Unity College has Competition!

The Impressive EcoDorm at Warren Wilson College.

Unity College, proudly sporting the slogan of “America’s Environmental College” should keep watch on tiny Warren Wilson College. While Unity House (the sustainable home with solar panels on its roof which you may have seen) is the abode to the UC president Mitchell Thomashow, it seems that WWC has an even more remarkable building. This school, located in Swannanoa, North Carolina, has the EcoDorm.

It is a residence hall with “green” at the very essence of its core. It has a rainwater-collection system, kitchen cabinets created from recycled fence-posts, a permaculture system, and composting toilets. Even the wood siding is eco-friendly: It was taken from trees on campus that were ill from pine-beetle infestation. The EcoDorm hosts 36 students “who have sworn off hair dryers and gravitate toward acoustic music.” They have linked their actions with their values -- something which Unity College students (myself included!) should acknowledge and admire.

Surprisingly, the EcoDorm produces almost two-thirds less electricity than a typical building of the same size would.

But the hype is not limited to just WWC. Nationally, colleges are aiming for sustainability and 600 schools have pledged to become carbon neutral. Approximately 90 residence halls are LEED certified, although EcoDorm is only one of two which has LEED’s platinum rating.

I am delighted that colleges nationwide are becoming more aware of environmental sustainability and are incorporating it into their housing. Perhaps in time there will not be only one “America’s environmental college”, but rather a collective of American environmental colleges! And UC, watch out; looks like you have competition!