Is the current green buzz just a passing fad that will soon be drowned in our economic sorrows, or is it a fundamental change (however slow) in markets that will significantly impact how you analyze projects and design solutions? According to a recent report, Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, the global market for environmental products and services is projected to double from US$1.37 trillion per year currently to US$2.74 trillion by 2020. Half of this market is expected to focus on energy efficiency, and the balance on sustainable transport, water supply, sanitation, and waste management. The report was funded and commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme and produced by the Worldwatch Institute, with technical assistance from the Cornell University Global Labour Institute.

The report predicts that sectors expected to be particularly important in terms of their environmental, economic, and employment impact are energy supply—especially renewable energy—buildings and construction, transportation, basic industries, agriculture, and forestry. Civil engineers have significant roles in most of these sectors.

But, if such broad-brush, long-range predictions seem irrelevant to your current focus, consider the recent move by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), which developed its own design certification program, Green Leadership in Transportation and Environmental Sustainability (Green LITES). The program "is intended to better integrate sustainability into project designs by increasing awareness of them and expanding innovative design alternatives," NYSDOT explained (see "New York DOT encourages green designs").

NYSDOT said that top-rated designs would incorporate site selection that minimizes impacts to the environment and project designs that follow existing geographic contours, as well as designs that protect, enhance, or restore fish and wildlife habitat; minimize stormwater runoff; improve traffic flow; reduce energy and petroleum consumption; improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and minimize noise and stray light.

While any one or two of these design goals might be easily achievable using conventional methods, civil engineers increasingly will find that juggling multiple, seemingly contradictory project goals will require more comprehensive analysis. An arsenal of tools such as dynamic 3-D modeling, visualization, and GIS—incorporating a broad spectrum of data from all available sources—are needed to evaluate alternative designs to find the one that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes sustainability, as well as fits the budget.

And transportation isn’t the only sector likely to require a broader perspective. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies recently launched the Clean Water America Alliance (CWAA) as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help achieve changes in how water issues are discussed, managed, and solved, with a focus on holistic, watershed-based approaches (see "Alliance seeks to change perspective on water"). The vision of the CWAA is to solve the challenges of clean water, drinking water, stormwater, and water reuse by focusing on sustainability, green cities, and watershed-based approaches.

As the green spotlight brightens, civil engineers cannot just settle for a good design based on traditional methods that meets basic standards. They must learn to use every tool and data source, analyzing multiple options with a broad scope—including frequent collaboration with professionals in other fields—to deliver the best design.