Green jobs, green options

– January 23, 2012

By Daniela Jaramillo Troya, a Bayer Young Environmental Envoy in 2009. Daniela has just completed an MSc in environment and development at the London School of Economics.

Green jobs make you think of recycling or renewable energy – jobs that are fundamentally technical. But as we move towards sustainability, other sectors and industries are going through a process of greening as they become aware of their impact on the environment and choose to embrace sustainability. No matter what interests you, you can do it in a green and sustainable way. Here are just a few examples of how things are changing and some of the people involved.

Construction and architecture

Green developers differ from traditional construction professionals by emphasizing the use of environmentally friendly building materials and prioritizing the energy efficiency of buildings, with some even learning from the natural heating and cooling systems used by termites. And what about retaining the features of older houses or historic buildings? Some specialists transform existing buildings into more ecologically viable facilities by, for example, improving insulation and installing solar panels.

Dr Prem Jain founded Spectral Services Consultants, India’s largest private consultant engineering company, which has worked on more than 1,000 green construction projects involving hotels, hospitals and airports, including Delhi International Airport. When working on the ABN AMRO Bank in Ahmedabad, Spectral Services was not just concerned with energy and water efficiency, but tried to influence the use of cars and avoid carbon emissions by providing bicycles and shower facilities for the bank’s staff.