Whatever your opinion on global warming or climate change, there’s no denying that limiting pollution is a good thing for the environment. One of main reasons talented engineers move into the world of environmental engineering is the hope that their innovative work benefits humankind as a whole.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some new initiatives aimed at reducing pollution over the next year and beyond.

MIT’s Mission 2015 to limit Industrial Pollution

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) continues to be one of this country’s leading educational institutions focused on science and engineering. MIT’s Mission 2015 hopes to develop solutions to meet the many challenges affecting the planet’s biodiversity including the reduction of industrial pollution. Mission 2015 recognizes that solutions to this complex problem involve a multi-faceted approach.

According to MIT, “any action plan to reduce industrial pollution will need to be tailored toward specific pollutants to work well and not pose undue risks on either the economy or the environment.” MIT’s plan focuses on the reduction of multiple types of industrial pollution at their source, while leveraging the U.S. Superfund model to clean up sites that are severely polluted.

Bloomberg launches 2015 Campaign for Clean Energy

The private sector is also hopping on this green energy bandwagon. Bloomberg Philanthropies is launching a plan to start green energy initiatives helping local, state, and national stakeholders implement the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

“With the price of clean power falling, and the potential costs of inaction on climate change steadily rising, the work of modernizing America’s power grid is both more feasible and urgent than ever. Pollution from power plants takes a terrible toll on public health, and it’s the biggest contributor to our carbon footprint. But smart investments can reduce it while also strengthening local economies,” said Michael R. Bloomberg.

Hopefully, these efforts from MIT and Bloomberg improve the environment while also spawning the economic development that helps the green energy movement expand.

If this work in environmental engineering inspires you to take your career to the next level, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing agencies in Washington State, we are a great source for Seattle engineering jobs. Schedule some time with us today!

Access to fresh water is a growing environmental issue, and supplies of this resource are expected to become scarcer as the effects of climate change continue to be felt in the 21st Century. Thankfully, engineers and other talented scientists are working on desalination and other water recycling technologies ensuring humanity gets the water it needs for life.

With a variety of techniques for water reuse in development, how long will it be before companies — including your own — take steps to manage their own usage by recycling water? This new, environmentally-friendly future isn’t that far away. Read the post about Dumposaurus Dumpsters & Rolloff Rental: The causes/reasons, effects, repercussions, and solutions of illegal dumping to know about the waste management in detail.

Desalination with Less Energy Required

One new technology currently in development at Trevi Systems, a Bay Area startup, increases the efficiency of the water desalination process. Early test results are promising; showing the use of only 25 percent of the energy required as with traditional desalination. The company is engaged in a large scale trial project in the United Arab Emirates involving a solar-powered plant used for processing seawater.

Energy efficient desalination gives hope that oceans and other salt water sources can be used in the future for drinking water. More importantly, Trevi Systems’ technology also works with the recycling of wastewater — another potential source of human-potable H20.

A Three-Pronged Solution for Water Shortages

Desalination, wastewater recycling, and the capture of rainwater combine to make a three-pronged solution for managing water shortages in the future. David Sedlak, a University of California-Berkeley professor of civil and environmental engineering, feels these are the three pillars of future access to water sources. “Eventually, we’ll have to develop new sources of water to replace water supplies that are going to become less reliable and less available in the future,” said Sedlak.

The new desalination technologies combined with other methods gives companies the ability to improve their environmental footprint when this new water tech becomes commercially available.

If the innovations in water desalination are inspiring you to advance your engineering career, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. They are a great source of Seattle engineering jobs, and remain one of the top staffing agencies in the region. Schedule a meeting with Talley today!

The practice of environmental engineering continues to grow in importance with global climate challenges becoming paramount in the 21st Century. If you are a fledgling engineer looking for a lucrative field with benefits that go beyond simple financial considerations, maybe a career as an environmental engineer makes a good fit? Your engineering skills might mitigate the damage caused by an oil spill or help bring an electric car prototype successfully to the market.

Let’s take a look at the educational options to put your career squarely on the path towards becoming an environmental engineer:

What Environmental Engineering Degree do I need?

Generally, a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering qualifies you for entry-level employment at an engineer level. It is also possible to get a job as an environmental engineering technician with only an Associates degree. If you want the best possible chances for advancement, a bachelor’s degree is the way to go.

The median starting salary for an environmental engineer is around $80,000 per year. Engineering technicians make around half that salary, with a median of around $45,000 per year. Environmental engineers with at least five years of experience, who move into management, have the potential for a six-figure salary — the median salary is around $125,000 annually.

More Gender Equality in Environmental Engineering

Women engineers enjoy more gender equality in the world of environmental engineering. Females made up 43 percent of all environmental engineering graduates in 2011. This compares to 23 percent in computer software engineering and only 12 percent in mechanical engineering. In short, environmental engineering is less male-dominated than other engineering disciplines.

Most degree programs offer concentrations to allow graduates to focus on a particular area of environmental engineering. These include sustainable infrastructure, environmental nanotechnology, and environmental chemistry and soil physics. Many opportunities exist for engineers to specialize in something that inspires them, while still allowing for a lucrative salary.

If you are intrigued by the opportunities provided by environmental engineering for both personal and career growth, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing companies in Washington State, they are also a great source for Seattle engineering jobs. Schedule some time to meet with them today!

While it serves nicely as THE social network for business, LinkedIn is also a place where interested engineers are able to display their thought leadership. The site provides a platform for business leaders to share useful content about their specific industries or areas of expertise.

Here are a few steps that you can take to leverage LinkedIn to display your expertise in engineering — something that helps grow both your career and professional network.

Use your LinkedIn Profile as more than a Résumé

Be sure to regularly update your LinkedIn profile. Not necessarily with new work history or professional industry group memberships, but use it to publicize accomplishments. Things like professional papers, industry awards, and significant work milestones are perfect to enhance your profile. Also leverage the profile’s publications section to highlight relevant written work.

Frequently updating your profile with links to articles you’ve written and other similar activity helps draw traffic and leads to more connections and a larger network. These are good things when it comes time to look for a new position.

Reorder the Profile Sections to Suit your Purposes

LinkedIn allows you to add, delete, and reorder the different sections that make up a profile. If you are fresh out of college with a membership in the National Honor Society or another educational society, emphasize that fact by placing the education, courses, and test scores sections towards the front of your profile. Delete any sections that aren’t relevant as it helps keep the overall profile focused.

Obviously, if you’ve enjoyed a robust career with loads of relevant project experience, this information should lead off the profile. As mentioned earlier, enhancing the profile with publications you’ve written and significant work accomplishments helps you to stand out as a thought leader in engineering or any other field.

If you would like some additional advice on the best strategies for advancing your career in the engineering, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. Since they are one of the top engineering staffing companies in the Seattle area, they can provide the unique insight to help both your and your career. If you are looking for environmental engineering recruiters in Seattle, contact us today.