This past fall, a year after its renovations were complete, hill dormitory Henderson House was given the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, the same certification bestowed upon New House when it opened in 2003.

At first glance, Henderson's exterior looks as it did when it was originally constructed in 1918, despite the addition of an extra floor. Nevertheless, the project that converted Henderson from an ordinary dormitory into a green one involved gutting the building, removing everything except for the exterior walls. The inside of Henderson can now house 60, instead of 40, students, and features such amenities as a kitchen, fitness room, and recreational room.

"I heard horror stories," said Cat Schaberg, a Henderson resident assistant (RA) and CFA senior, of the original Henderson building. However, Schaberg is very happy to be part of the Henderson community. "I really lucked out being part of SCHWA [Scobell, Henderson, and Welch Houses]…. It's a really nice place to live."

"I love it," said Jim Grasmeder, a Henderson resident and CIT first-year. "None of these [other] dorms come even close."

Henderson is also home to the Wellness Housing program, which focuses on healthy living for its residents. In addition to staying substance-free, Henderson residents are expected to participate in health education programs in the dormitory and through other on-campus organizations. These requirements are outlined in the Wellness Housing Agreement, which residents sign to live in Henderson.

"It's a little quieter here than other dorms," Grasmeder said, attributing that fact to the Wellness Housing program. Depending on where his friends live next year, Grasmeder said he'd "definitely be right here" in Henderson again.

The contruction of New House and Henderson House is hardly the end of Carnegie Mellon's plans for environmentally friendly building projects.

According to Green Practices co-chair Dave Dzombak, the 1998 strategic planning for the University's growth spurred more involvement on campus for Green Practices and the establishment of a new level of dedication toward environmentally progressive programs and buildings.

"The LEED standards have been officially adopted into the university design guidelines," said Barb Kviz, also co-chair of Green Practices. Facilities Management Services has incorporated the basic facets for the LEED certification, such as purchasing building materials from local suppliers and designing buildings that reduce water use and light pollution, into the procedures for all future new building and major renovation projects.

"The popularity of … designing for LEED is increasing throughout the country," said Dzombak.

One example of the growing number of LEED projects is the Solar Decathlon, a house-building contest sponsored by the Department of Energy. CFA junior Rosemary Lapka, who has been an RA in Henderson for the past two years, is involved with Pittsburgh's Solar Decathlon team, "Pittsburgh Synergy."

With students from Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Synergy will be competing in mid-October against 18 other teams, which are also comprised of college students. Each team will design, build, and transport a solar-powered home to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where the homes will form a temporary "solar village."

Lapka finds the University's dedication to environmentally friendly building projects encouraging, but thinks there is always more that could be done.

"LEED is a good system, but it isn't the end all, be all – I think it's a good start," Lapka explained. "We should always be challenging ourselves to do more."

New House Housefellow M. Shernell Smith feels that subtly encouraging residents to think more about the environment is effective, even through simple methods such as providing every room with a recycling bin in addition to a trash can.

"We don't put environmentalism in your face, it just becomes a way of life," Smith said. Smith believes that many of her residents who leave New House after their first year serve as "ambassadors for the environment" around campus.

New House hosts a variety of programs that reflects its environmental focus and encourages its residents and other community members to be environmentally aware. A recent example is the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research providing New House with a grant to sponsor small luncheons, featuring locally grown organic food products, for students, faculty, and staff to discuss environmental issues. 

Smith has high hopes for similar environmental programs in Henderson House.

"Because they have a smaller community of people, I think they'll be able to do even more intimate programming," said Smith.

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