Environmental Stewardship
Shippensburg University has a number of environmental stewardship efforts.
Recycling
Ship uses a comprehensive single stream recycling program, which means that you can put all of your recyclables in the same container. It's quick and easy, and it means that more items end up recycled. We also offer recycling for batteries and electronics.
Find out more about Ship's recycling efforts.
Earth Day
Ship celebrates Earth Day every year. The Environmental Club spearheads the event.
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
Since 2006, Professor Ben Culbertson of the Art Department has been collecting all of the waste vegetable oil on campus and making biodiesel. He has hand fabricated a set of collection containers that are in use at every dining facility on campus. In 2010, Professor Culbertson embarked on a project with several ceramics students to design, build and test a biodiesel-fueled burner system to fire ceramics kilns. To date, they have successfully built and fired a 30 cubic foot kiln to 2,350 degrees F using biodiesel. The work of Professor Culbertson is saving money for SU's food service vendor, saving energy, and reducing SU's carbon footprint.
Energy Savings by the Computer Technology Center
Did you know that a single data server uses an average of 1,750 KwH of power per year? SU has 80 servers in our data center, and power consumption was becoming unsustainable as our demand for computing resources has continued to grow. In response, the Computing Technology Center (CTC) has adopted server virtualization, which consolidates multiple physical servers into one virtual server. For each server virtualized, four tons of carbon dioxide emissions are reduced - the equivalent of taking 1.5 cars off the highway.
Grace B. Luhrs Elementary 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.
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.
PCIEP and Sustainable 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 also coordinates a related effort to launch a Sustainable Scholars project at SU. Sponsored by the Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania, the Sustainable Scholars program is a sustainable 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.
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Shippensburg University was the first PASSHE school to complete a greenhouse gas assessment.
Community Garden Project
Shippensburg University has an organic community garden initiative for faculty and staff.
Campus Farm
The Shippensburg University Campus Farm focuses on sustainable agriculture and strives to educate students and the community about sustainability practices.
Dining Services
Ship Dining prides itself on offering sustainable options for students. There are a number of sustainability programs as part of our daily operations.
