Throughout its 139-year-history, Meredith Village Savings Bank has been dedicated to local banking for the benefit of its customers, employees and the central New Hampshire communities it serves. This year, the bank is taking its commitment to the community to the next level with the construction of an environmentally friendly new office and a number of other energy-saving initiatives.
When it opens for business later this year, the new office, located in Wolfeboro, N.H., will feature materials and systems that protect the environment and use renewable energy sources. Features include:
A ground source heat pump that collects natural heat from the earth to help keep the 4,300 square foot building warm in the winter. The geothermal system reverses itself in the summer to pull hot air out of the building and pump it into the ground.
Porous asphalt (also known as pervious pavement) for the parking lot at the new location. Porous asphalt allows rainwater and snowmelt to filter down through pores in its surface, removing pollutants and reducing harmful runoff that can flood surrounding areas and contaminate rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.
Walkways warmed by geothermal heat to reduce ice buildup and promote safer walking for customers without the use of toxic ice-melting chemicals that can also harm the environment.
While these green building practices will likely result in energy savings for the bank, they are initially more expensive to implement.
“Building an eco-friendly office carries higher costs and is more challenging and time-consuming for us than typical building construction,”
MVSB is also taking other steps to become more eco-friendly, including the promotion of bank products and services such as eStatements, which replace printed paper statements with ones that can be viewed online. In addition, staff members have formed a “Green Committee” to explore greener ways of doing business. The group is looking to expand the bank’s recycling program, purchase more eco-friendly cleaning and office supplies, and reduce the use of paper, printers and other materials and equipment. The committee is also planning events and activities to encourage the bank’s 200-plus employees to be greener at work and at home.
“This is not a new concern for us,” adds Laverack. “Meredith Village has been a longtime supporter of many local environmental organizations and initiatives. Our economy in this area depends heavily on the natural resources that promote tourism and outdoor recreation. It’s clear to us that if we don’t take care of that resource, we’re going to lose it.”
Meredith Village Savings Bank is an independent mutual savings bank with 10 offices serving individuals, families, businesses, organizations and towns around Lake Winnipesaukee and the Plymouth area. MVSB has offices in Alton, Ashland, Gilford, Center Harbor, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, and Plymouth. An eleventh office is scheduled to open in Wolfeboro in 2008. More information about the bank can be found at http://www.mvsb.com.
