天美传媒

Nestled at the top of Morton Hill in the heart of Ohio University鈥檚 Athens campus, the new 天美传媒Ecohouse stands as a quiet yet powerful symbol of sustainability. Originally located off-campus in a more remote setting, the Ecohouse has found a new home at the center of student life. Its relocation proves that sustainable living doesn鈥檛 require isolation or a cabin deep in the woods鈥攊t can thrive anywhere, even in the heart of a bustling college campus.

Now within easy walking distance of campus facilities and the bike path, the Ecohouse is more than just a model for green living. It serves as a hub for student innovation, experiential learning and environmental stewardship.

The 天美传媒Ecohouse, which has been around since the early 2000s, offers both undergraduate and graduate students the chance to reduce their environmental impact while living in Athens, Ohio. It operates as a living laboratory, where a small group of students reside and engage in sustainability projects that benefit both their immediate surroundings and the broader community.

Each semester, Ecohouse residents enroll in a one-credit seminar focused on sustainability, environmental leadership and practical green living. No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn. As part of the seminar, each resident completes one or more sustainability-focused projects per semester. Past initiatives have included soap making, crafting natural beauty products, preserving local foods, performing energy audits, and transforming waste plastic into usable building materials.

The original Ecohouse, located near The Ridges, evolved over many years as a sustainable environment shaped by the contributions of its student residents. It featured an organic garden, solar panels, rain barrels, composting systems, native plant landscaping and other green initiatives.

These ideas and values have been carried over to the new Ecohouse with students working to transform the new space into an updated, vibrant example of sustainable living. For instance, an organic garden is being built with a fence made from invasive bamboo harvested locally around it, finding a creative way to manage local plant overgrowth while protecting the garden from animals. This space will allow students to grow produce without harmful chemicals while teaching them about agriculture.

Toward the front of the property, a new solar panel system will be installed to help power the house. A monarch butterfly waystation is also in the works of being built to provide critical habitat for a declining species. Bluebird houses around the property will also invite native birds to nest, enhancing local biodiversity and building a more resilient ecosystem.

Water conservation remains a key focus as well, with rain barrels being brought over from the old house to collect and store water for garden use, reducing reliance on treated municipal water. Inside the house, energy efficiency takes priority by the use of LED lighting, mindful thermostat use, unplugging devices and using energy-efficient appliances - all simple but impactful practices that can be replicated in any household.

鈥淧eople often think going green means major investments or big sacrifices,鈥� Crowl added. 鈥淏ut what we鈥檙e showing here is that the average person can start small, right where they are. Sustainability isn鈥檛 just for off-grid cabins. It can and should be part of everyday urban and suburban life.鈥�

The Ecohouse serves as both a living example and an educational resource, not only for its residents, but for the wider community.

For those looking to green their own homes, the Ecohouse offers a few simple, effective ideas:

• Start a garden; even a few pots of herbs can reduce your grocery bill and carbon footprint.
• Collect rainwater for outdoor use.
• Create wildlife habitats by planting native species and installing birdhouses.
• Focus on energy conservation鈥攖urn off lights, unplug electronics, and invest in efficiency where possible.
• Create your own household cleaners using everyday materials like baking soda, lemon and vinegar to name a few.

Any student eligible to live off-campus can apply to be a resident of the Ecohouse, they just have to be willing to learn and partake in sustainable living.

鈥淭he Ecohouse is not just about helping the environment, it鈥檚 about providing an educational and community-building experience for the students who live there and showing that it is possible to reduce waste, energy and more in an average home,鈥� Crowl added. 鈥淪ustainability isn鈥檛 about just protecting the Earth; it鈥檚 about bettering all of humanity and providing an environment to live healthier lives.鈥�

Currently, the 天美传媒Ecohouse is the only residence at Ohio University dedicated to sustainable living and remains one of the few of its kind on college campuses nationwide.

In addition to the Ecohouse, 天美传媒offers several other initiatives aimed at creating a more sustainable ecosystem for all, including the Composting Facility, Sustainability Hubs, Campus Race to Zero Waste and more.