I've got spirit yes I do! I've got...eh, whatev

I've never really been a "rah-rah-sis-boom-bah-let's-go-[insert anthropomorphized school animal representative here]" type of student and, not surprisingly, smell even less like team spirit as an alumnus. So when the Mason Spirit, alumni magazine for GMU, appears in my mailbox, it usually goes directly into "File 13 - trash can" without a thought. (Well, one thought: How do they and the United Color of Benetton catalogs keep finding me no matter where I move?) However, I actually kept and even read the Fall 2007 issue, whose cover story is titled "It's Easy Being Green" and, I have to say, I was pretty pleased with what I saw.

Perhaps the most significant measure GMU has undertaken to go green is to contract with Siemens Building Technologies, allowing the school to update old, inefficient mechanical systems without hefty upfront costs. Through this single measure, GMU has reduced its CO2 emissions by 32+ million pounds this year, and expects to continued doing so for the next 15 years. This is equivalent to taking 2800 cars off the road. GMU saved over $1 million last year in avoided energy costs, by taking other measures such as replacing incandescent lighting with CFLs and installing occupancy sensors on switches.

Looking forward, all new GMU buildings will be designed and constructed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standard, the national benchmark for measuring new green construction. The factors weighed in the LEED standard are:

* sustainable site development
* water conservation
* energy efficiency
* material selection
*indoor environmental quality

In addition to these major changes, the school has also implemented smaller steps aimed at encouraging the student body, faculty and staff to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Masonites who bring their own reusable coffee mug receive a discount on java. Employees are encouraged to use public transportation when possible and receive a transit subsidy if they do.

Green has always been a pretty popular color around campus, and I'm pretty happy about the fact that the school is aggressively pursuing an even greener future. They've come quite a ways since my non-studious self strode the halls of the Johnson Center. I might even have to consider buying my first piece of GMU apparel. Now, if we could just fanagle ourselves back into the NCAA tournament.