Nation's First Green Room at UC Berkeley

Fri, Nov 18
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
None

1st Green Residence Hall Room at UC Berkeley, Tours on November 18th!

Students, staff, and the UC Berkeley campus community are getting =

fired up over the University's very first "Green" residence hall =

room. It is no wonder the "Green Room" attracted the attention of 85 =

students, faculty, and staff, including Chancellor Birgeneau and his =

cabinet, have visited the Green Room and why it has received =

university press. The "Green Room" is a demonstration project, =

equipped with products that promote sustainable living in a typical =

college residence hall room setting. It serves as an educational tool =

to increase awareness among incoming students of the importance of =

living sustainably and how their choices as consumers impact the =

environment and society around them. Additionally, it also =

demonstrates to students that they, in addition to being aware, can =

also live more sustainably on the austere student budget. Focusing =

on green building design, energy and water conservation, recycling, =

and waste reduction, the Green Room features Energy Star=AE rated =

lighting, electronics and appliances, eco-friendly personal care =

products, and more sustainable alternatives to the typical items that =

are purchased by residential students. Information about simple =

behavioral changes that can help conserve resources is also available.

The U.S. Department of Energy and Strategic Energy Innovations (an =

energy consulting nonprofit organization based in San Rafael, CA), =

initially proposed creating an Energy Star=AE residence hall =

demonstration to the University, and, staff and students on campus =

encouraged the University to move the project to the next shade of =

"green." The demonstration has transformed into a "Green Room" =

showcase by expanding its scope to encompass a more holistic approach =

to resource use and conservation.

Products, such as an Energy Star=AE rated compact refrigerator, TV, =

torchiere, and phone answering machine, help the University to save =

energy. Displays of environmentally friendly shampoos & =

conditioners, less eco-impacting laundry detergents, and facial =

tissues made of post-consumer recycled content are not only less =

hazardous to human health and the environment, but also teach =

students about the importance of environmentally preferable =

purchasing. Many of the products in the room were donated by local =

retailers, such as Berkeley ACE Hardware and Best Buy, or purchased =

from stores in the community, promoting support of local businesses. =

With additional collaboration and support from the UC Berkeley =

Residential Students Services Program, Students Sustainability =

Education Coordinators, and the Green Campus Program, the Green Room =

is helping the University community move towards a more sustainable =

future.

The Green Room, located in the Unit 1 Residence Hall complex, will be =

open for tours on November 18, 2005, from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Group =

tours for campus community members will be held every half-hour =

beginning at 1:00 PM, meeting in the complex's main courtyard. Tours =

will touch on the key concepts of green building design, overview of =

the various eco-friendly products incorporated into the room, and the =

simple steps students can make to live a modern, affordable, and =

comfortable lifestyle - while having a reduced impact on the =

environment. Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to see UC =

Berkeley's first Green Room demonstration showcase, and quite =

possibly the nation's very first! To reserve your spot on the =

interactive tours, which will continue to be held monthly throughout =

the academic year, please e-mail - =

spaces are limited to the campus community.

Venue:

Unit 1, Putnam Hall
2650 Durant Avenue
Berkeley



The tour begins in front of Unit 1's Putnam Hall.

Additional Info:

510-847-7624
http://GreenCampus.Berkeley.edu/GR.htm