Sustaining the Environment and our Organization with Green Energy

An in-depth look at HHI’s mission

This is part three of a seven-part series that explores Historic Harrisville's core programs—preservation, affordable housing, conservation, green energy, the HHI Archives, and the Harrisville General Store. 

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Sustainability is a hot topic, both in terms of the environment and organizational longevity. HHI’s work in green energy helps us to be sustainable in both senses. By maximizing efficiency and using renewable energy resources, we not only help the environment, but we also reduce our operating costs—making it easier for us to sustain our operations, while keeping our rents affordable.
 
To create and operate comfortable and functional indoor environments for working and living, Historic Harrisville’s properties consume significant amounts of energy. As stewards of this town and planet, we work hard to minimize our carbon footprint by improving efficiency and using renewable forms of energy.

Each year we open the turbine and clean out accumulated debris, ensuring operating efficiency and longevity. 

Contractors inspecting the Cheshire Mills dam to prepare plans and cost estimates for repairs needed in 2024.

Hydroelectricity

"In late 2018, HHI installed a brand-new micro-turbine to provide clean electricity to the entire mill complex. This 38-kilowatt Francis-style reaction turbine – known fondly for its Vermeer blue veneer – has generated an average of 12,000 kWh a month for the past four and a half years. Right now, this adds up to annual savings of about $70,000 – enough, by one back-of-the-envelope reckoning, to defray the cost of the new turbine in a mere five years.”

—Rusty Russell, HHI Incorporator’s meeting, Fall 2023

Here we are five years after initiating our hydro operations. The blue turbine and related generating equipment are working well, creating significant operating savings on electric expenses. In fact, we just passed the 700,000 kwh milestone! We're proactively maintaining the infrastructure to ensure the continued efficient operation of this hydroelectric system. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees hydroelectric operations, is requiring repairs to the dam just north of the Granite Mill, which we hope to complete in 2024. They have also advised us to start planning for repairs to and/or the replacement of the penstock (large metal pipe) that carries water from the dam to the turbine.
 

Heating Improvements

In addition to our hydroelectric operations, we're working to ensure that our heating systems operate efficiently, in part by replacing obsolete and inefficient equipment with new, more energy-efficient equipment and systems. When replacing equipment, we move to renewable energy sources when it is feasible.

In 2014, HHI installed three wood pellet boilers to heat the Cheshire Mills Complex. Each year, we earn an average of just over $12,000 in renewable energy credits as an ongoing incentive for our use of renewable wood pellets. This income essentially serves as the budget for our energy committee, which plans projects to reinvest this income in energy-related improvements each year.

In 2023, we replaced the oil tank at the Sorting & Picker House and replaced an old oil furnace with a new, high-efficiency propane furnace, removing the potentially hazardous underground oil tank. But we can do more! Our ability to make energy efficiency upgrades is limited by our funding. 

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Support our Green Energy Work!

During this annual fundraising appeal, we aim to raise $25,000 for green energy projects in 2024, including repairs and improvements to our hydro infrastructure, as well as heating system repairs and upgrades. We hope you will donate to HHI’s annual appeal in support of this program.

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