Is engineering becoming sustainable?

The engineering profession is undergoing a transformative shift. If you’re looking to study engineering, you’ll know that sustainability is now a key focus. The challenge of creating solutions which balance economic growth with ecological responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of engineers in recent years, which begs the question ‘Is engineering becoming sustainable?’ The answer is yes, and here’s why…

Sustainability in civil engineering

Civil engineering is playing a significant role in the sustainability movement, despite its traditional focus being on large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads and buildings. Today, civil engineering is embracing sustainability principles to help reduce our environmental impact, such as using eco-friendly materials, reducing carbon emissions and utilising renewable energy sources in urban planning.

One of the more significant changes in recent years has been the use of sustainable management practices, which means trying to manage resources more efficiently throughout the life of a project. This includes simple things like reducing waste, conserving energy and minimising water usage wherever possible. For example, projects are increasingly making use of materials that are either recycled or have a lower carbon footprint, like reclaimed wood or low-carbon concrete. Additionally, engineers are now often tasked with considering the impact rising sea levels or increased temperatures may have on their completed projects in the future.

The rise of sustainability engineers

Given the paramount importance of sustainability for our future, a new specialist role has found a place in the engineering sector - the sustainability engineer. These new engineers work across all engineering fields to help integrate best practices in existing processes and products (such as improving waste management or energy efficiency standards) without compromising on cost or productivity for the business.

As the demand for sustainable solutions grows, so does the compensation for workers in this area. A sustainability engineer's salary is very competitive, ranging between £32,000 to £52,000 annually in the UK, with senior roles commanding even higher figures. This upward trajectory suggests that the importance of sustainability to the engineering sector will continue to grow in the future, making it a very desirable career choice, particularly if you’re ethically minded.

Challenges and opportunities

While significant progress has been made, the journey towards fully sustainable engineering is not without its challenges. Engineers must balance the conflicting demands of cost, efficiency and environmental progress. Additionally, as technology rapidly evolves, sustainable engineering will require continuous learning and adaptation to stay up-to-date with the latest practices.

Such challenges, however, present an opportunity for innovation. Engineers, along with urban planners and environmental scientists, are developing cutting-edge technologies like carbon capture systems and renewable energy grids that could radically transform the way we design and maintain our infrastructure.

Now is the perfect time to study engineering as the focus on sustainability will only continue to grow as time goes on, making it a wise career choice with long-term security. Talk to us at 01204 903394 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to experience #UniAsItShouldBe and start your journey today for a better life and career!