My experience in the sustainability certificate program at the University of Georgia has been filled with personal and academic growth. Being a part of this program has enabled me to pursue my career goals with a newfound understanding of sustainable living. I entered the University of Georgia declared as an electrical engineer, and since then I have been very interested in the development of the generation of sustainable energy. The coursework within the sustainability certificate provided me with the necessary knowledge to achieve my career goals while also shaping my everyday living in relation to the three spheres of sustainability.
When I began my education as an electrical engineer the bulk of my coursework was focused on mathematics and electrical theory. Although this provided me with a strong work ethic and knowledge of engineering, I was in search for something more personal. When I discussed my passion for the development of renewable energy to my advisor, they directed me to the sustainability certificate program, and I knew it was something that would fulfill my desire to make the world in a better place.
My introduction to the sustainability certificate began with my anchor course in which I was exposed to the basic terminology of sustainability, as well as the methods of sustainable thinking. I didn’t have any strong foundation of sustainable thinking and wasn’t expecting to learn as much as I did about the world and myself. During this introductory course I was forced to look internally and address the way I believe in sustainable living, but don’t act in a way that benefits the world. This introductory course instilled in me a sense of personal responsibility that I could no longer ignore. As small as it may seem, every choice has an impact, so I stopped using plastic water bottles and became more mindful the ways I waste food, water, and energy. Within this course I was also able to do research regarding the viability of biomass and solar energy generation. I worked with my professor to better understand how the allocation of land in regard to energy generation requires a logistic thinking which involves the environmental and economic spheres. Although this first course was a great introduction, my education in sustainability was just beginning.
As I continued in the certificate, the other courses and seminars opened me up to a greater sense of sustainable thinking and community. The sustainable seminars gave me an opportunity to communicate with other like-minded students, as well as getting to hear from many professionals within the sustainability field. Being able to view the University of Georgia campus through a lens of sustainability influenced my everyday life and propelled me into a better understanding of the network of sustainability.
The culmination of my sustainability coursework resulted in a capstone project that utilized all of my previous sustainable education. My team was assigned a capstone project that involved modeling the water usage of low-income households in the South Milledge Athens area. The goal of the project was to model the water usage of various households and to create a cost benefit analysis when these houses were retrofitted with more water efficient infrastructure. This project strongly addresses the social sphere, as many low-income households cannot afford an upfront cost for plumbing improvements. The economic aspect of this project centers around the cost benefit analysis of these retrofits. The county created an initiative to cover this initial cost, and needed to determine if this move was financially and environmentally sound. The county consumes energy and resources to treat the water in treatment plants and reclamation facilities. The reduction of water consumption is not only economically beneficially but also environmentally. The energy used to treat the water produces carbon emissions, so another aspect of this project was the carbon offset realm. Determining how much carbon these retrofits would reduce was a key aspect in determining the benefit of these infrastructure improvements.
My overall experience with the sustainability certificate has been very positive, and I will use the knowledge I have accumulated to guide my future career path. My coursework enabled me to think critically about sustainability, and how my individual choices can play a role in the grand scheme of sustainability. I had the opportunity to work with a team to benefit my community and acquired the skills necessary to be a team member and a leader. My experiences throughout my academic career were extremely valuable, and I will not soon forget the connections I’ve made in this certificate program.