Kermit had no idea how spot on he was.  Being green in design can be difficult, but worth it.

Sustainable, energy efficient, “green”, whatever you want to call it, designing buildings with many of these passive principles is here.  And is going to stay.

With that being said, I think it is very important for young architects (well, actually ALL architects!) to do their research, become knowledgeable in the basic sustainable and passive building strategies, and even go the extra mile and become LEED accredited in their specific field of work.

Architects need to uphold the overall responsibility of green design.  We are responsible of  the huge impact of the sustainable movement.

Along with that, I believe acquiring such a important accreditation is a big asset for an architect.

Lets look at my list of reasons why you should consider learning the basic principles of sustainable design, applying these principles to your work, growing your knowledge on the subject, and applying for LEED accreditation in a chosen field:

1. Green Building are Just Plain Good

Ok.  So I’m going to throw some basic statistics at you here.

• Buildings account for almost 40% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the United States alone every year.
• U.S. Buildings account for about 41% of the energy consumption 

The green building market is becoming the fastest growing industry in building design.  LEED certified buildings have rose substantially in the past 10 years and are forecast to keep rising.

Anytime Architects can create designs that promotes a better environment, they should.

But it’s not just energy; water conservation, SMART building technology, and designing for a small footprint, are all important aspects to focus on.

2. IECC Standards (So You Better Learn Anyway!)

Every State is different, but if you have your license in multiple States (like I do) it is in your best interest to learn the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) basics.

Currently in some counties in Tennessee it is required to preform an energy audit on all new buildings, additions, and even some renovations.  The audit consists of different fields that the architect (and engineers) have to fill out concerning the building design.

Things like floor and foundation type, wall and roof construction specifications, glazing (a fancy word for glass) square footage percentage, and so on.

Once the fields are complete, your building must meet the minimum requirements for Energy Conservation.  Knowing a lot of the rules and design principles in the beginning of the design process can really help you with the audit process.

3. LEED and Green Buildings are COOL!

I’ve worked on a variety of different projects throughout the years, and I hope I can work on a ton more.  But to this day I can only say I’ve helped with the submittal process on two LEED certified projects; one was an Airplane Hanger and the other was a small Airport Terminal.

It was actually within the first year after I graduated, and sadly, I didn’t quite know or understand the gravity of what these projects accomplished at the time.

I came into the firm later, after the design was complete.  So I didn’t actually get to design on either project (bummer).  However, doing part of the research and documentation in order for each project to receive points once submitted was still pretty important.  And cool!

It’s pretty neat to see projects like this firsthand.  Right now, if you were to Google designs that are LEED certified, you’d find so many different designs and building types: modern schools, SMART office buildings, buildings located all around the world! All of which continue to break the mold of what building are and can be.

4. LEED Accreditation Will Set You Apart

Gaining LEED Green Associate status can really set you apart from the crowd of other Architects.  It’s always a good idea to find ways to distinguish yourself in a competitive industry.

Plus, you can study and take the Green Associate exam right out of college if you want.   No mandatory hours to fulfill! Find out more and look into study guides at GBES which is the #1 provider for all things LEED!

This exam is basically the core or foundation of the green building principles.

And if you want to take an even bigger step, once you take and pass the Green Associate Exam you will be able to take one (or more) of the specialized professional exams.  There are 6 to choose from.  I chose to specialize in Building Design & Construction (BD+C).

The specialty exams are more advanced and take an in depth look into which field you decide to pursue.  They are the Green Associate exam on steroids!

Having either one of these accolades on your resume will keep you prepared and prominent in the ever changing industry.  It really can take your career to the next level.

5. Are Your Ready to Learn How?

So after all this, do you think you are ready to take the next step in designing responsibly for our environment?  Are you ready to stand out from the crowd?

You can do it! Here’s how!

Taking on the task is not easy (now you understand the title of this post) but it can be done! I did it and you can too! It can be a lot to take on at first, but with the proper study aids and focus, you will easily master the principles of sustainable design.

I recommend finding a study aid or technique that works for you.  There are many out there.  For me, I LOVE taking practice tests; they get you in the habit of knowing how the questions will read during the exam (a very tricky part of this specific exam).

I also like using flashcards; they are perfect for studying on the go.  You can bring them to work and study during lunch or even bring them along road trips and vacations.

GBES LEED Exam Prep is a GREAT source for study aids and practice exams and it is what I personally used to fly through each exam! I highly, HIGHLY recommend GBES for study guides, exam prep, and even training courses!

I want to be clear that this is just a quick summery of the green design process and LEED to give you an overview.  You can also check out USGBC’s website for more information about LEED.

Studying for the LEED exams can be tough  but it is so doable!  Just like taking your ARE’s!  Check out my post here giving you helping tips and even my personal study schedule to pass your ARE’s confidently and within just a few months!

Feel free to shoot me comments, questions, or insights you may have on the subject!