If troubleshooting IP conflicts on a subnet or configuring a Linux-based RADIUS server just doesn't get you excited anymore, how does "pollution counter" sound? It's a rapidly growing field and salaries start in the $60K range. It's featured in this morning's WSJ "Hot Jobs" and it's a must-read if you're interested in the science (or art) of counting pollution.

The profiled company, PE International, grew its revenue by 150% in 2008 and added 13 people to a staff of 3, bringing the total to 16. The company specializes in assessing the impact a product has on Earth, using ISO standards where possible. Climate change legislation such as carbon cap-and-trade, as well as corporate initiatives such as the one recently announced by Wal-Mart to develop a single sustainability index for all products in its stores, means that the field will continue to grow substantially.

As with most things, there is controversy over the methodologies employed to count pollution:

"The American Christmas Tree Association, which represents companies that produce artificial holiday trees, says it did its best to make accurate a life-cycle assessment that compared its products to natural Christmas trees. The assessment, which is still being reviewed, found that an artificial tree was slightly more environmentally friendly, mainly because the biggest source of pollution for either type of tree was consumers driving to get it, and consumers tend to reuse artificial trees.

But the National Christmas Tree Association, which represents tree growers, disputes the findings. "It is patently absurd to think that using a nonbiodegradable, nonrenewable product from a factory is somehow more environmentally friendly than buying a real tree," said spokesman Rick Dungey.

He pointed to a 2009 Christmas tree life-cycle assessment by a different pollution counter that found that natural trees are better for the environment unless an artificial tree is reused for at least 20 years."

So the next time you find yourself tearing out your hair because the data center just went down and all backups are offline, perhaps a switch to counting carbon and calculating life-cycle may be just what your career needs?