Corporate America vs. the environment

I've recently become a fan of the NYT Shifting Careers blog, and this post in particular (as well as the comments to it) reminded me of a number of things that have been on my mind for a while.
First of all, too many people working in the business world forget that are many kinds of work environments, and that those of us working outside of the corporate world are just as “professional” as they. The type of dress that William et al. advocate (full-on suits for all, and year-round pantyhose for women) is simply not appropriate in many work settings, including schools, non-profits, hospitals, etc. A few weeks ago I was reading an article about the new college graduates entering the workforce. Among other things the survey revealed that on average, members of the class of 2008 expect to earn $48,000 a year in their first job. I laughed and commented that that seemed unrealistic, but my friends (business majors all) thought that was perfectly reasonable - until I pointed out that not everyone is a business major, and not everyone works in the DC/NOVA area. Salaries here, along with the cost of living, are much higher than in many parts of the country. Meanwhile, it seems to me - and I may well be biased here - that 20-somethings working in non-business industries (non-profits, government, education, health care, etc) are well aware that our workplace cultures are not universal and that there are trade-offs involved. One type of organizational culture isn't inherently superior to any other, it's about each worker finding the kind of place that values the same things that the worker him- or herself does.
The other thought I had is that the idea that suits, pantyhose and other weather-inappropriate attire should be worn throughout the summer because AC makes it tolerable is very near-sighted in terms of the environmental damage caused by extreme climate-control. If you’re cold, put on a sweater, and if you’re warm, open the window and wear linen pants. But instead, our instinct seems to be to modify the environment to suit our dress code. Personally I don't see the logic behind expecting professionals in London, New York, DC, Miami and Hong Kong to all dress the same. There are some universal standars - "cover your parts" comes to mind - but requiring pantyhose or suit jackets in the summer in DC is just cruel. In many cultures people aim to live in harmony with nature rather than seeking to control it... just an idea.