Portsmouth Abbey dorms are going green

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WPRI) - The Portsmouth Abbey School has always been at the forefront of environmental awareness and now the boarding school is building even bigger and better things.

Hybrid spray foam insulation is one of many things that will make the new dormitory at the Portsmouth Abbey ultra-green.

The copper roof will help keep down energy costs, and that's important when trying to heat and cool the soon-to-be 28,000 square foot dormitory.

Portsmouth Abbey's Director of Operations Paul Jestings says they expected to save a lot of money on the energy bill once this boy's dorm is up and running.

"As an average about a third less than a newer dorm of equal size."

The dorm will have touchless faucets which are already washing many hands in the girl's dormitory right next door. It was built about five-years-ago with the same green building practices, and the new dorm will be almost a carbon copy.

Students will be able to move in by the end of May or the beginning of June.