Sustainability at Etown

Building a Sustainable Community

As Elizabethtown College continues to grow and evolve, our commitment to sustainability gains momentum. We closely monitor the efficiency of our operations to identify areas for improvement and implement meaningful change. This intentional focus has led to major achievements, including the construction of the largest solar array of any educational institution in Pennsylvania.

At the heart of all our efforts is education. We strive to build a sustainable campus that benefits faculty, staff, students, and the wider community, while equipping individuals with the knowledge and values to make environmentally responsible choices for life. Sustainability at Etown is a community effort, driven by a shared passion and a collective mission: to create lasting impact through learning, innovation, and action.

View Recent Sustainability Efforts

Green Initiatives

At Etown, our sustainability efforts become landmark initiatives on our campus, and our progress does not end with the completion of a project, event or new construction. Projects have resulted in major energy and cost savings, and they have had significant environmental impacts. At the completion of our sustainability projects, the results are evaluated according to our sustainability goals. Many of our projects have not only exhibited significant energy savings for the college, but have also left lasting impacts on the community.

LEED Certification

Elizabethtown College’s Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness, and Well-Being is a LEED Silver Certified project. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Elizabethtown College achieved its LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Wildlife Meadow

What was once a sand quarry is now a 7-acre wildlife meadow at the southern end of our college campus. Through approval by the PA Department of Environmental Protection, the quarry was transformed to prevent water runoff. Throughout the meadow, invasive species of plants were removed and replaced with native species to remain true to the natural Pennsylvania environment. The peaceful sanctuary is also home to deer, turtles, turkeys, and birds.

Lake Placida

Etown worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission throughout a dam project at the lake. This project was part of a greater mission to prevent future flooding in the borough and to sustain ecosystems along the Conoy Creek, Susquehanna River, and the Chesapeake Bay. Excess sediment from agricultural runoff was also removed, and fish hideouts and feeding areas were constructed. After the lake was refilled, native species were restored to their former habitat. Volunteers stocked the lake with bluegills, channel catfish, largemouth bass, minnows, and crayfish. Our Facilities Management team employs water runoff filtering and redirection techniques to catch excess water before it enters the lake.

Solar Array

Dedicated in 2016, the solar array spans 10 acres of the College’s property and is located across the street from the Schreiber Quadrangle. This array produces 3,567,000 kWh of energy annually, which accounts for over 20% of Etown’s yearly electric consumption. The power produced in this array facilitates a six million pound reduction of CO ₂ each year. This solar array also acts as a home to our cross country team that utilizes the area as a course.

Building Efficiency

Our Building Automation System (BAS) has resulted in dramatic energy and cost savings. The BAS allows us to monitor the energy consumption in our campus buildings. We maintain temperature standards in order to prevent the overuse of our heating and cooling systems. Buildings are minimally heated and cooled over holiday periods to further save energy. Sensors in our buildings keep our lighting systems off when rooms are unoccupied. The BAS system also keeps our energy demand down. Energy demand is the highest amount of electricity used over a 15-minute period. Additionally, w ater bottle stations are located in almost every building across campus in order to reduce plastic bottle waste.

Print Services

Print Services supplies most paper used on campus. All colored paper supplied by Print Services is either Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or meets the federal guidelines for recycled content. Print Services also supplies white, standard copy paper that contains 100% post-consumer waste or has been certified by the (FSC).

Sustainable Dining

We work diligently to continuously implement sustainable strategies in our daily operations. We provide our campus community with locally grown foods, and our Dining Services team demonstrates our commitment to sustainability through our on-campus organic garden, beehives, and innovative food waste reduction efforts—including AI-driven solutions that help us monitor and minimize waste in real time.

Our garden and beehives are monitored by students and staff, serving as hands-on educational tools for professors and occasionally providing ingredients for meals served on campus or made available in various dining areas.

A Focus on Now & Tomorrow

At Elizabethtown College, we continually seek ways to weave sustainability into our curriculum—helping students recognize the lasting impact sustainable choices can have on their lives and communities. Sustainability-focused courses are offered across a variety of disciplines, allowing you to explore topics that align with your interests and academic goals.

Education is at the core of all our sustainability initiatives. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that no matter your major, you’ll have the opportunity to incorporate sustainability into your learning. Our goal is to inspire students to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways, using their professions to serve others and shape a more sustainable future.

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