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Roswell’s Historic Mimosa Hall Wins Environmental Award for Solar Roof Project
Roswell, Ga. (Nov. 2, 2022)—The City of Roswell’s historic Mimosa Hall was recently recognized with a 2022 Environmental Award from Fulton County Citizens Commission on the Environment (FCCCE) for its solar roof project.
A historic nine-acre estate built in 1841, Mimosa Hall was purchased by the City of Roswell in 2017 and is currently used as a special events venue. Among the many improvements the City and its non-profit partner, Friends of Mimosa Hall and Gardens, has made to the property is the construction of an integrated solar roof.
The solar roof is made up of 80 building-integrated, thin-film photovoltaic panels—about the thickness of a credit card—which were laminated onto the new metal standing seam roof. These lightweight panels, coupled with the latest in battery technology from Sonnen, Inc., are expected to generate approximately 103% of the facility’s electricity.
“We are pleased that FCCCE has recognized Mimosa Hall and the fundamental relationship between preservation and sustainability,” said Dena Bush, Manager of Historic Assets for the City of Roswell. “Modern technology that supports sustainability can also help us reach preservation goals.”
The FCCCE environmental awards are given to projects, programs, community organizations and individuals in Fulton County that advocate and exemplify environmentally sound practices. Members of the City of Roswell staff, including Dena Bush, received the award at FCCCE’s annual award ceremony in October. Also attending were Friends of Mimosa Board Members Susan Rumble and Kelly Callen, and Simone DuBois, architect for solar roof.
"It's wonderful for Mimosa Hall & Gardens to be recognized by Fulton County for its innovative solar-integrated roof project,” said Callen, who has served as Chair of the Environmental Committee for Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens. “We look forward to celebrating Mimosa Hall, which is 181 years old, becoming the ‘Oldest Net Zero Home in the Country’ once certification is completed soon."
To learn more about Roswell’s Mimosa Hall and Gardens, visit www.RoswellGov.com/MimosaHall. To find out more about Friends of Mimosa Hall and Gardens, visit www.friendsofmimosa.org.
December 16, 2020
Mimosa’s Integrated Solar Roof gets approval to move forward!
City of Roswell approves the permitting phase of Mimosa Hall’s Integrated Solar Roof project.
Friends of Mimosa Hall and Gardens is excited to announce that the City of Roswell has approved the permitting phase of the Integrated Solar Roof project! This approval gives FOMH&G permission to begin the construction phase of this endeavor.
Mimosa Hall, a Greek Revival mansion built in 1841, was purchased by the City of Roswell in 2017. The integrated solar roof and battery system was championed by the Friends of Mimosa Hall and Gardens when it was identified that the roof of the historic home needed to be replaced. “We are excited to take this next step in our journey of making Mimosa Hall the Oldest Net Zero Home in America,” said Mike Harris, president of the Friends of Mimosa board. “We could not have made this happen without the continuous support from our Cademus Construction, Georgia-Pacific, sonnen Batterié, the Phoenix Circle Members, the members and Board of Friends of Mimosa Hall and Gardens, and the City of Roswell.”
FOMH&G’s next steps are to remove the old roof which needed repair and order the supplies for the new solar roof. Earlier this fall, the City of Roswell completed needed interior repairs to the structural beams in the roof which were identified by architectural engineers during the structural analysis phase of the project.
The solar roof will be made up of eighty building integrated thin-film photovoltaic panels, about the thickness of a credit card, which will be laminated onto a new metal standing seam roof. These lightweight panels are expected to generate approximately 103% of the hall’s electricity. Excess solar photovoltaic production will be stored in the sonnen Batterié System that will provide energy at night and when the sun is not shining. There is also an integrated solar thermal system to generate domestic hot water. Because the house will produce as much as or more energy than it consumes, the Friends of Mimosa will seek official Net Zero status under the Living Building Challenge once construction is complete in 2021, making Mimosa Hall the oldest house with Net Zero designation in the United States. This new technology will not only supply clean energy, but it will also adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic structures.
Currently, the oldest Net Zero designated property in the United States is the 1901 Mission Zero House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mimosa Hall not only predates the Mission Zero House by some sixty years, but it is much bigger; at 1500 square feet, Mission Zero consumes approximately 8700 kilowatt hours per year, while at 6300 square feet, Mimosa is estimated to consume around 29,000 kilowatt hours. The solar panels have a 10/25-year warranty against power loss and will save the City of Roswell around $5000 annually on energy bills.
PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE MIMOSA OLDEST NET ZERO HOME IN AMERICA
The Georgia-Pacific Foundation will Sponsor a Solar Roof on Roswell’s Mimosa Hall
The Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens are delighted to announce a partnership with Georgia Pacific
Mimosa Hall, a Greek Revival mansion built in 1841, will be getting a solar roof later this year. “We’re very excited about this,” said Mike Harris, president of the Friends of Mimosa board. “The roof is being funded by dozens of donations from local families and organizations and in large part by an anonymous donation of $50,000 and a generous $25,000 donation from Georgia-Pacific. We couldn’t do it without these community partners.” Georgia Pacific in particular stepped forward in support of the Solar Roof and the Community engagement programming which reflect the companies’ core principles: Education, Environment and Community Enrichment.
The Solar Roof which will be made up of Eighty translucent thin-film photovoltaic panels, about the thickness of a credit card, will be laminated onto a new metal standing seam roof. These lightweight panels are expected to generate approximately 103% of the hall’s electricity and help power its domestic hot water. Because the house will produce more energy than it consumes, The Friends of Mimosa will seek official Net Zero status under the Living Building Challenge once construction is complete, making Mimosa Hall the oldest house with Net Zero designation in the United States. Currently, the oldest Net Zero designated property in the United States is the 1901 Mission Zero House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mimosa Hall not only predates the Mission Zero House by some seventy years, but it is much bigger; at 1500 square feet, Mission Zero consumes approximately 8700 kilowatt hours per year, while at 6300 square feet, Mimosa is estimated to consume around 29,000 kilowatt hours. The solar panels have a 10/25-year warranty against power loss and will save the City of Roswell around $5000 annually on energy bills.
The Friends group presented the concept of a Solar Roof to the City of Roswell in 2018 and received unanimous approval. The total cost of the project was over $100,000. In 2018, when Friends of Mimosa first proposed and received approval for the project, the City of Roswell earmarked $35,990 for the project. Since then, Friends of Mimosa has fundraised for the additional cost. The group received an anonymous donation earlier this year that covered the majority of the fundraising needed for the roof. This grant from Georgia Pacific covers the remaining amount. Cadmus Construction, a Roswell-based environmental design company, donated the design and some of the components and will oversee the installation. “Roswell has always been in the forefront when it comes to protecting the environment and preserving our historic assets. So, we could not be happier about this project,” said Mayor Lori Henry. “I’m excited that Roswell will soon be home to the country’s oldest Net Zero home.”
Mimosa Hall was built for John Dunwody, one of the founders of Roswell in 1839-1841. In 1918, renowned Atlanta architect J. Neel Reid (1885-1926) bought the home and made substantial changes to house and the grounds. He transformed 5 of the acres into formal gardens. Of the 15 garden rooms Reid created on the property, 13 survive today. In 2018, Friends of Mimosa received a grant from the Garden Club of Georgia to restore one of the gardens.
Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to championing the sustainable preservation of Mimosa Hall. The Friends group formed in 2017 to help the City with the interpretation, restoration, and maintenance of the property. The City of Roswell purchased Mimosa and the 9-acre property the same year. The Department of Recreation, Parks, Historic, and Cultural Affairs oversees the property and has been renovating the interior of the mansion in preparation for a public opening. The grounds officially opened to the public in April 2019. Once the renovation is complete, Mimosa Hall & Gardens will be used as a public gathering place for educational events, recreational activities, corporate programs, and entertainment. To follow this exciting project, visit friendsofmimosa.org.
Click here to read our press release concerning Earth Day and our Fundraiser for our snow ball bush!
Installation of Historic Solar Panel
White House Solar Panel dedication ceremony, June 20, 1979. Image credit: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library/NARA
The City of Roswell and Friends of Mimosa Hall are set to install a solar panel at historic Mimosa Hall originally used on the White House during Jimmy Carter’s presidency. On loan from Unity College, the installation will take place on Thursday, June 20 at 5:00 p.m. The event will mark the 40 year commemoration of the original installation on the White House in 1979 and will serve as a symbolic marker of the progress, community and continued efforts in alternative energy.
Please join the City of Roswell and Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens to honor this landmark event.
Host: Mimosa Hall & Gardens
Date and Time: Thursday, June 20, 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Mimosa Hall & Gardens 127 Bulloch Hall Ave., Roswell, GA 30075
Admission: Free for all ages
President Carter's legacy has a special connection to Mimosa Hall, as Carter's aunt, Emily Dolvin, lived across the street in what is known as the "Roswell White House." In 2019, Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens entered into a long term loan agreement with Unity College so this original, still functional White House solar panel can be displayed at Mimosa Hall & Gardens as a beacon of inspiration.
As part of the sustainability efforts for Mimosa Hall and Gardens, Roswell Architect Simone du Boise, Principal of Cadmus Construction, will be implementing restoration designs to integrate solar power into Mimosa Hall’s roofline. The new roof will feature thin solar panels (about the thickness of a credit card) that will provide 100% of the building's energy. Once the new roof is installed, Mimosa will be “The Oldest Net Zero Building in the United States,” enabling the property to generate as much energy as it consumes – saving the City of Roswell approximately $5,000 per year.
About the Historic Solar Panel
40 years ago on June 20, 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels on the White House roof, designed to use the sun as an energy source to heat hot water. In 1986 during a renovation, the panels were dismantled and placed in storage until 1991, when Unity College, America’s Environmental College in Unity, Maine, gave them a second life by refurbishing them and placing them atop the college’s cafeteria roof, where they heated water for many years until their own renovations.
Unity College now shares the Jimmy Carter Solar panels across the world, providing widespread awareness and promotion of alternative energy. The panels have been featured in various museums, including The Smithsonian and The Carter Library here in Georgia. Their story is also highlighted in A Road Not Taken (2010), a documentary by Swiss filmmakers Christina Hemauer and Roman Keller.
A viewing of A Road Not Taken will be hosted by the Carter Library and The Friends of Mimosa Hall & Garden on Tuesday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Carter Library. Join the Friends of Mimosa Hall to experience what Jimmy Carter believes is the “greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people – harnessing the power of the sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.”
Host: The Carter Library and Mimosa Hall & Friends
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 18, 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Carter Library - 441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30307
Admission: Free for all ages
About Mimosa Hall and Gardens: Mimosa Hall was built in 1841 as one of the first permanent homes in Roswell. In 1918, Atlanta architect J. Neel Reid purchased the property and installed 5 acres of formal gardens. Mimosa remained in private hands until 2017, when it was purchased by the City of Roswell. Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens is fundraising to help the City with the restoration of both the house and the Reid gardens. In August 2018, Friends of Mimosa was awarded the Historic Landscape Preservation grant from the Garden Club of Georgia to restore Reid’s reflecting pool. For more information, visit FriendsOfMimosa.org.
Opening Day!
The gardens officially opened on Earth Day - Monday, April 22nd - with a ribbon cutting ceremony! Restoration of the grounds is ongoing, but the gardens are now safe for visitors and available for rental. The grounds are currently open for rentals only, but the City intends to make the space open to the public on a regular basis soon.
A Successful Night!
Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens rang in 2019 with a festive Great Gatsby themed benefit gala. The event, held at the DoubleTree Hotel on Holcomb Bridge Road, joined together Roswell and Greater Atlanta citizens to generate excitement for the upcoming opening of the historic Roswell property.
The 5-acre gardens are expected to open in 2019. “We’re also planning to install a new roof,” explains Dr. Sara Harwood, Communications Director for Friends of Mimosa. “The funds raised from this gala will help us meet these goals.”
Architect Simone du Boise of Cadmus Construction will be implementing restoration designs for the property to integrate solar power into Mimosa Hall’s roofline; when completed Mimosa Hall will own the title as “The Oldest Net Zero Building in the United States!”
The gala featured live 10-piece band 120 East, who played a full set of both classics and contemporary hits. Other entertainment included a stand-up comedy routine by Todd Callen and speeches by event chair Michelle Slater, president Michael Harris, and former president Steve Gibson. Friends of Mimosa also presented two awards honoring Roswell citizens whose efforts have made a significant positive impact on the Historic District.
Ryan Pernice, owner of Table & Main and Osteria Mattone, past president of the Historic Roswell Business Association, and committee member for the Historic District Master Plan, was the recipient of the Phoenix Award.
Dotty Etris, retiring Executive Director of the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau and founder of the Chattahoochee Nature Center and the Hospitality Highway program, received the Champagne Toast award.
Costumed guests enjoyed posing with a 1935 Jaguar, parked at the hotel’s entrance for the evening. Feathers, beads, and a Great Gatsby photo booth further added to the ambiance of the roaring ‘20s.
Friends of Mimosa to Present Awards at NYE Gala
At our Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Gala, we will be presenting awards to honor two individuals who have made a significant positive impact on Roswell. Read our Press Release here.
Spring 2019 Internship
We are looking for an upper-level undergraduate or graduate student in History, English, American Studies, or a related field, to intern with us part-time in the Spring semester. For more information, please see the posting on our Volunteer page.
The Slave Dwelling Project Conference
Our Communications Director, Dr. Sara Harwood, will be speaking about Mimosa Hall at the 2018 Slave Dwelling Project Conference in Murfreesboro, TN this October. The Slave Dwelling Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, assists property owners in preserving and interpreting extant slave dwellings. The organization is well-known for operating "Overnight Stays" and interpretive programs in historic structures. The conference brings together stewards of historic properties, students, faculty, and practitioners of public history. Dr. Harwood is looking forward to sharing the research that she has done on the enslaved persons who lived at Mimosa Hall.
Mimosa Hall is going solar!
Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens is fundraising to install a proprietary thin-paneled solar roof on the house, which will lower the City of Roswell's energy bill by $5000/year and make Mimosa the oldest Net Zero building in the country.
Please CLICK HERE for more information on this exciting project!
Simone du Boise, the genius behind the roof design, spoke with Michael Litten on Ride the Vibe about the project and her background in architecture. CLICK HERE to listen.
Steve Gibson, the first president of Friends of Mimosa, spoke about the project on Yale Climate Connections. CLICK HERE to listen.
Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens release position papers.
To view each pdf, click on the following subject.
In April 2018, Friends of Mimosa appeared on WSB-TV's "Georgia's Hidden Treasures."
Click below to watch the clip!
Click below to hear Michelle Slater discuss Mimosa Hall & Gardens and The Friends on Positively Roswell Podcast.
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