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Tours

1. Campus and Town Tours

   • Sustainability Tour

     Tour some of Grinnell College's sustainability efforts.

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     1. Utility-Scale Solar Installation

        The College will purchase renewable electricity from Iowa-based Trusted Energy, which is building a 4-megawatt solar installation on 18 acres of farmland adjacent to campus.
        
        It’s expected to supply 30% of campus electricity and reduce the College’s carbon footprint by 18%. 

     2. Athletic Field Prairies

        Native prairie plantings are used for wildlife and runoff filtration.

     3. Football Field Irrigation

        Rainwater and HVAC condensation is collected from the Field House and used to irrigate the football field.

     4. Bear Athletics Center

        Energy efficiencies include:

        • geothermal heating and cooling of the natatorium (pool building)
        • carbon dioxide sensors to correlate ventilation rates with actual occupancy
        • heat recovery from exhaust air
        • rainwater collection to supply all of the irrigation necessary for the football field and to flush a number of toilets

     5. Bear Geothermal Well Field

        One of four well fields, this one services the Bear Center natatorium and supplies heating and cooling. 
        
        It is located between the Bear Center and the Black Cultural Center.

     6. Boiler Plant

        Efficient practices include monitoring exhaust to ensure most efficient combustion and a reverse osmosis machine that removes minerals from city water before entering the steam system.

     7. Mac Field Geothermal Well Field

        The well field beneath Mac Field provides heating and cooling to the Humanities and Social Studies Center and the Admission and Student Financial Services building.

     8. East Campus Residence Halls

        Built from Iowa limestone, these residence halls were the first to be added to a centralized building automation system, which allows for setting permissible temperature ranges. Window sensors turn off heating and cooling to rooms when windows are open.

     9. Electric Vehicle Charging: Students, East Campus

        Two electric vehicle charging stations are provided for students.

     10. Residence Hall Renovations (one per summer)

         Renovations typically include:

         • all LED lighting
         • updating control system to set temperature restrictions
         • water fountains with water bottle fillers
         • new windows

     11. Rosenfield Center

         Energy practices include:

         • CFL and LED lighting
         • daylight controls
         • white reflective roof
         • a heat recovery system that recovers exhausted heat from HVAC, refrigerators, and coolers and also heats incoming fresh air during the winter. 

         Food waste from the dining hall is collected, processed, and delivered to a local farm.

     12. Electric Vehicle Charging: Staff, Noyce Science Center

         Two electric vehicle charging stations are provided for staff with electric vehicles.

     13. Noyce Science Center

         Energy-saving technologies include:

         • heat reclamation
         • a white reflective roof
         • variable frequency sash hoods with occupancy sensors. 

         A rainwater collection system provides irrigation water for the greenhouse.

     14. Humanities and Social Studies Center

         • A geothermal system heats and cools the center. 
         • All lighting is LED. 
         • Extensive occupancy sensors are tied to lighting, heating, and cooling. 
         • Rainwater is collected for flushing toilets and irrigation. 
         • Excess stormwater is addressed via a bioswale system. 
         • A green roof will be installed on a portion of the building.

         
         

     15. Admissions and Student Financial Services

         • A geothermal system heats and cools the building. 
         • Most lighting is LED.
         • Bioswales, permeable parking, and a small green roof address stormwater.
         • Visitors can use an electric vehicle charging station.

     16. Electric Vehicle Charging: Visitors, Admission and Student Financial Services

         Two electric vehicle charging stations are provided for visitors in the Admission and Student Financial Services parking lot.
         

     17. Campus Garden

         The Grinnell College Garden provides locally-sourced food as a demonstration of self-reliance.

     18. Solar Array for Car Charging Station and Student Housing

         This 17 kilowatt solar array provides power to the nearby electric car charging station as well as 100% of the electricity for the student house at 1128 East St.

     19. Electric Vehicle Charging: Students, South Campus

         Two electric vehicle charging stations are provided for students with electric vehicles.

     20. Preschool

         Energy saving highlights include:

         • a geothermal system
         • a 3.36 KW solar array
         • daylighting sensors
         • occupancy sensors controlling lighting and HVAC systems
         • in-floor heating
         • efficient lighting
         • heat recovery from exhausted air
         • energy star appliances
         • and dual flush toilets

     21. Facilities Management Offices

         Two solar installations provide electricity for the office and warehouse. The warehouse installation generates 70% of the building's electricity.

     22. Old Glove Factory

         A 50kw solar installation provides 14% of the building's electricity.

     23. CERA Environmental Education Center

         Energy efficient technologies include: geothermal heating and cooling daylighting and daylight sensors occupancy sensors 50 kilowatt wind turbine that produces most of the energy for the building Water conservation efforts include: rainwater collection for toilet flushing and greenhouse irrigation dual flush low flow toilets Additional elements include: local and recycled building materials low VOC paints native landscaping