We were wearing hats and fingerless gloves and using space heaters. It was incredibly cold in here. The minute they finished the work it sounded different and it certainly felt different. This winter we’re really going to see a considerable difference.
Main project details
Elkins Public Library completed a weatherization project in the building to improve energy efficiency through the addition of insulation, interior air sealing, and other enhancements.
Originally built to serve as a fire station and highway garage in the early 1960s, the building became the town’s library in 2004, but it was largely uninsulated, often leading to uncomfortable working conditions for employees and patrons, especially during the colder winter months.
Those conditions have significantly improved following the project, which included installing insulation throughout the building, interior air sealing of a rear door and gaps around the trim of 34 windows, and repairing holes in the ceiling. The enhancements will reduce heat loss in the colder months and keep the building cooler during the summer.
With assistance from a $7,210 energy-efficiency incentive provided by Unitil through NHSaves, the library reduced the overall cost of the $20,000 project.
The improvements are expected to lower the library’s annual energy usage by an estimated 1,447 therms, which is equivalent to approximately 1,515 gallons of propane – the building’s current heat source. The library could also see an estimated savings of $4,500 a year on its energy bill.
The weatherization work was done by Northeast Air Sealing of Concord.
