With more students living on campus than ever before, the University of Arizona recently added more than 1,000 rooms in two new dorms to its campus. And one older dorm has been closed for renovation.
Residence Live Director Jim Van Arsdel says the two new halls were built to support the concept of students living and studying together. But they also were built with new technology that will help save both energy and the environment.
Both buildings are sustainable with solar/thermal panels to generate electricity. One dorm features a building dashboard, which Van Arsdel says is a TV that shows the building's current use of utilities.
Along with housing, one of the new dorms has conference spacing, where some honors classes will be taught that will link-up students in other countries that are taking the same course at the same time.
The University of Arizona isn't the only college campus that's committed to getting greener - more than 670 colleges and universities have pledged to reduce their carbon footprints as part of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. Many have started implementing eco-friendly (and cost-friendly) trends including green rooftops, bio diesel transportation, natural lighting, solar power, recycled building materials, natural ventilation, water recycling systems, adapted old buildings and sustainable landscaping.
Copyright 2011 America Now. All rights reserved.
Allcontent ©Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and KAIT, aRaycom Media Station.
