<p>I think I’ve decided on applying as a civil engineer initially because I’m more interested in the implementation, creation, and design of renewable energy power plants than I am in researching new energy generation methods. If I get into Stanford I’ll probably do the atmosphere/energy program, and if I go to Carnegie Mellon I’d like to do the double major in Engineering and Public Policy that they have. I’ll also seriously consider double majoring in ME or EE but that decision will come later.</p>
<p>There are a lot of grad programs that have to do with renewable energy, so I guess I don’t really have to worry about finding an undergrad major that deals heavily with it…maybe I’ll just take some renewable energy electives or something.</p>
<p>After reading this thread, I’m pretty sure I want to work as an engineering consultant for renewable energy companies…don’t know if that’s an actual profession yet, but if it isn’t then I’ll make it one! :P</p>
<p>The truth is that there is no major that leads to alternative energy design or sustainable engineering type stuff. These types of jobs are few and far between. I know of many people going out and working at many different companies. None of them have anything to do with alternative energy or sustainability. If you want to get into something like this, your best bet is to get an advanced degree in chemical, mechanical, or environmental engineering, depending on what particular area you want to go in. There seems to be a large misconception that there’s all these alternative energy and sustainability jobs out there, but I honestly haven’t seen any for people fresh out of school. The only people I know who work on stuff like that are professors and other PhDs.</p>
<p>Just a little what I know about an EnivE. He is a family friend and what he does is test Armed forces vehicles, and weapons and such. They run mud tests, high speed sand tests, and other environmental factors that might affect things over sea. Just in case that might interest you</p>
<p>Well, I definitely like the idea of consulting on power plant layout/design, and I like building design in general, so I’m still gonna go with civil and see where that takes me. As I’ve said, I’m not so much interested in the research/invention aspect as I am in the building, implementation, and policy aspects.</p>
<p>Plus, with a growing world energy need and shrinking fossil fuel reserves, there’s bound to be a time when power companies are desperate to start getting a lot more renewables, and that’s where the consulting comes in.</p>
<p>You will need to be patient. You will need many many years of experience to land a consultant job. You will also need to have business and people skills. Also, there are still approximately 4.2*10^13 US gallons of conventional oil left so it will be at least 45-55 years before we run out. </p>
<p>But good luck with helping to start the energy revolution!</p>
<p>There are such things as degrees focused on alternative energy, but most of the ones I have seen come at the graduate level. </p>
<p>My university (Univ. of Mich) offers a Masters degree in Sustainable Energy Systems. But really it is a a dual degree between ChemE and Natural Resources & Environment. I imagine there are many options out there like this, but most of them will come at the graduate level.</p>
<p>You can see links for Energy Systems Engineering and Engineering Sustainable Systems graduate programs here: [[</a> Michigan Engineering: Interdisciplinary Engineering and Professional Education ]](<a href=“http://interpro.engin.umich.edu/][”>http://interpro.engin.umich.edu/)</p>
<p>Environmental engineers certainly can and do work in the sustainability and alternative energy arenas. I should know - I are one. :)</p>
<p>I spent many years in the waste-to-energy field. At one point I was responsible for the analysis of turning 17 million old tires into electricity. No, I did not design the boilers or material handling systems (ME) or the control systems (EE) but I did (actually could have) designed the APC system. My role was the feasibility of, and technology to, get the job done. </p>
<p>More recently I was involved in looking at concentrating solar and wind systems for my employer and representing my company at a local GCC/SLR sustainablity initative.</p>
<p>So not all ENVE’s spend their careers at WW treatment plants.</p>
<p>osad,
just curious - what type of company do you work for? (if you can name the company, that’d be great too!)
As an env eng, i really wouldn’t want to spend all of my time working on WWTPs.</p>
<p>I think this is an important point. As undergrads we are only trained in a very small number of things. Out in the work world, however, there are opportunities like osdad’s that it would be difficult to make a curriculum for.</p>
<p>I, personally, am planning on getting a graduate degree focused in operations research after my BSE in EnviroE, and it is possible that I could end up working on sustainable initiatives. You just never know what’s going to happen once you are in the workforce, try as we might to plan.</p>