In keeping with its responsibility as a steward of our precious natural environment, Mount St. Mary's University is committed to becoming environmentally sustainable in the use of energy and resources and in the generation of waste. More...

Committing to a sustainable campus

The Mount Recycles Program

Academic programs and faculty research

Questions about sustainability (sustainability@msmary.edu) or recycling (recycle@msmary.edu)?

Current/on-going initiatives

• ACUPCC Climate Action Plan (to be completed by August 2009)
• ACUPCC greenhouse gas inventory (to be completed by August of 2008)
• RecycleMania Competition (January 27-April 5 2008)
• Composting pilot program in Patriot Hall (connected with RecycleMania)
• Addition of glass recycling in Patriot Hall (connected with RecycleMania)
• Wind tower anemometer proposal (being considered by MD state)
• Investigation of solar power use on campus
• Evaluation of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to replace aging and inefficient boilers and transmission lines

Past/on-going initiatives

• "Buy Recycled" Proposal - shifting University purchasing to consider sustainable products containing at least 20% recycled content (Spring 2008)
• Mount's copy paper goes green - shift to 30% recycled content (Spring 2008)
• ESSC Constitution is approved - ESSC becomes a standing University-wide committee (Spring 2008)
• Creation of sustainability website (Spring 2008)
• Geo-thermal heating and cooling system and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system in new Bicentennial residence hall (Spring 2008)
• University commitment to buy EnergyStar certified appliances when economically viable (Fall 2007)
• ESSC charged with implementing American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) (Fall 2007)
• Cardboard collection program during student move-in (Spring/Fall 2007)
• Shift from styrofoam to biodegradable/compostable to-go containers (Spring 2007)
• Wind energy feasibility proposal approved (Spring 2007)
• University-wide recycling program (Spring 2006)
• Comprehensive recycling proposal approved (Spring 2005)

Greening the Mount

From Vatican II to encyclicals and apostolic letters by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, to statements issued by the U.S. Conference of Bishops, citizens of the Earth have been called to value life and issues of social justice and to seek solutions to the ecological crisis through solidarity and shared responsibility. We are asked to assume the “educative role of helping believers and other people of good will [to] form their consciences so that they can see environmental issues as having moral content” (2001).

Further, in keeping with our role as a Charter Signatory to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and in recognition of the gravity of global climate change, we are committed to being a regional leader in environmental stewardship and sustainability. In our curricular and co-curricular programs and in our strategic planning relating to the development and daily usage of our campus and grounds, we are committed to being responsible stewards of our fragile natural resources.   

The guiding principle in our stewardship efforts will be environmental sustainability, which means that natural resources are used without degrading or depleting them. In other words, we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (Brundland Commission). Our long-term goal is to make Mount St. Mary's University environmentally sustainable in energy and resource use as well as in waste generation.