Home >

Sustainable Design

Green Building Systems

At the Cape Eleuthera Institute, we believe that “green design” is a tool to help bridge the built and natural environments. We are committed to applying best available technologies, innovative designs and a systems approach to our buildings, energy supplies and material flow networks. Our goal is to create spaces that foster innovative research and educational opportunities and that the space itself becomes an educational tool.

CEI’s campus is designed to function more like an ecosystem than a machine. Here our energy comes from the sun that falls on us every day, our water is provided from the sky and stored in the “roots” of our buildings, many of the materials in our walls come from the earth that surrounds and our wastes are processed and decomposed in ways that become food for other processes. Our impetus comes from the need to break the pattern of a world where we create 500 billion tons of solid waste each year as a result of poor planning and little integrated oversight. The buildings and materials you see at CEI are part of our evolving mission to create and promote restorative development patterns – seeking to enhance rather than damage the environment that surrounds us. Here are a few examples of steps we have taken. We welcome your comments on how we can do better.

1. 100% of the power that is required by the campus is provided each day by the sun that falls on the roof of just one of our buildings. Our 31.2 kilowatt building integrated photovoltaic array was designed and installed by a collaboration between Cape Systems (our sister organization) and Solar Design Associates. It is the largest solar array in The Bahamas and one of only two systems permitted to feed clean, pollution free electricity onto the local distribution grid.
2. CEI has over 100,000 gallons of underground water storage that is fed by the seasonal rainfall. In combination with our efficient appliances such as ultra low flush toilets and waterless urinals, we are able to supply all of our water needs with this source.
3. With the exception of several floors that used epoxy based paints to resist high traffic, CEI used no toxic paints, stains, or plastics in our construction process. These steps help improve indoor air quality and assure that our buildings are not killing us slowly. Our plumbing is provided by Aquatherm and features no toxic PVC which contains cancer causing substances such as dioxins.
4. Our structures have been built to last many decades with minimal maintenance cost and input. Maintenance and replacement are some of the most important variables to consider with green design – a green product is not worth much if you have to replace it every couple of years. The concrete and earth vaults are among the strongest forms found and also reject unwanted solar heat so we are comfortable inside without the need for costly and inefficient air conditioning.
5. All of our beds, tables, desks, and trim has been either specified as Green Guard certified, or built from 100% local woods, such as Casuarina – which is an invasive species that has a negative impact on the environment. The mattresses for our beds are 100% natural latex rubber with organic wool and cotton coats – they are the healthiest mattresses available to sleep on.
6. All of our hot water is heated exclusively by the sun.
7. The large timbers found in the wetlab and in the dorms are salvaged wood – no trees were cut down to provide the wood for those structures.
8. Our flooring is a combination of sustainably harvested cork and Interface Carpet tile – which is made from recycled materials and is recyclable itself.

CEI is committed to a sustainable future and we know that we must live in ways that reflect our values and those that we teach. Take a campus tour with us and see for yourself.