Founded in 1856, St. Paul’s is one of only one six all-boarding schools in the United States. Approximately 520 students and 80 faculty members live for nine months each year at the co-educational school, which sits on more than 1,800 acres surrounding Turkey Pond and the Turkey River in Concord, NH.
Energy efficiency is now an integral part of life at St. Paul’s. In partnership with Unitil (electric) and National Grid (natural gas), the school strives to implement proven energy efficiency technologies without sacrificing functionality or maintainability. St Paul’s believes that one of their key obligations as an educational institution is to model responsible use of all resources and to make environmental sustainability a cultural value.
Older HID, incandescent and fluorescent lighting has been replaced with high-efficient fluorescents as well as updated HID and LED lighting where practical. The facilities staff is also continually replacing old inefficient windows as well as insulating and air sealing buildings. Occupancy controls have been installed in large areas across the campus where only a portion of the facility is used at a particular time. The school’s central boiler has been retrofit to accommodate natural gas as well as heating oil. Also, upgraded equipment and additional control points have been added to the school’s HVAC automation system. St Paul’s utilizes a Honeywell energy manager system that works in conjunction with Unitil’s web-based profile to alert facilities staff of any inconsistencies in energy use or larger problems. The school has seen a 1.5 million kWh reduction in energy use since 2006 and school officials have also seen reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and maintenance costs.
The school’s athletic facility (completed in 2009) and its new science center (currently under construction) have been designed to meet both ENERGY STAR™ and LEED standards. At the Hockey Center, ice temperature can now be controlled based on use and room temperature. This alone has reduced the Center’s electricity usage by 30 percent.
Environmental responsibility is a core value of the school’s Strategic Plan, which encourages teachers and staff to “practice and teach an ethical relationship between humanity and the rest of the natural world.”