There’s a big difference between knowing what sphere you want to work in (i.e. green energy, green building, etc.), and knowing what skill-set you want to bring and what role you want to fill, within that sphere. It’s fine to say,
but… what does that mean in terms of your willingness to put in the time and work in foundational engineering classes that will equip you to make a contribution to sustainability-focused projects, but that won’t be specifically sustainability-focused as a learning experience?
Likewise…
… does this mean you wouldn’t want a studio-based learning experience, or do you just mean you aren’t prepared to submit a portfolio in order to apply? Because, there are programs that don’t require a portfolio in the application process, if that’s the barrier.
A couple of example programs at Cal Poly SLO:
- The General Engineering program has an individualized option that students have customized to focus on sustainable energy: https://www.calpoly.edu/major/general-engineering
- Landscape Architecture is a 5-year pre-professional program; landscape architects can absolutely work in the green building industry, and can choose sustainability-oriented projects to focus on during their training https://landscape.calpoly.edu/
Admissions-wise, your 1560 won’t help you at any CA public anymore, as they’ve gone test blind; and a 4.1 weighted GPA would get you into some SLO programs but not others. OTOH, a major like this at Cal Poly Humboldt would certainly be a safety for you https://www.humboldt.edu/programs/environmental-resources-engineering and here’s a similar program on the east coast Academic Programs - Environmental Resources Engineering, B.S.
Northeastern has a pre-professional BLA program that might appeal; a portfolio is optional in the application process Landscape Architecture, BLA - College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD)
The CU Boulder ENVD program Environmental Design | University of Colorado Boulder Architecture, starts with a common first-year core, and then branches into specializations in environmental product design, landscape architecture & sustainable planning, and urban design. Could be a great program for you to get your feet wet before deciding what to focus on.
If you would like an architecture program with a strong focus on community engagement and sustainability, and no portfolio requirement, you might like the program at Portland State Architecture Bachelor's Degree and Minor Programs | Architecture The architecture school has very close ties to the surrounding community, as well as being involved in international projects. Check out the work of The Center for Public Interest Design http://www.centerforpublicinterestdesign.org/ PSU also has undergrad majors in Urban & Public Affairs, Environmental Studies, and Environmental Engineering… and a minor in Sustainable Urban Development. If you’re in a Western state, the WUE discount can make PSU quite affordable.
At the Claremont Colleges, Pitzer and Pomona both have the Environmental Analysis major, which has multiple tracks. There’s a track that is more politics/policy oriented, and also the “sustainability and the built environment” track (from which I assume you’re quoting in the title of your thread). The core requirements of each track still leave plenty of room to sample coursework in other areas or even double-major in something else, although the closest thing to an engineering option is the option to take the Harvey Mudd “Intro to Engineering Design” class and follow that with additional classes in the Human-Centered Design sequence offered through The Hive (a.k.a. The Rick and Susan Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity), the shared Design center for the 5C’s. I would suggest applying to both Pitzer and Scripps. The EA major is structured slightly differently at Pomona vs. Pitzer, and Scripps students get to choose between the two, whereas Pitzer students have to follow the Pitzer curriculum. My daughter benefited from that flexibility and ended up deciding on the Pomona EA program, although she took a good number of Pitzer classes too. Even though Pitzer has a more environmentally-focused reputation as an institution, a Scripps student can take all of the same classes and get involved in all of the same EC’s, and quite a few do.