Welcome to the Better Earth Energy Company (BEE Co). We're new and some sections of this website are still under construction so please bear with us. Please visit the "About Us/Contact Us" link to learn more about us and a description of our current renewable energy projects, including a description of the wind power project we completed in the summer of 2007 on the historic Appledore Island. The photo above was taken on Appledore Island moments after the wind turbine was installed. In the background is the coastline of Maine.

Please visit our Bee Co Blog for more detailed discussions about renewable energy.

This website is owned and operated by Seacoast Consulting Engineers (SCE) and is intended to provide free, unbiased, practical advice on reducing energy costs and installing renewable energy (RE) systems. Our company has been providing RE advice to homeowners and business owners for several years. The goal of this website is to allow us to continue providing this advice to a larger audience.

We're pleased to announce our partnership with Ra Power Solutions of Cape Neddick, Maine. Ra Power Solutions is focused on funding large wind turbine projects located within New England. They currently are funding 2 wind feasibility studies, one in southern Maine and one in northern New Hampshire. Together we're also working on co-generation projects. To learn more about Ra Power Solutions, and to check out photos of us, please visit their website: www.RaPowerSolutions.net.

We gladly accept and encourage email questions, comments and recommendations concerning energy efficiency and RE. We especially want to hear from folks who already own RE systems. Sharing your experience and recommendations would be an invaluable service to us and those considering installing RE systems.

In addition to addressing the energy production possibilities from RE systems, our website also discusses possible ways to finance the installation. Let's face it, the upfront cost to install RE systems are high. Otherwise you would see a lot more of them. In states with very attractive RE rebates, such as California and New Jersey, these systems are more common place. The federal government does offer homeowners a $2,000 tax credit towards the purchase of a RE system, which reduces the cost of a $8,000 system to $6,000.

Beginning in 2009, homeowners who install a solar electric (PV) system are eligible to receive a 30% tax credit for the entire cost of the system, including the installation cost. Additionally, the tax credit will not be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). 

Homeowners who install a solar thermal hot water heating system are still limited to a $2,000 tax credit.