Climate Action/Sustainability Projects

Library

The 66 solar panels on top of Roselawn and the 120 panels on top of University Commons combine for a total of 65.2 kilowatts. These arrays were installed as a part of the Student Solar Project during the 2017-2018 school year - a project that was led by a variety of groups on campus with contributions from multiple disciplines including Engineering, Business and Economics, and Computer Science. To read more information click here: Article 1, Article 2.

Roselawn and University Commons (Student Solar Project)

The 66 solar panels on top of Roselawn and the 120 panels on top of University Commons combine for a total of 65.2 kilowatts. These arrays were installed as a part of the Student Solar Project during the 2017-2018 school year - a project that was led by a variety of groups on campus with contributions from multiple disciplines including Engineering, Business and Economics, and Computer Science. To read more information click here.

Campus Gardens and Composting

Five gardens around campus give students a way to participate in learning about providing fresh, organic, locally grown produce. Students maintain the gardens throughout the year. Food scraps are taken by student volunteers on a bike from the cafeteria to compost piles, where it is consistently used to nourish the soil for the campus gardens. To read more click here.

LEED Certified Dorms

All the dorms in the Woods Quad (Maplewood, Elmwood, and Cedarwood) are LEED Gold certified, meaning that they have met environmental sustainability standards from the U.S. Green Building Council. To read more click here.

Cycling Club

Advocates for the bicycle as an alternative form of transportation by organizing bike rides around the city of Harrisonburg and providing bike rentals to students throughout the school year. To read more click here.

Earthkeepers

Student group on campus that is focused on acting in both local and campus communities to encourage environmentally-friendly practices. To read more click here.

Sustainable Food Initiative

A student club that is focused on advocating for greater sustainability and social responsibility when it comes to food. They host a weekly market to provide locally grown produce to students and community members. To read more click here.

Engineers for a Sustainable World

Started in 2014, Engineers for a Sustainable world is a club that aims to promote sustainable design on campus through student led engineering design projects. In the fall of 2019, a group of ESW students began working to compete in the Shell Eco Marathon. To read more about ESW click here. To read more about the Eco Marathon click here.

Solar Powered Concession Stand

For his Capstone project during the 2018-2019 school year, senior Ben Zook designed a trailer equipped with a solar panel and battery to power the concession stand located at the turf field. To read more click here.

Solar Powered Golf Cart

Facilities Management uses a fleet of golf carts on a daily basis to complete a variety of tasks ranging from landscaping work to cleaning of campus buildings. During the 2017-2018 school year, Engineers for a Sustainable World converted one of these golf carts to run off solar power by swapping the roof of the golf cart for a solar panel. This golf cart can still be seen around campus. To read more click here.

Aquaponics

 One alternative method of food production is aquaponics. Engineers for a Sustainable World designed and installed an aquaponics system in EMU’s greenhouse during the 2018-2019 school year. The system consists of a fish tank which houses tilapia. The water from the tank is then pumped up to a grow bed positioned on a table over the tank, and is used to water a variety of vegetables and herbs. As the water trickles through the grow bed it collects nutrients from the plants before falling back into the fishtank, which are used to feed the tilapia.

Energy Bike

During the 2016-2017 school year, Engineers for a Sustainable World designed a stationary bike that generates electricity. The bike currently resides in the engineering wing of the Science Center with plans to add a battery that could power chargers for various electronic devices. A display is also being added to show power generated and highest voltage produced by a peddler. To read more click here.

Greenhouse

In spring of 2014, Engineers for a Sustainable World made a greenhouse, called the Hoop House, for SFI as a part of the campus gardens. There is an added solar heating system to provide extra warmth during the winter months. To read more click here.

Chicken Coop

During the fall of 2014 chickens were brought back to the EMU campus. Eggs from the chickens are available at the weekly SFI Markets. A solar heating system for the chicken coop was designed by Engineers for a Sustainable World. 

Earthkeepers Minigrant Projects

 EMU’s Earthkeepers club contributes to sustainability efforts each year by providing funds for a variety of other projects taking place across campus. Each fall student groups are encouraged to apply for a mini-grant which aims to provide financial support to projects that are centered on sustainability.

Garbage Grader

For Austin Engle and Ben Stutzman's engineering capstone project, they created an artificially-intelligent plate grader for the EMU cafeteria. It takes pictures of students' plates as they scrape them into the compost bin, assigns each plate a letter grade based on how wasteful it is, and displays the pictures and grades on a TV screen to encourage students to waste less the next time.