UM FLAT Opportunities

The UM FLAT or Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology is essentially a University-owned home that has been given to our organization as a resource to demonstrate sustainable living practices. Over time, we hope to develop programs and courses that will serve as educational resources to UM students. One of our objectives is to complete an energy retrofit to the home and expand to offer this type of renovation to other University-owned homes on the same block. If we succeed over time, we will be creating an energy efficient eco-village at The University of Montana.

This past winter we initiated an energy analysis of our main home and we initiated a green renovation to our existing garage. The College of Technology carpentry students and volunteers have contributed to the renovation of our garage into a community demonstration space that will eventually be a resource to the FLAT, the University, and the community.

This fall, we are continuing our garage renovation and hope to be installing an energy monitoring system into our main home. We now have 6 student residents who live onsite. With the garage, we are working with volunteers and the COT carpentry students to construct a strawbale wall, an earthen cob floor, insulated walls, and complete the finish work in the garage.

If you are interested in the UM FLAT, please view our website and promo video at www.umt.edu/umflat. If you wish to get involved or have an idea to develop at UM FLAT please contact Derek Kanwischer at umflat@gmail.com