With Peabody House, Proctor Academy's new dormitory for 16 students and two faculty apartments, the school brings to life and ties together a history and growing commitment of stewardship to resources and the environment.Proctor has a long history of environment connection and awareness through projects such as the school's woodlot and efforts to become carbon neutral.
With Peabody House, Proctor brings a system of responsible efficiencies to bear on community living. Peabody Hall will benefit from superior insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, electronic window management and boilers that can consume both oil and wood chips.
Headmaster Mike Henriques explains, "We teach by example. These investments in ecological sustainability are ultimately cost-effective for the school."
You can read more about it on Chuck's Corner, a blog written by Chuck Will, a long time Proctor faculty member. Checkout the Concord Monitor's coverage here and here.
Photo credit: Proctor Academy
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Hey, thanks for featuring this. You have a very cool site here! One clarification: while the school's central steam plant is being converted to a biomass (wood chip) furnace, Peabody House could not be linked due to granite ledge. That ledge did provide the opportunity for the six, 500-foot geothermal wells that preheat (and precool, in summer) air, but the furnace is a high-efficiency propane burner. While on the topic, five dorms are heated with wood burning furnaces, and the cordwood comes from the school's 2700-acre woodlot.
All wood for the furnaces is provided by the Proctor Academy Woods Team. Word on the street is that theyre the best woods team ever.
Thanks for comment. It's great to learn that a construction hurdle such as the granite ledge actually provided a larger scale opportunity. How great are the energy savings with the geothermal wells?
What's the work program like- full regular student involvement? Tell us a bit about the Woods Team. Love to learn more.