Alternatives' new campus antique green; Saving energy and history.

Byline: Donna Boynton

NORTHBRIDGE - Alternatives Unlimited is renovating a historic red mill on the Mumford River, all the while thinking green.

History and green technology are usually considered individually. Alternatives, however, is taking modern green technology and energy efficiency measures and incorporating them into a $9 million historic renovation of the Whitin Mill on the Mumford River.When finished, the Alternatives campus will be heated and cooled by four geothermal wells, energy will be harnessed through photovoltaic solar panels, and hydro-electric power will be drawn from the Mumford River. In the end, those technologies will enable Alternatives to generate 80 percent of its electricity and 100 percent of its heating and cooling needs by using hydroelectric power, photovoltaic solar panels and geothermal wells.

Inside, the renovation project reuses some materials that might otherwise have been lost in demolition.

"Alternatives is trying to take a leadership role in being stewards of the environment," explained Dennis H. Rice, its executive director. "This can be an educational piece for the whole community. If people see the benefits of hydroelectric power and photovoltaic energy, we want to teach people...

"We are celebrating our past and redefining our future."

Alternatives is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1976 and headquartered in Northbridge. Alternatives helps more than 550 adults across Central Massachusetts who have developmental or psychiatric disabilities develop skills, and provides support for success in the community.

The Old Forge was built on the site in 1772 and was later used as a cotton mill. It became the 1826 Brick Mill, which stands today. The mill's oldest buildings are on the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places and are protected by a deed restriction with the Northbridge Historical Commission.

Inside, the original ceiling beams have been used for flooring; and original hardwood floors have been sanded and patched where needed. A tulip tree, damaged by the construction and in danger of dying, had to be torn down. Wood and bark from the tree were used to make the acoustic baffles for the performing arts center.

The roof in the performing arts center had to be raised to make the room larger. The old roof was taken down and used as scaffolding for the work on the new ceiling, and then used for the ceiling of the adjacent function room.

The geothermal well system is a tangle of pipes housed behind a closet door in one of the old mills. The water is kept at a constant 55 degrees. Water is pumped from the ground through a series of pipes to a heat transfer unit, providing heat in the winter and coolness in the summer.

A large turbine will be installed in the falls near the original forge to generate electricity from the Mumford River. When the forge was operational, the Mumford River powered the belts used in the machinery, Mr. Rice said.

"This was a no-brainer," said Mr. Rice, explaining the decision to incorporate hydro-electric power into the renovation; it was equal parts historic preservation and modern technology.

Continuing with the theme of using what is already there, the photovoltaic panels then came into play.

"We thought we'd get as close to self-sufficiency as possible," Mr. Rice said.

The shades in the office areas have specialized screens, and the office lighting has sensors that turn the lights on when someone enters a room and shuts them off when no activity is sensed.

Having several green initiatives also helped with the fundraising efforts, Mr. Rice said, and proved to be a significant cost savings.

Alternatives received a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to pilot a program to harness energy that radiates from blacktop.

"This is an experimental program in electrical generation that has unbelievable implications," said Philip Ingersoll-Mahoney, director of finance and administration for Alternatives.

ART: PHOTOG 

PHOTOG: T&G Staff Photos/TOM RETTIG

CUTLINE: (PHOTO 1) David L. Mahan of Dudley installs lighting near tulip tree wood panels made from a tree on the Alternatives Unlimited property. (PHOTO 2) A turbine is to be installed along the Mumford River at the historic mill being renovated by Alternatives Unlimited. It is one of the many green technologies being used by the nonprofit corporation.