CARRIAGE HOUSE SUSTAINABLE RESIDENCE INITIATIVE

The photo to the right (to come) shows the original group of folks dedicated to getting this project going. Starting in 2001, they planned, held workshops, met with architects, drew up a conceptual design (below) and laid all of the necessary groundwork for the plans to materialize.

The idea behind the project was to build an ecologically sound residence on campus for students to engage in sustainable living guided by the four principles of:

Reconnecting People, Staying Local, Harming Not, and Working Within an Evolving Context. The building would be constructed using energy-efficient technologies, drawing energy from renewable resources such as solar and wind power. Ultimately, the residence would be a place to utilize knowledge about “living lightly,” focusing on sustainable lifestyle habits such as growing your own food. A large organic garden would provide for fresh food, which would then be composted and used in the garden to grow more crops.

A lack of funding to construct the building halted the project’s progress. In 2004, another group of students, in collaboration with the Mount Allison Sustainable Residence Initiative Committee (MAUSRI), picked up where the others had left off, and decided that with a slight change of plans, the project could go ahead. Instead of building a new residence (which is costly and time consuming), they would plan to use an already existing structure. With the university’s go ahead, Carriage House (picture on the left to come) was chosen as the new site for the project. In September of 2005, seven students will move into the house. Even though the house does not seem structurally any different than other small residences on campus, those living in the house will live quite differently than in typical residence fashion. The students will demonstrate how easy it is to be conscious of our actions, to live a little lighter, and to consider our impact when making decisions. And while “living sustainably” is the focus of the project, it is a long term goal to have the building retrofitted with energy efficient technologies, incorporating many of the ideas of the original plan. The university has made a commitment that whatever energy savings are collected throughout the year, will go back into structural renovations for the house.

For now our main goal is to make CHSRI a comfortable space where the residents and our visitors can engage with sustainable living comfortably, learning from their surrounding environment and each other. So, to start we have been working closely with the administration at Mt. A to make CHSRI feel like home starting with the basics(i.e., comfy furniture, coat racks, clothes line: the works!)

Structurally, all showers will be equipped with water-saving low flow, pausable shower heads and toilets will be equipped with toilet dams.

A new fridge and freezer have been purchased, both of which have a high energy efficiency rating. The freezer will be used to store food prepared/purchased/harvested in bulk.

All light fixtures will be equipped with compact fluorescent/ T8 light bars to conserve energy, and programmable thermostats will be installed for individual heat control.

There will also be several recycling bins in the house, so that residents can follow the wet/dry waste program and sort their redeemables (plastics and glass). The house will also be experimenting with VERMICOMPOSTING, with the outcome of rich black earth to put back into the community garden, or their potted herb garden.

Food will be purchased as locally and organically as possible, through the local organic food cooperative, local farmer’s markets, as well as some provided by the Sackville Community Garden (where the residents participate in growing, harvesting, preserving and storing their own food).
The
Community
Garden*

*This project stems from the original planning of the sustainable residence where a garden would be planted on site to produce food for the house. In the summer of 2003, Micheala Beder and Kate Charuk (both pictured above) decided to make their portion of the sustainable residence project a priority by starting the Sackville Community Garden which still grows strong, providing food for the local Food Bank, and plots to community members who enjoy planting with folks of all ages! To get involved with the community garden, contact Nik Basque at nebsq@mta.ca

“Reconnecting People, Staying Local, Working Within An Evolving Context, Harming Not”

-Support the local food system! With the goal of eating low on the food chain, we will take into account: farming practices, labour practices, distance traveled, packaging, and seasonal availability. Our aim: support producers from the local area who produce food sustainably.
-We will be play an active role in the university community, sharing our ideas, and encouraging others to follow the principles of sustainable living.
-We will govern based on a structure of communal based decision making
-We will strive to bring our ideas to all of campus; being a model not a bubble!
-We will reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse!
-We will be conscious of the impact of all of our actions including decision making remembering that everything we do affects the earth.
-We will only use natural products that are better for our health and the health of the environment (no harsh chemicals or toxins).

*This is a draft. The philosophies of the house will be polished once all residents have moved in, gotten comfortable, and had a chance to give their input, as it is important to us that everyone participate in the process of outlining what our goals are.

Stay Tuned for news and events coming from Carriage in the Fall!

Please visit us anytime!!
We are located on York Street between Anchorage and Bermuda House.

For more information contact chsri@mta.ca