Eastern Mennonite University is taking yet another step toward building a certified green residence hall.

Cedarwood Residence Hall is scheduled to open in August. The university is working toward having the building certified for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design."

The latest move is installing a solar hot water system. Solar panels will be placed on the roof in the coming months. Officials are expecting to save the equivalent of 2,600 gallons of gasoline per year.

"It's a very exciting time. We have really been getting a lot of interest from the incoming students in wanting to live in this building. So, we're really excited about that and trust that that will turn out for some really strong enrollment this fall," says Eldon Kurtz, director of physical plant at EMU.

When it opens in August, 120 students will live in the residence hall.