Benedictine Nuns Move to New Eco-Convent
by Jorge Chapa, 05/27/09
For the past 171 years the Benedictine nuns of Conventus of Our Lady of Consolation in the UK have lived in an aging monastery afflicted with high maintenance costs and an inefficient heating system, however they recently made the move to a new environmentally friendly eco-convent. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the nuns’ new home in North York Moors National Park is constructed from locally sourced materials and boasts a variety of eco-friendly features including solar hot water heating and a rainwater recycling system.
The nuns decided to move from their old convent because of the aging building’s high maintenance costs and even higher environmental footprint. Whereas the old convent was heated with oil and gas, the new one uses a woodchip boiler fueled by locally sourced trees for heat, and a solar hot water boiler. In terms of building materials, the new convent was created using locally-sourced timber and stone.
Even more impressive is their water reuse system. The rainwater from the roof is collected and used to flush the toilets. The wastewater is then run through a completely natural reed bed system, similar to that of a natural pool. The anaerobic digestion from the system filters the water which is then used for landscaping.
+ Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Via Guardian UK
Photos by SWNS.com
