The Alfred M. Senter Fund awarded the Cathance River Education Alliance (CREA) a $6,500 grant to be used to help pay to replace the roof at the alliance’s Cathance River Ecology Center.

The center’s roof “has little insulation, and a rusting corrugated surface,” a CREA release states. “ Volunteers originally built the roof back in 2005, using basic materials before CREA became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt organization.”

In 2010, the Senter Fund awarded CREA $ 5,000 to improve the Civil War- era, post-and-beam structure to make it possible to replace the roof.

“CREA intends to replace the roof with a heavier metal standing seam roof while adding more insulation,” the release states. “This will also give them the ability to reposition the solar panels for optimal performance.

The Cathance River Ecology

Center is considered “the building that teaches” because of it reflects a commitment to green technology. The building is entirely offgrid and generates its own electricity, recycles rain water, has recycled furniture, clay covered walls, south-facing windows, insulation made from recycled denim, a solar thermal sheet that produces heat, and a wind turbine that creates added electricity. A wood pellet stove serves as the primary heat source.

“The ecology center is our home base of operations and accommodates hundreds of students and adults each year, as they seek to learn more about their natural world,” CREA executive director Rick Wilson said in the release. “This unique space teaches everyone about the potential of alternative energy and green building design; it inspires people to be creative and curious.”

CREA is within $5,000 of its roof replacement goal, but still needs to raise funding to complete the roof project. Donations can be mailed to CREA, P.O. Box 187, Topsham, ME 04086.

For more information, email crea@creamaine.org or call Wilson at 798-1913.