2021 Tours
East Plant, Notre Dame Campus
Tues., September 21, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Wed., September 22, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
The East Plant on the northeast edge of Notre Dame’s campus houses the mechanical equipment for the geothermal well fields located in the East Quad, the quad area south of McCourtney Hall and east of Hesburgh library, parking lots south of Notre Dame Stadium, and the Ricci Athletic Fields. During the tour, participants saw the 2,000-ton electric-driven chillers and a thermal energy storage tank with the capacity to store 2 million gallons of chilled water and learn how these geothermal energy systems enable the University to heat and cool water across campus.
Hydroelectric Plant, South Bend, IN
Thurs., September 23, 5:00 – 5:45 p.m.
Currently under construction by Notre Dame, a 2.5-megawatt hydroelectric generating plant is located below Seitz Park across from the Century Center in downtown South Bend. The plant will harness water from the St. Joseph River at the south end of Seitz Park and channel it as it drops about 13 feet into 10 hydro turbines just north of the dam. The power generated by the plant will move to campus via underground transmission lines, connect to the University just beyond Burke Golf Course, and produce enough electricity to supply about 7% of the University’s needs. Paul Kempf, assistant vice president of utilities and maintenance, led a short tour of the plant construction site and an explanation of the progress to-date and its projected completion.
St. Joseph Solar Farm, St. Joseph County, IN
Fri., September 24, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Owned and operated by Indiana and Michigan Power (I&M), a 20-megawatt St. Joseph Solar Farm sits on 210 acres of land that was formerly farmed by The Brothers of Holy Cross to feed students at Notre Dame. This is I&M's largest solar generating facility, containing nearly 58,000 First Solar Panels – enough panels to fill approximately 30 football fields – and providing enough energy to power ~2,700 homes annually. The University will support 40% of the renewable attributes of the facility. A representative from I&M led a tour and brief presentation about solar energy.
Homestead Dairy, Plymouth, IN
Mon., September 27, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Did you know that food waste from Notre Dame’s dining halls is broken down into a slurry by one of three Grind2Waste systems? This waste is then delivered to Homestead Dairy in Plymouth, Indiana, where a digester converts the food waste into biogas for use in generators, while the liquid byproduct is used as fertilizer and the solids become bedding for cows. Participants toured the farm and learned more about this important conversion process.
Portage Midtown Project
Wed., September 29, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Mike Keen, principal of Thrive Michiana LLC, led a tour of the Portage Midtown Project south of Notre Dame’s campus in the Near Northwest Neighborhood. Members of the Notre Dame community have been involved in improving this neighborhood based on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and prosperity. Participants learned about the New Energy Homes being built, as well as other sustainability initiatives.
Crossroads Solar, South Bend, IN
Thurs., September 30, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Former Notre Dame professor Pat Regan, now co-founder and CEO of Crossroads Solar, a solar panel manufacturing facility in South Bend, led a tour and presentation about the manufacturing process of solar panels and his philosophy on producing solar modules employing former felons.