To the Board of Trustees of Scripps College:

I am writing to voice my concern about sustainability at Scripps, regarding in particular the new residence hall currently being designed. As the parent of a Scripps student and a member of the Scripps community, I am proud of the college's current efforts to implement sustainable practices. My concern is that the new residence hall may not be LEED certified.

I understand your reservations about the extra expense of LEED certification and the flaws of LEED as a certification program. However, all cited figures have been based on an old building plan, and updated information about the actual cost of meeting LEED standards has not been forthcoming. Regardless, I believe that the benefits of LEED certification far outweigh the costs: a more sustainable building will reduce resource use and costs for decades to come, and certification will ensure that green elements of the building plans are retained throughout the construction process while demonstrating in a broadly understood manner the college's commitment to sustainability.

I am therefore petitioning the planning committee to make the new residence hall LEED certified at the Gold level. If it is not, I pledge to discontinue my contributions to Scripps in the hope that the college will recognize the importance I and other members of the Scripps community place on sustainability. I urge you to create a LEED certification fund to which parents and alumnae can donate, and to which I will gladly contribute.

Constructing a new residence hall is an investment in the future of Scripps College. I hope it will be one that reflects the college's values and sustainability policy: “using the best designs available that meet building-code-approved energy efficiency standards.”