E.A.R.R.T.H House

view of the front of the E.A.R.R.T.H House
E.A.R.R.T.H House view from East Lorain Street.
Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97

An 1870s duplex on East Lorain Street just across from the Allen Memorial Art Museum became the college’s first dedicated living space for sustainable living.

Student Experiment in Ecological Design or SEED House was dedicated in 2005 at the urging of three Oberlin students who believed the college should honor its commitment to improving the environment. They were inspired after taking the Ecological Design course and received support for the concept from the college and ResLife. SEED House opened in 2007. FIve students occupied the newly renovated facility.

Renamed E.A.R.R.T.H. (Environmentally Active in Reducing use of Resources Themed Housing) House in 2015, this theme-based housing option can accommodate four students. The house is equipped with monitoring technology that allows students to view the environmental impacts of the choices they make.

E.A.R.R.T.H House is part of the college’s Village Housing portfolio. It is managed by the Office of Energy and Sustainability and mainly houses the leadership of the Resource Conservation Team