lower heating costs in 3 to 5 years. Here in Maine, factoring in the CMP rebates, an ETS room unit typically costing $2,000 to $3,000 after rebate provides the equivalent heat of between 300 and 500 gallons of oil per year and would pay for itself in three and a half to four years. And, ETS whole house units can be configured to meet 100 percent of the heating needs for a home of any size.ETS also allows you to save on hot water costs.
For additional savings, every Steffes ETS heating unit made for sale in Maine contains special wiring allowing it to connect to and manage your electric hot water heater. That means moving your hot water from your regular rate meter to the second, ETS “off-peak” meter – and saving money.Call and speak with a Residential Energy Advisor to get real savings estimates.
The amount of money you will save on your heating costs will vary based on several factors, such as the type of ETS heater you use, the layout of your home, how well your home is insulated and your preferred thermostat setting. The best way to get more detailed cost and savings estimates is to speak with a Residential Energy Advisor. To request more information, go to www.saveonmaineheat.com to email or call today.“The price for
electricity is almost
half price lower in the
off-peak hours. There
is a bargain that starts
at 8PM every night and
lasts all night. And it
works, the bricks get
hot and they are hot all
day. We liked our first
room unit so much, we
installed a second. This
is a great way to save
money and it’s
so easy.”
– Patsea Cobb, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Why Off-Peak ETS heating is a great choice for your home
Figuring out an affordable, dependable way to heat your home – or reduce your heating
costs – over a long, cold Maine winter is a big decision. Here are some of the advantages
and comparisons between ETS and other options you may be considering.
Cost savings:
l Heat for the equivalent of approximately $2.90/gal of home heating oil l Eligible for $1,500 to $4,500 up front rebate from CMP through Dec. 31, 2013
l Stable and predictable energy rates (off-peak power and delivery) l Virtually no maintenance costs over 20-plus year lifetime
l ETS space heaters provide homeowners with the equivalent heat of 300-500 gallons of heating oil per year l ETS whole house units also allow for “off-peak” saving on hot water costs
l 100% efficient heat source with no heat loss through chimneys or vents
Reliable and proven home heating:
l Safe and reliable form of heat
l Proven performance in cold climates in the US, Canada and Europe
l ETS units installed in Maine in the 1980s are still going strong 30 years later
Comfortable and quiet:
l Virtually silent form of home heating
l Simple and easy to use – set it, forget it and save!
Convenient to use:
l Just set the thermostat to your desired comfort level l No need to remember to fill a fuel tank or order fuel
l Virtually no routine maintenance or regular cleaning required l Clean source of heat with no combustion, fumes, smoke or ash
l No cutting, splitting, stacking or hauling of firewood or wood pellets
Convenient to install in your home:
l No chimney, chimney cleaning or venting required
l ETS space heaters can be placed virtually anywhere in your home l No need for new gas lines dug from the street to your home
l Whole house ETS units work with your existing forced hot air duct work or hydronic systems
“The two ETS
supplemental units
we installed are
great and incredibly
easy to use. They
don’t require any
attention at all.
It is a comfortable,
dry nice heat.
It is maintenance
free – it doesn’t have
to be cut, stacked,
cleaned or stoked.
We love the units!”
– Barkley Van Vranken, Winterport, Maine
ETS home heating is important energy technology and
good for the environment
What does the energy future look like for Maine and the country? How will we incorporate
and make use of local, renewable energy sources? For Mainers concerned about the
environmental, as well as the economic impact of our home or business heating choices,
Electric Thermal Storage is an important energy technology with significant environmental
benefits. Here’s why:
ETS and Electric Vehicles – Renewable energy “batteries” on the grid.
As more and more renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and tidal power become available, experts are concerned about the ability of the power grid to accommodate the intermittent nature of these sources. When Maine wind is blowing like crazy in the middle of the night and the actual need for power on the system is low, how do we capture that renewable energy? Two great answers to that question are: one, capture that renewable power overnight in your ETS heat “battery” and release it as needed to heat your home; and two, store power overnight in your electric vehicle (EV) car battery to power your car.Heat locally – Keeping renewable energy here in Maine.
Maine has a whole variety of renewable energy initiatives underway. They are spread out across the state – from land-based wind farms, to offshore wind from the Gulf of Maine, to tidal energy from the Bay of Fundy and many others. No matter the renewable source of the electricity, ETS systems will allow individual consumers to use it locally to heat their homes.A safe, cost effective investment in all renewable energy (without having to “pick
the winner”).
Because ETS technology works with electricity from any source, it offers Mainers a home heating system with a proven, 20-plus year product lifetime (and minimal maintenance costs) that will work with any electric power source in the future. We can’t predict what combination of energy sources – including oil, gas, wind, solar, tidal, or some yet to be invented technology will power the grid twenty years from now in 2033, but we do know ETS will be able to heat our home or supplement our home heating no matter what.Grid-Level Energy Efficiency and ETS.
At an individual level, regardless of your home or supplemental heating choices, anyone looking to save money should consider an energy audit and implement recommendations to improve their home’s efficiency. At a system level, CMP is constantly working to upgrade the responsiveness and automation of the state’s grid infrastructure. Yet, as more Maine renewable energy sources come online in the years to come, ETS home heating systems and electric vehicles are the only two technologies currently available that will allow individual consumers to make Maine’s energy grid itself more efficient by storing excess power for later use. Locally generated renewable power that cannot be stored and used locally is either going to be “turned off” (100% inefficiency or waste) or shipped out of state. Making Maine’s power grid more efficient requires shifting load from high use periods to low use periods and integrating renewable power sources. ETS is an important technology for achieving both goals in Maine.Energy storage -- Recognized as an important technology of the future.
Because of all of the unique benefits described above, energy storage is recognized nationally as an important piece of energy technology. Maine’s Congressional delegation supports federal legislation (the STORAGE Act) to “promote the deployment of energy storage technologies, enabling the extremely valuable contributions they can provide the U.S. electric grid” including “transforming variable renewables like wind and solar into firm power.”“I enjoy the low price
of electricity and I
like the heat that
comes from the ETS
heaters. It is very
comfortable and it
keeps my place of
business nice and
warm throughout
the entire day.”
– Rhonda Emerson, Madison, Maine
It is easy to move to ETS supplemental or home heating
Moving to either supplemental or full-house Electric Thermal Storage heating is easy.
One call or email to a Dead River Company Residential Energy Advisor and you
will have another Mainer to:
l Answer any questions you have about ETS benefits and installation
l Help you determine your home’s heating requirements and the appropriate ETS unit
l Assist you with information on the CMP rebate application so you can save $1,500 to $4,500 up front
l Arrange and schedule the installation of your ETS unit
l Be available to help make this as quick and easy as possible for you!
Remember, installing a dependable, affordable ETS supplemental or home heating
system is relatively simple:
l Does not require a chimney
l Does not require any cutting of vents through walls or floors
l Does not require any fuel storage, wood or wood products l Does not require gas lines dug from the street to your home
l Whole house units work with your existing duct work (forced hot air) or hydronic systems l And, once installed, ETS is simple, quiet and easy to use – Set it, forget it and save!
Thermal Energy Storage of Maine