Saint Meinrad Archabbey’s Path to 59% Reduction in Energy Costs
When people think of installing the latest energy innovations, the types of facilities may be ones like cutting-edge universities, office buildings for the tech sector, or other pillars of modern and sustainable industries. But in reality, the types of organizations that can stand to benefit the most from energy upgrades are those that have persisted in their space for many, many years. One shining example is the energy modernization project at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, a 170-year-old Benedictine monastery in rural Indiana.
In March 2024, Saint Meinrad kicked off phase two of an energy modernization project with partner Veregy, an NAESCO-accredited energy service company (ESCO). This is the second phase of a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC), expanding upon phase one upgrades, which were completed in 2022. Upon phase two completion, Saint Meinrad will generate enough on-site electricity to reduce purchased electricity by 59% and natural gas consumption by 32%.
The Sustainable Spirit of Saint Meinrad
Saint Meinrad’s establishment dates back to the 1850s, and the mission remains the same today as it did a century and a half ago: to operate as “a thriving community of Catholic, Benedictine monks who pray, work, and live together.” The facilities that comprise Saint Meinrad grew from simply a small farmhouse at origin into today, encompassing a 700,000-square-foot campus that serves to teach and mold individuals for priesthood and educate those ultimately pursuing graduate theology programs.
From the beginning, Saint Meinrad and its leaders aimed to be as self-sufficient as possible. Members were accustomed to growing their own crops, engaging in any necessary construction, and creating their own construction materials, from cutting timber to performing foundry and metalwork and producing their own bricks. This self-sufficient lifestyle also applies to the facility operations with their own on-site facilities team composed of licensed operators responsible for the campus’s building infrastructure and the community’s wastewater treatment facility. Such commitment to self-sustainability serves as a valuable testament to the spirit of those who have lived in and run the facility all these years; they have always made things work in whatever way was necessary.
The core tenets of those leading the Archabbey lent themselves perfectly to eventually adopting modern-day clean energy technology thanks to an inherent desire to reduce any negative impacts on the Earth while minimizing utility costs.