Muhlenberg College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Goal #4 - Create a sustainable living learning program in buildings that facilitates sustainable living, teaches a sustainability ethic, and integrates academic and student life. In 2021 the Treehouse was re-established to Create a sustainability living learning program that considers integrating mixed use learning spaces, providing space for live-in staff, introducing staff/faculty office spaces, staffing the program and ensuring ongoing programming within the space in planning for Prosser Hall renovation, residential retail space and other upcoming capital projects.

Reduce energy inefficiencies in academic and administration buildings.

Muhlenberg College created a sustainability strategic plan that contains initiatives that cover multiple categories. The initiatives include:
Goal #1 – Educate and conduct outreach activities on sustainable food across campus.
● Engage in ongoing outreach to students and community about sustainable foods including
regular workshops, supporting student projects, and enabling bi-annual Farmers Markets and the "Weigh the Waste" initiative which visual demonstrates the amount of untouched food that is thrown out at the dining hall over a 30-minute period.

Goal #1 – Decrease resources used campus-wide.
● Identify specific target reductions in energy, chemical usage, recycling, paper, water,
greenhouse gases, and waste.
o Year 1 -
▪ Reduce electric consumption. Electric consumption reduced due to the
new chiller in Moyer Hall and new LED lighting in South Hall by
100KWh.
▪ Increase recycling of scrap metal. Scrap metal amounting to 291,511
lbs. recycled.
▪ Utilize eco-friendly tannin boiler treatment to reduce water waste.
College utilized 150 gallons of tannins to reduce water waste.
▪ Increase use of environmentally friendly, low-emissions refrigerant.
The College used 300 lbs. of environmentally friendly refrigerants.
▪ Convert tree-clippings to mulch on-site. The College converted 50
yards of tree chipping to mulch on-site.
▪ Upgrade new boilers using low NOx burners utilizing natural gas. The
College upgraded new boilers.
▪ Convert Aerco.350 to non-ozone depletion. Aerco.350 converted.
▪ Eliminate leaky pipes. Leaky pipes eliminated near boiler system due
to boiler decentralization.
▪ Replace old windows. Windows in 5 MILE houses were replaced.
o Year 2 - 5 toilets replaced with high efficiency toilets in MILE and other
houses.

Goal #1: Recognize that equity and inclusion priorities share common goals with sustainability objectives.
Create and support collaborative programs, projects and initiatives with social justice, community engagement and diversity groups on campus.
Incorporate sustainability into foundational College documents such as Master Plan, Board of Trustees policies, Vision/ Mission/ Values statements, Diversity Strategic Plan, Muhlenberg branding, and key policies.