07/24/2026
On the outside, this looks like the beginnings of a wildflower field on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana.
And it is!
It's just also a 500-ton geothermal well field.
For generations, the Sisters of St. Benedict have been dedicated stewards of their beautiful campus. To support that mission, they invested in a more sustainable future.
Since February 2026, a new geothermal system has been reducing energy use, lowering the campus's carbon footprint, and significantly decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. Rather than replacing every heating and cooling system on campus, our team carefully evaluated existing infrastructure and integrated geothermal with established chilled water and heating hot water systems. This approach maximized the value of existing assets while helping keep costs under control.
Implementing a modern geothermal system within an active, established campus required thoughtful planning and a phased construction approach to keep operations running smoothly throughout the project.
One of the biggest improvements isn't something you can see—it's something you can no longer hear. By replacing two aging cooling towers with underground geothermal wells, the campus is now significantly quieter, creating a more peaceful environment and opening opportunities for greater use of outdoor spaces.
This collaborative effort between our mechanical, electrical, and architectural teams transformed a collection of aging systems into a more unified, efficient, and sustainable solution that will serve the sisters for years to come.
