Countertops made from banana peels are just one feature of the new, "all-green" building dedicated Friday on the University of Minnesota-Crookston campus.
Evergreen Hall is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, residence hall in the University of Minnesota system.
The floors and carpeting contain recycled vinyl and plastic and the rooms are brightened with energy-saving lighting. Another feature is a "lecture-less" classroom with seven large round tables that seat nine students each with screens and projectors displaying information on all four walls. Large windows in the building allow for a much greater use of natural light.
Evergreen Hall is located between Skyberg Hall and the Sports Center. UMC worked with Otter Tail Power Co. in an effort to reduce electricity consumption on campus by as much as 15 percent.
"We realize the magnitude of this challenge, but we believe it's achievable," Chuck MacFarlane, Otter Tail president told a gathering Friday at the dedication, according to a press release. "That's why we selected you -- because you already have students, faculty, and administration committed to making a difference on this campus and beyond."
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About 150 people attended the dedication. Speakers also included system President Robert Bruininks, Bill Glahn, director of the Minnesota Office of Energy Security, and UMC Chancellor Charles Casey.
