2005 Green Awards for Sustainability

Jay Yowell received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from OSU in 1994.  He is an accredited LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) professional with expertise in sustainable development and green architecture.  He recently started his own architectural firm.  In his spare time, Jay teaches a class called “Architecture and the Environment” as a visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma.  In 2004, he gave a presentation on “The Fifth Façade” at the OSU School of Architecture for students and the general community.  Jay presents to conferences and groups regularly to show that the implementation of sustainability practices can be very practical and worthwhile.  He has presented at EnvironDesign 7, Sierra Club, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, and the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.   Jay is a founding member and current president for the Oklahoma Sustainability Network.  The Network serves to connect those working toward sustainability in Oklahoma and to advance the public’s awareness of sustainability issues.  In his own community, Jay was involved with establishing the non-profit Edmond Land Conservancy after being part of the city’s task force to study trails and the conservation of green space in Edmond. 

The Oklahoma Academy for State Goals was originally founded in the mid-1960s and reorganized in 1985.  Their motto, “Moving Ideas into Action”, is a good description of their mission to research, debate, and craft public policy recommendations to make Oklahoma a better place to live, work, and play.  Over the years, the Academy has sponsored conferences and Town Halls on many subjects ranging from crime to economic development.   In 2004, they held a Town Hall on environmental sustainability.  Titled, “Oklahoma’s Environment: Pursuing a Responsible Balance”, the Town Hall met for three days and came to consensus on several recommendations. Among these recommendations were 1).  Oklahoma must develop a long-range strategic plan for environmental sustainability, 2). The Oklahoma Legislature should allocate funds for sustainability research by universities to meet challenges defined by the state’s environmental agencies, 3). An $8-$15 million environmental bond issue should be issued to establish a Conservation Reserve Enhanced Program to address sustainable control of environmental concerns in priority watersheds, and 4). A permanent state office should be created to serve as a repository of factual information on the negotiation and compacting discussions and decisions to improve tribal-state relations in the pursuit of sustainability. At the end of the Town Hall, an implementation committee was formed to work with policymakers in converting their recommendations to policy.  This work is now well underway.