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 a 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 withhold future 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
will notify my friends and my parents about this matter and urge them
to take action as well.
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.”