By Design, More 'Green' For Aggie Blue

Four Utah State University students — all juniors and seniors in USU’s Interior Design program — can add “green” to their resumes as a result of passing the LEED accreditation exam. The four, Kristin Baird, Ellen Nygaard, Megan Pearce and Stephanie Torrie, are the first interior design students from USU to sit for the professional accreditation exam.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a third-party certification program that sets the nationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

 

“By passing the LEED accreditation exam, these four students have shown they are immensely prepared to enter the design profession with a full understanding of green and sustainable practices,” said JoAnn Wilson, head of USU’s Interior Design program in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and the Caine School of the Arts.

 

The students’ successful completion of the exam speaks to the level of USU’s program.

 

“Most design professionals do not attempt to sit for the exam until they have worked in the profession for several years,” Wilson said. “All of USU’s students who sat for the exam passed, and that is very unusual.”

 

The four USU students who passed the exam believe in green practices.

 

“I realize that taking care of our planet is something we should all work toward, and this was a way I could learn how to be effective in my industry while being responsible,” said Kristin Baird, a senior from Sacramento, Calif.

 

Stephanie Torrie, a senior from Madison, Wis., said everyone has a responsibility to protect and preserve the planet. “One of the best ways to do this is to be informed,” she said.

 

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health — sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

 

According to the Green Building Council Web site, buildings in the United States account for one-third of the country’s total energy use, two-thirds of electricity, one-eighth of water use and buildings transform land that provides valuable ecological resources.

 

Green design not only makes a positive impact on public health and the environment, it also reduces operating costs, enhances building and organizational marketability, potentially increases occupant productivity and helps create a sustainable community, the Web site said.

 

“I see the importance of making a positive impact on the environment in any way I can,’ said Megan Pearce, a senior from Lindon, Utah. “It will help me in my future employment to be knowledgeable in green attributes.”

 

The LEED accreditation exam is made up of 80 questions with a possible total score of 200. Candidates must receive a score of 170 or higher to pass the exam.

 

“I took the LEED exam because green design is important to me and to my community,” said Ellen Nygaard, a junior from St. George, Utah. “It will also be a huge distinguishing factor for me in the professional world.”

 

Wilson congratulated the USU students for their accomplishment.

 

“This represents a new direction for the design program — caring for every aspect of the interior environment through knowledge of sustainable practices,” Wilson said. “Green jobs are the future of interior design, and these students are going to have a big advantage in the job market. Kristin, Megan, Stephanie and Ellen are the first Utah State interior design students to pass the LEED accreditation exam. This is a wonderful beginning, and we’ll have many more students follow their lead. Their success speaks to their dedication as students and promises a bright future for them professionally in the design world.”

 

 

Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354, patrick.williams@usu.edu
Contact: JoAnn Wilson, head, Interior Design Program (435) 797-7520