2008 Woodie Awards
UMaine to get greener village
Students call for 'eco-charette'
Sam Cohen
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News
"A green housing option will complement existing programs perfectly. Engineering here is so good, it's ironic we're not more sustainable," Cooper said.
York Village was built in the 1970s to serve as upper-level student housing. The buildings used electric heating, had poor insulation and were inefficient, according to Jeff Hake, who will be a student facilitator at the eco-charrette.
"It's the most inefficient building the school could possibly have and we're trying to make it the most efficient building on campus. This isn't something that could happen all over campus but it's a great model for what can be done," Hake said.
Community members are assisting the project as well, according to Markides. As a part of the Hope Festival on Saturday the president of the Maine Solar Energy Association, Richard Komp, gave a presentation on solar energy from inside one of the York Village units. Komp shared pictures and ideas from his own solar powered house and suggested that they could be applied to the project.
"Projects like this attract innovative minds," Markides said. "Students will be raising the money and implementing ideas with the guidance of these minds."
Markides is trying to make this into as much of a student endeavor as possible. "This project is very empowering for students because it will give them lifelong skills. Students are not just sitting in class taking notes, they will be implementing ideas," she said.
Markides encourages any interested students to attend the eco-charrette's open session which will be 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. April 22 in the Recreation Center.
York Village was built in the 1970s to serve as upper-level student housing. The buildings used electric heating, had poor insulation and were inefficient, according to Jeff Hake, who will be a student facilitator at the eco-charrette.
"It's the most inefficient building the school could possibly have and we're trying to make it the most efficient building on campus. This isn't something that could happen all over campus but it's a great model for what can be done," Hake said.
Community members are assisting the project as well, according to Markides. As a part of the Hope Festival on Saturday the president of the Maine Solar Energy Association, Richard Komp, gave a presentation on solar energy from inside one of the York Village units. Komp shared pictures and ideas from his own solar powered house and suggested that they could be applied to the project.
"Projects like this attract innovative minds," Markides said. "Students will be raising the money and implementing ideas with the guidance of these minds."
Markides is trying to make this into as much of a student endeavor as possible. "This project is very empowering for students because it will give them lifelong skills. Students are not just sitting in class taking notes, they will be implementing ideas," she said.
Markides encourages any interested students to attend the eco-charrette's open session which will be 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. April 22 in the Recreation Center.
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