My degree in Civil Engineering has prepared me for a number of different possible job placements in the field of Engineering. It is my intention over the next many years, to develop a clearer understanding of Civil Engineering as a profession and to expand my knowledge in as many fields as possible. However, there are a couple of areas that I have been interested in for a number of years:
Energy efficient residential and commercial building design.
Having lived in Northern Canada (Edmonton Alberta) my entire life, I have been exposed to somewhat severe weather and have come to appreciate both hot and cold ambient temperatures. I have also been fascinated with building construction and have, over the years, devised ways to harness the power of the sun and insulate the building envelope from from the frigid winter winds. Some of these thoughts I have written down others I still have in my head. I can say that many of my ideas have already come to fruition due to technological advances we have experienced over the past couple of decades. It seems however that the construction industry has been slow to respond to these advances and that it is only a matter of time before extreme changes occur in the design of residential and commercial buildings. It is obvious to me also that at the rate we are burning our fossil fuels that in the not to distant future (10 - 30 years) our supplies will be depleted and extremely costly thus allowing for the feasible usage of many new technologies. In order to fully recognize the possibilities that new technology possess, it will be necessary to re-engineer buildings to accommodate this new technology, which I believe will allow for optimization of efficient energy consumption and generation within most human habitats.
At some point in my career I hope to be able to work in this field and be part of a revolution in building design. However, if I can't work in the field immediately I will continue to research this subject during my spare time to try to remain abreast of the infinite design changes and possibilities.