Springfield Hospital seeks funds to install solar hot water system

The departments of engineering and development at Springfield Hospital are joining forces to install solar hot water at the hospital, the first ever at a Vermont hospital.

Springfield Hospital is recognized as an Energy Star rated hospital – one of 200 in the nation, and one of only two in the state of Vermont.

This project will harness the energy of the sun to heat the many thousands of gallons of water that the hospital uses, reducing the use of fuel oil thus saving money. The installation will lie flat on the roof and will be minimally visible from the street.

Larry Kraft, director of development for Springfield Hospital, says, “It takes about 10,000 gallons of fuel oil annually to heat the water we use at our hospital.”

Like previous projects at Springfield Hospital, it will be paid for entirely with donations and the campaign to raise funds to complete the project is under way.

The cost of the project is estimated to be $85,000. If an additional $25,000 is raised, a solar hot water system will also be installed at Springfield Health Center at the 100 River St. building.

Contributions can be made at the hospital’s website or by contacting Kraft, 802-885-7644, lkraft@springfieldmed.org