Wednesday, October 6, 2010

SunMar Composting Toilet "World Toilet Day" Rebate now through November 27th

November 19th is World Toilet Day. A day to celebrate the importance of sanitation and raise awareness for the 2.5 billion people (nearly half of the world's population) who don't have access to toilets and proper sanitation.

In honor of World Toilet Day, Sunmar Composting Toilets is offering a rebate on any Sunmar Composting toilet purchased from now through November 17th 2010. Purchase your toilet, mail in your rebate form by December 31, 2010 and receive your $75 check in the mail.

Visit our store to see the Sunmar Composting toilet display models in person to get a feel for the size and shape of the toilets as well has how they operate. Our knowledgeable staff has first hand experience with the Sunmar line and can assist you in sizing your toilet, installation and maintenance questions.
Composting Toilets are an excellent option for sanitary disposal of waste when no plumbing, water or electricity are available. We see composting toilets used in cottages, boat houses, garden sheds, pool houses, barns, remote offices or guest space, and coastal cottages where a leach field is not permitted. Another common locale for a composting toilet is in an older home where toilet waste needs to be removed from an overloaded septic system.

When considering a composting toilet you should be aware that they require a vent either through the roof or through a wall in which the compost gases can be exhausted out of the living space, an excess run off drain from the holding space of the toilet in which excess liquid can leave the toilet and the unit must be maintained at a minimum of approximately 60 degrees to maximize composting activity. The toilet can drop below that minimum temperature but the composting process will slow down significantly.

Composting toilets are one possible solution to any number of difficulties in dealing with sewage disposal. They require care by the user and maintenance as well as some type of leach bed and sometimes special permitting. We have been carrying the Sunmar unit for over 20 years and have first hand experience with them to help you identify whether it is the right solution for you and how best to maintain it. Email or call to request a free brochure and learn more about composting toilets.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Intro to Masonry Heaters

Free Workshop Series
October 9, 2010
9:30-10:30 am
Join us for a one hour presentation on Masonry Heaters. When built well and integrated with the floorplan of a home, masonry heaters provide continuous and even heat with minimal poking, stoking and fussing. Masonry heaters store a large amount of heat in the mass of the heater. They combine the aesthetics of a masonry fireplace with the funtion and efficiency of a sealed combustion heater. This means that you can rapidly burn a large charge of wood without overheating your home. The heat is stored in the masonry thermal mass, and then slowly radiates into your house for the next 12 to 24 hours. The workshop will cover history and basic function of masonry stoves, different styles, and information regarding the effective integration of a heater into your home plans. Cooking and baking stoves as well as issues surrounding domestic hot water will also be discussed. Bring your floorplans along and our instructor will walk you through identifying the best location for a masonry heater.This is a FREE one hour workshop with a question and answer session at the end but you must register in advance as space is limited. Send an email with your name, address and phone number as well as the class subject and date to info@shelterinstitute.com or call 207-442-7938 to reserve your spot today.


The instructor, Eric Schroeder, spent three years working as an apprentice for different masonry heater builders in the United States and Canada. In 2007 he took a trip through Europe to attend the Austrian Kachelofenverband's annual trade show, and to visit with a stove builder in Friesland, northern Holland. He brings tales from the road and technical and practical information about heaters to this workshop.