By Elizabeth Putfark
UnCommon Student Housing, a new 120-unit student housing complex in Eugene, Oregon has earned its LEED Gold Certification, marking it as one of a growing number of green housing alternatives in student living around the country.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification program run by the US Green Building Council that recognizes building projects that are energy and resource conscious. To qualify, projects must satisfy a series of prerequisites, after which they are awarded points based on their efficiency standards and efforts toward sustainability which contribute to their overall rating. The gold rating is second on the overall scale which ranges from Certified up to Platinum.
UnCommon was recently developed by CA Student Housing and marks the first LEED certified project in CA’s portfolio.
Project designer Shepley Bulfinch took the environmental angle one step further by blending high-end conveniences with inspirations from nature. UnCommon’s lobby and exterior boast a mix of fiber cement, cedar, metal and stucco that suggests organic movement, while its interior and exterior gardens and fireplace lounge offer students luxury and comfort that still feels like the great outdoors. The complex is located directly on a major bus route which also offers plentiful bike parking.
The LEED Gold Certified project opened its doors this year and expects to see a 43 percent energy consumption reduction compared to complexes of similar scale.
Close to the University of Oregon, UnCommon matches and represents the increasing ecological awareness of millennial students, and more specifically residents of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon ranked fourth in the nation in CNBC’s 2014 list of America’s Greenest States, while nearby Washington took the top spot.
As the green movement picks up speed, many expect to see more efforts on the part of student housing builders to obtain certifications from programs like LEED, reducing their ecological footprint and satisfying their millennial client base all at the same time.
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2 Comments. Leave new
Now I want to pack my bags and be a student living in Oregon! I wonder how much the monthly utilities will be, or if it is added to an all-inclusive pricing.
UnCommon Student Housing sounds like a great inspiration to other college housing and a wonderful way to help students stay green! Adding (if not already included) a community garden area and/or a way to compost and recycle onsite would help even more.
Additional green tips for students:
-take notes electronically or recycle any notes at the end of the semester that you had to take on paper
-walk to class (great for you and the environment)
-bring snacks to avoid buying unhealthy options or food at a place that uses a lot of packaging