Tin Mountain Conservation Center

Albany, NH

New Hampshire’s Tin Mountain Conservation Center provides education programs that foster greater awareness and understanding of the natural environment for school children, adults, and families.

When the organization decided to build their new headquarters and Nature Learning Center, SDA was retained to help create a net-zero-energy home for the organization.

SDA worked with the local architects to dvelop a design that responded to thte site and met the client’s requirements while obtaining all its energy from renewable energy. Timber harvested from the site frames the dramatic great space. High levels of insulation and energy efficiency reduce loads. Solar collection systems were then integrated into the south roofs to produce hot water, space heat, and electricity for the center. A Tarm wood boiler provides supplemental heating during extended periods of cold, cloudy weather.

SDA provided design, engineering, code and utility compliance, contractor selection, construction oversight, and full systems commissioning to ensure all systems were properly integrated. The facility makes more energy than it needs despite the harsh winter climate of the Mt. Washington valley. Here’s a video tour narrated by the client and the design team: Tin Mountain Conservation Center