The Town of Kensington is inviting residents and area energy enthusiasts to a NH Energy Week celebration on Monday, May 4, at 5:30 pm at the Kensington Town Hall. At the event, the town will flip the switch on its new geothermal HVAC system, bringing clean, earth-powered heating and cooling to the historic Town Hall housing Kensington’s administrative offices, Police Department, and public meeting room. The town will also be presented with a SolSmart Bronze award from Clean Energy NH--a recognition of its commitment to solar energy and its work to clear the path for continued clean energy growth.
Kensington turned to geothermal when the HVAC system serving its Police Department failed, replacement components were no longer available, and installing a new outdoor system was not feasible. Working with town leadership, the Kensington Energy Committee conducted a comprehensive review of replacement options, lifecycle costs, operating performance, maintenance requirements, and occupant comfort. The committee concluded that a geothermal HVAC system represented the most economically and operationally sound solution, with a payback period comparable to air‑source heat pump alternatives but with approximately 50 percent lower operating costs. The project was financed through federal Direct Pay investment tax credits, federal domestic content bonus incentives, and special-use appropriations from the Town’s reserve funds.
The geothermal system is the second renewable-energy upgrade to the Town Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Last year, the town installed solar panels on the building’s roof, earning kudos for being the first New Hampshire town to complete a solar project under the Municipal Solar Grant Program--funded through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and managed by the NH Clean Energy Fund. It was also lauded for demonstrating how historic preservation and clean energy could complement one another. Over its lifespan, the solar system is projected to save Kensington more than $400,000.
To attend: Kensington’s NH Energy week event will be held on Monday, May 4, at 5:30 pm at the Kensington Town Hall, 95 Amesbury Road, Kensington, NH. The event is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to register here, at EventBrite.