Sustainable Campus Features

The College environment demonstrates sustainable living and enhances student learning.

• Recently renovated historical buildings and residence halls include sustainable features and have been retro-fitted often using recycled materials. The renovations reduce the College’s ecological footprint by offering better insulation, daylighting, occupancy sensors for lights, and low-flow toilets.
• 8,200 acres of forest and 1,200 acres, including the College farms, garden, and greenhouse are used to grow local foods and provide instruction in the agriculture and natural resources curriculum.
• A residential campus with 65 family housing apartments and 15 historic residence halls (most sustainably renovated) accommodates approximately 90% of all students on campus.
• The first ecological village (Ecovillage) in Kentucky, a student family housing complex, includes a state-of-the-art child care facility for 120 children, and models sustainable living. Ecovillage residences are designed to consume less energy and water (75%) than conventional housing.
• Lincoln Hall was the first Kentucky building certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It attained LEED Silver status.
• Recently renovated and historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant on College Square, partially staffed by student workers, is Kentucky’s first green hotel, having attained LEED Gold status.
• Central Plant built to LEED standards reduced ecological footprint of the College by reducing energy consumption and is a major factor in meeting the overall College goal of 45% less energy usage by 2015.