Managing energy use on campus with a mindset toward conservation, efficiency and renewable energy production.
As long as human beings live on earth, we will always have an impact on our environment. One of our responsibilities then as stewards is to discern our fair share of the natural resources we use and how we use it. At Messiah we strive to be conscious by being deliberate with our energy use and supply. This can be achieved in the form of changing collective and individual behaviors by encouraging the use of less technology that consumes large amounts of energy, installing and promoting energy effecient systems and practices, relying on natural sources of energy to meet our needs, and by designing our built environments to more closely imitate how the natural world functions.
Key programs, initiatives, and partners help work on campus energy management
Sustainable Development Fund at Messiah
Messiah College’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) is an opportunity for the College to invest financial resources outside of the normal operating budget into sustainability practice and education. The SDF advances the mission of creating an ethos of sustainability at the College through education, sustainability practice, and community engagement. The fund is comprised of external grants, utility rebate money, and generous donors, and each year, the Sustainability Committee evaluates the status of the fund and releases an amount available for use on campus. This fund has a “revolving” component because it is a cycle of funding whereby the college saves money through projects or programming, which return financial resources back to the College, and the fund.
Questions and applications to the fund can be submitted to sustainabiltiy@messiah.edu.
Key Partners:
Division of Operations, Facility Services, Grounds, Dining Services, Student Affairs, and other outside partnerships
APPLY HERE
Description:
This program assists the campus's Operations Department in reducing our carbon footprint on the earth.
With a mindset for conservation and a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy production, the Sustainability's Energy coordinator generates monthly energy reports for residences on campus.
These reports allow students in Frey, Smith, Kelly and Mellinger residence halls to view their monthly use of kilowatt hours. Incentives are provided through raffles and challenges to help students reduce their energy bills.
For additional data regarding our energy consumption and efforts in conservation click here
Key Partners:
- Residence Life
- Buildings and Grounds
Description:
On June 1st 2016, the College dedicated its new combined cooling, heat and power plant (CCHP). This system will provide year-round electric power, heat and cooling in several buildings across campus all generated from a single fuel source (natural gas). The estimated carbon emission reductions as a result to the CCHP is equivalent to an approximate removing of 1,354 passenger vehicles from the road.
Key Partners:
UGI HVAC Enterprises
Links:
Description:
Installed in 2011, the system serves all the hot water needs of the three residence halls that comprise the North Complex. The three residence halls are Grantham, Hess and Miller. Within the first few months of the system being online, the CO2 offset was equal to planting 17 acres of pine forest or the electricity to light 10 homes for one year!
Key Partners: