The U.S. is making progress towards a more sustainable future, even though the changes are gradual. Although experts in energy and environmentalists may argue that it isn’t happening fast enough, there are improvements being made from transportation to engineering.
Toyota’s third-most popular car is the Prius. Every year, Toyota introduces a new line of hybrid vehicles. In 2012, there were more than 30 hybrid cars.
Alternative fuels are being used to make eco-friendly buildings more affordable. Green Mountain College in Vermont heats its campus using a biomass plant. It uses green woodchips as a fuel source.
As commuter cycling grows in popularity, more city engineers are creating bike lanes and widening streets. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), hosts a Human Powered Vehicle Challenge each year, where top engineering students create pedal-powered vehicles that can be used on the roads.
These engineering students are creating prototypes for a human-powered, road-friendly vehicle. They are working towards a sustainable world. Engineers are hopeful that further innovations will eventually be possible. human-powered vehiclesThis could result in a new transportation option that reduces the use of traditional fuels.
Business Insider used data from Copenhagen’s vast cycling community to calculate that $46 Million would be added to the country’s economy if half as many Americans biked to work, according to a comparison.
Engineers of the future will have to bear a heavy burden in order to succeed in a technologically-driven world and compete on the global market. Additionally, the demand for high-tech engineering jobs at high wages is on the rise.
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found that 8 million American jobs would require a degree (STEM) in science, technology engineering and mathematics by 2018. The job is central for aerospace, civil, electrical, and agricultural engineers.
ASME nurtures the next generation engineers by hosting each year’s human-powered vehicle competition. For more information, please visit www.asme.org
