Born from a grassroots movement of students and faculty in 1995, The Center for Sustainability (CfS) at Penn State has emerged as an important part of Penn State 's efforts to address the environmental, economic, and social challenges of sustainability through the engagement of its students. With the support from the highest levels of the Penn State Administration, the CfS has piloted hands-on student research projects, courses, and outreach efforts in sustainability such as the American Indian Housing Initiative and the Solar Decathlon. These combined programs have helped to develop experience, capacity, and facilities that position the CfS as a unique entity at Penn State that will focus upon the critical interfaces between sustainable technologies and the practices that will put these technologies into action.