Environmental Design
Interesting Environmental careers
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The environment is very high on the agenda at the moment, and most organisations are starting to pay attention to the impact they are having. This means that environment specialists are in high demand and many companies are seeking advice on how to run their business ethically.
The mix of jobs available means that you can take one of your existing skills and apply it to an environmental issue. For example, if you are an engineer then you could help to design complex and effective waste management schemes. Take a look at a small selection of some of the interesting environmental careers available.
EcoTourism
This is a fairly new and emerging approach to tourism which aims to reduce it’s impact on the environment. It encourages people to travel in a responsible way which allows the environment to be conserved. Part of the aim of ecotourism is to educate people about how the tourism industry is damaging the environment. People need to know that if we all make small changes then it can make a big difference.
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Environmental journalism
Do you have a passion for writing and journalism? You may feel that some of the topics you have had to write about seem unimportant or even uninteresting. Working in an environmental journalism job will enable you to develop your writing skills and give you the power to educate people about the environment.
Environmental journalism is basically the distribution of information and research about the environment. Anyone wishing to work in this role must always be up to date with recent developments in the industry and be hungry for a story that will help to change people’s attitudes.
Environmental risk
We are faced with a series of environmental risks on a daily basis and there is usually a procedure in place to prevent accidents. Environmental risks can cause adverse effects to humans and the environment.
Environmental risk specialists asses the likelihood of an environmental accident occurring and put steps in place to prevent anything happening. These risks are usually caused by an irresponsible organisation and environmental risk specialists must perform safety audits on a range of different companies.
Exclusive Environmental Programs at Centennial College
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In today’s competitive job market, employers are seeking to hire graduates that are highly specialized and well trained. You can’t afford to waste your time with an education that won’t help you get the job you want. At Centennial College, all our programs are geared for success.
As part of your Environmental Protection Technician program, you will not only learn how to use the latest cutting edge tools, but you will also learn how to apply the latest principles from business professionals. To compliment your classroom learning, you will also get hands-on experience in the labs.
Centennial’s staff not only believes in providing students with the best teaching experience possible, but also to offer the best guidance and career advice.
Program Overview
Prepare for work in the constantly changing field of environmental technology. Practical training in the three foundation disciplines of biology, chemistry and civil engineering teaches you to understand and manage complex environmental problems. This unique combination of technical skills will greatly increase your career options.
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Learn to use the tools and equipment needed in microbiology, ecological field sampling, analytical chemistry and surveying. Laboratory practice in water quality testing, groundwater movement and the chemistry of pollutants will give you the skills needed to analyze environmental programs and to remediate the urban environment.
Admission Requirements
Centennial College expects students applying for admission to certificate or diploma programs to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
Academic Requirements
Compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent
Math 11M or U, or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent
Notes
Students will be placed in the appropriate English level based on skills assessment results
Students taking MATH-140 in semester 1 will have the opportunity to complete MATH-186 or equivalent between semesters 2 and 3
The qualification requirements and costs for each external accreditation, designation, certification or recognition are set by the granting body and not by Centennial College. In order to qualify for any of those external accreditation, designations, certification or recognition, students and graduates will need to follow the processes and meet the applicable requirements listed on the websites and materials of those external bodies.
As presented in GE Ecomagination Challenge 2010… Title of Idea: Solar Thermoelectric Air Conditioner & other Thermoelectric Architectural Applications. “If every construction square meter exposed to sunlight daily could harvest heat energy transforming it directly into electricity, all future architecture would be self — powered by Sun… This may be achieved manipulating thermoelectric Seebeck properties of some emergent materials and key breakthrough technologies”… Ernesto Ocampo Ruiz, September 2010. What this is about: This project is about impelling R&D towards the use and designing of new Thermoelectric Building Materials in all Modern architecture & Cities for energy harvesting from Sun, working with SEEBECK effect. The Solar Thermoelectric Air Conditioner is just a first phase experiment into characterizing pros and cons of this thermoelectric property in order to design in the near future practical, efficient and fully operational SEEBECK effect architectural components for buildings.. Summary of Idea: Build a solid state, fully self – powered by Sun system based on Seebeck & Peltier thermoelectric effects for cooling and ventilation within architectural spaces by harvesting sunlight and directly transforming its heat energy into cold air, pushing research & development of future thermoelectric architectural applications that the World needs. Developed by: – M. Arch. Ernesto Ocampo Ruiz, Master Program of Construction Technologies UNAM-ULSA Bajio. -Arch …
Video Rating: 5 / 5
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Environmental Management Systems On College and University Campuses
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Complex Environmental Management Issues Face Campuses Nationwide
University and college campuses differ from one another in many ways, yet they all face similar issues when it comes to environmental management: campuses, by nature, have shifting populations, often grow quickly, and tend to face limited resources or budget shortfalls for waste control. Moreover, campuses are dealing with tightened environmental regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other regulatory agencies.
Money and Reputation Are At Stake
When campuses fail to address their environmental responsibilities, the risks can reach beyond running afoul of regulatory agencies.
Consider the recent case of Drew University which led the university topay 5,000 to the EPA for failing to properly manage hazardous waste. A 2009 EPA investigation found that the campus had haphazardly stored dozens of containers of paint, wood stains, enamels and adhesives in a manner that failed to minimize releases to the environment. The university had also failed to properly identify discarded materials such as mercury, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, and nitric acid as hazardous wastes. And the campus had stored hazardous waste without a permit authorizing and regulating such storage.
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Regulatory agencies, such as the EPA and OSHA impose steep fines for violations. Campuses can, and have, been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for failing to do things such as properly labeland dispose of hazardous waste. In addition to the monetary loss, however, comes the risk of damaging the environment and risking apublic- relations image battle. Institutions on the forefront of research and learning certainly don’t want “environmental fines” or “hazardous disposal” practices associated with their name.
Campuses Require A Tailored EMS Approach
In the college and university setting an Environmental Management System (EMS) is what’s used to address environmental impacts of the campus. An EMS systematically establishes a continuous cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing, and improving processes and actions associated with environmental impacts.
The common paradigm in EMS systems is to take what works in industry and apply it to any setting. However, this “one-size-fits-all” solution doesn’t necessarily apply to all situations.
The ISO 14001 EMS model, which was developed for industrial settings, is often the method of choice for campuses. However, it is based on a rigid, process-driven documentation model. In contrast, an EMS designed specifically for a campus will be built with a “plan, do, check, adjust” cycle, allowing for growth and the ability to shift as needed.
How Do You Establish a Thorough System?
When you look for a solutions-provider to help with your campus EMS program, look for the following components:
A program that allows for interrelated and systematic integration of environmental management and institutional practices
·An EMS framework that provides measurable results through annual audits
·A company that will help you implement a program instead of simply consulting
·The resources required to drive compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
·A program that eliminates unbudgeted compliance costs
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What Is Environmental Management Program?
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In response to issues pertaining to the degradation of the environment, different jurisdictions all over the world, Australia included, have put in place environmental management program and laws that are meant to ensure that the environment is not only safe but maintained so. The need for the environmental laws and programs has been necessitated by the realisation that damage to the environment has a direct impact on the health of the people.
Of particular interest has been the impacts of construction works on the environment and different countries have come up with various legislations and programs targeting the construction industry. Such legislations and programs target to assure that all construction project managers follow to set rules and implement programs that keep the environment as safe as possible.
One of the most useful environmental management program tools that all construction companies are required to develop and use is the environmental impact assessment study. If you are a construction project manager, you are obliged by law or have this in place before you embark on construction. You environment impact assessment research should set out to ascertain the following:
• Pollution – Your study should address all problems pertaining to environmental pollution that is like to occur because of construction jobs. certainly, the equipments and materials that you will use if not handled well can cause serious damage to the environment. You are obliged by law to design and put in place essential measures to reduce such pollution if the same cannot be eliminated.
• Waste – Your research should clearly ascertain the nature and amount of waste likely to accrue from the construction project and find a better way of disposing off the same. If necessary, you may need to have a recycling plant on site to recycle some waste that may be used again during the construction. This is a very essential part of the environmental management program that you should not ignore.
• Construction materials – You will certainly use varied construction materials that you will most likely get from the neighborhood. Doing so can result in extreme damage to the existing ecosystem. Your management program and in specific your impact assessment should be able to address this and show a suitable mechanism of depending the ecosystem.
In order to come up with an effective environmental impact assessment study and have the most suitable management program in place, it is very important to involve the participation of local communities. They will help you ascertain all the negative effects that you construction project will have on them and the ecosystem. Involving them in preparing your environmental management program will also eliminate the possibility of conflicts that do arise between local communities and construction companies.
How Furniture Can Be Environmentally Friendly
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Perhaps you haven’t thought about getting environmentally friendly furniture, although you may be very ecologically focussed in most other areas of your life. But let’s look at some choices one can be aware of when making furniture purchases that are beautiful and stylish as well as environmentally friendly. Here are some comparisons of the components one is likely to find in much commonly purchased furniture, with environmentally friendly furniture.
Furniture and bed frames: Often made of mined metals. Consider finding and purchasing furniture with frames of eco-friendly harvested, rapidly grown wood products, easily obtained and readily replenished when approached in a thoughtful, intelligent manner.
Padding materials in beds, sofas and chairs: Often made of synthetic materials derived from petroleum. Better for us and better for the planet is to have the padding materials taken from natural fibres and from recycled materials, and from recycled natural fibres.
Upholstery fabrics and other furniture coverings – mattresses, and so forth: Much the same as the foregoing.
Dyes: Frequently composed of a plethora of chemicals, and also fairly toxic in large quantities. Individually, they are not particularly toxic, but overall, they do not do a planet good. Look for products coloured with natural dyes.
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It is possible that the extensive usage of petroleum and chemistry in the fibres and fabrics of our homes contribute significantly to allergies and other health disorders.
On the other hand, consider the many delightful, attractive and fun options such as recycled stone, wood and glass. “Repurposing” materials is a creative and pleasurable way to furnish the home from floor covering to window dressing, to furniture. There are choices among farmed wood options from classic to modern tables, chairs, sofas breakfronts, cupboards, and so forth.
There are also thousands of DIY hints, tips, suggestions and directions for creating with green sensibilities on websites, on YouTube and in workshops in your local craft store and home improvement store. Community colleges teach classes on how to make your own furniture, as well as many other considerations of “green living” and being environmentally friendly in house and home.
Environmentally friendly furniture choices are attractive and healthier choices, constructed of natural, materials that can be readily replenished, while leaving a very small footprint on the planet. By using natural and sustainable materials such as farmed wood, hemp cloth, cork, bamboo and many, many other options, you are making a statement that you care about the world you live in and are doing your part to put it back in balance.
Another feature of environmentally friendly furniture is that it is distinctive, neither cookie cutter nor ticky-tacky. Green furniture – from the tiniest of Victorian-styled end tables to the dramatic statement of large dining room modern tables is created by artisans and hobbyists alike who are working with farmed and recycled wood and other components that save the planet from our munching through it like wood boring beetles, and do so with beauty, grace and style.
Environmental Site Assessment ? Why Do You Need It
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In the movie Erin Brockovich, the character of Julia Roberts was neck-deep in investigation about the suspicious activities of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which led to the eventual poisoning and death of the residents nearby the area. After going through a series of unproductive meetings among lawyers, residents and owners the company was soon charged of buying a piece of land that was already contaminated. So what does the movie have to do with you, you ask? It tells you that you can avoid this situation by getting an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) for your subject property.
Of course, nobody wants his company to undergo the same mishaps as seen in the movie. Court trials are time consuming and litigation lawyers charge too expensively that you just want to settle things under the table. Plus a suspicious site would lessen its credibility and drive people away from it.
Naturally, you would want to retain the value of your property and not get into any kind of legal trouble of any sort. You can do this through Environmental Site Assessment. Some of you, like me, are probably still wondering what this program can do for your company. Through Phase 1 ESA, you can rest assured that your property is free from potential environmental liabilities like toxicity or contamination. Professional consultants will determine whether the land you own or are planning to buy is a potential environmental threat because, or what are better known as “brownfield sites”.
In the 1970s, a similar study was done in the United States to inspect commercial properties and to test them whether they are potentially hazardous to health. Now, the US has stricter monitoring than ever when it comes to environmental issues. Before you could actually have an acquisition or a management buy-out, you need to abide first by the environmental due diligence—a kind of investigation which identifies environmental hazards. It will give you details on how a former or a current operation poses a potential risk for your employees and nearby residents.
The inspection will tell you in detail the history of the chosen property, how the former operations contributed to possible environmental hazards, and how you could verify legal compliance from regulation authorities.
Tests are conducted by industrial hygiene consultants. These professionals see to it that every nook and cranny of your would-be land acquisition is scrutinized, looking for loopholes such that lead to toxicological risks. A property condition assessment is done to check whether if the health and safety requirements mandated by the State are met. Industrial hygiene consultants perform samplings and assessments, all of which are then turned over to an accredited laboratory for further evaluation. They also see to it that investigations, which include an expert witness testimony and an assessment of workers compensations claims, are done in a discreet and professional manner.
Aside from industrial hygiene consultants, you may also seek help from other companies on environmental engineering services. The services included on this one are feasibility studies, construction oversight, waste management consultation and other facility design services. You can address the underlying issues of pollution or contamination through environmental remediation. Avoid getting into grave legal issues on environmental safety by having your company go through Environmental Site Assessment.
What Is An Environmental Management System?
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If you own a business that is operating in today’s market, you probably know what an environmental management system is; if you do not then you will need to learn more about it because it is an important part of running a company responsibly. It refers to the complete systematic response to your company’s environmental policies so that they can be handled and documented appropriately. The management system is something that will help your company improve its overall environmental performance; this will not only work to help your business be more eco-friendly, but it will also let your customers know that you are doing your part for the environment.
In order to build a business’s environmental management system effectively, you will want to start out by developing a policy that goes over your environmental standards and how you will address these issues and problems. It should be designed around the idea that you are using a systematic approach to the organisation of all of the environmental concerns and affairs that your company will be faced with. It will also give a type of order and consistency that will allow you to set up both immediate and long term goals for your company and the environment.
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The first thing that you will want to do is to develop a policy statement that will show how you plan to commit to the environment. This will be the defining part of your environmental policy and it will help you decide what kind of significant environmental impacts you should be aware of in your company. This way you can know which activities, services, and production problems cause the most impact to the environment. In order to overcome these problems you will then want to find a list of specific environmentally based goals and objectives that your company should want to achieve.
Once you have this internal environmental policy, then the next step is to plan out how you are going to use it in conjunction with the company. This is an important step because if you just think up an environmental management system and put it into use without first going through and planning out how it will affect your company, you could face some problems with the strategy implementation. By planning out an effective way for it to become a part of your business you can overcome some of the obstacles and stumbling blocks that might otherwise hinder your progress. Businesses can achieve an ISO 14001 environmental standard which looks to prove to your clients and customers that you are doing your part to help out with the environment.
The next step is to fully integrate and implement your policy in a way that it will become second nature to your company. This way you can be sure that the policy is being followed and used in the way that it was intended when it was developed. To do this you will probably need to change your training policies to reflect the environmental awareness attitude of your company, and to make sure it is being followed you should engage in planned periodic reviews of the business.
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Environmental Engineer ? Career Trends For A Better Future
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Among the ‘Top 10′ careers lists published today, those that are involved in environmentally friendly technology and resources, especially the Environmental Engineer Career field, are of great interest.
Some of the areas of expertise that an Environmental Engineer would work in are as follows:
Waste management systems: Sewage, garbage, etc.
Air pollution: Air quality monitoring systems, including methods and data analysis
Recycling systems: Methods of recycling, materials separation, handling, recycled products systems
Toxic waste: Special systems for dealing with chemical, biological, and other hazards
Industrial systems: Production, energy efficiency, emissions management, product waste issues
Environmental safety: The reduction and prevention of hazards in an environmental system
Oil spills: Recovery, damage control, spill monitoring
Wildlife protection: Creation of wildlife corridors, with things like road tunnels for wildlife
Carbon footprint issues: Broad based analysis and design of systems for identifying and minimizing carbon productions by human activity.
Alternative energy systems: Wind, wave, hydro-electrical, solar, biological and geothermal energy sources.
Agricultural engineering, a discipline applying science and technology to the processing and production in agriculture.
Biology, the study of living organisms.
Chemistry, the study of the properties of matter and their changes under chemical reactions. Process engineering involves this study also.
Ecology, the study of abundance and distribution of different organisms as well as their interaction with their own environment.
Public Health, the science and art of taking care of society through preventing diseases, promoting health, and prolonging life.
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Environmental engineering is another high-growth field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 25 percent increase in that field by 2016, raising the number of environmental engineers in the nation from 51,000 to 68,000. The projected growth may be linked in part to major energy companies’ shift toward greener, renewable-energy solutions, a move that will require environmental engineers to help them make the transition.
The Salaries range from ,000 a year for a college graduate to the 0k a year range for those with more experience.
Some websites cover a lot of details about the industry trends, have a graphs and projections as well as career resources to aid you in your Environmental Engineering Career Search.
Many Universities and heavily promoting the their Environmental Engineering programs and have a lot of information to offer the prospective student who has an undergraduate degree and is interested in pursuring an Environmental Engineering specialization.
So with the above facts being said, it is pretty clear that the career field for Evironmental Engineering is growing and rapidly into the future.
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What Environmental Vacancies are currently available?
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It might be helpful for you to know what opportunities are available right now. You can see whether the job you are looking for is something that employers are looking for right now.
I would advise you to perform your own job search online so that you can find the most relevant jobs for you. However, below is a brief list of some of the job roles that employers are currently recruiting for. You might want to pick your favourite job from the list below and then look into which companies and recruitment consultancies are recruiting for that specific role. Check out the great environment jobs described below:
After all, you need to choose not only the right job for you but the right company. Different organisations will have different objectives and concerns when it comes to environmental work. You should choose the company that is most likely to focus on the things that you value.
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Ecologist
An ecologist is an environmental biologist and their main concern is to document and control the way that living things interact with the environment.
Environmental Consultant
An environmental consult can be employed by a variety of different organisations to give them advice and guidance when it comes to protecting the environment. They work with businesses, charities, government bodies and environmental organisations.
Environmental Risk Management
Environmental risk specialists spend their time trying to minimise and limit the chances of environmental risks occurring. They achieve this by studying, monitoring and assessing the level of risk in different organisations.
Research Manager
Research managers are employed in the environmental sector to spend time analysing and researching various environmental projects. They may have to conduct research studies that asses how much impact something has on the environment, or test new maintenance and management systems.
Wind development Manager
Landscape Architect
Landscape architects that work in the environmental sector are employed to design environmental landscapes and systems that have a minimal negative impact on wildlife.
Climate Change Expert
Media and Communications Manager
If you have a talent for working in the media and a passion for the environment, then this role will allow you to make people aware of the most important issues that we face and how we can manage the environment better.
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Setting the Green Standard in Office Design at Science Centre
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Sustainable office design specialist Morgan Lovell has transformed a 1950s office building described prior to the fit out as a ‘black hole’ into a bright and inspirational workplace, which measures up to demanding green standards.
Morgan Lovell’s fit out at Charles Darwin House in London has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating – putting the workplace in the top tier of green office environments in the UK.
Charles Darwin House is home to the British Ecological Society, the Society for Experimental Biology and the Biochemical Society.
Dr Hazel Norman executive director of the British Ecological Society, said: “We are delighted that BREEAM Excellent has been achieved.
“It was not an easy objective as it involved transforming a 1950s office which needed a significant amount of refurbishment.
“When we first came to view the building it was a bit of a black hole with little natural light.
“The transformation now means that all 70 staff across five floors enjoy access to natural light and the stunning ground floor reception and conference suite now benefit from full length windows.”
Morgan Lovell’s team combined inspirational design and the latest in environmental innovation to create the new workplace.
These values are reinforced visually by the first thing visitors see – a bespoke plastic resin reception desk embedded with lush green grass.
The toilet area incorporates two new showers and lockers designed for use by staff who have been encouraged to cycle to work. To support that policy, the office car park has been transformed into an area with covered bike racks. Parking for cars is no longer available.
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All toilets and sinks are adapted to ensure low water usage and a water monitoring and leak detection system alerts staff to any problems.
Dr Norman added: “The upper floors provide great office space and the staff have been extremely positive about the move here.
“The whole refit was delivered on time and on budget and the building is now a wonderful asset for the three societies involved.”
To achieve BREEAM Excellent in this older building, Morgan Lovell relied on the findings from the transformation of its own London headquarters – a 1960s office block previously viewed as an environmental write off – into an award-winning green workplace. The office, located in Noel Street, was developed to create a blue print for the future in sustainable office design – paving the way for the conversion of existing building stock into low carbon environments.
In 2008, the project achieved the highest BREEAM fit out environmental assessment score in the UK for an office refurbishment, achieving BREEAM Excellent and a clutch of awards from industry bodies including BIFM and BRE Global.
David Henderson, managing director of Morgan Lovell said: “We relied heavily on the findings from the Noel Street project to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating in so challenging an environment at Charles Darwin House.
“The process is very rewarding. Creating a green office not only creates a lower carbon environment, it also supports an organisation’s CSR policy and delivers significant savings on energy bills that makes the process cost-effective in the longer term.”
Dr Hazel Norman, gives an insight into how inspirational design has helped achieve the challenging green standard in a Morgan Lovell podcast covering BREEAM.
To download the podcast log on to http://www.morganlovell.com/podcasts or subscribe via iTunes.
http://www.morganlovell.co.uk
Editor’s notes: Located in London, Birmingham and the Thames Valley, Morgan Lovell is the UK’s leading office interior design, fit out and refurbishment specialist. With its own teams of designers, surveyors and project managers, the company can design, manage and deliver entire projects, with the benefit of just one point of contact. It is part of leading UK construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall Group plc which operates through four divisions of fit out, construction and infrastructure, affordable housing and urban regeneration, which are supported by a specialist investment unit.
Morgan Lovell is a licensed BREEAM Offices Assessment Organisation. This means it is licensed to measure the sustainability score of an office in order to identify ways companies can reduce high energy usage and waste, whilst increasing comfort and satisfaction for users of the building.
Media contacts: Contact Jane Shepherd or Jo Foster, Shepherd PR Limited. Tel 01538 308685/308099. Mobile 07985 129315
jane@shepherd-pr.com
jo@shepherd-pr.com
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