July 29, 2025
From the Record, Spring 2025
Hampden-Sydney is making strides to do its part in conserving the special piece of the planet that Tigers call home.
In 2023, Hampden-Sydney entered into a power purchase agreement with Madison Energy Investments, placing solar panels of the roof of the Facilities building. This arrangement lowers the utility bills paid by the College while adding clean, renewable energy directly to the electric grid.
Facilities Management also supports the local ecosystem through active lake management strategies including monthly monitoring and water treatment, stocking fish, limiting the use of gas-powered equipment used for landscaping by employing alternative strategies such as partnering with Goat Busters to naturally reduce vegetation, and annual inspections and maintenance of the dams and spillways. Similarly, Facilities Management is exploring more environmentally friendly weed management options, with a goal of using pesticides as a last resort.
Hampden-Sydney has been a partner in the Heat Watch Program since 2021. The citizen-science project aims to identify areas of extreme heat absorption and retention by collecting temperature and humidity data from around Farmville. Data collected has been used to implement several tree-planting and -giveaway projects around town to combat the elevated temperatures and reduce the impact of extreme heat-related events.
The wildflower meadow and apiary established in 2022 on the south end of campus just outside the gates has blossomed into a hive of research and exploration for students, faculty, and staff alike. Currently housing two hives of European honeybees, the apiary provides both an essential community of pollinators and an opportunity for environmental science students to study how these humble powerhouses live.
Student organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Tigers Serve are also getting in on the action. Ducks Unlimited raised funds and awareness for the protection of waterfowl habitats this year. Through Tigers Serve, groups across campus participated in several highway clean ups, clearing litter and debris from more than 50 miles of roadways around the College.
