Slippery Rock Macoskey Center

Supporting Energy Efficiency and Community Outreach

The Macoskey Center for Sustainability Education & Research is located on a 70-acre demonstration homestead at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in western Pennsylvania.  The Center is named in honor of Dr. Robert Macoskey who served as the Chairman of SRU’s Philosophy Department and began teaching a class in the early 1970’s called Philosophy and Alternative Futures. Out of that course, Macoskey founded the Alternative Living Technologies and Energy Research (A.L.T.E.R.) project to explore ways to demonstrate alternative technologies and teach people about them.  The original Harmony Homestead has been renovated and earned LEED Silver certification in 2011. WPEF provided co-funding to conduct a comprehensive energy audit, kitchen energy efficiency upgrades, and a month-long energy outreach program in 2025. The Center and WPEF worked together to install and showcase Induction cooking as part of its educational outreach program.

Impact

Attracted 500+ attendees to Earth Month programming

Established induction cooking kitchen showcase

Supporting Dr. Robert Macoskey’s legacy – priceless