Energy company offers technical support, financial incentives to reduce emissions and energy use for customers like the Oyster River Cooperative School District

MANCHESTER, N.H. (August 10, 2021) – With commercial buildings accounting for more than 22% of the state’s carbon emissions, Eversource is offering developers and building owners a path to energy savings and carbon reduction through its new construction services for Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings. Building design is one of several sectors where Eversource is implementing innovative initiatives to help achieve aggressive carbon-reduction goals, and ZNE buildings are 50%-70% more efficient than a typical building—generating on- or off-site renewable energy, such as solar, that is greater than the total amount of energy the building consumes.

“Efficient design reduces energy usage and increases the value and comfort of a building over the course of its lifetime,” said Eversource Energy Efficiency Consultant Mike Loughlin. “As a catalyst for clean energy, we’re committed to bringing more clean, affordable energy to our customers and to helping reduce the region’s carbon footprint. Zero Net Energy plays an integral part in reducing carbon emissions and creating a sustainable future, providing valuable new opportunities for our customers to save money and energy.”

Aimed at reducing carbon emissions and helping developers reach their building energy efficiency objectives, Eversource, a NHSaves utility, has developed several energy efficiency offerings for new construction suited for a variety of building types and featuring a range of strategies and technologies. The energy company offers higher incentives and additional support to projects pursuing ZNE and those with low overall energy needs, including technical assistance and incentives through the first year of occupancy to ensure that the building is truly ZNE. Eversource’s technical experts help project teams make design decisions that will enable them to reach their goals for ultra-low energy use and provide incentive dollars that can buy down the cost of equipment and systems that will get them across the finish line. 

As an example of its ZNE work, the energy company is currently working with the Oyster River Cooperative School District, made up of the towns of Durham, Lee and Madbury, on the construction of Oyster River Middle School, which is set to complete in March 2022. The proposed facility utilizes the latest in high-performance building technology and is expected to save approximately 420,771 kWh of electricity and 460 therms of natural gas per year, corresponding to a reduction of 300 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The school’s remaining energy needs will be covered by the installation of a 638 kW array of solar panels.

“We started the new Oyster River Middle School project with three major components in mind: academics, safety and sustainability,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jim Morse. “The support provided by Eversource has been invaluable in helping us keep on track toward our goal for Oyster River to be Net Zero.”

For more information on the Oyster River Middle School project and to follow along as it progresses, visit https://nhsaves.com/blog/oyster-river-middle-school-pathway-to-energy-savings/. For more information on Eversource’s services to support ZNE buildings, visit the Save Money & Energy pages of Eversource.com.

Photo caption: A photo taken from a drone in May shows construction beginning at the new Oyster River Middle School.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Eversource is New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, serving nearly 528,000 homes and businesses in 211 cities and towns, and also supplies water to approximately 9,500 homes and businesses in Hampton, North Hampton and Rye. Eversource is proud to be recognized as the #1 contributor to United Way in New Hampshire. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.  

CONTACT:
William Hinkle
603-634-2228
william.hinkle@eversource.com