Kids & Family

Tariffville Apartment Complex Goes Solar

An investment in solar thermal panels at Willow Arms apartments in Tariffville will produce nearly 45 percent of the hot water needed.

A small crowd gathered Wednesday at the Willow Arms apartment complex in Tariffville to celebrate the installation of a new solar energy system.

The 81-unit affordable housing complex, managed by the non-profit organization Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford, will now have approximately 45 percent of it's hot water supplied by several solar thermal panels.

The panels, located on the rooftops of the Willow Arms buildings, will assist traditional oil water heaters in heating approximately 3,600 gallons of water each day, according to David Ljungquist, director of energy efficiency deployment for the Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA).

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"This is exactly the type of project we like to fund," Ljungquist said.

The project came at a total cost of $262,000. CEFIA assisted with the cost by awarding a grant to the Mutual Housing Association in the amount of $184,800. The balance of $77,200 was covered by a state grant that came in the form of a tax credit that was purchased by Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating.

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Ljungquist said that the investment will pay for itself within 7 years and the lifetime of the solar system is estimated to be about 25 years.

"We in the town of Simsbury have made a strong commitment to really promote clean energy," First Selectman Mary Glassman said. "As we know, all good things can happen with a tremendous partnership."

Deputy First Selectman John Hampton, chair of Simsbury's Clean Energy Task Force was also present for the event.

The solar panel heating system was designed and installed by C & N Mechanical of Bloomfield. C & N President Dave Lovesky attended the event to explain how the simple technology works.

Rows of small, glass vacuum tubes are able to heat small amounts of water at a very low temperature on sunny days. The water is then channeled to the hot water storage tanks where the traditional heating system is used to increase the temperature even further without using large amounts of oil.

Ljungquist estimates that the system will cut carbon emissions at Willow Arms by nearly 50 tons each year.


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