The St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts (SKCC), located in Berlin, NH, converted an existing steam distribution system to hot water and installed a biomass heating system to replace a fuel oil heating system nearing the end of its useful life. The system is fueled by locally sourced, renewable wood pellets and produces inexpensive heat for the 6,200 ft2 historic building. The system annually replaces 100% of the fuel oil purchased

with renewable biomass energy, reducing purchased energy costs by approximately $10,600 annually. The system includes two 191,000 Btu/hr output biomass boilers and 300 gallons of hot water thermal storage. High temperature hot water in the thermal storage tank is blended with colder water returning from the distribution system to maintain an adjustable leaving water temperature for space heating. The boiler vendor is Maine Energy Systems. The project has a total cost of $159,972 with 100% project funding provided by a combination of the North Country RC&D / USFS Wood Education and Resource Center, Northern Forest Center, Berlin Better Buildings, and the Retail Merchants Association of New Hampshire. Approximately 35% of the project costs were for converting the heating distribution system from low pressure steam to hot water. The system allows for avoidance of future capital costs to replace aging heating equipment, and utilizing locally sourced renewable energy provides SKCC with stable energy prices when compared to volatile fossil fuel costs. Fuel cost savings from the biomass project have enabled SKCC to shift funds traditionally spent on heating fuels to programs focusing on cultural enrichment and community development within the Androscoggin Valley. The USFS Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) provided the feasibility study for the project, which was used by the owner to justify investment and pursue project im-plementation. WERC also provided technical assistance to the owner for development of the project design-build RFP, and con-struction / commissioning review.

ST. KIERAN COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS BIOMASS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT

PROJECT AT A GLANCE Project Cost: $159,972 Grant Dollars: NCRC&D / WERC Grant $80,020 Berlin Better Buildings $38,862 Retail Merchants Association of

New Hampshire $31,090 Project Savings: $10,600 annual energy savings + over $100,000 in avoided costs. Energy Profile (annual): 35 tons of wood pellets ($8,400) > 5,000 gal #2 offset ($19,000) >25 Tonne Net CO2 Reduction

WILSON ENGINEERING SERVICES, PC WWW.WILSONENGINEERINGSERVICES.COM

US FOREST SERVICE WOOD EDUCATION AND RESOURCE CENTER WWW.NA.FS.FED.US/WERC