The Most Expensive Plaque on Campus

As you walk into to Spencer or the newly renovated Snowden, you may notice a large and official looking glass plaque that clearly announces for all to hear that this building is environmentally friendly and LEED certified-the hippie architect and institution's greatest recognition. After last year's deplorable "D" grade in sustainability, Sewanee has and continues to work hard in improving its environmental impact and sustainability. We have an expanded recycling program, begun composting on a larger scale, and tried to conserve more energy through motion activated light switches and water efficient toilets. The largest shift and the one with the most significant impact, however, has been in construction. With the completion of Spencer Hall and Snowden, Sewanee now has two certified LEED certified buildings. Getting LEED certified is a complicated and elaborate process. Not only does the construction have to meet extensive green standards such as limiting the number of trees cut down and using local building supplies, but the finished building itself has to have energy saving appliances and insulation. To meet all these requirements, inspectors have to visit the sight frequently to observe waste and run off and conduct tests on the structure to ensure that energy is not leaking. When all of these green requirements are met, the overall costs of labor and construction is significantly higher compared to the traditional process. While building in a more environmentally friendly way is definitely needed and should be continued, spending extra to go through the bureaucracy and red tape just to get that sacred plaque is not worth the cost. 

I am all for environmental construction. I love the fact that buildings like Spencer and Snowden capitalize on natural and local resources, conserve energy, and still fit into Sewanee's traditional, architectural landscape. Furthermore, by building green, Sewanee saves money on energy and thus saves you, the student money, by curbing further increases in tuition. We consequently stand as a steward of responsible living to the community and other colleges. However, we do not need a plaque to say this. A simple cost-benefit analysis (Note that I am not an economist but I play one on TV) shows that the costs of getting LEED certified grossly outweigh the benefits. This is not to say that we should disband green construction all together and go back to using coal burning tractors. Rather, we can and should strive for these standards but do not need to go through the costly, unneeded inspection, paperwork, and certification process. Sewanee still sees the same economic and environmental benefits of saving electricity, cutting down on heating and cooling, and reducing water consumption as it did before but without having to pay for a third person to give his/her approval. Spencer and Snowden are still great, green buildings even without the plaque, which does not add much financially or promotionally. 

While we do get a huge tax break, there is not much else that LEED certification contributes except a nice piece of glass. Sewanee would look just as good to the community and other colleges by saying that it followed LEED certification standards but did not go through the whole bureaucratic tape as it did by actually getting the official title. Although, the certification hopefully will give us a higher grade next year in sustainability compared to other colleges, which in turn should boost our public image, the majority of perspective students do not care whether the building is LEED or not. Prospects and current students are concerned more about how a building looks not whether it is LEED certified, which is unnoticeable unless it is pointed out. A green building is still a green building whether is has that LEED plaque or not. 

Sewanee should continue to strive for environmental sustainability as it renovates, grows, and develops, but we should not build green just for a trophy or societal recognition but because it is a good and moral goal to attempt. Who needs a plaque when we have the self- satisfaction of knowing that we helped preserve the beauty of this mountain?