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Career Profile: Environmental Engineering Consultants |
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September 19, 2005
By Sarah Clark
Sarah.clark@educationfactor.com
Education Factor Columnist
Many environmental engineering jobs involve consulting corporations on how to comply with government regulations and gain efficiencies through environmental policies and practices. Other consulting jobs may involve working with a multi-sector group to solve tough environmental problems, like greenhouse gas emissions.
Conducting Risk Assessments
Much of the work of an environmental consultant involves performing risk assessments. During a risk assessment, an engineer will look at ways in which a man-made construct negatively affects the natural environment or the degree to which the construct complies with government regulation. Environmental factors may include gases that are released into the atmosphere at toxic levels. Others may include harmful waste that pollutes a water supply or nearby body of water.
Consulting group risk assessments can also be used to determine whether efficiencies can be gained through more environmentally-friendly business practices. For example, buildings that use natural light may reduce electricity costs. In a manufacturing process, environmental engineers may be able to identify ways to recycle materials or use them more efficiently, resulting in fewer resources that must be used or disposed.
Types of Consulting Jobs
Environmental engineering consulting jobs can be found in the private and nonprofit sector. Bottom-line business oriented consulting firms may be focused on helping a company meet the minimum regulatory requirements to meet standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
On the other hand, nonprofit environmental consulting firms often exist to aid organizations that wish to adopt more progressive environmental practices. For example, the Sony Corporation has pledged to gradually stop using chemicals that pose the greatest risk to people and the environment, a step that is not required by government regulations.
Some environmental consulting firms may participate in public/private initiatives aimed at addressing a particular environmental problem. For example, the EPA has established a partnership among scores of groups from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in an effort to reduce diesel emissions throughout the nation.
Whether you enter the field of environmental consulting from the private or nonprofit sector, you'll look forward to a career that requires expertise and creativity in finding solutions to challenging problems.
Sources:
The Environmental Protection Agency
About the Author
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in Arlington, Virginia.
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