Goshen College's Rieth Village receives state's highest award for environmental excellence

GOSHEN, Ind. – Representatives from Merry Lea Environmental Center of Goshen College's Rieth Village, in Wolf Lake, Ind., were honored with a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence during the 11th annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Trade Show held in Plainfield on Sept. 17.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Commissioner Thomas Easterly presented the crystal trophies, which recognize Indiana's leaders who have implemented outstanding environmental strategies into their operations and decision-making processes.

Rieth Village, an ecological field station for undergraduate environmental study at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, was presented an award in the category "Energy/Renewable Resources." Honored for its use of sustainable strategies, Rieth Village is a building that will save over 60,000 kilowatt hours annually over a conventional facility through conservation methods as well as alternative energy sources.

"I am honored to accept the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in Energy on behalf of my colleagues at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center and Goshen College," said Luke Gascho, executive director of the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. "I am grateful for the members of the Merry Lea planning team who, over 10 years ago, had the vision for an ecological field station – now called Rieth Village – and believed that this green project would stimulate many others in Indiana to engage in sustainable design."

Rieke Packaging Systems also received similar recognition for its work to limit emissions, succeeding in a reduction of over 10 tons between 2003 and 2006.

"Rieke Packaging Systems and Rieth Village deserve this recognition for utilizing innovative environmental practices to protect Hoosiers and the environment," said Thomas Easterly, IDEM commissioner. "Their contribution toward protecting Indiana's environment is a standard that we should all strive to follow."

The Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence are open to all Indiana facilities, government agencies, individuals and other groups that implement exemplary environmental projects with measurable results. By seeking out and utilizing innovative environmental practices, these facilities and programs have reduced waste, saved money and contributed greatly to Indiana's environmental protection efforts, benefiting the health and welfare of the state's communities and the state as a whole.

"The Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence honors the many donors and the integrated design team of architects, engineers, landscape architects, waste water treatment professionals and contractors – all of whom believed that choosing environmentally appropriate building processes would be good for the planet and its people," said Gascho. "In accepting this award, which honors the great story of Rieth Village and Merry Lea, I believe Hoosiers will be encouraged to be leaders in the best practices of stewardship of the Earth."

In February 2008, Rieth Village also received a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest honor for environmentally sustainable building design. Rieth Village was the 42nd building in the country to earn this distinction for new construction. Rieth Village also is the only platinum-certified project in Indiana, Michigan or Ohio.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.