1. “ In December 2001, the Felician Sisters began a total renovation of their seventy-year old Provincial House, which also includes Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School...” Stewardship Sustainability Conservation
2. “ 300 original hardwood doors and transoms refinished and re-hung…”
3. “ Over 1.5 acres of hardwood flooring lifted, cleaned and re-laid…” “ 2 miles of baseboard and wood trim removed, preserved and installed…”
4. “ over 275,000 pounds of ballast for the roof stockpiled and reused as underlayment for paving …” “ Materials that couldn't be saved were recycled or made available for others to reuse …”
5. “ Ceramic tile made of recycled glass from airplane windshields…” “ All carpeting made of recycled material…” “ linoleum is a composite of wood chips and linseed oil called Forbo, a rapidly renewable material…”
7. “ all new finishes were made from low emitting materials to preserve indoor air quality…” “ The perimeter of the building was studded out and insulated…” “ Insulation added to the "envelope" of the building to promote heat retention…” “ energy efficient systems for both lighting and heating installed…” “ The design maximizes the use of natural light; light bulbs used throughout the complex are low energy compact bulbs …”
8. “ solar hot water panels installed to aid in energy reduction…” “ a demonstration photovoltaic array on ground level generates electricity …” “ white reflective TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roof installed to reduce cooling load…”
9. “ All plants are selected from native species…” “ seven acres of newly planted meadow from an area previously maintained as lawn…”
10. Additional Improvements Include: • “ Lavatories that utilize faucets with sensors to conserve water; air hand-dryers installed to avoid paper waste; toilets are water-conserving "low flow" fixtures…” • “ 26,000-gallon rainwater cistern provides make-up water for the cooling tower…” • “ Barrels in the courtyards catch rainwater for reuse in watering plants…” • “ No-chemical or low-chemical paints and adhesives used in the renovation …” • “ Cleaning materials are mostly chemical-free and environmentally friendly…” • “ A superior ventilation system has greatly improved the quality of the indoor air…” • “ Vermi-composting system installed to convert pre-consumer kitchen waste and post-consumer cafeteria waste to provide nutrient-rich soil for the plants on site…”
11. Measureable Results: “ The architect achieved over a 30% reduction in energy consumption compared to a baseline model…” “ Extensive interviews with the Sisters regarding the occupancy schedule of the various spaces allowed the HVAC system to be reduced by 45 tons. ”… “ reported better health on the part of those suffering respiratory ailments…” “ The project now serves as a model for green renovation …” “ Exceeding ASHRAE 62-1989: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality…”