Dover, N.H. - An energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative launched in 2017 continues to pay dividends for Seacoast communities. Fifteen municipalities participated in last year's Energize 360 campaign, a grassroots effort aimed at reducing energy use and transitioning to renewable energy, which also included promises by selected vendors ReVision Energy and Yankee Thermal Imaging (YTI) to donate energy services as part of a social fund to benefit the communities at large.
ReVision Energy agreed to donate 103 Tier 1 solar panels to the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover - part of a 318-panel rooftop solar array at the Children's Museum and adjacent Dover Indoor Pool , which share a common electricity meter. A public ribbon cutting is planned in February to unveil the arrays. Yankee Thermal Imaging also completed two weatherization projects for area nonprofits.
The combined 101.7-kilowatt solar array on the museum and pool roofs will generate approximately 120,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year and offset more than 126,000 pounds of carbon pollution annually for decades to come. The system is expected to provide roughly 30 percent of the combined electricity needs of the two facilities, although that ratio could rise to 50% or more once planned LED lighting and other efficiency upgrades take place. The solar array is projected to save approximately $550,000 in electricity costs long-term.
"The City of Dover has been committed to sustainability initiatives for more than two decades, including renewable energy," said Dover City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. "The solar panel array at the Children's Museum and Indoor Pool is a great example of the city's pursuit to boost energy efficiency and to realize significant savings in electricity costs over time."
"We are thrilled to be receiving over 100 donated solar panels as a part of this collaborative program," said Children's Museum President Jane Bard. "This project not only aligns with our commitment to being a 'green champion' and educating children about ways they can adopt earth-friendly practices, but every dollar saved from energy costs can be invested in helping us meet our mission of engaging families in hands-on discovery."
According to Dover Energy Commission vice chairman Bill Baber, one of the participating commissions in the Energize 360 program, "Dover leadership was not only extremely helpful in assisting the museum project to go forward, they also took advantage of the opportunity to add an even larger solar array on the adjacent city indoor pool. This synergy helped lower the installed cost for both the city and the museum. These projects represent a substantial green energy addition to the community. In addition, given their prime locations and a large number of visitors to each, over 100,000 annually to the museum alone, the projects will serve as a great public example of what is possible."
"ReVision is proud to partner with the Children's Museum and City of Dover in a community where many of our employee-owners call home," said Dan Weeks of ReVision Energy. "Thanks to our local impact investors, who share our passion for clean energy as part of ReVision Solar Impact Partners, the museum and city are able to purchase green energy from their roof at below the cost of grid electricity without any upfront cost, and then buy the solar array from the investors after five years to realize over half a million dollars in energy savings long-term."
Yankee Thermal Imaging donated weatherization services for My Friend's Place in Dover and the Great Bay Discovery Center (GBDC) in Greenland. At My Friend's Place, energy efficiency improvements were made at two transitional shelters, both of which are heated with oil. Additional insulation and air sealing efforts were completed in the attics and basements of both buildings, thereby lowering fuel costs, improving occupant comfort, extending HVAC system life and reducing the carbon footprint. At GBDC, heat loss was reduced by improving attic insulation. As a result, summer air conditioning costs will be reduced as well.
"The weatherization projects as a whole are estimated to save over 400 gallons of oil and reduce carbon emissions by almost 10,000 pounds per year," according to Ted Stiles of Yankee Thermal Imaging. "These improvements will be helpful to the owners in terms of lower carbon pollution and less reliance on volatile oil prices."
The Energize 360 campaign eventually prompted 200 families to install 251 clean energy and efficiency projects. The projects resulted in an annual net reduction of one million pounds of carbon pollution. Participants also locked in long-term energy cost savings of more than $12 million and upfront discounts in excess of $150,000.
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 Energy 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 in the nation. The company was named 2017 Top Solar Rooftop Contractor in New England by Solar Power World and 2018 Best Solar Energy Company by New Hampshire Business Review. Learn more at revisionenergy.com .
