How “green” is EMU?

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" — Micah 6:8

At EMU, we were "green" long before green became trendy. Sustainable and simple living is at the core of many Mennonites' faith, and it's always been a strong part of the EMU community.

With energy issues on everyone's mind, we're looking more closely than ever at ways to 'walk humbly' on God's earth.

Our Campus

EMU's vision and mission are guided by the historic peace-church tradition of the Mennonite Church. These values include a recognition that God calls us to be stewards - caretakers - of creation.

EMU has been called a "pioneer" in energy efficient practices for campuses by Troyer Group architects. They helped to design and build EMU’s buildings over the decades which have proved to be energy efficient.

For example, in a 2007 study of energy usage by 90 universities nationwide, EMU ranked third best in the least energy used per gross square foot of building space.  EMU currently spends $469 per student, per year. Colleges of similar size spend more than twice that amount per student per year.

EMU continues to work with Troyer Group on facility upgrades and new projects. We are currently planning an addition and renovation of Suter Science Center; we anticipate earning LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council for this facility.

EMU is also a "Participating College" of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, a Christian institute geared toward healing of the biosphere and the whole of creation. EMU students can enroll in Au Sable academic courses and programs, research projects, seminars, and other educational activities.

Our Lifestyle

A Creation Care Council provides a campus-wide forum for students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community to discuss sustainability issues. The council looks at everything from how we procure our food for campus consumption to how we plan our curriculum.

Read about our recycling coordinator Jonathan Lantz Trissel's efforts on campus or the national recycling contest award EMU received in 2008.

The student club Earthkeepers is another tangible place for students interested in sustainability to channel efforts. The seminary community has its own “green” initiative as well.

Long-term, EMU is committed to green or sustainable practices across the campus, including efficient water use, waste management, IT and printing practices and in renovation and building plans.

Our Worldview

President Loren E. Swartzendruber shared about creation care from an Anabaptist perspective for a BBC production on Christian response to climate change in 2007. Matt Frei, chief Washington, D.C., correspondent for the BBC, was on hand for the event.

EMU is a member of The Orion Grassroots Network, which provides services and support to organizations engaged in ecological, social, and cultural change, as well as the Mennonite Creation Care Network, a network for Mennonite people and agencies actively engaged in the care and restoration of God's creation.

Support Our Efforts

If you’d like to support EMU’s efforts to pursue sustainable living on campus, or if you have questions, please .