Sustainability at EMU

EMU was practicing sustainability long before “green” became trendy. Sustainable and simple living is at the core of many Mennonites’ faith, and it’s a strong part of the EMU community. Here are some highlights:

• our energy-efficient buildings are some of the best performing college facilities in the country
• our newest dorm is LEED certified at the gold level
• we installed the largest solar installation in the state of Virginia in 2010
• sustainability is woven into the curriculum at every level
• a campus creation care council is comprised of students, faculty and staff
• we have a nationally recognized recycling program

Sustainable lessons in and out of the classroom

Our new dorm Cedarwood set college precedent in fall 2011 when it received LEED “gold” certification, one of the highest environmental standards construction can attain. One year before, we gained another “first” when we became host to the largest solar power deployment in the state of Virginia.

LEED-certified renovations to Elmwood residence hall were completed in early 2011, and we are currently planning an addition and renovation of Suter Science Center, which we anticipate will also be certified through the U.S. Green Building Council.

Majors like environmental sustainability and peacebuilding and development incorporate sustainable practices into real-life studies of our world and global community.

Professors develop sustainability-focused courses like green design and compost research and applications, courses with real-life results; students take lessons and apply them to campus issues. This is all part of our university-wide Peace with Creation curriculum.