The Brian S. McCarthy Middle School opened its doors on August 27, 2024, marking the culmination of a visionary project that set a new standard for energy efficiency in educational facilities across New Hampshire.
This $92 million project, part of Nashua’s broader $129.7 million investment in schools, has caught the attention of local media. Both Nashua Ink Link and The Nashua Telegraph featured in-depth coverage of the school’s innovative approach to energy efficiency, highlighting how NHSaves utility partners, including Eversource and Liberty, played a crucial role in bringing this vision to life.
The Journey Begins
The challenge was familiar: how to provide a top-notch learning environment while managing tight budgets and reducing environmental impact. The Nashua School District found their answer in the NHSaves utility partners, a collaboration of New Hampshire’s electric and natural gas utilities.
Shawn Smith, Director of Plant Operations for the Nashua School District, reflects on the project’s inception. “We knew we wanted to create something special,” he says. “A school that would not only educate our children, but also teach them about sustainability through its very design.”
Building a Sustainable Future
The new Brian S. McCarthy Middle School is a testament to this vision. At 225,000 square feet, it’s designed to serve up to 850 students in grades 6-8 and special education students, replacing the 1930s-era Elm Street Middle School.
What sets the school apart is its comprehensive approach to energy efficiency. Of the $92 million total cost, $52 million was invested in energy-saving measures. These improvements span every aspect of the building, from lighting and heating to HVAC systems in classrooms, common areas, kitchens, and offices.
Mike Loughlin, Senior Energy Efficiency Consultant at Eversource, shared: “The Nashua middle school benefited from over $130,000 in incentives from Eversource and Liberty for energy-saving improvements including kitchen equipment, insulation, energy recovery ventilators, and high-efficiency condensing boilers.”
A full list of energy efficient features includes:
- Energy-efficient kitchen equipment, including convection ovens and kitchen hood controls
- Enhanced weatherization, including roof insulation
- Energy recovery ventilators
- High-efficiency condensing boilers
- LED lighting with smart sensors
- State-of-the-art HVAC system
- An air filtration system
- Solar panels to be installed on the roof in September 2024
A Lesson in Savings
The impact of these improvements is substantial. NHSaves estimates that the energy upgrades at McCarthy will save approximately $50,000 per year, but the benefits extend beyond financial savings.
Liberty’s contributions alone are projected to result in lifetime energy savings of 43,905.5 MMBtu. Meanwhile, Eversource’s contributions are estimated to save 282,949 kWh annually. That’s equivalent to removing 55 gas-powered vehicles from the roads for an entire year.
Commercially metered natural gas or electric customers in NH are eligible to participate in NHSaves program offerings. To learn how your school or business can write its own energy efficiency success story with NHSaves, visit NHSaves.com or contact your local utility provider.