August 21, 2008 WPI introduces eco-friendly dorm Play video

(Danica Pecirep, NECN: Worcester, MA) - For Keilin Bickar - a senior computer science major at WPI- moving back to school in the fall is rather routine. But this year one part of the equation is entirely new - the dorm he'll be living - is green.

I wouldn't say i choose it just because it was a green building but it was definitely a big part of why I came to this building.

Green buildings are those designed to use water and energy conservatively- and to have a limited impact on the environment. The new residence hall is the second building at WPI that was built this way- east hall is their first dorm.

Many aspects make the building unique - among them a roof made of plants that absorbs storm water - a heating and cooling system that adjusts when the windows are open and Bickar says in his first day there he's also noticed something else.

The toilets have dual flush action - it goes up for wet waste and down for solid waste and all the lights outside turn on as you get close to them and off as you move away.

School officials says the list of special features goes on- from fabrics to wood- almost everything inside and out is environmentally friendly. And going forward WPI plans to make all new buildings this way.

Its the right thing to do- its important to WPI and how we operate- it saves water and other resources- its responsible to the environment and its responsible to our community.

Worcester polytechnic is not the

only school in this area that’s making such changes. Clark university also has a green dorm and the college of the holy cross built their science complex this way.

Glenn D'alessio is an environmental science professor of at Worcester state - another local school working to be green. He teaches a course on green building and design technology.

All of North America is dealing in natural gas and oil production so there is a great interest in these courses.

Interest in a clean and cost affective way of living that some already enjoy.