Berea, Ky. — Many features and programs will enable the 42,000-square-foot hall to save more than half on its energy bills.
Berea, Ky. — A residence hall has opened at Berea College that is being touted as one of the most sustainable student residence halls in the country. The hall was designed by Hastings + Chivetta architects with Hellmuth + Bicknese as the sustainable design consultant for the project. It is expected to generate utility bills that are 55 percent less than a hall of similar size. It has been designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Its green features include central geothermal heat pump, operable windows and ceiling fans with fan coil units that shut off automatically and a rooftop photovoltaic array that provides about 14 percent of the building’s power.
Though extensively equipped with energy-efficient technology, the hall, currently being called “Deep Green,” requires the participation of its 120 residents in order to conserve the most energy. A student focus group will set reduction targets, and a building dashboard monitors and records energy use and may be used in the future for intercollegiate energy-saving competitions. Founded by abolitionists, Berea is noted for being the first integrated, co-ed college in the South and for not charging students tuition in exchange for working ten to 15 hours per week on campus.