Sustainability House Organization Plan
Created by the Sustainability in On-Campus Housing Project, Spring 2005

Intro
Sustainability can be an elusive concept. In sustainability-themed dormitories across the nation, different conceptions and foci of sustainability are featured. Below are some typical areas of focus:
•	Technological efficiency (e.g. fluorescent lighting)
•	Renewable energy production (e.g. solar panels)
•	Communal living
•	Sustainable agriculture
•	Sustainability in larger society (a theme that is often integrated into residents’ academic work)

Residents at Evergreen’s Sustainability House are likely to vary considerably in their areas of focus. In order to maintain effectiveness, the Sustainability House has been organized to maximize group cohesion and access to outside resources. This document outlines the organization of the Sustainability House, providing residents and Housing staff with the necessary knowledge to effectively contribute to Sustainability House activities.

Elements of the new Sustainability House Structure
•	A new, self-organizing communication structure that strives to create a cohesive and effective living-learning residence
•	An informational resource webpage that provides Evergreen residents access to relevant information about sustainable living

Communication
Communication must be strong both among residents and between residents and Housing staff. In order to facilitate this communication, a new position will be created, Sustainability House Resident Coordinator (RC). This person will be a resident in the Sustainability House and will work in parallel with the Resident Advisor.

The Resident Advisor (RA) will continue to perform his/her traditional duties. In addition, the RA will facilitate the selection of the RC at the beginning of the term. The establishment of the RC provides the capacity to create and adjust a flexible organizational structure for Sustainability House.

The RC will have the following responsibilities:
1.	Facilitating communication among residents 
•	Facilitating vision sharing exercises at the beginning of terms
•	Facilitating organizational planning at the beginning of terms including a conflict resolution plan, meeting scheduling, and internal communication medium (e.g. bulletin board, newsletter, listserv)
2.	Facilitating communication between residents and housing staff
•	Addressing requests and other communication to their appropriate housing staff.
•	Connecting Sustainability House residents to housing staff when appropriate
3.	Maintaining and developing resident access to informational and human resources
•	Providing content updates to the resources webpage maintained by Noel McHugh
•	Communicating resource requests to housing staff, faculty, student groups, and local groups.

Informational Resource Webpage
The Sustainability House Website will provide a concentrated and updateable body of knowledge for residents to learn about sustainable living practices. Evergreen Web Services has agreed to host this site and update it with content provided by residents communicated through the Resident Coordinator. Online resources will include communal living agreement worksheets, vision sharing exercises, and fact-sheets about sustainable living practices.