SRU receives grant from West Penn Energy Fund to support Macoskey Center upgrades and programming

Jan. 10, 2025

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University is getting support to increase energy efficiency and spread sustainability education with the community thanks to a grant from the West Penn Energy Fund.

The SRU Foundation, Inc., accepted a grant from the WPEF worth $22,500 on behalf of the University that will used by SRU's Macoskey Center for Sustainability Education and Research for the following:

• Energy audit by Envinity, an energy consulting firm, to identify areas for reducing energy usage and operational costs by the Macoskey Center.
• Energy efficiency updates to the Macoskey Center's kitchen to purchase energy-efficient appliances, including an induction cooking stovetop and compatible cookware.
• Earth Month programming costs to host a series of events in April 2025 focused on energy conservation, renewable energy, climate action and sustainability. Events such as guest speakers, workshops and collaborative projects will involve students, faculty and community partners, including WPEF and Envinity, and the funds will pay for supplies, speaker fees, student worker hours and other operational costs.

The partnership will also promote two milestone anniversaries for the Macoskey Center and WPEF, who are celebrating their 35th and 25th anniversaries, respectively.

"This is a great collaboration and we appreciate the West Penn Energy Fund's investment in a sustainable future, not only at the Macoskey Center but for the communities that we serve," said Sami Bortz, manager of the Macoskey Center. "This funding will help advance our mission of promoting sustainability, specifically in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy. We are excited to provide tools, knowledge and resources that our students, faculty and community members can apply. These projects will enhance our current collaborations and establish a foundation for future partnership with WPEF."

"We are honored to support the Macoskey Center as they work to bring together SRU students, faculty, staff and the communities that SRU serves to broaden their sustainability programs," said Joel Morrison, WPEF fund administrator. "We look forward to celebrating our partnership with SRU and others during our Earth Month programming in April to build upon the vision of Dr. Robert Macoskey."

The Macoskey Center is a 70-acre, on-campus sustainability education, demonstration and research center at SRU. It is named in honor of the late Robert Macoskey, a former SRU professor of philosophy who led an alternative living technology and energy research project on the site of the current center, which opened in 1990.

The WPEF is a non-profit organization that invests in clean energy technologies that benefit West Penn Power ratepayers in Pennsylvania.

More information is available on the WPEF website and the Macoskey Center webpage.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 |  [email protected]