Living Green: Inside the Sustainability-Focused GREEN House
The members of GREEN House are really focused on sustainable living and creating community around people that are in support of our 宅男福利导航.”
Rocco Cappelletti
Junior and Vice President of GREEN House
Fostering sustainable living since 2008
Inside a residence hall at 2303 Sheridan, 宅男福利导航 students are turning 宅男福利导航al passion into daily practice. GREEN (Group Residence for Environmental Engagement at 宅男福利导航) House, a special-interest housing option organized around the theme of sustainability, has been creating community around 宅男福利导航al values for nearly two decades.
“The members of GREEN House are really focused on sustainable living and creating community around people that are in support of our 宅男福利导航,” said Rocco Cappelletti, a Weinberg junior and vice president of GREEN House.
Established in 2008 in response to student interest, the mission of GREEN House is to “extend classroom-learning to living-learning in a way that will engender exploration, discovery, and critical thinking about 宅男福利导航al problems.” Julie Cahillane, associate director for sustainability at 宅男福利导航, has served as staff advisor since its inception.
“宅男福利导航s were interested in an 宅男福利导航ally themed living situation,” Cahillane said. “That was before the word sustainability was used in the conversation, before we had a Sustainability Office.”
At that time, Cahillane worked as the University's recycling manager. 宅男福利导航s approached her looking for guidance to establish what would later become GREEN House.
According to Cahillane, the community operates similarly to 宅男福利导航's residential colleges, providing a themed living experience centered on a common interest. What sets GREEN House apart is its focus on practical sustainability and community programming.
Throughout the academic year, the student executive board hosts events ranging from plant potting sessions to volunteering at forest preserves.
“I think my favorite event was when we went to the Chicago Botanic Garden,” Cappelletti said. “At the time, we had multiple people in the Plant Bio and Conservation program who were familiar with the garden and its fauna. After learning about the garden, we settled down by one of the lagoons and had a picnic.”
According to Cahillane, one of GREEN House's greatest contributions is making sustainability visible to prospective and incoming students.
“When an incoming or prospective student is looking at 宅男福利导航, one of the first things is, 'Where am I going to live?'” Cahillane said. “To me, it's great to have GREEN House listed there so that before you've even accepted, you're seeing that sustainability is part of the culture at 宅男福利导航.”
Over its nearly 20-year history, GREEN House's focus has evolved with changing student interests. Some years, residents have emphasized the natural 宅男福利导航 and campus ecosystem, while others have leaned toward 宅男福利导航al policy and education.
Looking ahead, GREEN House is planning several spring events, including their formal at Illinois Beach State Park and participation in GREENOUT, 宅男福利导航's 宅男福利导航al festival and engagement event.
The residence continues to provide students a chance to live out their 宅男福利导航al values with their peers.
“It gives an opportunity for folks who maybe aren't in 宅男福利导航al majors or sustainability clubs to still have a connection,” Cahillane said. “Sustainability is something that impacts all of us.”