The ClearEdge5 high-temperature PEM fuel cell systems are being supplied by Oregon-based ClearEdge Power. The fuel cells will enable LINC Housing to save money and reduce the impact of its apartment building on the environment.

The Palace Hotel renovation project, by non-profit affordable housing manager LINC Housing, will provide apartments for foster children that are getting too old for the fostering system.

‘People think it’s not possible to bring new technology to the homes we build; as a non-profit developer we are pleased to demonstrate that with partnerships and perseverance, it can be done,’ says Hunter L. Johnson, LINC’s President and CEO.

In addition to the ClearEdge5 fuel cells, the building also has photovoltaic solar panels. This combination of alternative energy technologies should allow the project to generate most of its electricity onsite. The fuel cells will also generate enough heat to meet nearly all of the building’s hot water needs.

‘We work with a variety of different builders, from high-end residential architects to affordable housing developers, to bring smart energy to businesses and homeowners today,’ says Mike Upp, Vice President of Marketing at ClearEdge Power.

‘The Palace Hotel is a perfect example of this, and by combining the ClearEdge5 system with its solar power implementation, the building will get 100 percent of its heat and energy from alternative sources,’ he adds.

The renovation should be completed in late August, with the first residents expected to move in early in October. Funding for the fuel cells was provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the National Trust Loan Fund.