Open Letter to Nancy Sullivan, VP Finance and Administration
As a Vice-President of this institution it is your responsibility to make decisions that benefit the wellbeing of the University. These actions should ultimately promote the long-term financial stability of the University, benefit the community at large, and improve the experience of Guelph students and staff. We therefore feel that you would naturally support the proposed energy retrofit.
The University must deal with the fact that its current budget shortfalls will only be heightened by electricity and energy infrastructure costs; all expected to increase significantly over the coming years. An energy retrofit, completely financed by an external loan, could reduce energy costs by at minimum $1.6 million annually and would prevent costly increases in energy expenditures and capital expansion projects.
Acting like good corporate citizens and reducing our harmful emissions from our energy consumption is only one way that this project can give back to our community. Global warming, air pollution and the energy crisis in Ontario
are all threatening our quality of life. Society is looking to its universities for the ingenuity to rise above these challenges. Demonstrating a cost effective way of dealing with these problems would be one way that Guelph could answer that challenge.
A final bonus of this project is the improved learning and working environment for staff and students. Improved comfort from better air quality, lighting and heating were all the result of a similar retrofit at McMaster University.
Ms. Sullivan, the students have already spoken out overwhelmingly in support of the retrofit in last year’s CSA elections. It is now up to you determine whether or not we wish to stay the course towards increasing energy costs and pollution, or whether to lead the way towards a more energy and cost efficient future.
Sincerely,
GSEC Renewable Energy Group