BOSTON -- An organization that helps Boston's homeless is going green.

NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported that a new, green $2.5 million building houses Project Place in Boston's South End. The 40-year-old not-for-profit organization helps some of Boston's homeless through job creation and training.

The agency aims to help sustain the lives of the nearly 1,000 clients while doing so in a sustainable building.

"The more money we could save in not using energy, using it efficiently, was the more money we could put towards programs. To me, that was a no brainer," said Suzanne Kenney, the executive director of Project Place.

The building contractors developed the sustainable initiatives, including a geothermal heating system. Two 1,500-foot wells tap into the constant temperature of the ground water, which is about 55 degrees, and uses it to heat the building in the winter and cools it in the summer.

"There are no emissions from a geothermal system. They're saving money on gas and electric. Those are the biggest savings," said Trane Heating manager Greg Anderson.

The building also saves energy by using a lot of natural light. Each room has a sensor that monitors the compact fluorescent bulbs. The carpets are made of recycled materials.

"We are in a position to create awareness that being green is a good thing. So when the floors squeak and people say, 'why do the floors squeak?' we tell them its rubber and this is a green building. We are able to raise people's consciousness about being green and being kinder to the environment," Kenney said.