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A
Job To Love
A couple from your hometown have decided
to build their dream home. They would
like to use cleaner, alternative energy,
and have asked for your opinion. You
first consider wind as an energy source,
so you check their property to see if
there are any trees that would block
the wind. Next, you do some online research
on solar energy and find out that in
December, the darkest month of the year,
they’ll get an average of 95 daylight
hours. Finally, you consider the possibility
of a waste biomass generator, so you
ask them to estimate the amount of waste
they normally produce. In the end, you
recommend that they use a combination
of a wind generator and solar panels.
The solar panels will provide most of
the energy and the wind generators will
fill in the gaps, especially in the
winter when sunlight is low and energy
needs are high. The couple is happy
with your recommendation and asks you
to direct the construction of the clean
energy generators.
Clean
energy researchers are environmental
engineers who specialize in alternative
and renewable energy sources. Like
other environmental engineers, they
often work in teams with other professionals.
They also spend time alone, doing
research and calculations in labs
and offices to develop innovations
in the field of clean, renewable energy.
Aboriginal clean energy researchers
work in their home communities helping
to develop renewable energy projects.
The
field of renewable energy is changing
daily. This means you’ll spend
a lot of time and effort just staying
on top of all the current developments.
You may find that there’s simply
not enough time in the day to do everything
you need to do. Other times, your
day will be filled with administrative
work, like writing proposals and reports
as you search for money to finish
projects. Then again, seeing one of
your projects come to life, with renewable
energy, is very exciting and rewarding.
You’ll help people have lower
per-unit energy costs and also help
preserve the environment.
Job
Description
Clean energy researchers analyze our
energy needs and plan renewable, environmentally
friendly solutions. For example, a clean
energy researcher in a windy coastal
region might research wind generators
and then write a report with recommendations
and plans for the development of a wind
turbine. Clean energy researchers find
jobs with a wide range of employers,
such as government departments, consulting
companies, engineering firms, non-profit
organizations, and public utilities
companies. Some clean energy researchers
are self-employed or own small businesses.
Job
Duties
- Research
the types of alternative and renewable
energy sources
- Research
the types of energy generators
- Research
global energy and related environmental
issues
- Analyze
the amount of energy that a clients
needs
- Develop
energy-saving activities for new
construction projects
- Calculate
how much energy a client uses every
month and its cost
- Prepare
and evaluate environmental impact
statements
- Build
models of renewable energy generators
- Design
environmentally safe energy generators
Fact
Under Action Plan 2000 on Climate
Change, the federal government will
purchase an additional 400,000 megawatt
hours or so of electricity from Emerging
Renewable Energy Sources (including
wind, sun, water, biomass and earth
power). This will further reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by about 200,000 tonnes
annually.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for a job as a clean energy researcher
include math, physics, chemistry, biology,
computers, and English. Aboriginal studies,
history, and languages will prepare
you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as engineering
technology, geology, and environmental
science.
A
university degree in environmental
engineering or a related field, such
as civil or chemical engineering,
is required. A master’s degree
or Ph.D. may be required and can improve
your employment prospects and salary.
Before
entering the workforce, some clean
energy researchers require training
in:
- Sustainability
concepts
- Energy
modelling
- Erosion
control
- Environmental
site assessment
Admission
to engineering programs is competitive.
Grades of 80 percent or better in
maths and sciences are usually required.
Look into specific high school pre-requisites
set by the university you would like
to attend.
To
be an engineer, you’ll need to
complete a university undergraduate
degree in engineering, work for two
or three years as an Engineer-in-Training
(EIT), and then write and pass a professional
exam. Finally, provincial or territorial
certification may be required.
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Clean
energy researchers with a university
degree make an average of $49,000.00
per year.
Clean
energy researchers with a post-graduate
degree make an average of $78,000.00
per year.
Clean
energy researchers with several years
experience and education make an average
of $104,000.00 per year.
Financial
Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following awards are
specific to clean energy researchers:
Employment Equity Bursaries
Twelve bursaries of $600.00 are awarded
to Manitoba students registered in
engineering.
Contact: Manitoba Hydro
Telephone: (204) 474-4560
Fax: (204) 474-3371
Programme
de prix d’excellence pour les
étudiants autochtone
Hydro Québec awards four
prizes of $1,000.00 to CEGEP students
and two prizes of $2,000.00 awarded
to university students studying engineering.
Contact: Mr. Dany Nepton
Relations avec les communautés
Autochtones
Hydro-Québec
75 boul. René-Lévesque
ouest
2eme étage
Montréal, Québec
H2Z 1A4
Téléphone: (514) 289-2211,
ext. 4290
Toyota
Earth Day Scholarships
Fifteen awards of $5,000.00 are
presented to students entering their
first year of post-secondary full-time
studies in Canada, in any discipline.
Contact: Toyota Earth Day Scholarship
Earth Day Canada
111 Peter Street, Suite 503
Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
Telephone: (416) 599-1991
Fax: (416) 599-3100
email: scholarship@earthday.ca
website: www.earthday.ca
website: www.toyota.ca
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. How did your people traditionally
obtain and use energy? Does anyone
in your community have a house or
a business that is powered by a renewable
energy source? Find out what your
community does to reduce energy consumption.
Your knowledge will make your studies
easier and impress potential employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Environmental
engineer
- Green
architect
- Environmental
co-ordinator
- Environmental
monitor
Relate
and interact with clean energy researchers.
Ask them what they like about their
job and how you should get started.
Solar Energy Society of Canada
PO Box 33047
Cathedral Post Office
Regina, SK
S4T 7X2
email: info@solarenergysociety.ca
website: www.solarenergysociety.ca
Canadian
Wind Energy Association / L’association
canadienne d’énergie éolienne
3353-31 Street NW, Suite 100
Calgary, AB
T2L 2KY
Telephone: 1 (800) 922-6932
Fax: (403) 851-0834
email: contact@canwea.ca
website: www.canwea.ca
The
Canadian Federation of Engineering
Students
website: www.cfes.ca
Engineers
without Borders
website: www.ewb.ca
Relate
with other students. Most universities
have Aboriginal student associations
and resource centres. Visit these
centres to find out what they have
to offer. Also look into community
centres, friendship centres, and multi-cultural
centres.
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