Working for the SmithGroup architectural firm, Cynthia Cogil uses engineering to make buildings that are better for the environment. She helped design one that turns off the lights when it senses enough daylight coming in. Also, its roof collects water that gets filtered before coming out of the faucet. What’s more, the toilet doesn’t use water. Instead, chutes bring waste into a holding tank where it decomposes. Cogil says her job as an architectural engineer allows her to use the math and science skills that always were her strengths in school. And she gets to work on cool projects like the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., which is one of the city’s most popular attractions.

Filed under: Architectural, Environmental, Trailblazers

Tags: Architectural, Environmental, Green Technology