Editor’s Note: This summer, Dor Hirsh Bar Gai CCAS BA ’16 SEAS MS ’18 utilized the Presidential Fellow Academic and Professional Development Fund to earn a certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Dor composed the article below to express his gratitude and fulfill expectations for funding awardees to reflect on their experience.
With the assistance of the Presidential Fellow Academic and Professional Development Fund, I was able to pursue the foundational certification, known as Green Associate, for sustainable building design under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). LEED is the predominant green building rating system in the world, focusing on sustainable design, construction and operations of buildings, from private home and apartment buildings, as well government, healthcare, education and athletics facilities.
The certification involved several hours of studying the various components of green building, covering, for example, the efficient use of water, electricity, resources, landscaping and transportation. After 2 weeks of preparation, I was excited to pass the exam and receive the Green Associate certification. While I have just started my PhD in systems engineering, focusing on climate change mitigation, I plan to continue expanding my knowledge and experience with LEED and pursue more of their Accredited Professional (AP) certifications for additional specialization.
Lastly, to maintain the certification I am required to complete service hours related to LEED activities, which I look forward to getting involved with.
I appreciate the contribution of the Presidential Fellow Academic and Professional Development Fund and look forward to continue developing in the field of climate change mitigation.
Thank you,
Dor