From Guest Blogger Emily Folk: Ten Jobs in the Environmental Field
Portrait of a young woman smiling
Saving the planet takes more than just a good heart and an eye for green practices. It requires countless professionals in the environmental field who make significant changes to our energy sources, our business practices, our building designs and everything in between.
You want in? Here are 10 jobs to look for that can help change the world.
1. Eco-Construction
It seems like an odd place to start, especially considering the fact that the practice might not seem so green. But eco-friendly buildings are all the rage, which means there are more and more jobs available to help build them. You might also specialize in an eco-friendly trade like solar panel installation, which can bring in up to $35 an hour.
2. Engineer
Once upon a time, cars ran on gas — end of story. Now, though, engineers are using their smarts to create vehicles that run on all different types of energies, many of which create much less pollution than traditional fuel. Your engineering career could have you reworking automobiles or public transit systems to make these types of swaps.
3. Public Relations Specialist
No one’s going to know about environmentally friendly advances without a killer press release. With that type of visibility, public relations specialists also can sway public and political opinion on green-related topics, which means you can make a big difference with just your use of words.
4. Interior Designer
Another creative option is interior design, a place where more and more people are realizing they can make a difference with eco-friendly choices. Start by learning the requirements of LEED certifications and create spaces that meet the benchmarks that make them green.
5. Biologist
Rather than covering fields with pesticides — and relying on fossil fuels to make them — biologists have begun to create microbes that run on sunlight and waste to do the same job. This is the kind of innovation for which we can thank biologists, and you can help invent even more ways to green up pre-existing processes with science.
6. Urban Planner
Americans are known to value their space: Sprawling properties hold extra-large homes that are a drive away from local conveniences. But the modern urban planner strives to change all that by compacting cities and towns to make everything more accessible on foot or by bike and public transportation. This type of foresight could save resources and cut down on pollution in the future.
7. Farmer
Say goodbye to your vision of the elderly farmer with fields as far as the eye can see. To really revolutionize our agricultural system, millions of us should become small-scale organic farmers who grow their products without pesticides, fertilizers or gas-guzzling machinery. Not to mention the use of natural fertilizers has a huge impact on our health. There are many pathways into farming, all of which require education and hard work to make this career a reality.
8. Sustainability Officer
More and more companies are creating this role, wherein you’re in charge of making the business run in an eco-friendlier manner. You might streamline the office recycling system, or you could sit down with a few local HVAC specialists to find a greener heating and cooling system to which you can upgrade. Any way you can think of to make the business better on the Earth will be your responsibility.
9. Wind Energy Worker
Wind power aficionados believe it could produce one third of the world’s energy by 2050. More workers are necessary to help this green power source reach its full potential. And there are already plenty of jobs in this sector, since wind makes up 2.3 percent of the power generated in the U.S.
10. Recycler
Finally, there’s plenty of work to be done in the realm of recycling. Two-thirds of the nation’s paper ends up recycled rather than tossed into landfills, and that alone gives workers in this industry plenty to compact, recycle and reuse. Think about other recyclables like plastic, metal and steel, and you’ve got yourself a career.
Make the World Better
No matter what environmentally minded job you choose, one thing’s for sure: You will play a part in making the world a better, cleaner place. In terms of career fulfillment, there’s nothing quite like that feeling — so get out there and make it happen.
