Green Design is Good for the Environment and the Resume

Studying and gaining experience in green interior design is a great way to build your resume and qualify for more jobs in interior design.

by Joe Cooper
Interior Design School Search Columnist

Issues such as recycling and global warming have raised the public consciousness about environmental sustainability, including clients of design firms who want their homes and buildings “green.” Designing green will be good for your career as a designer.

Interior Design: Green is Gaining

Although “green” design, the concept of creating interior design with the environment in mind, has been more popular in big cities and on the coasts, it is beginning to find a greater following in the middle states too.

Bamboo flooring, energy-efficient windows, and natural silk for furniture are popular materials used in green interior design.

Green Design in the United States

The US agency dedicated to green construction, called “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), is run by the US Green Building Council. LEED has established guidelines for designers on how to create interior designs and architecture that is environmentally sustainable, based on 5 criteria. Eighteen states have already approved laws requiring green standards for construction.

The great thing about creating interior designs that are LEED-compliant is the cost; building green according to LEED accounts for only 2 percent of the overall project cost, says Jill Mendoza, the head of the design firm Innovative Design Offerings in Indiana.

Green is Good for Your Interior Design Career

Taking classes on designing green in interior design school is a great way to establish a background in this important issue, which will only increase in acceptance and popularity over the coming years. Studying the LEED guidelines and keeping up on advances in green interior design is another good way.

Landing an internship or job on a green interior design project is a great resume builder as well. Most clients will be pleased to see some green design experience in your work history. You never know how many green jobs may be in your future.

Source(s)

Indy Star
Sioux Falls Argus Leader

About the author

Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

Posted on July 23, 2007

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