September 15, 2005 Source: Mount Allison University: http://www.mta.ca/news/index.cgi?id=804 Mount Allison’s first sustainable residence comes to life — Open House set for Sept. 18 SACKVILLE, NB — One of Mount Allison’s oldest residences is getting a makeover — it’s going green. Carriage House, originally built in 1893, is the University’s first sustainable residence, housing seven environmentally-conscious students seeking to educate the entire community about living sustainably. House monitor Nik Basque, a fourth-year sociology student from Moncton, is thrilled to be a part of the project. Nik spent her summer in Sackville, employed as an environmental auditor by Mount Allison and working in the Sackville Community Garden. She feels this residence is a step in the right direction towards making campus more environmentally friendly. Residents are hoping that the facility will show people how they can make little changes in their home in order to live more sustainably. Nik explains, “One small change in the residence, that anyone can do in their home, is the installation of low-flow showerheads. Using these doesn’t mean we’ll get low water pressure. The showerheads have a ‘pause’ button you can use when you’re shampooing your hair, which will save hundreds of litres of water over the course of a year.” The seven residents will also be responsible for preparing many of their own meals in the house and will be making an experimental solar oven. “While this won’t be our main source for cooking, we are excited to have the option,” says Nik. “We’ve opted as a group to have a reduced meal plan at Jennings (Dining Hall). In turn, the staff has agreed to serve one to two meals a week made from local/organic ingredients and will also be serving JustUs fair trade coffee.” The Carriage House residents will also work with the Community Garden to harvest their own food. The sustainable residence initiative is overseen by a committee with student, faculty, staff, and town representatives. Residents are working closely with University facilities management staff and administrators in the establishment and implementation of this new initiative. An Open House will be held in the residence this Sunday, September 18 from 2-4 p.m. The Carriage House is located at 78 A York Street. The doors will be open for tours, and organic food from the Sackville Community Garden will be provided. This is your opportunity to find out what the project is all about, meet the folks who live in the house, and learn about what you can do to make your house more sustainable. —30— | 