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BHA completed an energy audit of the Hope Hose Fire Company, which assessed the building and recommended energy-saving improvement options with an economic evaluation of each option. This audit was the basis for the city's Conservation Works application.
A total of $35,349 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds was used as the local match for the project, which included the energy audit. The goal was to make the building more energy efficient.
The original exterior was painted concrete block with the cores initially filled with vermiculite insulation. The vermiculite has migrated out of the block fills, and the extent and effectiveness of the material's insulating value were not known. The environmental and energy benefits of adding the exterior wall finish and insulation solved the problem of leaking vermiculite, reduced the wall infiltration heat loss, reduced the indoor temperature of the vehicle bays in the summer, and will reduce the winter energy bill.
The replacement of the oil boiler with a high efficiency gas boiler will have a positive impact on the environment, releasing less greenhouse contaminants to the atmosphere, and the replacement of the oil domestic water heater, which was original to the building, with a high-efficiency condensing gas water heater eliminated large standby fuel costs to keep the boiler hot all year around for the minor domestic hot water load.
BHA estimated the renovations also will have a positive environmental impact by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 113,393 pounds a year, reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by 1.94 pounds a year, and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 0.38 pounds a year. Energy simulation software was used to calculate the environmental benefit data.