College of the Atlantic

Our newest construction, the Kathryn W. Davis Residence Village, is LEED-equivalent according to our architects, though it is not LEED certified.

Much of the COA campus incorporates summer "cottages" built on the coast of Maine in the late 1800s. We work to retain their historic presence and attain our desire for sustainability. It is a balancing … read more

Much of the COA campus incorporates summer "cottages" built on the coast of Maine in the late 1800s. We work to retain their historic presence and attain our desire for sustainability. It is a balancing act.

Recently, we designed and built state of the art student residences with wood pellet heating and compostable toilets. Since then, we've concentrated on raising the efficiency of existing buildings.

It's interesting to note that in the 1970s COA had one of the first sustainable design programs in the nation, with sustainable buildings designed and built by students over the course of several years.

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In keeping with COA's culture of sustainability, COA's oceanfront campus has always been maintained organically. Recently, landscaping has focused on easier organic maintenance, and there has been a move toward focusing on native species and … read more

In keeping with COA's culture of sustainability, COA's oceanfront campus has always been maintained organically. Recently, landscaping has focused on easier organic maintenance, and there has been a move toward focusing on native species and plantings to increase pollinators.

In addition, COA has historic gardens that students, staff, and faculty continue to restore.

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COA is located on a bridged island which is also home to Acadia National Park. It is a rural area with a vibrant tourist season. Public transportation consists of the Island Explorer bus system which … read more

COA is located on a bridged island which is also home to Acadia National Park. It is a rural area with a vibrant tourist season. Public transportation consists of the Island Explorer bus system which runs for 4 months each year during the tourist season. This is a free, propane powered bus system with several bus routes across the island. The buses are equipped with bike racks for riders to bring their bikes with stops at the college and in downtown Bar Harbor where many students, staff and faculty live.

Most students not living on campus rent in town within walking distance to campus. Many students bike or walk to school.
To reduce our carbon output and to ensure safety, COA also provides a night shuttle between campus and downtown. The college provides a morning shuttle service in winter months to reduce individual commuting during the day.

A Ford Focus Electric Vehicle provided by the college is dedicated to student travel for independent studies, internships, or senior projects.

The electric vehicle is charged at solar charging stations located on campus and at each of the college's two farms. These charging stations are also open to and used by students, faculty, staff, as well as the general public, for charging their personal electric vehicles. The stations can be found on: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations/

Students are very conscious about carpooling when they do drive, whether on the island or to and from home during term breaks. Frequent email communication through the community email facilitates this carpooling, and there is an electronic ride share list as well.

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