Best Jobs that Contribute to a Sustainable Environment

Best Jobs that Contribute to a Sustainable Environment

By: Erin Venable | July 20, 2017

Many people aren’t satisfied just working for a paycheck anymore. They want to know their career is making a difference. Looking for a job in that contributes to a sustainable environment is one way to feel like your professional life is helping others. Not to mention the fact that the U.S. Department of Energy reports that “6.4 million Americans work in the energy sector, with 300,000 jobs added last year.” many of those jobs are in efficiency and renewable energy. Get the lowdown on the fastest growing jobs that contribute to a sustainable environment here.

Wind Turbine Technician:

A wind turbine technician may seem like a random, very specific job to start off our list, but it has earned its place at the top. The Bureau of Labor Statistics names Wind Turbine Technician as the number one fastest growing job in the United States! With estimated 108% growth by 2024, this job tops the charts. Wind turbine technicians also have a median salary of $52,260 making it a dependable job choice for the environmentally conscious job seeker. Wind energy is a form of clean energy that will help us move into the future and by becoming a wind turbine technician, you can do your part to create a better, cleaner world.

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Solar Installer:

Along with wind energy, solar energy is on the rise. The 2017 US Energy and Employment Report (USEER) describes this field by saying “There are currently 373,807 Americans that spend some portion of their time working to manufacture, install, distribute, or provide professional services to solar technologies across the nation.” They go on to say that solar energy companies plan to increase their employment. And the largest percentage of solar jobs are in the construction/installation of these technologies, almost 4 in 10 workers. If you’re interested in helping the environment by promoting solar energy technology, a solar installer career is the most promising option for you.

Sustainability Builder

Even in the construction industry there is a new trend to embrace sustainability and energy efficiency. The US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reports that “nearly 1.4 million energy efficiency jobs are in the construction industry.” and that they have seen a rise in work related to improving energy efficiency from “approximately 65% in 2015 to 74% in 2016.” While construction may not seem like a field where you can better the environment, the truth is that construction is a huge part of the push for more energy efficiency to promote a cleaner, healthier environment. The job of a sustainability builder could apply to someone in any number of fields like architecture, engineering, or heavy machinery operation, who is devoted to creating sustainable homes and buildings.

Use your job to help the environment, promote clean energy, and improve energy efficiency.

Clean Car Engineer:

Working with cars is always exciting, but what if you could help design cars that are good for the environment? Clean car engineers do exactly that. They are focused on helping to improve the designs of cars to create less pollution and have more energy efficiency. They focus on creating the best designs for vehicles to use cleaner energies, while retaining their efficiency. The 2017 USEER reports that “11% of the motor vehicle and component parts sector employment works on alternative fuel vehicles, representing 259,468 jobs across the US.” There are plenty of jobs in this field that will allow you to work with cars and promote the use of cleaner, healthier energies in the motor vehicle industry.

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Sustainability Professional

You don’t have to work in machinery to help improve the state of the environment. Many companies and businesses are looking for ways to create more sustainable work environments and use energy conscious technologies. The US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy goes on to describe other readily available energy conscious positions in the sustainability field by saying “there are vast job opportunities for making our existing buildings more energy efficient, sustainable, and resilient.” Sustainability professionals can help make organizations clean energy conscious plans and realize them. They consult on the proper ways to improve a company's energy efficiency and sustainability. If you want to work in the business world while helping the environment, a sustainability professional position may be the right choice for you.

With all this new job opportunity in clean energy and sustainability, it’s easy for job seekers find employment while also helping the environment. Let your career be about more than just getting paid or your own success. Use your job to help the environment, promote clean energy, and improve energy efficiency. Pursue your dreams of creating a better tomorrow through these growing sustainability careers.


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