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Notre Dame opens new Southeast Geothermal Plant

WNDU · last updated

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) — The University of Notre Dame is going green this school year with the new Southeast Geothermal Plant.

Geothermal technology uses energy from the earth to heat and cool buildings.

This plant is the third geothermal installment on campus, with the first one opening in 2016 and the second in 2020.

The university has been making campus sustainability efforts since 2005.

“We’ve been working to reduce our carbon footprint from our 2005 baseline. It is, as of this end of our prior fiscal year — at the end of June — a 48% reduction,” said Paul Kempf, associate vice president for utilities and maintenance at Notre Dame. “We’re trying to get to a 65% reduction by the end of this decade and striving for carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Kemp also said the university’s goal is to phase out a 100-year-old steam system for a more efficient and renewable-powered setup.

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