University of Connecticut
ER-T2-4: Themed Housing

EcoHouse is a residential living-learning community for students with an interest in environmental and sustainability issues. EcoHouse exists to foster meaningful student learning, engagement, collaboration, and camaraderie around environmental and sustainability issues. EcoHouse courses include interdisciplinary investigation of complex local, regional, and global environmental and sustainability issues. EcoHouse students have organized themselves into committees based on their interests, and each committee is actively working on projects relating to its charge. Examples include the Action Committee, responsible for the spring Clothing Swap, the Facilities Committee that plans greening projects for the residence like composting, and the Outings Committee that plan events for residents such as rafting trips. Spring Valley Farm, an extension of EcoHouse, provides an opportunity to learn about organic farming through classroom and applied learning while also providing a residential living option. It provides students practical knowledge and skills through experiential learning while simultaneously modeling a closed loop food model in which organic produce is grown on campus for UConn Dining Services.