New Location is Well Underway

An exciting evolutionary aspect of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Earth Center is the opportunity to demonstrate one of the most sustainable forms of energy production. The geothermal well drilled for the new site will provide the heating and cooling systems, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the building tremendously. In addition, rainwater collected on the roof will go down pipes in the columns and be collected in a cistern underground. This water will then be used to care for the landscape gardens. The original wooden floor has been restored to its natural pine, and the floor of the loft made with oak from ethically harvested trees. The paint used contains no toxic materials.

The new site is well situated on the grounds of Chestnut Hill College. Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark will work with the administration, faculty, staff and students of the College to integrate practices of and courses in sustainability and its connection to spirituality. The SSJ Earth Center provides a place to collect "best practices" in sustainability and to network in the Northwest Philadelphia Community with groups interested in delving more deeply into issues of sustainability and spirituality in the Wissahickon watershed bioregion. 

House of Loreto Reredos Preserved

The most precious pieces of the House of Loreto Chapel are the "reredos" and the Ebony Madonna which are preserved on the wall within the Earth Center. The wooden structure came directly from the original House of Loreto in Italy when it was replaced with a marble one.


The Ebony Madonna that was in the chapel also now resides within the reredos. The Church of St. Athanasius borrowed the statue and returned it with an exquisite bro- cade garb. This statue was placed in the original House of Loreto in Italy for a time prior to its transfer in 1897. 

Geothermal Well in Place and Working

One of the major environmentally sensitive features of the renovation is the installa- tion of a geothermal well for heating and cooling of the building. Already the geother- mal heating is at work.

A simple explanation of the principle behind the geothermal well is the use of the heat within the earth to heat the interior in winter and to cool it during the summer. This al- ternative form of energy use is a demonstration of what can be done to reduce the carbon footprint of burning oil or gas. 

Rainwater Captured and Reused

Rainwater that falls on the roof of the House of Loreto will flow through the columns to an un- derground cistern that will store the water for use on the grounds. A hose will be attached to the cistern for watering the gardens. This will assist in the mission of capturing rainwater to avoid erosion of soil and runoff into the Wissahickon.

The Philadelphia Water Department and the Wissahickon Watershed Alliance have worked hard to reduce the amount of water lost by poor drainage and impermeable paving.