On the Hill

Sustainability and care for environment have been an important part of Saint Meinrad for a long time. Over 1,400 acres of the 2,025-acre Archabbey property are enrolled in the Classified Forest Program. Some of those acres have been enrolled since the 1920s when the program was first developed. The Archabbey has converted 384 acres into new forest land which is enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program through the United States Department of Agriculture to sustain wildlife, soil conservation, and water purity.

“Caring for nature is very Benedictine,” explains Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB. “It’s taking our gifts and continuing to be good responsible stewards.”

This spring, Saint Meinrad kicked off the second phase of a renewable energy project, building on previous projects that have been successful. A geothermal project was completed in 2016 to provide heating and cooling for the monastery.

In 2021, Saint Meinrad partnered with Johnson Melloh, who has been bought by Veregy, a National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) accredited decarbonization company, for the first phase of the project. Johnson Melloh did an audit of Saint Meinrad’s energy usage and suggested some opportunities to reduce it. A 1,180-kilowatt solar array was completed on about four acres along Indiana 545 and LED lighting was installed campus wide.

Energy costs continue to rise. Phase two of the project will result in a significant reduction in utility costs, give Saint Meinrad more control over the impact of rising energy costs, and further protect the environment by reducing the institution’s carbon footprint by 1,129 tons of CO2 annually.

“We’ve been very pleased with the savings that we have experienced so far, and want to continue to build on that,” says Archabbot Kurt. “These are investments for the future.”

Saint Meinrad brought Veregy back for phase two planning. The project will expand both the geothermal and solar projects. A recreation field on the south-west side of campus will have 273 wells installed for the geothermal field. The field will tie into the property’s central powerplant that will receive upgraded equipment.

A 704 kW solar array will be installed adjacent to the existing solar filed along Indiana 545. These two projects are projected to be complete by the end of the year and will generate enough electricity to reduce purchased electricity by 59% and natural gas consumption by 32%.

“Saint Meinrad has always had the earth at heart. We really want to do what we feel is best for the community itself, but also for the earth,” says Mark Hoffman, director of Physical Facilities for Saint Meinrad. “Renewable resources provide an opportunity where we can accomplish both. It reduces our energy costs as well as does wonderful things for the environment.”