I am often frustrated by the inability of the theoretical world of academia to apply classroom concepts to real world practices. However, I feel that the UEP program excels in overcoming this educational barrier. For this reason I am excited by the prospect of getting involved with the new sustainability house. Establishing a themed house offers students the ability to practice environmental principles in their daily life by given them a means to take a hands on approach in “greening” their living space and building environmentally friendly living habits. This is not a new concept, as sustainability houses or related campus housing programs are common throughout the country. A quick google search yields results from a multitude of schools that have supported similar housing projects.
Universities and institutions of higher learning need to be leaders in the environmental movement, and I feel these kinds of houses are one of the most interesting ways in which this is being accomplished. The strongest asset involved with these projects is the level of student participation. Instead of an institutional green initiative or any kind of related environmental measure on campus, a project like this is driven by the students and yields visible results for those involved. I’m excited to be a part of the almost endless possibilities that have been opened up through the establishment of the sustainability house.
the challenge will be involving the broader oxy community in the house, and/or having students living there be green ambassadors of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI was actually just reading an article about a green-living house at Luther College in Iowa, and I thought that they had some pretty interesting ideas. To quote the article, "The purpose of the house will be to develop projects and research initiatives that will enhance a collective living experience and spread the principals of sustainability to the campus and greater community through outreach education." The residents will essentially be green ambassadors who promote green-living throughout campus. I think if the residents of the house held rallies in the quad and educated groups of students in ways to live green, the house will become more visible. I believe the article also discusses how the residents will set up a blog that keeps track of what they're doing in the house to live green. If the residents of Oxy's house did something like this and included pictures and tutorials, as well as a daily update on how the house is performing, I think the house can gain popularity among the student body. A running blog on the school's main page could really be an interesting way to keep students up-to-date and to keep the spotlight on the house. The more self-promotion the house does, the better off the house will be. Here is a link to the article: http://www.decorahnewspapers.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=13&ArticleID=21510&TM=13362.38
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