College provides ample opportunities outside the classroom to learn about going green. And what better way to learn about living green than to actually do it yourself? Oberlin College’s Seed House provides an interesting example of how people can live in a simple, eco-friendly environment that looks a lot like your typical college dorm.

The main differences between Seed House and most dorms seem to be the low-flow faucets and other simple water-saving devices like an hourglass shower timer that looks like it came out of a Boggle box. The worm-filled composting bin looks like a winner as well, at least for those with strong stomachs. Overall, Seed House appears to gently encourage guests and residents to live green in simple, inexpensive ways without feeling like a restrictive bio-dome.

So how can Seed House make more of a splash moving forward? If Oberlin loosens the purse-strings in the future, maybe Seed House can buy some recycled or biodegradable furniture for the common room. Residents might also want to look into making their own cardboard furniture if they don’t mind sacrificing some durability and style points. In any case, Seed House looks like a nice idea that should expose future generations to the benefits of going green on a daily basis.

(Photo courtesy of FreePhotosBank.com)