The "BIG IDEA" in Five Categories:
Although environmental sustainability is a “big idea,” Messiah University integrates creation care throughout every part of the institution by working with operations, academics, co-curricular experiences and community partners.
To make sense of this integration, we organize sustainability initiatives into five categories: Energy, Engagement, Waste, Biodiversity, and Food.
Energy
Managing campus energy use with a mindset of conservation. That means using only what we need to and not more. We also study how we can increase efficiency and explore renewable energy options.
Engagement
Through collaborative work with various departments in the college and local enterprises, we aim to serve the campus and overall community through education, advocacy, and other projects.
Waste
Attempting to tackle the issue of waste across multiple areas and looking at how we can recover resources, recycle others and minimize waste overall throughout campus.
Biodiversity
Aiming to protect, preserve, and revitalize habitat through sustainable land management practices and responsible stewardship.
Food
We aim to not only grow, serve, and eat food that supports healthy bodies, communities and ecosystems but to also promote an awareness regarding proper nutrition and sustainably grown produce.