3/23/07, 5:29 pm EST

Assignment Ten Finalist: Dan Macsai on Saint Xavier University

Note: This is not an official Rolling Stone article. What follows is a submission to the “I’m From Rolling Stone” writing competition.

Saint Xavier University

by Dan Macsai
Age: 20

For most undergraduates, the only thing “green” about dorm life is the mold growing in unkempt shower stalls.

But administrators at Saint Xavier University – a small liberal arts school on Chicago’s Southwest Side – are proving the color can effect change.

Opened in January, the school’s $9 million, 37,000-square-foot Arthur Rubloff Hall is the first and only Chicago-area dorm to be certified under the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) “green building” system. LEED recognizes facilities that promote human and environmental health, incorporating energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor air quality.

“Green business is good business,” says Paul Matthews, Saint Xavier’s assistant vice president for facilities management. “When it comes to these larger buildings, we have to make sure we’re correctly managing the environment.”

Named after Arthur Rubloff, a groundbreaking Chicago real estate developer, Saint Xavier’s newest residence hall aims to set an eco-friendly example. All dorm carpeting is recycled. Toilets have different flush levels to conserve water. A green garden covers 13 percent of Rubloff’s solar reflective roof. And to monitor its climate – and reduce energy bills – the dorm boasts state-of-the art ventilation that brings in outside air for free cooling and an energy recovery system that recycles heat.

“When we first moved in here, we were giving tours to all our friends,” says Rubloff resident Alyson Kelley, 20. “It’s much cooler than I expected.”

Matthews estimates Rubloff will reduce annual energy expenses by 30 percent – or roughly $30,000 – but he stresses Saint Xavier’s goal is long-term success. Ideally, all buildings on the school’s campus will “go green,” encouraging students to live a similar lifestyle after graduation.

“I never used to recycle or [care about] wasting water,” says Kelley. “Living in Rubloff has definitely changed the way I think about the environment.”