The sweet summer sounds of the Pete Kilpatrick Band filled the new Portland showroom and warehouse of ReVision Energy on Friday night for the Grand Opening Summer Solstice party. The event, which featured free drinks from Allagash and Maine Mead Works and free food from Local Sprouts Cooperative and Katie Made Bakery, served to introduce the Greater Portland community to this new showroom offering alternative energy systems.

Founded in 2003 in Liberty, ME, ReVision Energy is known for its solar electric and solar hot water systems. Here ReVision system designer and project manager Geoff Sparrow shows off one of the grid-tied solar electric panels. The average house needs about 14-16 of these panels in order to supply the bulk of its electrical needs. This type of system costs between $20,000-$25,000 installed. Maine's solar rebate program has already run out of money for the year, but these systems remain eligible for a 30% federal tax credit.

The company also sells gasification wood boilers. Here ReVision expert Dan Comeau shows off one of the units to my husband, Adam. These puppies burn at a 90-95% efficiency rate and only need to be filled with wood once a day. They're typically installed in a basement.

A number of green businesses and nonprofits set up info tables at the party, including Fred Horch, who owns the F.W. Horch sustainable goods store in Brunswick and is a columnist for The Maine Switch. Other exhibitors included Reverb, Maine Green Building Supply, Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility and the Maine Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

And while the kids were thrilled to have a moonbounce in the house, everyone got a kick out of this MadGirl World performance by artist Meredith Alex's daughter Max. Despite all the camera flashes and comments from the swirling crowd, Max stood like a regal statue, occasionally adjusting her stance, but not even once swaying to the sounds of the music.