While you might not have heard of Senator Gaylord Nelson, chances are you’re familiar with his legacy. Almost fifty years ago, Senator Nelson coordinated the first nationwide day focused on the environment, now known as Earth Day. In the years that followed that first Earth Day, several important pieces of environmental protection legislation were passed, cementing Senator Nelson’s legacy and spurring a new focus on environmental issues. Today, people in over 150 countries worldwide gather to celebrate Earth Day, raising awareness of critical issues like climate change and sharing ideas on how to be better stewards of our planet.
But did you know that exchange programs are also helping to make our environment a better place? Several of our J-1 exchange visitors have participated in programs that focused on sustainable art and architecture! In honor of Earth Day, we caught up with Caterina and Francesco, two exchange visitors who are changing the way we think about design and the environment.
While interning with EcoLogic Design Lab this past spring, J-1 intern Caterina has learned about sustainable architecture, green building standards, and environmentally-friendly ethics. Throughout her program with EcoLogic, Caterina has worked on remodeling residential construction projects in the Monterey Bay area. In addition, Caterina got to assist with the design process of building a sustainable mini-house, aptly named the MicroPod! After her J-1 program ends, Caterina hopes “to raise awareness and urgency to respect nature” when she returns to Italy.
In Philadelphia, J-1 intern Francesco spent six months with TerraCycle, a company that is “Eliminating the Idea of Waste®” by reusing, upcycling, and recycling waste instead of incinerating it or sending it to a landfill. TerraCycle offers free recycling programs that collect waste from consumers and either recycles it or turns it into a brand new product. Francesco learned all about using upcycled materials to both create new products and transform interior spaces. These final products are environmentally-friendly and drastically cut back on the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Caterina and Francesco’s J-1 programs prove that you don’t have to be a scientist to make our planet a better (and more green) place. Learn more about how design can be both innovative and eco-friendly by checking out the best sustainable projects of 2017 here. Want more? #ExpectExchange and look into internship programs with sustainable architecture and design firms!