<p>I would really like to get into the renewable energy/sustainability/environmental field (engineering, not policy), but I'm not sure how to narrow that down. The first step would be to look up the different, individual careers, but what can I do past that? I can only get so much reading what Google has to offer me.</p>
<p>In terms of what options I have, I figured internships are one of the best because even if I don't stick with whatever the internship offered I could still put that experience on a resume. I am also looking into my community college's 'Green' club and will attempt to get back in touch with Illinois State University's Renewable Energy Department (used to be a student). Lastly, my dad is a lawyer for ComEd so I plan on talking to him to see what lines of communication I can open up with them and their parent company, Exelon (who I would love to work for).</p>
<p>I was also looking into "EcoTech Institute," but I can't find that much info on it other than that it's a for-profit, 2-year university somewhere around Denver, CO. Figured Obama would try to help the United State's first university dedicated to green energy, but it's not looking worth it, sadly.</p>
<p>Most of the traditional engineering majors can be applied to green energy. For example:</p>
<p>Chemical and Materials: batteries and materials in general
Civil: energy efficient buildings and infrastructure
Computer: lots of things use computers these days
Electrical: anything to do with electric power generation, transmission, storage
Mechanical: vehicles, windmills, etc.</p>
<p>I was actually curious about this. Good to know for sure, though. The only thing that’s been bothering me is that now there are more fields of engineering that deal specifically with the environment (environmental engineering/environmental engineering tech). Out of the ones listed, though, I’ve been told chemical, electrical, and mechanical would be great for what I’m looking for (and I would have chosen them, anyway).</p>
<p>Environmental engineering appears to be mostly about waste and pollution control and management, environmental impact, and water treatment. At some schools, it is treated as a subarea of civil engineering.</p>