From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: How Civil Engineers Can Have an Impact on the Green Initiative

Civil engineering is an integral part of life today. Buildings, bridges, and cities are all designed by civil engineers. So too is waste management, water supply lines, and many aspects of green infrastructure. Today, in the age where communities are working to improve urban and suburban city designs, environmental civil engineers are more vital than ever.

City Design

Consider city construction and some of the factors that go into it. There must be a water and waste system, power, and accessible streets. They consider roadways, future traffic, building construction, and environmental efficiency. For environmental efficiency, cities need to consider public transportation routes, and placing resources near housing in order to reduce car use.
An urban heat island is caused by sunlight reflecting off of concrete, making the overall temperature of a city rise drastically. Green spaces are necessary in a city, in order to prevent this phenomenon. The grass, dirt, and trees help to absorb some of the heat energy.

Building Designs

A civil engineer must design buildings to be space-effective, with access to water and waste disposal, and sufficient ventilation. From an environmental perspective, the buildings need to be well-insulated, efficiently powered, and not cause any detrimental effect to the environment.
Passive solar heating is building a naturally temperate structure. This means high ceilings, insulated roofs, and extra ventilation. A rectangular building with the windows facing north and south along the lengthy sides, is optimal due to reduced sun exposure. Buildings can have a green roof, a roof that is made of sod-like material, helping absorb heat energy entering the building from direct sunlight. Houses may be fitted with solar panels, or a system to collect water.

Power

Power supply is key, and that’s why more people with a master’s degree in civil engineering are in demand. Solar panels, active solar heating, windmills, and hydroelectric energy all require civil engineers for both construction and access for the public. Active solar heating involves a long tube of metal, sheets of solar cells or mirrors, and liquid or air that can be heated to turn a turbine. Windmills use the force of wind turning their blades to generate energy. Hydroelectric dams use currents to make energy. Civil engineers design these methods.

Civil engineering is irrevocably important part of environmental science fields. These engineers design cities, buildings, and vital power sources. Without them, much of the present environmental advancement would not be possible at all.