CSHW-12-6-FOH_Case_Study

							       FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS
            SPRINGFIELD, MA
     SOLAR HOT WATER CASE STUDY

Friends of the Homeless, Inc. (FOH) provides services
aimed at ending homelessness, operates one of the largest emergency shelters for adults in Western
Massachusetts, and manages 110 low-income housing units. FOH has a year round dining hall that
serves meals three times a day. In 2011, the FOH kitchen served approximately 150,531 meals,
averaging 12,544 meals per month.

                                      Through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Low
 Summary: FOH Kitchen                 Income Solar Thermal Program, MassCEC provided funding to
   Total System Cost: $98,724         install solar hot water (SHW) systems on both the FOH
          Collectors: 12              dormitory and on the kitchen. These two SHW systems will
 Collector Type: Evacuated Tube       reduce FOH’s energy costs by offsetting the organization’s
  Tank Capacity: 1,600 gallons        high hot water load for the next 25 years. In all, 24 collectors
  Annual Savings: 1,211 therms        were installed, saving FOH $3,345 in energy costs annually.


MassCEC’s Low Income Solar Thermal Program provides                 Summary: FOH Dorms
funding for SHW systems at multi-family residential and
nonprofit facilities serving low income residents.                   Total System Cost: $74,000
                                                                            Collectors: 12
                                                                   Collector Type: Evacuated Tube
                                  Photo by BEAM Engineering
                                                                     Tank Capacity: 750 gallons
                                                                    Annual Savings: 1,112 therms


                                                                 58,083 Total Therms Saved
                                                                      (over 25 year system life)




                                                                        580,830 lbs Coal
                                                                        720,229 lbs CO2
                                                                       929,328 miles driven

                                        For more information about MassCEC’s solar thermal
                                     programs, please visit: www.MassCEC.com/SolarHotWater
                                                   or contact us at 617-315-9355.