Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet Energy goals, actions and projects
Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet, Catalonia, Spain 1991: UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site (16 ha. entire monastic complex) located inside a natural protected area.
Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet: one of the largest monastic complexes in Western Europe still in use by a monastic community, of the same order who founded the monastery in 1151. One of the most perfect expressions of the Cistercian style that flowered in the 12 14th centuries.
HISTORY OF THE MONASTERY OF POBLET 12th century - Founded by the King of Aragon- Catalonia >> Crown of Aragon royal pantheon 13th -16th centuries - One of the largest and more influential Abbeys of Western Europe. 1835 - Confiscated by the liberal Spanish Government. Abandonment, plundering, forest over-exploitation, 1940 Renewal of monastic community life and management. Continuous restoration process until completion. 2007 Ecological conversion process.
Cistercian Gothic style: Sobriety Durability Elegance Functionality Minimalism but quite large volumes!
Inner courtyard and old dorms, nowadays library
Lavatory of the main cloister
Main church
Refectory
Chapter house
Library
Ecological conversion i) Applying environmental and social justice criteria in all of the Monastery s facilities, using both secular principles of sustainability and Christian Cistercian principles. ii) Effective protection of the rural landscape around and of quality in forest management, improving the ecological integrity and its standards of silence and beauty. iii) Outreach strategy aimed at educating visitors in environmental values to reduce their environmental impacts
Goal: Reduce all fossil fuels to the minimum feasible, replacing them with renewable energy sources to reduce both environmental and social negative impacts. Challenge: How to integrate renewal energy in a Cultural World Heritage Site included in a Natural Protected Area? 32 monks residents, 20 workers, +150,000 visitors per year
Generation of solar thermal energy with diverse solutions: concealed, well integrated installations to produce hot water in several buildings. Since 2007 a 50% reduction of fossil fuel consumption has been attained
Production of solar photovoltaic electricity in exterior lighting and the concealed flat roof of the Abbot Palace
Substitution of the old standard system for lighting the exterior walls during part of the night by a new highly efficient system that has reduced consumption by around 60% and eliminated most light pollution.
The new visitor reception and shop at the entrance of the monastic complex is a highly efficient building: heating and cooling based on aero-thermal energy, lamps and electric tools highly efficient.
Projects to increase energy production: a biochar plant for heating Project features: - consumes biomass obtained from local forest and agriculture residues. - Produces pellets that are burned to obtain heat energy - Produces biochar, used as fertilizer and for improving soil quality.
Projects to increase energy production: a new solar photovoltaic plant Project: generation of 250 kw of photovoltaic electricity in the outside parking area to achieve complete electricity self-sufficiency in the monastery. - Improve integration with landscape - Solve problems of pedestrian safety - Well integrated 2000 m 2 photovoltaic pergola.
A systemic approach to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions
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