A green message sent to all Ole Miss students...

UM Students,


An idea has been presented to me that I¹d like to pass on to you. If you
are interested in reducing Ole Miss¹ environmental impact or in saving Ole
Miss dollars, please read on.


Over the past few years the University has been putting forth effort for
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in new
construction projects and renovations. The new Law School and the Center
for Manufacturing Excellence are great examples. Ideally, the University
will save the money it spends on these projects over a matter of years in
electricity, steam, chilled water, etc. A byproduct (and a great selling
point for UM) is lower greenhouse gas emissions.


However, the cost savings which are estimated at building times are not
necessarily evaluated during the lifetime of the project. Also, while the
potential for long-term energy savings exists due to the design itself,
actual savings can be hugely affected ­ positively or negatively ­ by how
we operate and maintain the building over its useful life.


My proposal is this:


For those of you that would like to take an active role in seeing real
savings in University dollars and lowering the GHG emissions from our
campus, and for those of you who would like hands on experience in campus
affairs, please step up now. We have the power to assist or even lead the
University in becoming more responsible. This would be welcomed by the
administration, especially the University architect, Ian Banner, who
presented this idea to me.


I have a few ideas, but I really want this to be a diverse group with
input coming from everyone, students to faculty and eventually contractors
and the physical plant.


Please contact me if this proposal appeals to you. I will be in touch
with you with a date for an interest meeting. Most likely, it will be in
the last week of the semester, and we will discuss steps forward.


We have the power to see a more responsible, prosperous Ole Miss if we
work together.


Thank you for your consideration,


Jonathan Jones
Junior, Chemical Engineering
Office of Sustainability
Jdjones12@olemiss.edu
(228) 265-3723


Ian G Banner
Facilities Planning
Director Of Facilities Planning And University Architect

Marni Kendricks
Assistant to the Dean
UM School of Engineering
120-B Carrier Hall
Phone: 662-915-5373
mckendri@olemiss.edu