Motherhouse Renovation |
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Approximately three-fourths of the sisters residing at the Motherhouse require some level of supportive care. Total renovation of our home was urgently needed to care for them in a cost-effective and environmentally sound way Over the next two years, we replaced outdated and overburdened plumbing and electrical systems, reconfigured living space and made site improvements that preserve our beautiful historic building, enhance the comfort of residents and ensure our capacity for future service. In planning the renovation, we were mindful of the need to use our precious resources wisely and reverently. We chose to recycle and retain original furnishings wherever possible and to review the environmental impact of new products and materials before making purchase decisions. Similarly, we chose to install environmentally friendly electrical, plumbing and heating systems, such as gray water recycling and geothermal heating and cooling. We selected a design that not only meets our own immediate retirement needs, but also will be attractive and adaptable to the needs of others beyond the IHM Community. This gives us the option of some day offering long-term care to our families, friends and benefactors. Our commitment to use environmentally responsible, sustainable design in our home and campus became a model of development for the 21st century. It is our goal as educators to make use of this "living laboratory" to develop, refine and demonstrate Earth-restoring practices and systems. As we continue to build a model of sustainable community living on the Monroe Campus, we are creating an environment for new growth and learning. Convinced that the plight of the Earth is intimately connected to global poverty, violence and oppression, we commit our personal and communal efforts and resources to building sustainable community.
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Our vision for this project was rooted in our deepening awareness that all of life is intricately connected, and choices made by individuals, corporations and nations can have profound global influence. This understanding led us to define and model a lifestyle of "sustainable" community that nourishes life and fosters its capacity to flourish.