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Energy-Efficient and Renewable Energy Systems
 The Motherhouse had been exceptionally well-maintained over the last 70 years. In spite of that, the building systems ran into the end of their useful lives or, like the electrical system, were sized for different needs. The scope of the renovation included replacement of all building systems with the most energy-efficient systems possible.
Geothermal System
The decision to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources resulted in a geothermal system for heating and cooling the 376,000 square feet of the Motherhouse. Geothermal energy uses the Earth's temperature for heating and cooling. The 232-hole, closed-loop system provides efficient, renewable, and lower heating and cooling costs to the Motherhouse. The system takes advantage of the Earth's steady 55-degree underground temperature. Water that is constantly circulated through the 54 miles of pipe is warmed or cooled by the Earth. In essence, the Earth is being utilized as a large radiator.
By starting with the warmer heat source in the winter and cooler heat sink in the summer, a geothermal system provides significant energy savings as compared to conventional systems. In winter, the water is circulated through a heat pump and heat is extracted from the water. The cooler water will be recirculated to the field and warmed again by the Earth, thus completing the loop. An auxiliary boiler system provides supplementary heat on especially cold days. In the summer the process works in reverse. The water is circulated through the system and returned to the geothermal field at a high temperature, where it is again cooled. A chiller provides supplemental cooling as required.
Our system is one of the largest privately-funded geothermal fields in the country.
Energy Efficient Heating System
We incorporated a number of strategies to insure an energy efficient approach to heat. Heat recovery units are located throughout the building. Anti-scald shower and bath fittings protect residents from water that is too hot. We selected glazing to balance the need for light transmission with desired insulating and shading performance. We optimized HVAC system efficiently by avoiding the oversizing of plant equipment.
Energy Efficient Electrical Technologies
The intergration of energy technologies allowed us to achieve synergies not possible in a piecemeal approach.
In addition to the geothermal heating and cooling system, we also implemented electrical technologies to reduce the demand for electricity. These technologies include maximum use of daylight, high-performance lighting, compact fluorescent lighting, natural light control and programmed lighting.
Graywater Recycling System
We have dramatically reduced the consumption of fresh water and efficiently managed storm water through the utilization of water conservation and water management methods and technologies. Installing a graywater system for flushing toilets is one example of water conservation. In spite of adding 305 new bathrooms to the Motherhouse, using high-velocity, low-flow fixtures and fittings and a graywater flushing system, we have reduced overall fresh water consumption by 49.6 percent. In addition, the use of vegetated swales and wet meadows enables us to divert almost a million gallons of water per year from the municipal storm sewer system.
A separate piping system collects used water from sinks and showers in the Motherhouse. This is called "graywater." The pipes route the water to a constructed wetland on the campus. The constructed wetlands, mimicking nature's purification system, cleanse the graywater and recycle it back into the Motherhouse for flushing toilets.
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