Much has happened in the area of "greening" since Kermit the Frog first sang the woes of blending in, with his 1970's hit It's Not Easy Being Green. The world has changed drastically since then, as has the meaning of "green." Scientists have come to agree on the effects of human consumption on global ecosystems ... and the data are frightening and not easily ignored. Nationally, environmentalism has lost its radical connotations and finally joined the mainstream consciousness. Even the church now seems comfortable discussing sustainability and the need for balance between economy and ecology.
Much has happened in the area of "greening" since Kermit the Frog first sang the woes of blending in, with his 1970's hit It's Not Easy Being Green. The world has changed drastically since then, as has the meaning of "green." Scientists have come to agree on the effects of human consumption on global ecosystems ... and the data are frightening and not easily ignored. Nationally, environmentalism has lost its radical connotations and finally joined the mainstream consciousness. Even the church now seems comfortable discussing sustainability and the need for balance between economy and ecology. While faith communities of all varieties are joining this national conversation, many of the colleges and universities they founded have already moved from discussion to action. One such school is Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N. C. It originated in 1894 as a Presbyterian mission school to help uplift the people of rural Appalachia through education and modern agricultural training. Therein began the school's long, green journey. Throughout its history, the college has maintained a strong, well-informed relationship to the land it occupies. A Calvinist work ethic combined with the biblical concept of stewardship of creation have contributed to its becoming a national leader in campus greening. Now, with Environmental Studies the most popular major and the pastoral campus, the student body has driven the college to far exceed token environmentalism. The campus is now a laboratory for energy conservation and innovations in institutional sustainability. Construction and renovation Faced with tremendous growth in the 1990s, the college established "pattern language" principles for land use. A term coined by architect Christopher Allen, the principles of pattern language help communities look beyond the confines of individual projects and recognize the responsibilities to a greater good. With its Long Range Facilities Plan in place, Warren Wilson College has now become the first college or university in North Carolina to have a Gold Certified Building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The new administrative building uses half the energy of a normal building of equal size. Nationwide, only about 100 buildings -- only a handful on college campuses - have achieved the Gold LEED designation. In order to achieve a LEED-Gold certification, buildings must meet a prescribed number of standards in site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation. When asked what motivates the school to LEED-design all new building construction and renovation, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Larry Modlin stated, "It's the right thing to do. Our students come here planning to save the world. We have to do our part to live up to that goal ... we've got to build green." Before reaching for the gold, the college had already ventured into green building with an EcoDorm in 2003. The dormitory was to be a living laboratory for sustainability in residential life. To reside in the EcoDorm, students agree to forego smoking, use of blow dryers, and mini refrigerators. The front yard is landscaped with fruit and vegetable-producing plants and herbs, which the students tend to and consume. In 2004, Presbyterians for Restoring Creation awarded Warren Wilson College their Restoring Creation Award in response to this new concept. Liina Laufer, a senior EcoDorm resident, says of her experience, "One day I had this realization: I live in a concept! What was once a dream is now my reality. It's not just that I am surrounded by working examples of environmental design and technology; I am also surrounded by people who care enough to switch off the lights, compost their scraps, and turn the waste in the composting toilet. We inspire each other and share our ideas daily for living more healthy and sustainable lives." Getting off the grid This July, Warren Wilson became the first college or university in the southeast to offset all of its energy use with renewable energy credits (RECs). The conversion to green power is the result of a yearlong effort championed by students through independent study, research, and student support. According to one student's Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Warren Wilson's purchase of RECs to offset 100% of the college's energy usage effectively cut the college's greenhouse gas emissions by 47%. It is the equivalent of 6,686,563 miles not driven and 4.68 years that a diesel truck is not left idling. Higher education can make a difference in the global climate crisis, and exercising such leadership might just resonate back to the church. Julie Lehman is director of church relations at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C.
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