Photo courtesy Lakes Region Community Developers
Gilford, NH - A senior living facility under construction in Gilford is slated to become the state's first affordable housing project to meet the Passive House performance standard. Construction of Gilford Village Knolls III (GVK III) is approximately 78% complete and is scheduled to be finished in late June. The Lakes Region project will feature 24, one-bedroom, affordable senior apartments with a 104.92-kilowatt rooftop solar array, a community room, on-site resident services, laundry and recycling.
"This promises to be the first certified Passive House multi-family development in New Hampshire, which would be quite an achievement," said Paul Eldrenkamp, a certified Passive House consultant who is supervising construction. "Any first attempt at Passive House-level design and construction means a steep learning curve and a risk of failure every step of the way. The entire Gilford Village Knolls team has been on board from the beginning, has rolled with the punches, and is determined to meet the goal of certification. It's been a privilege to be part of this project."
A passive building is designed and built in accordance with five main principles:
ReVision Energy is under contract to install the 344-panel solar array this spring. The array is expected to generate 109,700 kilowatt hours of solar power each year. Harvesting New Hampshire's abundant solar resource will result in more than $600,000 in electricity cost savings over the life of the array.
"We commend Lakes Region Community Developers on their forward-thinking approach to this new facility. Making the investment in clean energy will significantly reduce operating costs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels," said ReVision Energy solar design team manager Elijah Garrison. "The fact that the building will achieve the prestigious Passive House performance standard is incredibly impressive with a publicly-funded project designed for community benefit. The standard sets a tremendous example for what is possible, even in our cold New Hampshire climate and even with a tight project budget and timeline. As a Gilford resident, I am incredibly proud to add this building to our community."
"ReVision Energy's solar array is a key component to the project's overall energy efficiency," said Martini Northern project manager Dennis Donovan. "The ReVision team has integrated well with our overall project team from day one of their involvement."
On an annual basis, the Granite State receives 33% more sunshine than Germany, a world leader in solar energy capacity. Every year, the system will offset over 115,500 pounds of carbon pollution from regional fossil fuel power plants.
Stewart Property Management, headquartered in Bedford, reports that the apartments are estimated to be ready for occupancy by July and are now accepting applications. The Stewart Property Management team will assist each potential resident and guide them through the application process. Applications and more information are available at www.StewartProperty.net/GilfordVillage , or by calling 603-524-6673.
ABOUT REVISION ENERGY
ReVision Energy is a local, employee-owned company on a mission to accelerate New England's clean energy transition from fossil fuels to solar energy. As a Certified B Corporation, ReVision is part of a global movement using business as a force for good to solve social and environmental issues. ReVision Energy consistently ranks among the best solar companies. The company was named the number one rooftop installer in New England in 2017 by Solar Power World magazine and the best solar energy company in 2018 by New Hampshire Business Review. Learn more at revisionenergy.com .
