For students interested in reducing their carbon footprint on campus, the Environmental Studies Department has proposed a sustainable living program house for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Susan Clayton, chair of the environmental studies department, posed the question, ìWhat changes can we make in the structure of our living arrangements that will reduce our impact on the environment?”
While the details of the program house are not finalized, Clayton said that ideally the house would be retrofitted to include ìmore insulation, low-flow shower heads, solar panels and possibly a rain garden.” Also, the house will receive yearly environmental upgrades: ìThis year weíll try and propose some things to start with the hope that every year there will be new ideas,” said Clayton.
A dedicated group of four to five students is currently investigating the environmental possibilities.† Emily Graham í12 stated, ìAlthough weíve only just started, the students working on the committee are all enthusiastic, and Iím confident that weíll have a strong proposal ready before the end of this academic year.”
However, the College may have to deny some of the studentsí ideas because of lack of funding. Clayton said that The Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) has provided a few hundred dollars to help prepare a proposal, but the budget for the program house has not yet been approved by President Cornwell. To cover costs of the environmental projects, Clayton believes that, ì$10,000-$20,000 might be a reasonable amount.”
Clayton and Erin Leonardi, associate director of residence life, decided that typically eight students would be the maximum number of residents allowed in the house.
Clayton hopes that the sustainable-living program house will become a demonstration for the campus: ìI would like to think of this house as being a place to test out things that could then be expanded to the rest of the campus.”
The development teamís next meeting is Friday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. in the first floor lounge of Morgan Hall.† Students interested in the program house can contact Susan Clayton at sclayton@wooster.edu.