Sustainability @ RAD

One of RAD's core goals is to create a sustainable community that values, cultivates, and maintains its human, natural, and physical resources. We are moving forward in this goal through the projects and initiatives listed below and by encouraging student involvement in greening our campus.

Sustainability Housing Tool Shed
In the Sustainability Housing community gardens, RAD Services has erected a 7’ X 4’ X 8’ tool shed to be utilized by the campus community. The shed is made of salvaged and scrap wood from prior projects, costing almost nothing in cost of construction. Additionally the shed’s roof is made of sod – a Scandinavian building technique, where the roof is essentially ‘alive,’ covered with patches of grass and the thin layer of roots that holds the blades in the dirt. Patches of sod grow in a raised garden bed from the roof acting as a sponge, extending the roofs longevity dramatically. A living roof is also an effective insulator during colder seasons, keeping the tool shed warm through the winter. Aesthetically speaking, the Sod roof is a beautiful addition to any structure, and softens the transition between wooded and rural areas and the rough, sometimes obtrusive construction of a building. Furthermore, a Sod roof does not compromise habitats of insects living within the grass, as the sod continues to grow after being successfully transplanted.

Campus Barbeque Area and Cob Oven
Located between the HCC and F dorm to be utilized throughout the year. The area features rustic wood benches, a fire pit, and a tent to provide cover. Cob is a timeless building method utilizing clay, sand, and straw to make malleable bricks that are weather resistant and sturdy. The cob oven is lined with fire bricks and can heat up to 700° F.

Green Compost Tumblers
Located behind Sustainability Housing, these tumblers provide an alternate method to the management of composting. These tumblers are built to allow easier turning, aerating and mixing of its compostable contents. When turned on a constant basis, these compost tumblers can help speed the process of decomposition