Fraternities, sororities explore residential windmills
The UI campus isn’t the only Iowa City entity going green.
The university’s fraternities and sororities could also become more sustainable with the help of American Medical Student Association member Jim Curry’s involvement with the Clinton Global Initiative University.
At this time, Curry is the only individual to make a commitment to the initiative’s “College Currents” program. He’s directing a competition on campus among fraternities and sororities to design and build residential windmills to power their houses.
“I hold the overall managing position, put together resources, and make sure rules are fair,” said Curry, who noted he’s graduating soon and is “still trying to figure out what my role can be exactly.”
Though the project is scheduled to launch in August, he said, he still has a lot to do.
He met Wednesday night with students, community members, and greek residents to discuss interest in the initiative. Tonight, Curry will meet with the UI Panhellenic Association to discuss greek houses’ participation in the competition.
“It’s necessary to get them on board; the students are the only participants,” he said.
While Curry is urging greek residents to go green, some houses are, somewhat — such as a the new Alpha Chi Omega house. The original house was destroyed by a tornado in April 2006.
“Our committee used raw materials [for] our brick exterior from the local area to reduce damage done by importing materials from farther away,” said Lauren TeGrootenhuis, the chapter’s president.
All resources used to build the house came from within a 500-mile radius, she said.
Other green features include a mantelpiece made from a ginkgo in the front yard and high-efficiency lighting.
Liz Christiansen, the director of the UI Office of Sustainability, said there is plenty greek organizations can do to be greener.
“Monthly clothing exchanges are a cool idea,” she said. “Sometimes you get tired of something, so you can trade and get something that’s new to you.”
Christiansen’s other suggestions include carrying your own BPA-free water bottle and staying away from disposable products, especially Styrofoam.
The decision about greek involvement in Curry’s project rests with the Panhellenic Association.
“It’s not just for the current students,” he said. “It’s for those students coming in for the next three to four years.”
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