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Sustainability

A Living Commitment to Sustainability

At Principia College, sustainability is more than an initiative – it's part of how we learn, live, and lead.

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Through campus practices and academic exploration, students engage directly with the environmental challenges shaping our world.

We approach sustainability as an interconnected system where ecological, social, economic, and ethical questions intersect. In classrooms and across campus, students develop perspectives and skills to think critically, act responsibly, and create meaningful change.

Our commitment is visible in the way we operate.

Principia sourced 100 percent renewable electricity between 2009 and 2023 and is now producing renewable energy on site with the recent completion of a solar farm. The six-acre area of ground-mounted solar panels (array) feeds 1.65 megawatts directly into our grid. Through careful design, the land also serves as a habitat for local, and often endangered, pollinator insects.

Across campus, sustainability takes many forms—both large and small:

  • Waste reduction efforts aimed at zero waste
  • Sustainable food and infrastructure practices
  • Recycling and composting programs
  • Native landscaping that supports pollinators
  • A campus orchard and food forest
  • A Clothing Closet that promotes reuse
  • Bike rental and repair programs that encourage low-impact transportation

These efforts aren’t separate from the student experience—they’re part of it. Here, sustainability is something you study, question, and practice every day.