To Help Care for the Earth, an Indiana Seminary Turned to Geothermal Energy and Efficiency

The Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana has significantly reduced its carbon footprint and energy costs through a series of sustainable upgrades. Central to these efforts was the 2007 completion of a 31,500 square foot library, which became the first LEED-certified theological library in North America by utilizing a ground-source geothermal heat pump system and other high-performance design elements. Between 2013 and 2022, the seminary decreased its annual energy consumption by approximately two-thirds by implementing recommendations from an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit, replacing outdated 1950s boilers with fuel-efficient models, and installing two solar arrays (50-kW and 80-kW) that have offset over 320 tons of carbon emissions.

• The seminary's library, completed in 2007, achieved LEED Gold status and was the first LEED-certified theological library in North America. It utilizes a ground-source heat pump system across four acres with 63 wells in a closed-loop structure to provide heating and cooling without natural gas.
• The seminary reduced its annual energy consumption by about two-thirds between 2013 and 2022. This was achieved by following an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit and EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager analysis, which led to the installation of occupancy sensors, efficient lighting, and new HVAC systems.
• The seminary replaced two 1950s cast iron boilers with new units that are 50 percent more efficient, resulting in annual fuel savings of over $5,000. The project cost $37,000 and utilized rebates from Indiana Michigan Power.
• Two solar installations have provided significant financial and environmental benefits: a 50-kW system completed in 2017 and an 80-kW rooftop system commissioned in 2020. Together, they have offset more than 320 tons of carbon emissions and generated $82,000 in savings.
• To support the geothermal infrastructure and regional biodiversity, the seminary planted 20 acres of prairie grasses, including six acres specifically next to the library to protect geothermal loops from ground compaction.

APA

Yañez-Barnuevo, M. (2023). To Help Care for the Earth, an Indiana Seminary Turned to Geothermal Energy and Efficiency. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/to-help-care-for-the-earth-an-indiana-seminary-turned-to-geothermal-energy-and-efficiency

Chicago

Yañez-Barnuevo, Miguel. To Help Care for the Earth, an Indiana Seminary Turned to Geothermal Energy and Efficiency. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2023. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/to-help-care-for-the-earth-an-indiana-seminary-turned-to-geothermal-energy-and-efficiency.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yañez-Barnuevo |first1=Miguel |title=To Help Care for the Earth, an Indiana Seminary Turned to Geothermal Energy and Efficiency |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=2 March 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/to-help-care-for-the-earth-an-indiana-seminary-turned-to-geothermal-energy-and-efficiency |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaezbarnuevo2023help, author = {Yañez-Barnuevo, Miguel}, title = {{To Help Care for the Earth, an Indiana Seminary Turned to Geothermal Energy and Efficiency}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/to-help-care-for-the-earth-an-indiana-seminary-turned-to-geothermal-energy-and-efficiency}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }