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Greetings friends,
If late last year had a theme, I’d say it was Breaking New Ground, as we made new and exciting developments in our journey toward creating a regenerative learning center.
As part of our commitment to energy efficiency and innovation, we conducted tests to assess the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling systems across our new campus. This cutting-edge technology utilizes the ground’s stable temperatures to regulate building temperatures efficiently. We received positive results, indicating our land may be suitable for this type of system. Want to dive deeper into these wells? (See what I did there?) Read here! Our next step will be to include these testing results in the design approach of the mechanical systems across the campus.
As we continue our designs, our focus is to create an energy-efficient environment that not only minimizes our ecological footprint, but also serves as a living laboratory for students and educators. By integrating and modeling advanced sustainable infrastructure, we aim to provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences that deepen understanding of environmental stewardship and inspire future leaders across our community.
In addition to the test wells, we were joined for 6 weeks by a dedicated Americorps team in November and December. Their enthusiasm and hard work helped us to break ground on new trails around the campus. These efforts enhance access to our property’s distinct natural areas and help us create new outdoor classrooms to enrich our educational programs.
Through innovative design and educational curricula, we are breaking new ground in more ways than one, and I look forward to sharing more updates as we progress. Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this transformative journey together.
Warmly,
Catey McClary
President & CEO
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
