Plymouth State University has signed a climate commitment initiative to reduce greenhouse gases on campus.
As part of that, the university also announced that its newest residence hall is the first in the state to earn one of the highest standards for green building.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Amy Quinton reports.
Plymouth State University Student Body President Peter Laufenberg calls Langdon Woods home.
The senior likes the more than 100-thousand square foot environmentally friendly residence hall so much, he plans on living here next year as a grad student.
He points to the light sensors as he takes me on a tour.
1143 :24 the lights actually turn off in the hallway when there's no one around so its saving energy, and as soon as someone walks out the door these sensors right here, the lights come on, it's pretty cool.
Laufenberg calls a lot of things about Langdon Woods cool.
There's the typical cool things that any new dorm may have; a cafe, a bank of new computers, a fitness center. But then there's those little environmentally friendly things.
"We have our own little heating unit for each suite and its timed up to the windows, so if I open my window in the middle of winter it stops producing heat in this room so its not going out and wasting it, so as soon as I shut that its starts producing heat again.
(nat sound window opening and closing underneath)
We take the elevator up the five story building to one of Laufenberg's favorite spots¦
(elevator sound)
...this is where windows two floors high cascade natural light onto a study area filled with locally-produced furniture.
The glass technology throughout Langdon Woods reflects radiant heat indoors in winter and away in the summer.
Laufenberg notices only the view.
If you look out this way, you have a beautiful view of the Waterville valley, Mount Tecumseh and then over this way, the Franconia Notch area, so it's great to just sit here, not even do homework and just sit and look at the views and the natural beauty that surrounds us, that's really what attracts a lot of students here is there taken back by the beauty that surrounds them."
Plymouth State University officials spent 29 million dollars for this building.
They spent another 300-thousand dollars just to go through the process of getting the building certified through the U-S Green Building Council.
It's the first residence hall in the state and only the fourth in the nation to earn a Gold level certification, one of the highest.
But PSU's Vice President for Financial Affairs Bill Crangle says despite what may seem like a high price tag, Langdon Woods is saving 230-thousand dollars a year.
"The element of the design will result in a 60-percent energy savings annually, this past winter we only had to turn the heat on, the steam on four days, other than that it was all free heat."
Waste heat from a nearby co-generation plant is captured to heat the entire building.
Low-flow faucets, waterless urinals, and other water-efficient appliances are saving 1.4 million gallons of water a year, a 30-percent annual reduction.
And those savings come despite the extra amenities like bathrooms in every suite, and cardio machines in the fitness room..
(Nat sound)
Student Ezra Dalton works out on one of the elliptical machines..
He says the amenities are one of the reasons there's a waiting list for students who want to live in Langdon Woods.
But he says living in a green building makes many students feel like they're contributing to a cleaner environment.
1151 :53 I think its great I think its awesome for our university to have that particular facility on our campus, our residents definitely know that and they think its wonderful and they feel like they're a part of something bigger, which is awesome.
Plymouth State University wants to expand its effort to build green.
Vice President for Financial Affairs Bill Crangle says he was skeptical about up-front costs at first, but Langdon Woods changed his mind.
"seeing the results and the money we can save and the improvements we can make to the overall environment it's my goal to integrate this campuswide."
PSU has now joined 180 colleges and universities across the country that has signed a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As part of that pledge, university officials will complete an emissions inventory.
Within two years they want to have a plan for becoming what's called "carbon neutral" -- balancing the release of polluting carbon dioxide emissions with reductions elsewhere.
The goal is to be carbon neutral within seven years.
University officials say it's a huge challenge, but one worth taking.
For NHPR news, I'm Amy Quinton.
