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Environmental Stewardship at Shippensburg

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Environmental Stewardship

This page features some of the environmental stewardship efforts at Shippensburg University. If you are aware of a program or project that is not featured here, we want to know about it. Please contact Dr. Claire Jantz to have your project added to this webpage.

Recycling
Earth Day
Stream restoration
Ship Shape Day
Biodiesel


Green building
Wind Energy
Solar energy
Greenhouse gas accounting
Community Garden
SU Recycles
Shippensburg University has a comprehensive recycling program and appropriately labeled recycling containers are found in every building on campus. We recycle aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, paper, newspaper, glass (clear, brown and green) and plastic--see this page for comprehensive recycling guidelines. For example, between in 2006, Shippensburg recycled more than 63 tons of corrugated cardboard--check here for more SU recycling statistics. We also participate in Recyclemania, a nationwide recycling competition among universities.

SU Celebrates Earth Day
SU hosts an Earth Day celebration each year. The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) spearheads the event. Go to the SEAC website for more information about this year's celebration.

Burd Run Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory
A cooperative effort among faculty from the Departments of Geography-Earth Science, Biology and Teacher Education, BRIRL incorporates a stream restoration project with interdisciplinary research and education.

Ship Shape Day
Every year, Shippensburg University students, faculty and staff help clean up Shippensburg as part of Ship Shape Day.

Biodiesel Demonstration Project
Several faculty, students and administrators are developing a biodiesel demonstration project. This will be a small-scale biodiesel processor that will process used cooking oil to create biodiesel fuel that can be used in many application across campus, including fueling some of the grounds equipment. This project has received generous donations from the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board and the Office of the Dean of the College and Arts and Sciences and has already been featured in several on-campus news features. The Departments of Geography-Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and Art are involved. For more information about this project, contact Dr. Claire Jantz, Dr. Todd Hurd, Dr. John Richardson, or Dr. Ben Culbertson.

Luhrs School

The Luhrs Elementary School is SU's first green building and is designed to meet LEED Silver Certification standards. The school incorporates a site design that minimizes negative impacts on the environment; reduces water consumption through efficient water fixtures; and reduces energy usage by maximizing natural daylight, energy and heat recovery units, and energy efficient lighting. More information about the green building specifications can be found on the Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania's website.

SU Wind Energy Credits
Shippensburg University, along with many other universities and colleges in Pennsylvania, purchases wind-generated electricity from Pennsylvania wind farms. In 2006, Shippensburg University purchased 868,971 kwh of wind power credits, about 4% of our total electricity use. See this press release from the Community Energy company for more information.

PCIEP and Solar Scholars
Shippensburg University participates in the Pennsylvania Consortium for Environmental Policy (PCIEP), an organization of universities, colleges and policy makers working to improve environmental policy through cooperation between government and academia.  Dr. Tim Hawkins serves as SU's representative to the PCIEP.  Dr. Hawkins is also coordinating a related effort to launch a Solar Scholars project at SU.  Sponsored by the Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania, the Solar Scholars program is a solar energy education initiative that offers funding, incentives and academic credit to design, build and operate photo-voltaic-powered solar installations on university and college campuses.  Contact Dr. Hawkins for more information about this effort.

Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Under the direction of Dr. Tim Hawkins SU student Jim Spatz recently completed a greenhouse gas inventory for Shippensburg University. Click here to read the full report.

Community Garden Project
Shippensburg University recently started a an organic community garden initiative for faculty and staff.


Shippensburg University > ESC > Environmental Stewardship
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Page maintained by:
Claire Jantz
Dept. of Geography-Earth Science
717-477-1399
cajant@ship.edu

This page last updated: January 2008

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