2 answers
Michael
Student
Arlington, Texas
1
Question
Updated
198 views
I’m interested in becoming an environmental engineer, how do you design systems that reduce pollution while still being cost effective for communities?
I'm trying to be an environmental engineer and I just want to know the details about the job as well as see what environmental engineers actually do.
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2 answers
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
240
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Michael,
I love your desire to protect the environment and make solutions cheaper for communities.
I'm not an environmental engineer though. I'll try to share what I've experienced in practice.
One of the major sources of environmental pollution is the emissions of gases into our environment, carbon dioxide being the main one. Carbon footprints, a major source of carbon dioxide, has been a major global issue. It's driven by use of fossil fuels. Deforestation, resulting especially from use of wood as fuel, particularly in developing countries, reduces nature's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - green plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
There has been deliberate attempts by industries to move away from solid & liquid fossil fuels (coal, gasoline, heavy fuel oils). Gas fuels are cleaner. Electric vehicles are another attempt to improve carbon footprints. Hydroelectric and nuclear power generation plants are another attempt to protect our environment from fossil fuels.
In modern breweries, steam boilers now have duel burners that use both heavy furnace oil and biogas generated from effluent treatment on site. More efficient operations, driven by operational excellence, enables us to produce more with less energy.
Solar energy, by far, could be the greatest opportunity to migrate away from fossil fuels, especially in the tropics - Africa could be one of the greatest beneficiaries of this migration as it sits astride the tropics.
There are global companies that have green building policies that give preference to natural lighting by using transparent roofing materials and adequate glazing of walls.
Opportunities are quite endless. We just need to think outside the box to discover and innovate new applications.
Good luck in your studies. You could be heading towards great opportunities.
I love your desire to protect the environment and make solutions cheaper for communities.
I'm not an environmental engineer though. I'll try to share what I've experienced in practice.
One of the major sources of environmental pollution is the emissions of gases into our environment, carbon dioxide being the main one. Carbon footprints, a major source of carbon dioxide, has been a major global issue. It's driven by use of fossil fuels. Deforestation, resulting especially from use of wood as fuel, particularly in developing countries, reduces nature's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - green plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
There has been deliberate attempts by industries to move away from solid & liquid fossil fuels (coal, gasoline, heavy fuel oils). Gas fuels are cleaner. Electric vehicles are another attempt to improve carbon footprints. Hydroelectric and nuclear power generation plants are another attempt to protect our environment from fossil fuels.
In modern breweries, steam boilers now have duel burners that use both heavy furnace oil and biogas generated from effluent treatment on site. More efficient operations, driven by operational excellence, enables us to produce more with less energy.
Solar energy, by far, could be the greatest opportunity to migrate away from fossil fuels, especially in the tropics - Africa could be one of the greatest beneficiaries of this migration as it sits astride the tropics.
There are global companies that have green building policies that give preference to natural lighting by using transparent roofing materials and adequate glazing of walls.
Opportunities are quite endless. We just need to think outside the box to discover and innovate new applications.
Good luck in your studies. You could be heading towards great opportunities.
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Software Engineer and Career Mentor
677
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Environmental engineers use field methods, computer models, and monitoring equipment to understand and solve pollution problems by collecting real-world data with tools like water quality meters, air monitors, and soil testing kits, then using GIS platforms such as ArcGIS and models like EPANET or SWMM to analyze and test solutions. They apply methods like Life Cycle Assessment and tools such as MATLAB or Python to compare long-term cost and environmental impact, while focusing on prevention at the source and designing solutions that balance multiple constraints and are refined through real-world testing and feedback.
To succeed in this field, strong foundations in science and math are essential, along with the ability to see how environmental, technical, and economic factors are interconnected when solving problems under real-world limitations such as cost, infrastructure, and local conditions. Success also depends on gaining practical experience in applying and adjusting solutions over time using field feedback and continuous improvement, supported by resources such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme, along with internships, research, and hands-on learning.
To succeed in this field, strong foundations in science and math are essential, along with the ability to see how environmental, technical, and economic factors are interconnected when solving problems under real-world limitations such as cost, infrastructure, and local conditions. Success also depends on gaining practical experience in applying and adjusting solutions over time using field feedback and continuous improvement, supported by resources such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme, along with internships, research, and hands-on learning.