Our main building and headquarters, Blandin Hall, houses our offices and our dining hall. [one_half][separator headline=”h5″ title=”Dining Hall & Office Amenities:”]
- Large lakeside dining hall with huge stone fireplace and windows on three sides overlooking Grindstone Lake and woods
- Dining capacity for 205 people; meals are served buffet-style
- International hallway with large display cases handcrafted from Audubon Center of the North Woods sugar maple
- Nature Store featuring ACNW items (including our pure maple syrup), Minnesota merchandise, coffee, unique gifts and organic products
- Heated and cooled by our geothermal heat pump system
- Powered by our 31.4 kw solar photovoltaic system, 3.7 kw wind turbine and 7 solar hot water panels
- Wireless Internet and AV capabilities/equipment
- Available for groups, conferences, retreats, holiday parties and special occasions
[separator headline=”h5″ title=”Energy Conservation Improvements:”]
- 65 ton, 30 wells @ 206 feet deep Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pumps
- Variable Speed Drive for Geothermal pumps
- Automatic geothermal shutoff for outside air temp between 65 -75F
- Air Handler Exchangers control shutoff with manual override for 4 areas
- 31.2 kw of grid-tied Solar PV system feeding into Dorm and Dining Hall
- Exterior lighting switched from 13 w CFLs to 9 w LEDs
- 0.5 gpm aerators on hand washing sinks
- Weather stripping along exterior doorways
- Insulation of 16” blown cellulose in attic and eves
- Foam sealant around fireplace, wall joints, piping penetrations
- Switch from 32w fluorescent tube lights to 25 w
- High-efficiency cooler fans for walk-in cooler and freezer
- High Pressure, low water dish sprayer
- Motion light sensors in hallways and bathrooms
- Hand dryers as opposed to cloth or paper towels
- High-efficiency hand dryers
- LED lights in display cabinets (replacing 20 watt with 4 watt)
- Foam sealant around fireplace, wall joints, piping penetrations
- Passive Lighting in Dining Hall
- Receives surplus electricity from Crosby Dormitory
- 7 SW facing domestic solar hot water panels for kitchen and sinks
- Rain Garden and Rain Barrel[/one_half]
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