The greening of the law: Vermont Law School works to be environmentally sound

Students are happy that Vermont Law School tries to limit its environmental impact

May 2, 1999
Web posted at: 10:05 p.m. EDT (0205 GMT)

From Correspondent Natalie Pawelski

SOUTH ROYALTON, Vermont (CNN) -- Vermont Law School charges students $19,000 a year, but the toilets in the school's newest building don't even flush.

Believe it or not, students seem to like the idea.

"They are very proud of the fact that they come here, and they are spending the $19,000 on a place that puts its money where its rhetoric is," says Randy Foose, the school's associate dean for finance and administration.

Oakes Hall, which was dedicated last fall, is designed with the Earth in mind -- from composting toilets that save water to energy-saving windows and walls that provide extra insulation. The building's green theme is in keeping with school's reputation as a leader in environmental law.

"If we want to make a change in this world, we've got start with our own backyard," says student Jon Staples. "We've got to start with our own building of our own law school."

Vermont Law School is one of the leaders in environmental law

Computerized controls and motion monitors in each room shut off heat, light and ventilation between classes. Glass tiles under upstairs windows provide light for the floor underneath, which makes one hallway's floor another one's skylight.

Outside, the modern building fits in with the school's historic structures. But instead of traditional high-maintenance clapboard, the walls are constructed of fiber-cement, which holds paint much longer.

The new building cost $3.25 million. Administrators said that is about 5 to 10 percent more expensive than a more traditional building would have cost, but they expect to make it up over the years by paying less for things like maintenance, electricity and water.

"We expect the operating cost to be 15 percent of what it would cost to operate a 25,000-square-foot building," Foose said.

Saving 85 percent of operating cost may sound almost impossible, but the school says it is teaching a real-life lesson on saving money while helping the Earth.

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