2/21/2008
Renbrook's Board of Trustees gave a green light recently to a plan to use geothermal technology to heat and cool the school's new Library and Technology Center, now under construction. Drilling has already been completed on the 14 - 350' deep holes that will provide access to the underground heat.

In a geothermal system, heat from the ground is captured and used to heat the building in the winter. During the summer, excess heat in the building is collected through the same system, and transferred back to the ground. In the future, the system could also be used to heat the school's swimming pools.

This "green" technology eliminates the need for heating oil. It has the advantages of significantly lowering the costs for operating the building and using a renewable and nonpolluting resource in place of oil.

Of course, the school is taking advantage of this as a teaching opportunity. Bill Kindl, Director of Operations, and Headmistress Jane Shipp have been visiting classrooms to teach kids about the technology and explain its importance in terms of its sustainability and economic value.