Self-sustaining student housing proposal
Environmentally friendly and economically sound

February 27, 2004
by Beth Walton
Staff Reporter

A small group of environmentally friendly, eco-conscious, tree-hugging, recycling greens are on a mission to save the planet--or at least a small corner of Albion.

Members of the Institute for the Study of the Environment are in the process of writing a proposal to create an ecologically sustainable house that would combine a cooperative living situation, green technology, and educational research. In other words, an environmental guru’s dream haven - complete with solar panels, wind towers, a compost heap, and the opportunity to use rainwater and harvest organic foods.

On an Institute for the Study of the Environment trip last spring to Chesapeake Bay, Lacey Doucet, Huntington Woods junior, remembered speaking with her classmates. “We were thinking about the green state of the college and how it could be more green,” she said. “We thought, wouldn’t it be great if we had a house where people could live, research and learn in a sustainable living situation?”

The Eco-House/Research Center would be a gathering place for the Institute for the members of the Study of the Environment, ecology club meetings, environment related art projects, FURSCA research, and a living-learning community model for the campus. Members would also hold educational sessions and demonstrations for the community, showing ways to implement green technology while reducing living costs.

Students in the environmental history class, taught by Wesley Dick, professor of history, wrote a brief proposal and sketch of ideas last fall. Elizabeth Bastien, Waterford senior, Taki Johnson, Novi senior, and Doucet summarized their findings, creating a document to present to Albion College staff, faculty, administrators , and community members for support.

“Continuing advancements in green technology in the house would allow for a good recruitment tool for both the Institute for the Study of the Environment and the campus itself that would potentially be able to attract a diverse student body,” the proposal claimed. “Implementing green technology into a house will not only save money and incorporate ideas from the classroom but it will also promote team/departmental cooperation.”

After presenting their ideas to residential life and the administration, the students were told that there wasn’t any annex space for them currently, and to be patient.

“The college does not have space available,” said Sally Walker, dean of students. “It doesn’t mean we never will; we are continuing to explore options. But for next year I just don’t know of anything. They are going to have to have a house that they can renovate. They want solar panels, space for gardening, it is a more specific request. For now we need to just keep the proposal alive. You never know when something will become available.”

If their proposal is successful the students would have to work with residential life and the administration to create their proposed Co-Ed Eco-House/Research Center. For now though Doucet and Eric Mackres, Manchester sophomore, are less worried about the house and more worried about their vision.

“People keep telling us don’t worry about the details now, worry about selling to concept,” Doucet said.

Members of the Institute for the Study of the Enviorment continue to meet with advisors looking for ways to raise enough money to possibly buy their own house and produce a more detailed proposal.

“Financing is our biggest deal,” Mackres said. The students are trying to negotiate with Guardian Industries and other Albion businesses as sources of funding.

“We are trying hard to develop some sort of fundraising idea where we raise so much money and college could match us,” Mackres said. “Everyone tells us getting the first dollar is always the hardest.”

Doucet and Mackres hope that FURSCA research this summer could lead to a finished proposal by August and an implementation of plans within the next two years.

“The proposal is really the catalyst,” Mackres said. “That and we hope to keep recruiting more people, to keep people involved and updated.” The students have been careful to get younger students involved saying that they have some really interested first-years that are committed to their idea.

Currently the college has very few specialized living situations. Organizers hope their Eco-House/Research Center can be similar to existing college themed annexes such as the Men’s Christian Living House, Dean Hall, The Coffee House and Goodrich Club.

“That’s what is so exciting about it,” said Douglas White, professor of biology. “For the Institute for the Study of the Environment students, they are getting the chance to implement the ideas they are excited about, and that adds to the spirit of the institution.”