Successes
Recognizing the growing international scientific consensus that current national and global strategies to meet human needs are environmentally unsustainable; acknowledging the crucial role that institutions of higher education are taking in shaping a more environmentally sustainable future; and respecting both the charism of the Sisters of Mercy and the College Mission statement, in 2001 Mercyhurst College committed itself to more fully integrating environmentally conscious values and responsible practices into every facet of our community and making Mercyhurst a regional model of sustainability and stewardship.

Here are the highlights of our past achievements, grouped under the six broad objectives of our  sustainability policy: waste reduction, green energy, purchasing, landscaping, buildings, and environmental education.

1. Reduce our waste stream.

• 2001-02: revived recycling program and achieved a 30% recycling rate.
• 2007: MSG spearheaded purchase of four sets of first-rate recycling bins (made of recycled materials) located in high-profile areas of the campus.
• 2008: Purchase of recycling bins for student apartments and other areas of the campus, aimed at increasing our recycling rate to at least 50%.
• IT recycles average of three tons of computer equipment annually.
• Since 2002, recycled nearly 2,500 phone books, benefitting both a local business that produces insulation from them, as well as the Second Harvest Food Bank.
• Since 2003, the Trash-to-Treasure program has collected from students at the end of the academic year approximately 4,000 cubic feet of food, housewares, and clothing.  Students deliver these goods to Erie social service organizations. 
• Energy efficient food pulper unit at cafeteria reduces food waste by 70%; Sodexo also has implemented a program to minimize paper wrapping and food waste
• 2001-2004: we instituted a compost program involving staff from the dining hall and the landscaping crew.  Vegetable matter and organic yard waste was collected, composted, and the compost used on campus flower beds.

 

2. Strengthen our commitment to clean, renewable energy and energy conservation.

• 2008: Increased our purchase of wind energy to 30% of Mercyhurst College’s electricity, making us a national leader among institutions of higher education.   Mercyhurst had been at 10% wind since 2003.
• 2007: students secured passage of a student Green Energy Fee ($5/student/term) to establish a Student Renewable Energy Fund at Mercyhurst College.  The Fund strengthens our commitment to green energy, allowing us to pursue projects such as the Green Roof, now planned for the Ceramics Lab
• 2007: President Thomas J. Gamble signs the American College and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment, strengthening our commitment to accelerated reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions.
• 2007: Installed 1 KW solar energy panels, powering our Maintenance Building .
• 2008-09: Installing solar-powered emergency blue light system.
• 2006-2007: significant energy and cost savings and emission reductions from the installation of compact fluorescent bulbs in student housing.  Installation of smart spiral bulbs in Briggs and Lewis apartments netted a cost savings of nearly $13,000.  Nitrogen Oxide reduced by 428 pounds, sulfur dioxide 1,323 pounds, and global warming carbon dioxide by 189,872 pounds. 
• 2007: The CIT reduced electricity usage by monitoring computer settings to determine the most energy efficient ones and selectively turning on only the computers that are in frequent use.
• 2007: The cafeteria switched to energy-saving dishwashing system.

 

3. Purchase environmentally and socially responsible materials and products.

• 2004: Housekeeping adopted an array of non-toxic cleaning materials, including micro-fiber cleaning cloths.
• 2006: a graduate student produced a comprehensive analysis of paper consumption and purchasing on campus, with recommendations for moving toward environmentally responsible paper purchasing.  
• The DocuCenter now has 100% recycled content paper available for copies.  The cost is a mere three additional cents per copy over virgin paper, which is far more demanding of forests, water, and energy than recycled paper.  The DocuCenter also carries 30% recycled content color stock papers.
• Sodexo began offering Fair Trade Coffee at the College Bookstore in 2006, as well as unbleached napkins and environmentally benign dish soaps and sanitizers throughout the campus.  They have also reduced use of bottled water.
• Green Team students have staged periodic Farmer’s Markets featuring local produce.

 

4. Landscape to preserve and protect biological systems.

• 2005: Produced an environmentally responsible Master Landscape Plan for the Mercyhurst Erie campus.
• Since 2002: Planting of more than 100 (native species) trees
• 2005: designation of the 75-acre campus by the National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.
• 2004: sponsored workshop for our landscape staff, conducted by an expert on organic treatments of soils, trees, and turf.
• Reduced significantly the amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers used on the campus landscape
• 2005: planted a vegetable garden on campus.
• 2007: Began an effort to minimize use of CO2-producing leaf blowers..

 

5. Adopt “green” design elements into future building projects.

• Green Building Seminar (2003), co-sponsored with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which helped foster green building projects at Mercyhurst North East, Mill Creek School District, and Asbury Woods.
• Four buildings at Mercyhurst generate cooling and heating with Geothermal Energy, producing a substantial reduction in CO2 (50-75%).
• Two Mercyhurst buildings meet the criteria for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings certification (LEED-EB).
• Formulated a sustainability vision to guide the development of the Mercyhurst College West County campus.
• Interior Design students produced an eco-friendly lounge for the “Green Living” apartment in 2004.

 

6. Strengthen and expand environmental education and consciousness.

• 2007: Minor in Sustainability Studies inaugurated.
• Earth Day has featured nationally known authors addressing topics of suburban sprawl, global warming, peak oil, chemical contamination of the environment, Community-Supported Agriculture, and environmental justice.  Speakers have included James Hpward Kunstler, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Bill McKibben, Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Thomas Hylton, and Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis
• Other Earth Day activities: on-campus dialogue with elected officials on environmental policy, annual Mill Creek Clean-up, tree planting, films, and Hunger Banquets.
• Ecodemia published several times every academic year.
• 2008: Participated in the national Focus the Nation global warming events.
• Student projects include “green design” of the lounge in 3807 Briggs; survey of regional citizen attitudes toward land conservation; recycling surveys; environmental history of the Lake Erie Watershed; campus vegetable gardens; and numerous student graphic arts projects.
• Participation in Academic Celebration events, including panels on the economics of sustainability and the unsustainability of global food production.