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Terp Tales, Winter 2011
ENST students contribute to wetland design, green walls continued from page 1 architecture, energy efficiency, and communication. More than 200 students were involved in the design, construction, and promotion of WaterShed. Several Environmental Science and Technology undergraduates served as student leaders for the project.
student, worked on the project from Associate Professor of ENST Dave the beginning, assisting with the initial Tilley served as the faculty mentor for design and concept of the home. As the living systems component. He asthe living systems team leader, Tjaden sisted with the concept design and docudirected the application of green walls, mentation of the house and supervised the green roof, constructed wetlands and its construction. the rainwater cistern. Dr. Tilley believes that the opporTjaden believes that his team’s intunity to interact with architecture and corporation of water and green technol- engineering students was one of the ogy improved its greatest benefits of developing Waterchances of victory. Shed. “We definitely “Even if we had not won, the stulooked at a lot more dents would have gained a huge appreliberal ways of dociation for what it takes to put a project ing things in a house like this together,” he said. that other people Enerson agrees, adding that the wouldn’t do,” he collaboration was an invaluable experisaid, adding, “It’s ence. something that you “Working with peers, professors, could actually go out and professionals outside of your and contract with expertise allows you to understand how someone.” different components interrelate,” she Junior Veronika said. Enerson shares the science of WaterShed Photo by Edwin Remsberg Zhiteneva, a student Tjaden said that the College of leader in living systems, construction Isabel Enerson, a junior ENST Agriculture and Natural Resources was and communications, major, was a student leader in the comchanged her major munications and living systems areas, from ENSP to ENST focusing on wetland design, nutrient because she wants cycling, gardening, and outreach. to work with water When the results for the affordability management in decategory were announced, Enerson knew that her team had won the compe- veloping countries. “I wanted to tition. experience things “I just remember literally vibrathands-on and create ing with excitement,” she said, adding, systems that work,” “I don’t think I stopped smiling for she said, adding, hours.” “[Solar Decathlon] Although volunteers committed was an excellent thousands of hours to completing the Tjaden shows off the interior design Photo by Edwin Remsberg demonstration of how project and endured two years of redesigns and critiques, Enerson believes the I want to pursue my own career and life instrumental in WaterShed’s success. after college.” lasting impact of WaterShed was worth “The environmental influence that Zhiteneva spent the summer conthe sacrifice. our college offers helped the message structing the home and growing plants “I would have been happy if one get across and helped us win in the in the greenhouse. For her, the most person was inspired by WaterShed to end,” he said. rewarding aspect of the project was make a change in [his or her] life,” The University of Maryland will Enerson said. “Instead we got hundreds when visitors praised the wetlands of present a new home for competition the home and when they recognized of people asking us how they could during the 2015 Solar Decathlon. To “that people and plants are integral to implement ‘x’ in their home.” learn more about the WaterShed team or the holistic home design.” Scott Tjaden, a senior ENST the competition, click here.