Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living

Vision of the House

We envision taking an existing house on or near the UO campus and transforming it into a combined classroom space, living quarters, resource center, and research facility. This new campus resource would incorporate principles of environmental sustainability, economic feasibility, and applied research and teaching. This project would benefit numerous departments by creating additional classroom space, an interactive studio, dynamic research possibilities, and a place to foster interdepartmental collaboration.

Primary Goals

• Demonstrate low-impact life style choices and home design features to local community, students, and visitors (e.g., renewable energy production, sustainable methods of waste handling, water and energy conservation, food production, and urban land stewardship).
• Offer experiential learning experiences through regular classes, studios, workshops, and tours held at the facility.
• Function as a multi-faceted research facility for university faculty and students.
• Minimize non-renewable energy consumption to nearly zero.
• Maximize materials efficiency (e.g., using reclaimed, recyclable, and/or compostable construction materials, refurbishing building elements).
• Become water self-sufficient (i.e., via rainwater catchment, greywater recycling and high water efficiency systems).
• Demonstrate how low-environmental impact can intersect with aesthetically pleasing design options and economic affordability.