Spring 2012 - Retirement Housing Foundation

Going GreenerBinnall House - Gardner, MassachusettsThe Binnall House and its 134 apartments have taken steps towardadditional year-round efficiency with the replacement of aging solarpanels.“This system was initially installed in the 1980s during the first energycrunch,” said Ilene Mason of Rethinking Power Management, who was aconsultant on the project. “We’ve replaced it with a system that couldrun year-round.”The Retirement Housing Foundation, which operates the downtownaffordable housing community, has been working on energy-savingmeasures at its facilities throughout the country, according to Ms. Mason.Much of the effort so far has focused on reducing energy and waterconsumption through lighting upgrades and new appliances, includingthe replacement of 840 refrigerators throughout the organization’s NewEngland properties.“While we are looking across the properties at ... overall consumption, weare also looking at things that benefit the tenants,” she said.Community NewsBill Battles of Village Plumbingguides materials onto the roof ofthe Binnall House. (Photo by SamBonacci)The panels and lines that run through the building have been replacedwith a system that can run all year. Unlike solar photovoltaic systems that generate electricity, solar thermalsystems are used to assist in the heating of water.“It warms up a fluid ... and that fluid goes through a heat exchanger to preheat the domestic hot water,” saidMs. Mason. “It is a fluid system instead of an electric system.”The racking system that holds the panels will be reused, reducing the cost of the project. The project cost anestimated $90,000.“The panels will offset approximately half the cost for domestic hot water in the building,” said Ms. Mason.The changes were funded through the Low Income Energy Affordability network, which received stimulusfunding as well as funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The project is the 22nd such effortbeing completed in the state through the program, said Ms. Mason.(This article appears on the Schochet Associates website)Lane Manor GroundbreakingLane Manor - Stone Mountain, GeorgiaOn a beautiful March morning officials from DeKalb Countyand the Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) joined team members from RHF to break ground forRHF’s fifth community in the state of Georgia.When completed, Lane Manor will be a 54-unit HUD 202community and will be located in the unincorporated sectionof Stone Mountain, GA.Funded with a $5.6 million grant from HUD and $200,000 HOME Fundgrant from DeKalb County - this will be the first subsidized housing forseniors in the unincorporated area of Stone Mountain.If all goes as planned, RHF will begin taking applications at thebeginning of 2013.-9-