http://www.elp.com/news/2013/04/15/berlin-program-promoting-wood-pellet-boilers-a-national-model.html The following information was released by the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA): A group of homeowners gathered at Tea Birds Restaurant Tuesday night to celebrate the end of their addiction to home heating oil. "Every time the oil truck goes by, I smile," said Marie Canning. Canning's home is one of 36 Berlin homes that has or is in the process of replacing its oil burner with a high efficiency wood pellet boiler. It is estimated the 36 homeowners combined will save more than $50,000 a year in heating costs. In addition to saving money, the homeowners are also proving that switching to a local renewable energy source helps the local economy and the environment. The project is expected to have a $200,000 annual impact on the local economy. The homeowners participated in the Model Neighborhood Project, which subsidized the purchase and installation of the boilers. Launched in the fall of 2011 by the Northern Forest Center, Berlin BetterBuildings, and Maine Energy Systems, the goal was to install 40 pellet boilers in Berlin homes. "Berlin has proven that this technology works, that we can use local wood to replace foreign oil, that we can spend our heating dollars locally and support jobs in the local forest industry," said Rob Riley, president of the Northern Forest Center. Mike Wilson, senior program director at the Northern Forest Center, said Berlin now has the highest concentration of bulk pellet boilers in the country. "Berlin really is a model for this," he said. Wilson said the 36 boilers will annually eliminate 347 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and replace 31,000 gallons of oil. Skip Bunnett of the Maine Energy System said the first group of homeowners in the program had a lot of patience as the new technology was introduced. Maine Energy System director Dutch Dresser said the enthusiasm of the first homeowners was crucial to the program's success and make it easier for others to make the switch. "This really is a tremendous project," said Cimbria Badenhausen, community director for Berlin BetterBuildings. "Offering our clients a renewable energy alternative to enhance the savings obtained through energy efficiency measures was a wonderful bonus," she said. Badenhausen said she wished the program would have been available to surrounding communities but it was limited to Berlin. Even so, Brad and Sue Wyman of Dummer toured one of the early installations in Berlin and decided to put a wood pellet boiler in their house on their own. The program subsidized over two-thirds of the cost of transitioning from oil heating systems to the pellet boilers.

1. International
Blog Bradley
Associates
Review
http://www.elp.com/news/2013/04/15/berli
n-program-promoting-wood-pellet-boilers-
a-national-model.html

2. Berlin Program
Promoting Wood
Pellet Boilers a
National Model

3. The following information was released by the New
Hampshire Community Development Finance
Authority (CDFA):
A group of homeowners gathered at Tea Birds
Restaurant Tuesday night to celebrate the end of
their addiction to home heating oil.
"Every time the oil truck goes by, I smile," said
Marie Canning.
Canning's home is one of 36 Berlin homes that has or
is in the process of replacing its oil burner with a
high efficiency wood pellet boiler.

4. It is estimated the 36 homeowners combined will save
more than $50,000 a year in heating costs.
In addition to saving money, the homeowners are also
proving that switching to a local renewable energy
source helps the local economy and the environment.
The project is expected to have a $200,000 annual
impact on the local economy.
The homeowners participated in the Model
Neighborhood Project, which subsidized the purchase
and installation of the boilers. Launched in the fall of
2011 by the Northern Forest Center, Berlin
BetterBuildings, and Maine Energy Systems, the goal
was to install 40 pellet boilers in Berlin homes.

5. "Berlin has proven that this technology works, that
we can use local wood to replace foreign oil, that we
can spend our heating dollars locally and support
jobs in the local forest industry," said Rob
Riley, president of the Northern Forest Center.
Mike Wilson, senior program director at the
Northern Forest Center, said Berlin now has the
highest concentration of bulk pellet boilers in the
country.
"Berlin really is a model for this," he said.
Wilson said the 36 boilers will annually eliminate
347 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and replace
31,000 gallons of oil.

6. Skip Bunnett of the Maine Energy System said the
first group of homeowners in the program had a lot
of patience as the new technology was introduced.
Maine Energy System director Dutch Dresser said
the enthusiasm of the first homeowners was crucial
to the program's success and make it easier for
others to make the switch.
"This really is a tremendous project," said Cimbria
Badenhausen, community director for Berlin
BetterBuildings. "Offering our clients a renewable
energy alternative to enhance the savings obtained
through energy efficiency measures was a wonderful
bonus," she said.

7. Badenhausen said she wished the program would
have been available to surrounding communities but
it was limited to Berlin. Even so, Brad and Sue
Wyman of Dummer toured one of the early
installations in Berlin and decided to put a wood
pellet boiler in their house on their own.
The program subsidized over two-thirds of the cost
of transitioning from oil heating systems to the pellet
boilers. The state-of-the-art boilers range up to
$25,000 but through the program the homeowner's
share was $5,000 to $10,000.

8. The Northern Forest Center subsidized 39 percent
of the cost and rebates through the New Hampshire
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) covered 25
percent. The PUC rebates are available statewide.
The program also locked in the price of the pellets
through this June at the equivalent of $1.99/gallon
of heating oil.
Riley said the Northern Forest Center plans to
replicate the Model Neighborhood Program in
other communities in the four state region as soon
as funding is secured.

9. The center was taping testimonials from the
homeowners Tuesday night to use in raising money.
One woman said she used to wear battery-operated
socks to keep her feet warm but since installing the
pellet boiler, she has no need for the socks because her
house is warm. Mark Tremblay said he and his wife
have had six different heating systems in the 33 years
they have owned their house. He said the pellet boiler
is "unquestionably the best".
The program has also helped both the Berlin Housing
Authority and St. Kieran's Center for the Arts
convert their buildings.

10. St. Kieran Executive Director Joan Chamberlain said
she used to wear boots in her office and would
negotiate with groups over heat for practices and
rehearsals. With the new pellet boiler, she estimated
the center will save $10,000 in heating costs for the
year. More importantly she said, "We're happy.
We're warm."
Badenhausen and Wilson noted there are still four
more spots left in the Berlin Model Neighborhood
Model program. Interested Berlin homeowners
should call Badenhausen at 717-6529 or email
cimbriab@nhcdfa.org

11. Maine Energy Systems, based in Bethel, Maine, will
continue to look for homeowners interested in
converting to wood pellets.
The Model Neighborhood Project has been supported
by foundation, individuals and corporations that
purchased tax credits through the N.H. Community
Development Finance Authority. Tax credit
purchasers include Bank of New Hampshire, Citizens
Bank, The Common Man, First Colebrook
Bank, Global Forest Partners, Grappone Automotive
Group, The Lyme Timber Company, Nathan
Wechsler and Co. PA, Northland Forest
Products, Northway Bank, Stoneyfield Farm, and
TransCanada USA.

12. The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New
Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Jane's Trust,
the John Merck Fund, and the US Endowment for
Forestry and Communities have provided grant
support for the project.