The Fjarðaál aluminum smelter won Iceland's top environmental award.

If you search Google’s news archive for "sustainable design," you'll see an interesting chart. Prior to 1980, it's rarely mentioned, and media coverage doesn't begin to pick up until the mid-1990s. But in the new century, the chart climbs like the steps of a Mayan pyramid.

Today, construction projects increasingly are designed to conserve energy and water, reduce carbon footprints, and protect the environment. In the face of dwindling energy resources and the threat of disruptive climate change, sustainable design is no longer just part of the conversation. For Bechtel, it’s a critical component of projects ranging from railways and airports to power plants and aluminum smelters.

"The world is changing rapidly, and our customers are demanding sustainability," says Gary Seshagiri, a leader in the company’s sustainable engineering, procurement, and construction (Sustainable EPC) efforts. "At Bechtel, we’ve always faced challenges used them to create new opportunities. Because our projects are large scale and widespread, we have an opportunity to help shape a more sustainable tomorrow for people—all over the world!"