The Mount Putting the Environment First

A National Program Will Learn from the Mount

EMMITSBURG, MD - Mount St. Mary's University has been accepted as a pilot school in the nation’s American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and the Clinton Climate Initiative. 

With 500 institutions signing the ACUPCC/CCI commitment, the Mount has been accepted into an elite group of schools who will work towards creating a standard for a responsible financial plan for paying for changes on campuses.  The process’ main goal is to green the campus without pulling resources from the institution’s capital funds and to reinvest campus savings from the plan, to continue green-growth.

The ACUPCC/CCI and its members address global warming and work to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to do what is best for the environment

 "We are thrilled to work with the ACUPCC/CCI to aid in developing a program that other institutions across the nation can use as a model,” says Thomas H. Powell, president of Mount St. Mary's University.   "The Mount signed this commitment as a way to set goals of reducing our carbon output, but also teaches our future leaders, those we are educating now,  that we only get one environment so we better start treating it properly.” 

The Mount has already taken several steps to reduce greenhouse emissions and to conserve natural fuels.  Along with a strong recycling initiative, a “green” residential hall recently opened with environmental friendly aspects such as a geo-thermal heating and cooling system with energy recovery ventilation and the use of compostable products campus-wide.  The Mount is also participating in RecyleMania 2008, a nation-wide competition between college campuses to see what school can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita. 

“We also have efforts on campus to help preserve and nurture natural streams with extensive tree and brush plantings, says President Powell, who adds, “We salute those on campus who have gone above and beyond in their efforts in creating an environmentally friendly way of functioning here at the Mount." 

For more information on Mount St. Mary’s University commitment please visit www.msmary.edu.