As mentioned previously, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, was bestowed with The Georgia Conservancy’s top honor of “Conservationist of the Year”. Late last month 2nd Green Revolution met with several members of the University’s community who work in the area of sustainability.

Since the beginning of the decade, the university has commissioned buildings that capture rainwater for irrigation and include greywater systems. Emory University uses the triple bottom line to evaluate their sustainability measures. Dean Jordan in the Office of Sustainability, working with Director Ciannat Howett provided an overview of Emory’s sustainability directives. Mr. Jordan stated that the University has the greatest LEED certified square footage of any campus in North America. In addition, he alluded to the 3 organic gardens on campus. These plots serve as the visual cue of Emory’s biggest push in the area of food procurement: the “goal of 75 percent local or sustainably grown food in the hospitals and cafeterias by 2015.”

One example of the steps that Emory has taken is the construction of two new residence halls which opened up this past fall. A member of the Residence Life staff, who lives and works in one of the new dormitories led a tour of the building. Ignatius Few Hall, which is currently in the midst of a review for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, replaced an older dormitory across the street. Located in the middle of campus, Few Hall adds to the walkability of the campus. In addition, a bike sharing program allows residents to ride around campus. Few Hall has several other green features. A solar powered pump recirculates captured rainwater through the building for use in the toilets. The floor is a terrazo installation made of bottles that were collected on campus. Students can manipulate the temperature in individual rooms within a narrow range (70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit), which helps conserve energy. Perhaps the most innovative piece is the interactive power display in the lobby. (These can be seen by clicking here, then selecting either New Turman, Means or Few Residence Hall). Residents, who had to apply specifically to live in the building, can monitor the building’s electricity, water, and gas usage in comparison to other dormitories.

Emory University has come a long way toward making its campus more sustainable and is now recognized as a leader in the field. The school is willing to discuss, experiment, and then take action on new and sometimes bold ideas in order to make the campus more environmentally and pedestrian friendly. Such a philosophy also instills a sense of community and teaches students that they can have an impact. Much of the progress over the years can be traced back to Professor Peggy Barlett, the progenitor of the movement and long time Anthropology professor. Ms. Barlett was largely responsible for bringing Ms. Howett to campus and coalescing the movement. From humble beginnings, Emory’s sustainability initiatives have grown to positively affect the entire campus and are increasingly held up as a model for other communities to emulate.

- 2nd Green Revolution