Antioch College Sustainability Tour

The Wellness Center was renovated to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Some features include: geothermal building heating and cooling, LED lighting, sustainable materials, and a UV pool filtration system. The solar cell-phone charging station is free and available for all to use.

Before we begin this sustainability tour, take a moment to check out the solar-powered charging station outside of the Wellness Center. This station was funded by the Ohio EPA OEEF grant and is free for all to use. To prepare for this digital self-guided tour, feel free to give your phone or other device a boost of power, straight from the sun! Since solar energy is a renewable resource, this is an eco-friendly method of charging your devices, making this sunny patio a great spot for studying or winding down after a visit to the Wellness Center. 

The Wellness Center at Antioch College  is one of the campus learning hubs where community members can engage in a range of activities and classes. Facilities include a competition length indoor pool and therapeutic spa, a gym, dance/yoga studios, indoor and outdoor courts, and spaces to gather in community. The Center offers classes such as yoga, jiu jitsu, spinning, zumba, and more. 

The Wellness Center strives to support the health of our community as well as the environment. This is exemplified by the building’s LEED gold certified status.  “LEED-certified buildings are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. LEED is a holistic system that doesn’t simply focus on one building element, such as energy, water or health. Instead, it looks at the big picture, factoring in all critical elements that work together to create the best building possible” (https://www.usgbc.org/leed) Some of the features that led to this recognition include: 

• The campus central geothermal plant (learn more in Stop #2) provides heating and cooling for the building. The sizing of the mechanical systems has been carefully considered to meet user needs without being overdesigned. Buildings with swimming pools are extremely energy intensive not only because of heating the pool water, but because of dehumidifying the air in and around the pool space. Dehumidifying the average pool generates tremendous amounts of heat from the mechanical dehumidifiers. The heat from the central geothermal plant along with waste heat from the pool dehumidification unit will be used to heat the pool water instead of using natural gas or electric energy. Thus, there is no natural gas used in the Wellness Center, which is highly unusual compared to the average pool/gym facility in the US. Heat from the central geothermal plant will also be used to pre-heat the domestic hot water in the building.  
• The landscaping to the north of the building incorporates a rain garden area to reduce the amount of storm water runoff and to remove pollutants from the runoff before it leaves the site. The storm water system also employs dry wells to allow runoff to return to the ground in the area of the building in a controlled fashion instead of potentially overwhelming the municipal storm water system and/or flooding the campus, which has happened numerous times in the past.  
• Bike racks have been installed near the entrances to the building to encourage users to ride their bikes to the Center.  
• The new rubberized roofing on the building is a white, highly reflective roof to avoid creating a “heat island” effect and helps keep the building cooler during summer months, thus lowering cooling energy costs. 
•  The amount of water used in the building will be reduced by 20-40% when compared with a similar non-LEED building. This is achieved through thoughtful design and the use of low-flow fixtures throughout the building. The landscaping installed will not require permanent irrigation, further reducing water usage.  
• The pool utilizes UV light and a small amount of chlorine (as per Ohio Codes). UV-light dramatically reduces chlorine use and other chemicals, very eco-friendly, requiring less energy to run the pool and reduces water consumption by not having to control combined chlorine levels by dilution and backwashing (like a typical chlorine pool) 
•  Large, high volume fans have been installed in the gym spaces to increase the efficiency of the mechanical systems and help to de-stratify the room air. 
•  Lighting in the building utilizes energy efficient LED or fluorescent fixtures and will be controlled by occupancy sensors and programmable timers to further reduce energy use.  
• Daylighting strategies have been employed in the pool-room to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting.  
• Demolished materials were recycled instead of placed in a landfill. New materials in the building like steel, concrete, carpet and flooring were made using high amounts of recycled materials and from local manufacturers to reduce energy used in transportation to the site. Wood used for the project is certified as harvested sustainably.  
• The building’s systems have been designed to ensure the delivery of fresh air into the building.  
• All materials used in the building from paints to carpeting were low-emitting or no emitting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The building was “flushed out” prior to occupancy to remove any harmful compounds that may have accumulated during construction. 
•  The larger gym spaces have operable windows to allow for additional outdoor air on demand.

With its color-coded pipes and ‘circulation system’ visible through the windows, this building houses the geothermal, renewable energy system that helps heat and cool buildings on this side of campus. This system reduces our reliance on fossil fuel energy. 

In very simple terms, the geothermal central plant system at Antioch uses the constant temperature of the earth below the surface to provide the energy for heating and cooling all year long. The field next to the central plant has been drilled with 150 wells each 300 feet deep. This installation is a closed loop system of piping that circulates water up through the wells and into the central power plant and then pumped again through all the buildings on campus.

 During the summer months, the water from the earth is about 52 degrees and is circulated from the deep wells into the central power plant where large and efficient mechanical chillers lower the ground water temperature even further. The colder water is then pumped into each building on the campus where it absorbs heat from the mechanical systems as it cools the space. The effect of this absorption is to cool the building. The warmed water from the buildings then circulated back through the well field where it loses heat to the earth, which maintains a relatively steady temperature year round. The chillers operate more efficiently since much of the cooling work is already done by Mother Nature in the ground through the geothermal wells.

 In the winter months the system is reversed. The large mechanical installation in the central power plant essentially acts as a heat pump to boost the water temperature above the underground temperature of 52 degrees, further heating the water, which is then circulated back through the campus buildings. As with the cooling cycle, the heat pumps operate much more efficiently as a result of the pre-heating work already done underground in the geothermal wells.

Early in Antioch College’s existence, there were few trees on its campus. The historic photo below was taken around 1860, showing Main Hall and both North and South Halls flanking the “castle”. 

Contrast that to today, 150 years later, now Antioch’s campus is covered with mature and young and growing forests. The presence of forest cover at Antioch has been the result of many years of people planting trees and very deliberate decisions to allow forest to regrow. Now our campus forests contain some very large-diameter trees like the grove of Bur Oaks behind the Arts and Sciences building.

Students and faculty enjoy classes outside, especially in fall. Antiochians, community members and visitors to Yellow Springs walk on campus and enjoy forest bathing and the wildlife and understory plants in our forests. Leaves from campus trees are used in Farm compost, and the large Bur Oak acorns are food for people and animals. Our campus forests provide many ecosystem benefits like: cooling shade, sequestering carbon, and stormwater infiltration.

Our Antioch Farm provides fresh, local food for our campus dining program. Antioch’s Farm has seasonal gardens, hoop houses, perennial crops, native plants and a food forest. Students and community members can take classes and volunteer to work on the Farm. Many aspects of the farm and food production are incorporated into academic courses and workshops.  

The Antioch Farm  is sometimes referred to as a “living laboratory” where ideas can be explored and put into practice. It’s a place to learn about the many elements of a healthy farm such as compost, soil health, pest management, ecological agriculture, growing and harvesting local food that is enjoyed fresh in the dining hall. The farm also has opportunities to learn about social enterprise, as it develops its Community Supported Agriculture and other revenue generating initiatives. 

Conventional large-scale agricultural practices have a myriad of negative environmental impacts such as soil degradation, excessive pesticide use, and deforestation. Many small farms like the one on campus are prioritizing regenerative methods of agriculture that aim to work with nature rather than against it. Some of these practices include low-till methods, collecting rainwater, on-site composting, agroforestry, and growing green fertilizers such as alfalfa, comfrey, and stinging nettle, rather than using petroleum-derived fertilizers. 

On just a few small acres, the Antioch Farm crew is able to produce thousands of pounds of produce each year to feed the campus community. With the farm just a quick walk or golf cart ride away from the kitchens, the college has reduced their dependence on commercially grown produce and herbs that might require an airplane and a semi truck (thus, lots of fossil fuel) to reach its destination. 

Career opportunities: regenerative farmer, local-food social entrepreneur, farm-to-table chef

The Arts and Sciences building (‘ASB’) was constructed in 1930 and renovated to LEED Silver standards in 2014. This academic building houses and integrates Arts and Sciences classes, labs and studios at Antioch.  To obtain LEED silver certification, this renovation features many green design features like: geothermal powered heating and cooling, sustainable materials, ‘green’ hoods in the chemistry labs, and more.

Two academic pathways that are anchored in ASB are Sustainability and Environment and Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice.  Many students blend the arts and the sciences in their academic programs, as creativity and imagination are at the core of both areas.

On some areas of campus, mowing is kept to a minimum intentionally. Our low-mow areas encourage pollinators and other wildlife. Mowing less also builds organic matter in the soil and reduces our carbon footprint. Areas of the campus are planted in native plants to encourage biodiversity. 

Walking around Antioch’s campus, one might notice some areas of seemingly “overgrown” vegetation. This sustainability tour aims to provide an explanation for this intentional stewardship that often gets misinterpreted as messy or poor land management. The rapid decline of pollinating insects and other wildlife is a major ecological issue globally. We need pollinators to keep ecosystems and food crops healthy, but as more and more natural spaces are cleared for infrastructure and agriculture agriculture, these vital creatures are running out of spaces to live, reproduce, and find food. By allowing grasses and other flowering plants to grow tall enough to bloom, Antioch College is providing important pollen, nectar, and habitat for insects, birds, and small mammals, strengthening the overall ecosystem on campus. 

Take a look at the diversity of life in these areas. Do you see any insects or flowers that you probably wouldn’t see in a regularly mowed lawn?

Another benefit to this ecological approach is the reduction of fossil fuels utilized for mowing and weed-whacking. While some may see it as unkempt or unprofessional, Antioch is challenging these social constructs of what a landscape “should” look like. The campus still maintains areas of more manicured grounds and lawns for recreation, but we strive to be intentional about how we are caring for the land. 

Career opportunities: native plant horticulturist, botanist, etymologist, land steward

In 2011, the campus landscape master plan was designed to allow native forests to regrow on parts of campus that had been mowed as turfgrass previously. In addition to eliminating fossil fuel maintenance, sequestering carbon, and increasing biodiversity, these areas and much of the campus landscapes are used for education and recreation. 

Antioch College is committed to intentional stewardship of the land. Rather than having massive patches of  turfgrass, some areas have been designated as reforestation zones, where trees and other vegetation are encouraged to grow. Forested landscapes provide many benefits for the ecosystem. They provide crucial habitat and sustenance for native wildlife, which is incredibly important in this era of mass extinction and biodiversity loss. What kinds of critters can you sport in these reforestation zones? 

Trees are also what are called carbon sinks. They store carbon, one of the main greenhouse gases contributing to climate change and related crises. 

Career opportunities: carbon consultant, forester, native plant grower

Next to Penell House, the student-run Apothecary Garden features native plants, including some that have medicinal value. In 1948, the much-loved Birch Hall dorm was designed by Eero Saarinen, the world-famous architect who designed the St. Louis arch.

Since its creation in 2016, this garden has been an important gathering place for students and community members interested in land stewardship, native plants, and medicinal herbs. This medicine wheel garden is home to a variety of native and non-native pollinator and medicinal plants. The garden seeks to honor the land that nurtures us and the deep history of land-stewardship in this region. It’s a space for foraging, learning, and celebrating as a community rooted in care for the land and its inhabitants. The garden teaches about the labor, collaboration, and intentionality required to care for a tiny yet abundant space, which can be applied to caring for our planet as a whole. 

Career opportunities: herbal practitioner, community organizer, gardening teacher, land justice activist

When renovation was completed in 2011, North Hall was the second oldest dorm in the country to earn LEED-Gold certification. This building is a showcase for renewable energy: it has its own geothermal field and rooftop solar panels. Energy use can be monitored on each floor of the dorm, and the building was renovated with green building materials. 

Originally built in 1852, North Hall became the one of the two oldest buildings in the U.S. (the other is the US Treasury Building in Washington DC) to achieve a LEED Gold status. North Hall is a model for what we wanted to accomplish across campus in our master plan, focusing on a well-built sustainable design and achieving significant long-term energy savings.  First heated by coal, then by natural gas, North Hall is now heated and cooled exclusively through a geothermal ground source heat pump. The 25 geothermal wells that service the building are beneath the ground in front of North Hall on the Morgan Place Horseshoe.

Geothermal wells make use of the steady temperature beneath the Earth’s surface to allow for highly efficient heating and air conditioning.  The solar panels on the south-facing roof can generate 50,000 watts on a sunny day, offsetting some of the energy used in the building for lights, appliances, and the pumps and fans associated with the geothermal system.  The original 1852 design of the building did not include insulation between the brick exterior and the interior room spaces, making rooms hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Insulation has now been placed in the outer walls and also in the attic, improving the comfort of  the space while saving substantial energy.

High efficiency lighting is installed throughout the building, including ultra-high efficiency T-5 fluorescent lights in the hallway. Closets and bathrooms are on occupancy sensors and corridor lights are on timers that cut back 50% at night. Faucets, showerheads, and toilets are designed to work effectively and efficiently while using as little water as possible. Water coming off the roof gutters flows into underground wells, rather than increasing surface runoff, and creating potential for flooding and erosion.  Results: North Hall energy costs are about $0.95/square foot. While this is not much less than Birch Hall, keep in mind Birch’s dependence on the market price of natural gas is not the case with North Hall which uses no natural gas, but only electric energy. Historically, electric energy costs have not fluctuated like natural gas; plus 12% of the electric at North Hall comes from the solar power plant on the roof, which costs nothing (other than the original installation costs). Note: The savings from the sustainable investments at North Hall compared to a comparable Ohio commercial building equal about $49,000 per year: The simple annual return on the incremental investment of about $400,000 for North Hall is a little more than 11% annually. This 11% is substantially more than what the Dow Jones Industrial Stock Average has returned in the last dozen years, and is much more than what Antioch has earned on its cash portion of endowment.

Career opportunities: sustainable architect, environmental consultant 

Constructed in 1853 and renovated in 2010, South Hall is one of the trio of original campus buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Antioch College Admissions and the Herndon Gallery are located on the entry level of this building. One of our academic focus areas is Sustainability and Environment. Learn more about our academic programs and community creativity in South Hall.