Sherman Hospital, teachers talk geothermal energy
In an effort to increase community collaboration related to green technologies in the Fox Valley, the Sherman Hospital Auxiliary will host an Institute Day for 100 Kane County high school teachers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Sherman Hospital.
The program will focus on the fundamentals of geothermal energy, using Sherman’s 15-acre geothermal lake as an educational tool.
The day will bring together presenters and participants from Elgin Area Unit District 46, Community Unit District 300, Elgin Community College and Judson University.
Following opening remarks from Sherman Health President and CEO Rick Floyd, teachers will learn the principles of geothermal energy, tour Sherman’s geothermal lake system with its engineering team, take part in a panel discussion with geothermal experts and create lesson plans to take back to the classroom.
Teachers will also have the chance to win a fully funded field trip to tour Sherman’s geothermal system.
“By educating teachers, we hope to help them see Sherman as a local example of alternative energy application that they can use with their students,” says Sharon Jakle, president of the Sherman Hospital Auxiliary. “Our goal is to increase the number of community members who will be able to use Sherman as an educational resource.”
In the future, the Sherman Hospital Auxiliary plans to host field trips for classes from across Kane County, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs, Scout troops and other community agencies.
The auxiliary also plans to involve high school and junior high school teachers in future professional development sessions, and plans to develop a cadre of docents to lead school and community visits.
Sherman Hospital’s 15-acre geothermal lake is the only geothermal lake at a hospital in Illinois and one of only two lakes currently cooling and heating medical centers in the U.S.
The lake is the main energy source for Sherman Hospital. In addition to saving an estimated $1 million per year in energy costs, the energy produced by the lake is a renewable resource that does not create greenhouse gases or pollution.