Welcome to Saint Paul’s most sustainable community center

The 39kW solar system is projected to produce 47,000 kWh a year or 25% of the annual electric need of the building.

Cecilia Govrik, energy coordinator with the City of Saint Paul, is justifiably proud of the project. “This North End Community Center project was especially important because it represents the first new rooftop solar installation at a city-owned and operated facility since 2011. After a long hiatus, we’re excited to be adding new on-site solar to the City of Saint Paul’s portfolio which supports our climate plan goals and will help reduce our operational emissions.”

The solar component almost didn’t happen. 

Govrik explains. “Early in the construction of North End Community Center, the rooftop solar had to be removed from the project because of budget constraints – but the Solar on Public Buildings grant allowed the city to add the solar back into the project scope, so we really appreciated that additional financial support from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.”

The geothermal system utilizes 44 vertical bores that go 250 feet deep into the ground with a 60-ton water furnace. “North End was Saint Paul’s first new construction facility to incorporate geothermal in the design, since way back in 2014 when Arlington Hills Community Center was built,” says Govrik.

Those two systems, along with the use of sustainable building materials, and other energy and water-saving measures, is expected to result in energy savings of nearly 80%, and cost savings of more than $100,000 annually.

Govrik sees a bright future. “This the first City of Saint Paul building to include both a geothermal system for heating and cooling as well as on-site solar production, making it truly the most sustainable of our municipal facilities — but I do look forward to the day when I’ll be able to say it’s one of several Saint Paul buildings featuring both geothermal and solar.”