Students played an important role in the design process by meeting with the Campus Facilities Master Plan Committee and the design team from Hammel Green and Abrahamson, Inc . One goal of the project was to reduce energy consumption by 40 percent compared to a typical project built to code. High efficiency lighting, motors and appliances are standard equipment. In addition to conserving energy, the building also creates some of its own with a 20 KW wind turbine, three separate photovoltaic arrays totaling 3.2 KW and a 14-panel solar water heating system. All apartments take advantage of passive solar heat and.
Water efficiency is also in the curriculum with low flow fixtures throughout the building.
Two apartments in the south wing include two waterless composting toilets as a demonstration. Building materials were selected for their environmental compatibility and ability to be recycled, and were acquired from local and regional sources to minimize the impact of heavy transportation on the environment. For example, cedar shake roofing was obtained from forests in the nearby Upper Peninsula of Michigan, instead of transporting it from the Atlantic coast. ELLC residents will take a special course in sustainable living to explore the environmental impacts of personal living habits. This building was first occupied in 1999.