Students in Westminster College's EcoHouse want to be a good example for the rest of campus.
Now in its 10th year, the sustainability-focused group has an expanded base of operations and its own student-led office.
"EcoHouse can only do so much, but with the Student Office of Sustainability, we can do so much more," Andrea Ramos, EcoHouse member and SOS director, said.
EcoHouse's new digs at 321 W. 6th St. were unveiled Tuesday. Students left their old, outdated house behind and now have a residence and a separate office, which has some living space in the back.
"These will cost less in maintenance (than the former EcoHouse)," Westminster Vice President of Campus Operations Dan Haslag said.
EcoHouse is one of several themed student houses surrounding Westminster's campus. Residents do things like recycling, minimizing use of air conditioning and heating, composting food waste and keeping showers short.
Involved students also participate in a number of programs, like coordinating recycling, helping at the campus community garden, joining Fulton Stream Team projects and running Westminster's BikeShare.
This year, the group hopes to make composting easier.
"We're working on the dining hall," EcoHouse President Jack DeArmey said. "They currently do composting out back, but we'd like to bring it around front so all students can participate."
DeArmey also serves as the beekeeper for EcoHouse's two hives, he said.
While the students who live there have different backgrounds and different majors, they all value the environment and living an eco-friendly lifestyle.
"I'm from Mexico," Ramos said. "One of the reasons I'm in tune with taking care of the environment is that as a child, I often went to a ranch where I spent time in nature."
She said her father taught her how to take care of her surroundings. After coming to Westminster, she learned about things like recycling - her hometown didn't have recycling facilities - and proper composting techniques.
She's eager to help other students learn how to live more sustainable lives and encourages them to drop by with questions or search Google.
"It used to be that EcoHouse dedicated itself to one project a year," she said. "One of our weak spots was education, as was showing our lifestyle (to the rest of campus). We wanted to open ourselves to the campus and be a resource center for them."
EcoHouse members will be able to take turns using the office space to run various projects.
Jephte Ngendo runs the BikeShare program and wants to expand it beyond Westminster's campus.
"I hope to extend it to William Woods University and maybe all of Fulton," he said.
Through BikeShare, students get to check out bikes for a day.
"I don't have a car, but sometimes I want to go to Walmart or have fun riding a bike with friends," Ngendo said.
At the new office, Ngendo will have more room for his records on which bikes need servicing, which have gone missing and so on.
School officials expressed happiness about EcoHouse's new facility.
"Having the first EcoHouse was huge," Carolyn Perry, interim president of the college, said.
The extra space, she said, is even better.
"(EcoHouse) shows that leadership is not for CEOs, it's how you can make a difference where you are," Perry said.