Are you interested in pursuing a tech degree? If so, you might want to set your sights upon specializing in “green” technology. As eco-friendly solutions become increasingly more popular, so is the need for individuals who are capable of developing green technological systems. More specifically, experts say there is a growing trend toward development of more environmentally-friendly infrastructure systems.

The development of smart infrastructure technology can potentially reduce the amount of energy used and greenhouse gases emitted while performing basic infrastructure tasks, such as working electric grids, food distribution, commuter traffic and waterways. In fact, experts are counting on the power of technology to help take green infrastructure to the next level.

“We are entering a new phase of computer, in which computers will be interacting with the physical world as never before,” said Edward Lazowska, who is a professor of computer science at the University of Washington, in an article in the New York Times.

As such, experts are predicting that the computer-enhanced infrastructure market will be quite lucrative in the near future. Despite the current worldwide economic difficulties, the outlook in this field remains quite promising. This is particularly true with so many countries looking at greener solutions as being one part of the strategy for turning the economy around. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that major corporations such as General Electric, Cisco and I.B.M. are all working on green infrastructure initiatives.

Of course, it will take a bit of time for green infrastructure initiatives to take hold, but experts are convinced we are heading in the right direction.

“There will be a lot of hype and a lot of things that don’t pan out,” said Rosabeth Moss Kanter, who is a professor of business administration at the Harvard Business School, in the New York Times article. “But the direction is absolutely right. We’ve barely scratched the surface of how information technology can help control and conserve energy.”

The eco-friendly infrastructure initiatives that are already being put to use throughout the world are quite impressive. In Stockholm, for example, the government managed to make $80 million while also decreasing carbon dioxide by 12%, reducing car traffic in a congested area by 20% and increasing the number of people using public transportation by 40,000 per day simply by charging admission to the area and using special cameras to track vehicles in the area.

I.B.M. has also developed special “smart grid” programs that are being put to use by the Department of Energy in Washington state. With the software, the Department of Energy hopes to reduce peak loads by 15%. Similar initiatives are being developed and implemented around the world. So, if you have an interested in technology, consider pursuing the “green” niche. Not only will you be doing the environment a favor, you will enjoy ample employment opportunities as well!