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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.
 In keeping with our Franciscan values, including care for all of
creation, and desiring to be responsible stewards of the resources
given to us by God's loving providence, the Sisters determined to
renovate the building in an environmentally-conscious manner, following
"green design principles."
The school wing was completed in January 2003, and the chapel and
convent wings of the building were ready for occupancy in late August
2003.
Green design means using design and construction practices
that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings
on both environment and occupants in five general areas. Here are
some of the features of our renovated building and site that demonstrate
its "green" character.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy
• New energy efficient windows were installed
• Insulation was added to the "envelope" of the building
to promote heat retention
• A white reflective TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roof was
installed to reduce cooling load
• Solar panels atop the roof help to heat hot water for the
complex; a demonstration photovoltaic array on ground level generates
electricity
• The design maximizes the use of natural light; light bulbs
used throughout the complex are low energy compact bulbs
Safeguarding water and water efficiency
• Lavatories utilize faucets with sensors to conserve water;
air hand-dryers were installed to avoid paper waste; toilets are
water-conserving "low flow" fixtures
• A 26,000-gallon rainwater cistern provides make-up water
for the cooling tower
• Barrels in the courtyards catch rainwater for reuse in watering
plants
• Seven acres of the campus acreage has been returned to natural
meadow to reduce pollution caused by lawn-mowing
Indoors environmental quality
• No-chemical or low-chemical paints and adhesives were 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
Sustainable Site Planning
• A vermi-composting system has been installed to convert pre-consumer
kitchen waste and post-consumer cafeteria waste to provide nutrient-rich
soil for the plants on our site
• A compost heap for grass clippings, weeds, and other yard
waste has been established
• A comprehensive recycling plan has been initiated in the
convent and adjoining school; materials to be recycled are newspapers,
office paper, magazines, catalogs, glass, plastic, and aluminum
Conservation and reuse of materials
• Many elements of the original building were saved and reinstalled,
including 1.5 acres of hardwood flooring, 2 miles of baseboard and
wood trim, and over 200 doors and transoms
• Materials that couldn't be saved were recycled or made available
for others to reuse
• All carpeting was made of recycled material, as was the ceramic
tile which is made of recycled glass from airplane windshields;
linoleum is a composite of wood chips and linseed oil called Forbo,
a rapidly renewable material
• Many new furnishings are made from recycled materials, such
as chairs in the library which were made from old seat belts
Programs of education about the environmentally sound practices
implemented in our building renovation have been undertaken for
the Sisters who reside here, for the students and staff of the high
school, and for the general public. These include recycling, "green"
cleaning, and energy conservation.
Since initiating work, we have received many awards for following green design principles. These include:
2003 - Finalist in the green design category of the annual Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards sponsored by Dominion and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council
2003 - Associated Builders and Contractors Western Pennsylvania Chapter, Award of Merit for Historical Renovation
2004 - Environmental Design and Construction, Excellence in Design Awards
2004 - Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) Northeast Green Building Design Awards, First Place - Places to Live
2004 - American Institute of Architects - Pittsburgh Chapter, Green Design Citation
2005 - Boston Society of Architects, Sustainable Design Award
2005 - National Association of Home Builders - National Green Building Awards - Green Project of the Year: Affordable Multifamily
2006 - Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future - Green Building Award
2006 - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - LEED Gold Rating Award
See the following Web sites for more information.
• Our building: Northeast
Sustainable Energy Association
• "Green building": U.S.
Green Building Council
• Energy conservation: Conservation
Consultants, Inc.
• Our building: dcd.com
• Green Pittsburgh:
PittsburghGreenStory.org
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