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water treatment system that uses recycled water to flush toilets. The law school's Green Team - made up of students, staff and faculty who encourage sustainability - helped during the building's design. Electric vehicle charging stations are available, as is bicycle storage. About 60 percent of the school's food purchases and catering are local and organic. 3. Harvard Law School at Vermont Law School in South Royalton, Vt. The Environmental Law Center is housed in Debevoise Hall, an 1892 building that once served as the town's K-12 school but is now LEED Silver certified. The revamped building still features original blackboards and furniture made by local craftsmen. It also has a composting toilet system, which uses just 14 gallons of water per day and has become a conversation starter for students. "Many of our students love to tell outsiders about the composting toilets," said and classes to special programs in which students and faculty work together on issues of climate change, sustainable agriculture, water, environmental taxation, land use and energy. Clinics include the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, the Energy Clinic and the Food and Agriculture Clinic. A summer session at the Environmental Law Clinic is open to both degree and non-degree students. 5. University of Florida Students at Harvard Law School in Student members of the Sustainability Cambridge, Mass., are surrounded by Committee at University of Florida Levin buildings with LEED certiCollege of Law in Gainesville, fication. The university as a Fla., evaluated the entire law whole has more LEED certischool campus, considering fied buildings than any other things such as where recyinstitution of higher education cling bins and printers were in the world, according to the located; the types of faucets, U.S. Green Building Council. soap and paper towel dispensThe university also has ers that were used; the use of managed to meet its goal of automatic lighting; and posreducing greenhouse gas emissibilities for promoting more sions by 30 percent since sustainable practices in reno2006. vation, said professor Alyson The law school's Green Craig Flournoy, former director Living Program, which began of the Environmental and Land in 2005, promotes sustainUse Law Program. able living in residence halls The sustainability audit and throughout the campus, resulted in so many positive said spokeswoman Michelle At tHe HeArt of the Vermont Law School campus is Debevoise Hall. responses and such strong the 125-year-old building was renovated to incorporate sustainable Deakin. student engagement that the "Green living representa- initiatives, and it houses the environmental Law Center and the administration decided to purtives connect with their peers environmental and Natural resources Law Clinic. sue enhanced sustainability on about energy and water conan ongoing basis, Flournoy servation and waste reduction said. through activities, educational campaigns Maryellen Apelquist, director of communiA composting program has been implecations. "They have even woven them into mented in restrooms for paper towels, and and competitions," Deakin said. Sustainability programs provide a way speeches during commencement - with a there are plans for the program to expand to for first-year law students to meet their mixture of amusement and pride." accept organic waste such as coffee grounds Oakes Hall, the law school's main class- and banana peels. classmates. For example, they can compete in a Green Cup Challenge, which Deakin room building, provides heating and lightSomewhat exotic experiential learning said is "designed to teach or share a sustain- ing only on demand, and it has a solar array opportunities are also available. Students ability tip that can be easily incorporated and car-charging stations nearby. may participate in a study abroad program Most food at the campus cafe is local- in Costa Rica, where they join young lawinto the student's everyday life on campus ly sourced and organic, and food scraps yers and others from Latin America and and beyond." Car- and bike-sharing options, access to are donated to local farmers. The Campus the Caribbean to learn about law, policy mass transit, and electric vehicle charging Greening Committee's Waste Diversion and professional practice associated with stations are all part of the campus experi- Subcommittee developed a plan to improve tropical conservation and sustainable develrecycling and food scrap collection. It is opment. A shorter field course over spring ence. The school offers clinics on environ- reducing the number of trash receptacles on break explores marine and coastal policy in mental law and policy and on food law and campus, investing in reusable dining ware, Florida and the Caribbean, Flournoy said. and using the money saved for future green policy. Students in the Environmental and initiatives. Land Use Law Society manage a woods res4. Vermont Law School The Environmental Law Center serves toration project in which they remove inva"Lead by example" is a mantra of students as a hub for activities ranging from clinics sive plants so native vegetation can thrive. 10 preLaw
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