MacDowell

Peterborough, NH

For more than a century, MacDowell has provided uninterrupted time to reflect, innovate, study, practice, and create, and its Fellows have contributed significantly to American and world culture and been honored with numerous awards and accolades. MacDowell is a haven of creativity and strives to make its residency program accessible and possible for all artists. Since 1909, MacDowell has welcomed over 9,400 artists across disciplines and perspectives and hosts over 300 artists annually for 2–6 week residencies.

Over the last thirty years MacDowell has invested more than $11M in building renovations on its 450-acre campus. They have a strategic goal of reducing energy consumption and switching from fossil fuel to clean electricity in an effort to reach a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. 

This is the third FCI Implementation grant supporting MacDowell’s sustainability efforts. A 2023 FCI grant supported the conversion of three fuel-oil boilers to electric heat pumps in three visual arts studios. The heat pumps were ultimately powered by MacDowell’s existing solar arrays. A 2024 FCI grant supported the retrofit of Alexander Studio, one of the campus oldest and most revered visual arts studios. Here, MacDowell installed new insulation as well as triple-paned windows, given that winter temperatures in New England can drop to –20 degrees resulting in an approximate 85 percent reduction in energy usage and 71 percent reduction in costs.

The FCI 2025 Implementation grant will support a deep energy retrofit of New Hampshire Studio, the third oldest studio on campus.The replacement of the oil burner will bring GHG emissions to zero and reduce energy costs by over 60 percent. Installing high-efficiency windows and foam insulation will also seal the building’s envelope. Ultimately, the studio will be powered by two solar arrays on-campus, marking the sixth visual arts studio to be retrofitted.

Milestones

• Replacement of an oil boiler

• Installation of energy efficient windows and foam insulation.

• Make New Hampshire studio the sixth visual arts studio out of ten to be retrofitted on campus

• Renovation will realize a 40 percent decrease in EUI, from 120 to 72, 

• Future expenditures on heating and cooling the space will be driven down by approximately $1,000 per year.