Neighborhood Housing Services

Solar Photovoltaic

System Size (kW DC): 2.58

Expected Annual Electricity Generation (kWh): 2,514

A Most Intriguing Laboratory

The Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of New Haven is dedicated to increasing homeownership, making homes functional, beautiful and affordable, and helping residents take charge of their neighborhoods. During its 29-year history, NHS has fully renovated and sold nearly 300 houses to low- and moderate-income families. NHS also offers new homebuyers a post-purchase education program, and mortgage counseling.

NHS’s state-of-the-art Home Improvement and Energy Conservation Laboratory, located at 24 Hudson Street in New Haven, is where the organization hosts classes in home repairs and energy conservation. It is a fitting site for such classes, as the lab itself serves as a green demonstration model. The building was constructed with solar photovoltaic panels, a co-generation system, extensive use of daylight and numerous other energy-efficient features. In fact, the 12-panel solar photovoltaic array in combination with the co-generator is expected to supply most of the electricity needs of the building.

The lab is the first of its kind in Connecticut, and NHS of New Haven is the first affordable housing producer in New England to develop a green Home Improvement and Energy Conservation Laboratory. In addition to receiving funding from the CCEF, NHS was awarded a Challenge Grant from the Kresge Foundation to support the construction and development of the lab.

In 2009, the lab received two awards: a Green Building of America Award from Construction Communications and a Most Intriguing design award from the Connecticut Chapter of the United States Green Building Council.