Sustainability Society Helps Students Get Certified for Energy and Environmental Design

The Wentworth Institute of Technology Sustainability Society (WITSS) promotes the importance of sustainability in materials, design, engineering, construction, and energy as our society moves toward a sustainable future.  

Club members have recently been training fellow students for the LEED GA exam, which measures general knowledge of green building practices and how to support others working on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects. 

Club president Jacob Lehrer, Architecture ’23, wrote the following to summarize his group’s recent activities. 
 

From an early age, students today are told the world is ending. Climate change has been in the news, politics, TV shows, movies, classrooms, and conversations at home. As students, it can be challenging to see how you can individually make an impact.  

However, throughout the past year, the Wentworth Sustainability Society has given students the tools to make a difference in their workplace and studios, and at home with family by providing training along with Green Building Education Services for the LEED Green Associate test.  

Starting in the fall, we ran sessions with dozens of students to learn about sustainable design in architecture and construction. We eventually had five students pass LEED Tests, ranging from first-year students to master’s degree students: 

• Katelyn Goode – B.S. Arch ’26 (LEED Green Associate) 

• Jacob Lehrer – B.S. Arch ’23 (LEED AP ND) 

• Skylar Chardon – M. Arch ’23 (LEED Green Associate) 

• Coleman Conner – M. Arch ’23 (LEED Green Associate) 

• Joshua Ssebuwufu – M. Arch ’23 (LEED Green Associate) 

Sustainability has become a crucial consideration in contemporary design, as it is imperative to design buildings that meet the present and future generations' needs. The built environment is responsible for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, designers have a vital role in reducing these emissions by designing sustainable buildings.  

LEED prioritizes using environmentally friendly materials, energy efficiency, and reducing waste. By incorporating these principles into their projects, designers can create buildings that positively impact the environment and promote human health and well-being. By training students with this mindset, we can push the industry forward with each new hire, giving the industry even more of an ability to create positive change.