Commitment to Sustainability

We affirm our sustainability values through leadership, public commitments and benchmarking progress towards meeting our sustainability goals.

Sustainability Strategic Plan

The Sustainability Strategic Plan was adopted by President John Williams in May 2018 as part of his charge to the re-energized President’s Committee on Sustainability. It sets measurable goals for Academics and Co-Curricular Initiatives, Buildings and Grounds, Food and Dining, Energy and Climate, and Planning and Administration.

Sustainability Strategic Plan - 2023 Update

STARS Silver Ranking
In 2023, Muhlenberg earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). 

With more than 800 participants in 30 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration and innovation and leadership. Muhlenberg had previously received a STARS Silver designation.

Green Revolving Fund
The Green Revolving Fund supports the Sustainability Strategic Plan by funding projects that reduce the College’s greenhouse gas emissions. The energy savings are reinvested into the Fund until the project is paid back.

The Fund enables investments in renewable energy, alternative fuels and energy efficiency; provides a continuing source of funding for reducing GHG emissions by dedicating a portion of cost-saving from funded projects to the Fund and encourages broader societal action by demonstrating best practices in GHG mitigation.

Renewable Energy

The College has invested in four solar projects on campus to serve as an educational resource for students and our broader community. For these projects, students installed the solar PV system, including two pole-mounted nine-panel arrays, two inverters, new conduit and a data collection system. The arrays are manually adjustable and solar radiance, wind, temperature and electricity production data will be available for ongoing research and analysis. Real-time energy-generation data is continually available.

The College's most recent new building, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, features rooftop photovoltaics. which supply the building with most of its power. This structure's is one of the first in the world to achieve the Living Building Challenge Core Green Building Certification.

Learn more about Muhlenberg's renewable energy commitments.

Plant Operations Policies

The Office of Plant Operations is committed to sustainability in its core functions. We support a healthy community and respect for the planet in our policies and work.