Perhaps the greatest challenge of an internship with the Environmental Protection Agency is learning to speak a new language. Interns are bombarded by foreign acronyms and expected to keep up with complex executive orders -- all while manning the phones and fax machine.
But beyond the federal jargon, the EPA is an agency with a clear mission: protecting human health and the environment while practicing the sustainable lifestyle it preaches. As a summer intern, I got a behind-the-scenes look at the environmental movement, an experience that confirmed my best (and worst) suspicions about government employment.
Lately, it seems that "green" has become the new black. Earlier this year a Washington Post article explored the trend of green weddings, where invitations are printed with soy ink and guests fling biodegradable confetti. Even the travel industry is taking part in the growing green trend, as hotels become more environmentally friendly and programs are created where so-called green tourists can pay a few extra bucks to help negate the environmental impact of their trip.
Amid all this fuss about green, the less eco-friendly among us must wonder -- what exactly does "green" mean, anyway?
Green is interchangeable with another common buzzword, "sustainable." In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development famously defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
First impressions
Just blocks away from the White House, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is swarming with serious-faced men in dark suits, their badges swinging importantly as they walk. They are nearly outnumbered by tourists in shorts clutching ice cream cones.
My home for the summer, the Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch, works to minimize the environmental impact of construction by promoting energy-efficient, sustainable buildings.
Bucky Green, branch chief and former Lawn resident, greeted me on my first day. With a broad smile, he told me about the engineers and architects I would be working with, the invaluable experience I would gain and the countless opportunities available for green building experts.
I gulped.
"Well, uh..."
I had applied for my internship in Sustainable Facilities during my brief and painful stint in the Architecture School. When I told him my interests had veered elsewhere, I was demoted to writing newsletters and illustrating fliers for their cocktail parties.
This was fine by me -- until I heard my first assignment: I had to write talking points for the EPA administrator's address at a green building conference. It was only my second day.
Much to my relief, I later realized that the world of environmentalism is undergoing such rapid change that full-time employees barely understood much more than I did. We were all struggling to understand the ever-expanding science of green buildings together.
Easy being green?
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, a green building should be economically profitable, environmentally responsible and serve as a healthy and productive place to live and work.
In the United States, experts believe buildings are responsible for 36 percent of our primary energy use and 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, have been linked to global climate change.
For those that are skeptical of global warming theories, there is another reason to build green: A sustainable building can save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
With the high prices of trendy green products, this might seem confusing, but building green is less about expensive technology and more about efficiency. For example, you might have a habit of never turning off your lights. By installing motion detectors, you can slice your energy bill in half while consuming less energy.
To encourage the construction of green buildings, USGBC developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System, a checklist for the construction of energy-efficient buildings.
There are versions of the LEED Rating System for existing buildings, new construction and building exteriors. They address cleaning and maintenance, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water efficiency and recycling programs. Buildings are offered credits for completing checkpoints, and depending on the number of credits achieved, they may be certified silver, gold, or platinum. There are a total of 85 credits available and 32 are required for certification, allowing the building owner flexibility.
The LEED Rating System is the most widely recognized green building rating system in the country, and it is gaining popularity on college campuses. The University's South Lawn Project is seeking LEED certification and will feature a green roof, native plants and on-site storm water management.
A phrase I heard a lot of this summer was "walking the walk." As the national environmental authority, the EPA wants to create markets for green power, promote sustainable lifestyles and set a positive example. Despite its legal jargon and red tape, the EPA seems to be doing just that.
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