Green Investing: By the Numbers
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-investing/green-investing-statistics.html
$25.1 trillion: The amount of money currently invested in socially responsible investment funds.
One out of every 10 dollars: The amount of money currently invested in socially responsible funds.
10.4 percent: The amount the Dow Jones Sustainability Index rose in 2007, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrial index, which only rose by 6.4 percent.
260: Socially screened mutual funds in the U.S., with an asset value of $201.8 billion. Mutual funds are the fastest growing option of socially responsible investing.
109: SRI funds available in the U.S. in 2004, compared to 367 SRI funds available in Europe.
348: Number of shareholder proposed environmental and social resolutions in 2007. Of those, 177 of the proposals went to a vote.
40 percent: The amount by which the green energy sector grew, in global sales, in 2007.
50 percent: the amount by which residential solar installations grew in 2007; wind installations grew by 30 percent and organic food production grew by 20 percent over the same period.
Community investing is the fastest growing area of socially responsible investing.
Showing posts with label choose this: green living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choose this: green living. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
5 Major Companies Innovate By Going Green
5 Major Companies Innovate By Going Green
Diverse businesses are learning the benefits of corporate sustainability.
11.18.2009 Link to full article below
While environmentalists, and the public, have many reasons to remain wary about big corporations, it's also true that big business's tremendous wealth and power can be harnessed for good. While no company is perfect, particularly when it operates on an international scale and has a long history, it is worth noting the ways in which companies are going green today.
The following are not necessarily the greenest companies around, but they also aren't niche players. Let's see what lessons in sustainability we can learn from:
Kimberly-Clark
Paper giant Kimberly-Clark has been trying to reverse years of bad environmental press, and earlier this year was recognized by the EPA for being one of the top buyers of green power. After a long conflict with Greenpeace over clear-cutting in Canada's Boreal forest, the company has agreed to source all it's fiber from "eco-friendly sources."
Please read the full article
Diverse businesses are learning the benefits of corporate sustainability.
11.18.2009 Link to full article below
While environmentalists, and the public, have many reasons to remain wary about big corporations, it's also true that big business's tremendous wealth and power can be harnessed for good. While no company is perfect, particularly when it operates on an international scale and has a long history, it is worth noting the ways in which companies are going green today.
The following are not necessarily the greenest companies around, but they also aren't niche players. Let's see what lessons in sustainability we can learn from:
Kimberly-Clark
Paper giant Kimberly-Clark has been trying to reverse years of bad environmental press, and earlier this year was recognized by the EPA for being one of the top buyers of green power. After a long conflict with Greenpeace over clear-cutting in Canada's Boreal forest, the company has agreed to source all it's fiber from "eco-friendly sources."
Please read the full article
Friday, October 30, 2009
Top 10 Ways to Go Green This Halloween
Top 10 Ways to Go Green This Halloween
How to Have a Green -- And Cheap -- Halloween
by Diane MacEachern
October 13, 2008 Link to full article below
Here are the top ten tips for a “green” Halloween. They’ll save you money, too!
1. Reuse Costumes
Tap into the treasures hidden in your closet or attic to pull together a fun, no-cost costume (it won’t take any longer than going to the mall, and will be a lot cheaper). Trade costumes with friends and family if you don’t want to wear last year’s get-up. Shop for accessories at yard sales or resale stores. Use your imagination but don’t obsess. The point is to have fun, not be fashionable!
2. Trick and Treat
In lieu of junk food, hand out pencils made from recycled paper, erasers, nickels or dimes – be creative!. My husband used to live in the same neighborhood as baseball legend Casey Stengel – he gave out silver dollars. My neighbor started doling out small cups of apple cider when she realized how much kids love a drink of something when they’re running around like banshees. NatureMoms offers lots of great links to organic lollipops and other fun and healthy treats.
3. Reverse Trick and Treat
Global Exchange is encouraging kids to help educate adults about Fair Trade cocoa by handing Fair Trade chocolates back as they trick or treat. The chocolates are attached to a card explaining why Fair Trade offers an alternative to child labor, low wages for farmers and a healthier environment. Order by October 13.
4. Have a Party
If you opt to celebrate at home in lieu of trick or treating, put out bowls of snacks rather than serve up individual throwaway treat bags. Offer pop corn, hummus and pita chips, carrots and dips, fresh apple cider, bat-shaped cookies and muffins. Kids will enjoy painting pumpkins, decorating cupcakes, reading scary stories, bobbing for apples, and going on “flashlight hunts” in the yard (if the party’s after dark) for hidden Halloween surprises. Send electronic invitations to avoid wasting paper and postage.
5. Decorate with Nature
A trip to your yard or the farmers market will provide everything you need to dress up your house for Halloween: leaves and branches, hay bales, gourds, pumpkins, mums, dried flowers.
To read the full article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/green-products-services/green-halloween-tips-55101302?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
How to Have a Green -- And Cheap -- Halloween
by Diane MacEachern
October 13, 2008 Link to full article below
Here are the top ten tips for a “green” Halloween. They’ll save you money, too!
1. Reuse Costumes
Tap into the treasures hidden in your closet or attic to pull together a fun, no-cost costume (it won’t take any longer than going to the mall, and will be a lot cheaper). Trade costumes with friends and family if you don’t want to wear last year’s get-up. Shop for accessories at yard sales or resale stores. Use your imagination but don’t obsess. The point is to have fun, not be fashionable!
2. Trick and Treat
In lieu of junk food, hand out pencils made from recycled paper, erasers, nickels or dimes – be creative!. My husband used to live in the same neighborhood as baseball legend Casey Stengel – he gave out silver dollars. My neighbor started doling out small cups of apple cider when she realized how much kids love a drink of something when they’re running around like banshees. NatureMoms offers lots of great links to organic lollipops and other fun and healthy treats.
3. Reverse Trick and Treat
Global Exchange is encouraging kids to help educate adults about Fair Trade cocoa by handing Fair Trade chocolates back as they trick or treat. The chocolates are attached to a card explaining why Fair Trade offers an alternative to child labor, low wages for farmers and a healthier environment. Order by October 13.
4. Have a Party
If you opt to celebrate at home in lieu of trick or treating, put out bowls of snacks rather than serve up individual throwaway treat bags. Offer pop corn, hummus and pita chips, carrots and dips, fresh apple cider, bat-shaped cookies and muffins. Kids will enjoy painting pumpkins, decorating cupcakes, reading scary stories, bobbing for apples, and going on “flashlight hunts” in the yard (if the party’s after dark) for hidden Halloween surprises. Send electronic invitations to avoid wasting paper and postage.
5. Decorate with Nature
A trip to your yard or the farmers market will provide everything you need to dress up your house for Halloween: leaves and branches, hay bales, gourds, pumpkins, mums, dried flowers.
To read the full article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/green-products-services/green-halloween-tips-55101302?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Navajo Nation pledges to go green
July 22, 2009
Link to full article below
The Navajo Nation says it is going green.
On Tuesday, the Navajo National Council voted to enact the Navajo Green Economy Commission, which would oversee the use of federal, state and private funds for green job initiatives. Through the measure, community members could apply for funding to create projects that the commission deems "green."
"We're encouraging our people to come back and create weavers' co-ops and farmers' markets and revitalize our agriculture," said Nikke Alex, who works for the Black Mesa Water Coalition and organizes young people for the Navajo Green Jobs Coalition.
To read the full article:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.
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Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Big Guide to Going Green at Home
The Big Guide to Going Green at Home
http://www.cyberhomes.com/
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Monday, July 6, 2009
Are developers making mis-LEED-ing claims?
Are developers making mis-LEED-ing claims?
by Lisa Selin Davis 1 Jul 2009 Link to full article below
You know those words you´re sick of, the little bits of lexicon used and abused so frequently that they´ve been drained of meaning: green, natural, eco-friendly? Well, now you can add the word "LEED" to the list.
That´s right, the world´s most ubiquitous green-building term is becoming a mot de greenwashing. Increasingly, companies and developers are using "LEED" to describe buildings that haven´t been certified by the program. Heck, the buildings might not even be that green (or natural or eco-friendly, for that matter).
Piedmont Park Garage.The Piedmont deck: LEED claims are the least of critics´ complaintsUrban Hiking AtlantaTake, for instance, the highly controversial parking garage plopped in the middle of Atlanta´s Piedmont Park. Conceived and championed by the Piedmont Park Conservancy and the Atlanta Botanical Garden as a way to raise funds and provide parking space for folks attending the park´s special events (like the upcoming "Green Concert" starring Sir Paul McCartney), this "built to LEED standards" structure has been largely derided by neighborhood groups, including Friends of Piedmont Park (FOPP), as being a decidedly improper use of park space.
"We´re upset about the conversion of more public green space to cement and concrete," says Jack White, a FOPP board member.
To read the full article: http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-01-LEED-greenwashing-lexicon
by Lisa Selin Davis 1 Jul 2009 Link to full article below
You know those words you´re sick of, the little bits of lexicon used and abused so frequently that they´ve been drained of meaning: green, natural, eco-friendly? Well, now you can add the word "LEED" to the list.
That´s right, the world´s most ubiquitous green-building term is becoming a mot de greenwashing. Increasingly, companies and developers are using "LEED" to describe buildings that haven´t been certified by the program. Heck, the buildings might not even be that green (or natural or eco-friendly, for that matter).
Piedmont Park Garage.The Piedmont deck: LEED claims are the least of critics´ complaintsUrban Hiking AtlantaTake, for instance, the highly controversial parking garage plopped in the middle of Atlanta´s Piedmont Park. Conceived and championed by the Piedmont Park Conservancy and the Atlanta Botanical Garden as a way to raise funds and provide parking space for folks attending the park´s special events (like the upcoming "Green Concert" starring Sir Paul McCartney), this "built to LEED standards" structure has been largely derided by neighborhood groups, including Friends of Piedmont Park (FOPP), as being a decidedly improper use of park space.
"We´re upset about the conversion of more public green space to cement and concrete," says Jack White, a FOPP board member.
To read the full article: http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-01-LEED-greenwashing-lexicon
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
Ten Tips to a Greener Road Trip
Low (Carbon) Riders
Ten Tips to a Greener Road Trip
By Kristen O’Neill
Lots of people are opting to stay closer to home for summer vacations, and packing up the family car instead of booking flights abroad. Whether with friends or family, road trips are a hallowed American institution, and they offer lots of opportunities for checking out natural wonders, from state parks to scenic overlooks. But to make the most of your road trip while leaving behind a minimal environmental impact, check out the ten tips below.
1. Look into public transportation. If your destination is easy to reach by train or bus, consider skipping the long drive and join the masses. Why not be chauffeured? Enjoy a book, some music or even a nap instead of driving! Traveling far distances puts wear and tear on your car, costs fortunes of gas money, and the more cars on the road, the more traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. Taking a bus or train is an easy, comfortable, and greener choice for a guilt-free road trip.
2. If driving is your only option, choose a fuel-efficient vehicle. If you’re renting a car, go for one that has good gas mileage. Consider renting a hybrid so you won’t have to fill up on gas too often. If you’re bringing your own, choose the smallest car that will fit everyone and everything. In other words, leave the giant SUV at home.
3. Fill your tires! Air is one of the last things you can get for free these days. Before you hit the highway, stop at the local gas station to fill your tires. Properly inflated tires will improve your car’s fuel efficiency and mileage by about 3.3%. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last 25% longer.
4. Drive gently. Excessive breaking and acceleration can reduce your fuel efficiency by as much as 33% on the highway, and 5% when driving around town. The easiest way to keep your driving gentle is to drive within the speed limit. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you can assume that you spend an additional $.24 per gallon of gas for every 5 mph over 60 mph. Also, driving within the speed limit is the safest, most responsible way to drive, especially when traveling on long-distance road trips. What’s the rush? The slower you drive, the more you’re able to enjoy your surroundings.
5. Avoid idling. If you’re stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and have been idling for over 30 seconds, turn the car off. You get 0 miles to the gallon while idling, so if you’re stuck in traffic, you might as well just park it! Also, avoid drive-throughs—idling in line uses up gas unnecessarily. Instead, park the car and walk into the restaurant, this way you’ll save gas and stretch your legs!
To read the full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4744
Ten Tips to a Greener Road Trip
By Kristen O’Neill
Lots of people are opting to stay closer to home for summer vacations, and packing up the family car instead of booking flights abroad. Whether with friends or family, road trips are a hallowed American institution, and they offer lots of opportunities for checking out natural wonders, from state parks to scenic overlooks. But to make the most of your road trip while leaving behind a minimal environmental impact, check out the ten tips below.
1. Look into public transportation. If your destination is easy to reach by train or bus, consider skipping the long drive and join the masses. Why not be chauffeured? Enjoy a book, some music or even a nap instead of driving! Traveling far distances puts wear and tear on your car, costs fortunes of gas money, and the more cars on the road, the more traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. Taking a bus or train is an easy, comfortable, and greener choice for a guilt-free road trip.
2. If driving is your only option, choose a fuel-efficient vehicle. If you’re renting a car, go for one that has good gas mileage. Consider renting a hybrid so you won’t have to fill up on gas too often. If you’re bringing your own, choose the smallest car that will fit everyone and everything. In other words, leave the giant SUV at home.
3. Fill your tires! Air is one of the last things you can get for free these days. Before you hit the highway, stop at the local gas station to fill your tires. Properly inflated tires will improve your car’s fuel efficiency and mileage by about 3.3%. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last 25% longer.
4. Drive gently. Excessive breaking and acceleration can reduce your fuel efficiency by as much as 33% on the highway, and 5% when driving around town. The easiest way to keep your driving gentle is to drive within the speed limit. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you can assume that you spend an additional $.24 per gallon of gas for every 5 mph over 60 mph. Also, driving within the speed limit is the safest, most responsible way to drive, especially when traveling on long-distance road trips. What’s the rush? The slower you drive, the more you’re able to enjoy your surroundings.
5. Avoid idling. If you’re stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and have been idling for over 30 seconds, turn the car off. You get 0 miles to the gallon while idling, so if you’re stuck in traffic, you might as well just park it! Also, avoid drive-throughs—idling in line uses up gas unnecessarily. Instead, park the car and walk into the restaurant, this way you’ll save gas and stretch your legs!
To read the full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4744
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Has the Green Bubble Burst? Nordhaus and Shellenberger say Priuses and heirloom tomatoes aren't the solution. They're right, but ...
Has the Green Bubble Burst?
Nordhaus and Shellenberger say Priuses and heirloom tomatoes aren't the solution. They're right, but ...
by Jim DiPeso
June 9, 2009
Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger, the dour scolds of the environmental movement, have delivered another broadside. We are duly informed that the green bubble has burst.
Their critique says that the economic downturn has pricked the bubble, a cultural artifact inflated by hot air from liberal romantics who pine neurotically for eco-harmony.
These caricatures of environmentalists, we are told, blew up the bubble through what the authors call "positional consumption." They flaunted their Priuses, ate heirloom tomatoes, and screwed in compact fluorescent light bulbs as both penance for their consumption and as a kind of sympathetic magic intended to end the dark age of materialism.
Nordhaus and Shellenberger proclaim thus: "It has become an article of faith among many greens that the global poor are happier with less and must be shielded from the horrors of overconsumption and economic development."
Well, OK, some greens may act and believe as they authors say, and if so, shame on them. But really ... are there that many people who are so lacking in humanity that they wish for our neighbors in Bangladesh, Bolivia, and Burkina Faso to remain afflicted by hunger and disease?
Sorry, but that doesn't pass the manure filter.
To read the full article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/blogs/republican/nordhaus-and-shellenberger-47050901?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr
Nordhaus and Shellenberger say Priuses and heirloom tomatoes aren't the solution. They're right, but ...
by Jim DiPeso
June 9, 2009
Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger, the dour scolds of the environmental movement, have delivered another broadside. We are duly informed that the green bubble has burst.
Their critique says that the economic downturn has pricked the bubble, a cultural artifact inflated by hot air from liberal romantics who pine neurotically for eco-harmony.
These caricatures of environmentalists, we are told, blew up the bubble through what the authors call "positional consumption." They flaunted their Priuses, ate heirloom tomatoes, and screwed in compact fluorescent light bulbs as both penance for their consumption and as a kind of sympathetic magic intended to end the dark age of materialism.
Nordhaus and Shellenberger proclaim thus: "It has become an article of faith among many greens that the global poor are happier with less and must be shielded from the horrors of overconsumption and economic development."
Well, OK, some greens may act and believe as they authors say, and if so, shame on them. But really ... are there that many people who are so lacking in humanity that they wish for our neighbors in Bangladesh, Bolivia, and Burkina Faso to remain afflicted by hunger and disease?
Sorry, but that doesn't pass the manure filter.
To read the full article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Safety in Green: Even in Tumultuous Times, Green Investing Holds Promise
Safety in Green
Even in Tumultuous Times, Green Investing Holds Promise
By Brita Belli
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Volatile economic times have a way of scaring investors into what they perceive as “safe” money moves—investing in large, established companies with long track records and historically healthy returns. Green companies are, in many cases, newer, smaller and considerably riskier. They haven’t been around long enough to inspire confidence, and they are subject to external forces like government policy and fluctuating oil and gas prices.
When these latter prices fall, interest in renewable energy tends to drop considerably. It’s what killed many renewable energy companies in the 1980s. These companies are particularly tied to the changing whims of consumers, too, and rely on homeowners to have the upfront money needed to install technologies like solar panels on their roofs or geothermal heat pumps in their backyards. In fact, says, Jack Uldrich, author of Green Investing: A Guide to Making Money through Environment-Friendly Stocks (Adams Media), the solar industry has been particularly hard hit by the recent economic downturn.
To read this full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Even in Tumultuous Times, Green Investing Holds Promise
By Brita Belli
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Volatile economic times have a way of scaring investors into what they perceive as “safe” money moves—investing in large, established companies with long track records and historically healthy returns. Green companies are, in many cases, newer, smaller and considerably riskier. They haven’t been around long enough to inspire confidence, and they are subject to external forces like government policy and fluctuating oil and gas prices.
When these latter prices fall, interest in renewable energy tends to drop considerably. It’s what killed many renewable energy companies in the 1980s. These companies are particularly tied to the changing whims of consumers, too, and rely on homeowners to have the upfront money needed to install technologies like solar panels on their roofs or geothermal heat pumps in their backyards. In fact, says, Jack Uldrich, author of Green Investing: A Guide to Making Money through Environment-Friendly Stocks (Adams Media), the solar industry has been particularly hard hit by the recent economic downturn.
To read this full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Which are "greener" -- crayons or markers?
Which are "greener" -- crayons or markers?
March 19, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
The answer to your question depends on how you define “green,” and on the composition of the specific crayon or marker being considered. Most crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment and have a paper label affixed with glue made of cornstarch and water.[1] Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and paraffin wax crayons are not biodegradable. A more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional crayons are soy oil based crayons which are plant-derived and 100% biodegradable. [3-4] Markers are divided into 3 main categories: water-based, alcohol-based, and aromatic solvent-based. Water-based markers are the least toxic, followed by alcohol-based, although alcohol-based markers do contain toxins. Aromatic solvent-based markers are the most toxic and many contain xylene, a chemical that is a neuro-, kidney-, reproductive-, and respiratory toxin.[1]
To read the full article:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
March 19, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
The answer to your question depends on how you define “green,” and on the composition of the specific crayon or marker being considered. Most crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment and have a paper label affixed with glue made of cornstarch and water.[1] Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and paraffin wax crayons are not biodegradable. A more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional crayons are soy oil based crayons which are plant-derived and 100% biodegradable. [3-4] Markers are divided into 3 main categories: water-based, alcohol-based, and aromatic solvent-based. Water-based markers are the least toxic, followed by alcohol-based, although alcohol-based markers do contain toxins. Aromatic solvent-based markers are the most toxic and many contain xylene, a chemical that is a neuro-, kidney-, reproductive-, and respiratory toxin.[1]
To read the full article:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wind of Change: How Environmental Jobs Can Help Boost the Economy
Wind of change: How environmental jobs can help boost the economy
By Steve McCormack
Thursday, 19 March 2009
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/wind-of-change-how-environmental-jobs-can-help-boost-the-economy-1647957.html
Amid the hanging gloom of recession there are occasional shafts of optimism. One of these is the evidence that careers in the environmental sector are showing some resilience in the downturn.
This is due in part to an acknowledgment of the business case for healthy environmental practices. Senior figures in the sector also point out a clear political lead coming from Whitehall, which is consistent with their own optimistic view. "The Government's low-carbon strategy sends the message that the new green economy will help move the UK out of recession," says Martin Baxter, deputy chief executive of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), whose 14,000 members work as environment professionals across industry.
Evidence of the Government's priority in this area came when Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary, announced a £2bn package of support for the British car industry, a key element of which was earmarked to help manufacturers develop cars with engines consuming far less carbon, or even none at all. In making the announcement, Lord Mandelson made clear his belief that this component will be key to the industry's future: "The steps we are taking will help companies speed their way to becoming greener, more innovative and more productive. This is the route to securing jobs for the long term."
The NHS, which employs one-and-a-half-million people, also recently announced a major campaign of carbon footprint reduction, which will be designed and driven by in-house and contracted environmental professionals.
These major public sector commitments bolster Baxter's own optimism, which stems partly from the knowledge that IEMA, as a body, continues to thrive. "We are still growing as an organisation, with 650 new members joining since January," he explains. Of these new recruits, about 80 per cent work for commercial businesses or are consultants operating in the sector, with the balance in the public sector or at academic institutions.
Of course, Baxter concedes that the credit crunch has hammered new capital developments and delayed numerous infrastructure projects, which in turn has radically reduced the amount of environmental assessment work required, such as cleaning up contaminated land.
"However," he says, "any lack of activity in this area is being offset by much more demand for climate-change and carbon-reduction services." Baxter has noticed more firms looking at carbon reduction down their supply chains, and ensuring that new products are resilient and relevant in the low-carbon market.
"Overall," he concludes, "the sector is performing well compared to other parts of the economy."
And this analysis is confirmed by those trying to place people in jobs. "There isn't as much of a downturn in the environmental sector as in most other markets," explains Adam Whitney, a partner of Evergreen Resources, one of the longest established recruitment agencies specialising in the sector. Among the categories of job where Evergreen continues to see a strong recruitment demand are renewable energy – marked growth in the last year or so, says Whitney – and positions demanding knowledge of sustainability issues for the building sector.
Here, Evergreen is seeing increasing demand for people with relevant sustainability qualifications and knowledge of the entire life cycle of a building. Among the most commonly sought-after qualifications are those allied to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, which is gaining currency in the property development and management field.
Another specific growth area observed by Whitney is for people with up-to-date and detailed knowledge of how to minimise the harmful environmental impact of electrical and electronic goods. Since 2007, new laws – enshrined in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive – place fresh demands on business. These regulations impact on almost every single employer, given the ubiquity of electronic equipment, and, for large organisations, it makes sense to have a dedicated in-house member of staff carrying the responsibility.
Other recruitment firms, however, are more cautious about the degree to which the environment sector is coping with the recession. Chris Kiernan, from Cobalt, the recruitment firm that operates in the UK, Germany, Middle East and Australia, identifies a "significant negative impact" on the environmental jobs market resulting from the slump in property development and company mergers. But he does see an area where recruitment remains healthy: "It is the legal and compliance environmental work that remains strongest where employers are making sure that corporate activity, whatever its nature, remains within the environmental boundary guidelines."
Many of these jobs are driven by the arrival of, or tightening up of, legislation originating in the EU. An example of the growing number of businesses benefiting from this development is Westlakes Scientific Consulting, based in Cumbria. Around half of its 70 scientists and technicians work within the environmental sector.
Westlakes works with and for businesses and public organisations in a range of areas, including monitoring of air and water quality, land contamination and gas emissions from landfill sites. At a current air quality project in Birmingham, for example, working as a consultant to the local authority, Westlakes has installed measuring equipment in the city centre that transmits real-time data on air quality back to Cumbria, where experts carry out and analyse detailed modelling of future air conditions. Conclusions based on this modelling are then sent back to Birmingham to be used in planning applications – a new factory or main road, for example, where effects on air quality are a factor. The company provides similar services to large industrial complexes, which can be comparable to small towns and where air quality, for employees, visitors and neighbours alike is of growing importance.
Westlakes has taken on six new junior staff this year – at graduate or Masters level – on the back of the firm winning two new large pieces of work involving the long-term monitoring of industrial sites.
Steve Bradley, chief executive of Westlakes and a fluvial geomorphologist by academic discipline, displays qualified optimism about the employment picture when looking at the sector as a whole. "Right at the moment things are holding up," says Bradley. He also endorses the view that devoting manpower and resources to sustainability-related projects will likely contribute to bringing about an economic upturn: "It's right and proper to get the best long-term value out of any capital investment, so I can see a lot of merit in focusing on green jobs."
Bradley's view is echoed by smaller operators in the field, such as Janet Shepherd, an IEMA member and principal consultant at EcoAgility, the environmental consultancy. She says she is yet to feel any adverse effects from the recession: "Demand is not reducing. In fact, it would appear that, as small- and medium-sized businesses are keener to get value for money, they are turning to smaller, independent consultancies with lower overheads and lower charges."
'I feel I am contributing to the solutions'
Lucy Candlin is a director of Future Perfect, an environmental consultancy. She is a chartered environmentalist and IEMA fellow. Candlin has a degree in botany and ecology, and a Masters in landscape management. She set up the firm, together with her two co-directors, five years ago. Candlin has a background in local government, NGOs and technical consultancy.
"I do a range of strategic risk management for a variety of organisations. I recently did a waste electronics compliance review at a small recycling company with three or four employees; but we also work with companies of the size of BP and Shell.
On a typical site visit, for climate-change accounting considerations, I might look at what emissions the firm is declaring and how they are ensuring the declarations are right and that they keep to agreed levels. We check that gas flow meters are calibrated properly, look at the process by which they take gas samples, how they analyse the samples and interpret the results.
I enjoy the work because I come from an ecological, conservationist background, and I believe in the need for sustainability, and the need for mankind to live within the capacity of the planet; I feel that I am contributing to the solutions through increasing awareness and controls.
Are sustainability concerns becoming embedded in corporate thinking? I'm open minded, but like to err on the positive side, because I think there are some really good companies out there who understand that risk management must encompass non-financial issues. Failure to consider corporate social responsibility and sustainability can come back and bite you further down the line."
'My job is to focus on the real challenges'
Dr Ben Vivian is head of communication and corporate social responsibility at Aggregate Industries, the building materials and road surfacing firm. He has an academic background in geography and has worked in a number of roles, including a period as a technical advisor for a law firm's environment team.
"I don't come from a communications background. I see myself as a physical environmental scientist who is keen to be heard, and working in this role is an exciting opportunity because I have the authority to take communications on environmental issues in a certain direction.
I have responsibility for the staff magazine, the website and the intranet. I am also one of the main points of contact between Aggregate Industries and the outside world.
My job's about being an environmental professional in a position to focus on the real challenges and take us forward as a society, rather than focusing on the negatives. People don't like being told what to do, and even less what not to do.
The firm is trying to shift from being a purely extractive industrial business to being one which promotes better construction methods, and a better built environment, which lasts longer and uses materials more efficiently.
We try to show our customers what they can achieve if they do things differently. For example, if they use what we call 'thin-surfacing' – a layer of asphalt on a road surface, manufactured to a high specification – the environment will benefit because less raw material will be used and the road will be a quieter one. Although it is more expensive, the gains are worth it."
By Steve McCormack
Thursday, 19 March 2009
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/wind-of-change-how-environmental-jobs-can-help-boost-the-economy-1647957.html
Amid the hanging gloom of recession there are occasional shafts of optimism. One of these is the evidence that careers in the environmental sector are showing some resilience in the downturn.
This is due in part to an acknowledgment of the business case for healthy environmental practices. Senior figures in the sector also point out a clear political lead coming from Whitehall, which is consistent with their own optimistic view. "The Government's low-carbon strategy sends the message that the new green economy will help move the UK out of recession," says Martin Baxter, deputy chief executive of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), whose 14,000 members work as environment professionals across industry.
Evidence of the Government's priority in this area came when Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary, announced a £2bn package of support for the British car industry, a key element of which was earmarked to help manufacturers develop cars with engines consuming far less carbon, or even none at all. In making the announcement, Lord Mandelson made clear his belief that this component will be key to the industry's future: "The steps we are taking will help companies speed their way to becoming greener, more innovative and more productive. This is the route to securing jobs for the long term."
The NHS, which employs one-and-a-half-million people, also recently announced a major campaign of carbon footprint reduction, which will be designed and driven by in-house and contracted environmental professionals.
These major public sector commitments bolster Baxter's own optimism, which stems partly from the knowledge that IEMA, as a body, continues to thrive. "We are still growing as an organisation, with 650 new members joining since January," he explains. Of these new recruits, about 80 per cent work for commercial businesses or are consultants operating in the sector, with the balance in the public sector or at academic institutions.
Of course, Baxter concedes that the credit crunch has hammered new capital developments and delayed numerous infrastructure projects, which in turn has radically reduced the amount of environmental assessment work required, such as cleaning up contaminated land.
"However," he says, "any lack of activity in this area is being offset by much more demand for climate-change and carbon-reduction services." Baxter has noticed more firms looking at carbon reduction down their supply chains, and ensuring that new products are resilient and relevant in the low-carbon market.
"Overall," he concludes, "the sector is performing well compared to other parts of the economy."
And this analysis is confirmed by those trying to place people in jobs. "There isn't as much of a downturn in the environmental sector as in most other markets," explains Adam Whitney, a partner of Evergreen Resources, one of the longest established recruitment agencies specialising in the sector. Among the categories of job where Evergreen continues to see a strong recruitment demand are renewable energy – marked growth in the last year or so, says Whitney – and positions demanding knowledge of sustainability issues for the building sector.
Here, Evergreen is seeing increasing demand for people with relevant sustainability qualifications and knowledge of the entire life cycle of a building. Among the most commonly sought-after qualifications are those allied to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, which is gaining currency in the property development and management field.
Another specific growth area observed by Whitney is for people with up-to-date and detailed knowledge of how to minimise the harmful environmental impact of electrical and electronic goods. Since 2007, new laws – enshrined in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive – place fresh demands on business. These regulations impact on almost every single employer, given the ubiquity of electronic equipment, and, for large organisations, it makes sense to have a dedicated in-house member of staff carrying the responsibility.
Other recruitment firms, however, are more cautious about the degree to which the environment sector is coping with the recession. Chris Kiernan, from Cobalt, the recruitment firm that operates in the UK, Germany, Middle East and Australia, identifies a "significant negative impact" on the environmental jobs market resulting from the slump in property development and company mergers. But he does see an area where recruitment remains healthy: "It is the legal and compliance environmental work that remains strongest where employers are making sure that corporate activity, whatever its nature, remains within the environmental boundary guidelines."
Many of these jobs are driven by the arrival of, or tightening up of, legislation originating in the EU. An example of the growing number of businesses benefiting from this development is Westlakes Scientific Consulting, based in Cumbria. Around half of its 70 scientists and technicians work within the environmental sector.
Westlakes works with and for businesses and public organisations in a range of areas, including monitoring of air and water quality, land contamination and gas emissions from landfill sites. At a current air quality project in Birmingham, for example, working as a consultant to the local authority, Westlakes has installed measuring equipment in the city centre that transmits real-time data on air quality back to Cumbria, where experts carry out and analyse detailed modelling of future air conditions. Conclusions based on this modelling are then sent back to Birmingham to be used in planning applications – a new factory or main road, for example, where effects on air quality are a factor. The company provides similar services to large industrial complexes, which can be comparable to small towns and where air quality, for employees, visitors and neighbours alike is of growing importance.
Westlakes has taken on six new junior staff this year – at graduate or Masters level – on the back of the firm winning two new large pieces of work involving the long-term monitoring of industrial sites.
Steve Bradley, chief executive of Westlakes and a fluvial geomorphologist by academic discipline, displays qualified optimism about the employment picture when looking at the sector as a whole. "Right at the moment things are holding up," says Bradley. He also endorses the view that devoting manpower and resources to sustainability-related projects will likely contribute to bringing about an economic upturn: "It's right and proper to get the best long-term value out of any capital investment, so I can see a lot of merit in focusing on green jobs."
Bradley's view is echoed by smaller operators in the field, such as Janet Shepherd, an IEMA member and principal consultant at EcoAgility, the environmental consultancy. She says she is yet to feel any adverse effects from the recession: "Demand is not reducing. In fact, it would appear that, as small- and medium-sized businesses are keener to get value for money, they are turning to smaller, independent consultancies with lower overheads and lower charges."
'I feel I am contributing to the solutions'
Lucy Candlin is a director of Future Perfect, an environmental consultancy. She is a chartered environmentalist and IEMA fellow. Candlin has a degree in botany and ecology, and a Masters in landscape management. She set up the firm, together with her two co-directors, five years ago. Candlin has a background in local government, NGOs and technical consultancy.
"I do a range of strategic risk management for a variety of organisations. I recently did a waste electronics compliance review at a small recycling company with three or four employees; but we also work with companies of the size of BP and Shell.
On a typical site visit, for climate-change accounting considerations, I might look at what emissions the firm is declaring and how they are ensuring the declarations are right and that they keep to agreed levels. We check that gas flow meters are calibrated properly, look at the process by which they take gas samples, how they analyse the samples and interpret the results.
I enjoy the work because I come from an ecological, conservationist background, and I believe in the need for sustainability, and the need for mankind to live within the capacity of the planet; I feel that I am contributing to the solutions through increasing awareness and controls.
Are sustainability concerns becoming embedded in corporate thinking? I'm open minded, but like to err on the positive side, because I think there are some really good companies out there who understand that risk management must encompass non-financial issues. Failure to consider corporate social responsibility and sustainability can come back and bite you further down the line."
'My job is to focus on the real challenges'
Dr Ben Vivian is head of communication and corporate social responsibility at Aggregate Industries, the building materials and road surfacing firm. He has an academic background in geography and has worked in a number of roles, including a period as a technical advisor for a law firm's environment team.
"I don't come from a communications background. I see myself as a physical environmental scientist who is keen to be heard, and working in this role is an exciting opportunity because I have the authority to take communications on environmental issues in a certain direction.
I have responsibility for the staff magazine, the website and the intranet. I am also one of the main points of contact between Aggregate Industries and the outside world.
My job's about being an environmental professional in a position to focus on the real challenges and take us forward as a society, rather than focusing on the negatives. People don't like being told what to do, and even less what not to do.
The firm is trying to shift from being a purely extractive industrial business to being one which promotes better construction methods, and a better built environment, which lasts longer and uses materials more efficiently.
We try to show our customers what they can achieve if they do things differently. For example, if they use what we call 'thin-surfacing' – a layer of asphalt on a road surface, manufactured to a high specification – the environment will benefit because less raw material will be used and the road will be a quieter one. Although it is more expensive, the gains are worth it."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
5 Beginners' Steps to a Greener Home
Five Beginners’ Steps to a Greener Home
By JULIE SCELFO
March 12, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html?_r=1
[Read comments:
http://community.nytimes.com/article/comments/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html ]
A RECENT Amazon.com search for “green home” pulled up more than 15,000 book titles. Who has time to read them all? So this week, The Green Home tracked down Eric Corey Freed, the author of “Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies,” and asked him to distill this growing cottage industry of green advice into five must-do steps.
What’s the first and most important thing every green-minded dweller should do?
Look at all the vampire loads that are sucking energy even when you’re not using them.
You mean like the toaster with a digital clock and the cellphone charger?
Yes. Anything with a ready light. Collectively, vampire loads cost Americans about $3 billion a year. The biggest culprits are stereos, DVRs, game systems and plasma TVs. Simply unplug them when they’re not in use. Or purchase smart power strips, which cost about $25 and shut off automatically.
What’s the second step for making our homes greener?
Take an empty two-liter soda bottle, wash it out, fill it with water, screw the lid on tightly and set it into your toilet tank, as far away from the flapper valve as possible. This prevents two liters of water from being used every time you flush.
Will it leave enough water for a proper flush?
A new low-flow toilet uses 1.6 gallons per flush. Older toilets go up to seven gallons a flush. Two liters is only half a gallon, so there’s still plenty of water left for most bathroom visits. Besides, you can always flush twice for those rare occasions when it’s truly needed.
Moving right along. Your third recommendation?
Install an ultra-low-flow shower head. A 1992 federal law requires all shower heads to be “low flow,” which means 2.5 gallons shoot out every minute it’s on. Switching to ultra-low-flow means you could go anywhere from two gallons all the way down to half a gallon a minute.
But how’s the water pressure?
Ultra-low-flow shower heads mix outside room air into the water so the pressure is surprisingly good. The technology has really advanced. The old stigma of not having enough pressure — do you remember the old “Seinfeld” episode where Kramer couldn’t get enough water, so he switched to an elephant hose? — that doesn’t really apply.
So far, these projects sound really manageable. What’s No. 4?
Install a gray-water system that collects soapy water and diverts it to the toilet. Instead of clean water, you flush with soapy water. WaterSaver Technologies (watersavertech.com) makes AQUS, a $300 system that installs under the sink.
Is there a simpler way to capture and use gray water?
Actually, there is. It’s a toilet-topped sink called SinkPositive (sinkpositive.com). You replace the toilet’s heavy porcelain lid with this sink basin, which has a built-in faucet. When you flush, fresh water comes out of the faucet and you wash your hands with it. The soapy water collects in the toilet tank for the next flush.
Forgive me for asking, but how does the SinkPositive look?
Like something you might find in a dentist’s office.
What’s the final step people should take?
This is probably the most important: replace old thermostats with a programmable one. It’s kind of like a TiVo of thermostats. It lets you turn the heat down when you sleep and back up before you wake. It can also tell the difference between Monday and Friday, so you can turn down the heat while you’re at work. A good one costs about $20, and saves about $180 a year on energy bills.
So we don’t need to go home and install solar panels or put down bamboo flooring tonight? That’s a relief.
These five projects aren’t sexy, but everybody can do them.
By JULIE SCELFO
March 12, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html?_r=1
[Read comments:
http://community.nytimes.com/article/comments/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html ]
A RECENT Amazon.com search for “green home” pulled up more than 15,000 book titles. Who has time to read them all? So this week, The Green Home tracked down Eric Corey Freed, the author of “Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies,” and asked him to distill this growing cottage industry of green advice into five must-do steps.
What’s the first and most important thing every green-minded dweller should do?
Look at all the vampire loads that are sucking energy even when you’re not using them.
You mean like the toaster with a digital clock and the cellphone charger?
Yes. Anything with a ready light. Collectively, vampire loads cost Americans about $3 billion a year. The biggest culprits are stereos, DVRs, game systems and plasma TVs. Simply unplug them when they’re not in use. Or purchase smart power strips, which cost about $25 and shut off automatically.
What’s the second step for making our homes greener?
Take an empty two-liter soda bottle, wash it out, fill it with water, screw the lid on tightly and set it into your toilet tank, as far away from the flapper valve as possible. This prevents two liters of water from being used every time you flush.
Will it leave enough water for a proper flush?
A new low-flow toilet uses 1.6 gallons per flush. Older toilets go up to seven gallons a flush. Two liters is only half a gallon, so there’s still plenty of water left for most bathroom visits. Besides, you can always flush twice for those rare occasions when it’s truly needed.
Moving right along. Your third recommendation?
Install an ultra-low-flow shower head. A 1992 federal law requires all shower heads to be “low flow,” which means 2.5 gallons shoot out every minute it’s on. Switching to ultra-low-flow means you could go anywhere from two gallons all the way down to half a gallon a minute.
But how’s the water pressure?
Ultra-low-flow shower heads mix outside room air into the water so the pressure is surprisingly good. The technology has really advanced. The old stigma of not having enough pressure — do you remember the old “Seinfeld” episode where Kramer couldn’t get enough water, so he switched to an elephant hose? — that doesn’t really apply.
So far, these projects sound really manageable. What’s No. 4?
Install a gray-water system that collects soapy water and diverts it to the toilet. Instead of clean water, you flush with soapy water. WaterSaver Technologies (watersavertech.com) makes AQUS, a $300 system that installs under the sink.
Is there a simpler way to capture and use gray water?
Actually, there is. It’s a toilet-topped sink called SinkPositive (sinkpositive.com). You replace the toilet’s heavy porcelain lid with this sink basin, which has a built-in faucet. When you flush, fresh water comes out of the faucet and you wash your hands with it. The soapy water collects in the toilet tank for the next flush.
Forgive me for asking, but how does the SinkPositive look?
Like something you might find in a dentist’s office.
What’s the final step people should take?
This is probably the most important: replace old thermostats with a programmable one. It’s kind of like a TiVo of thermostats. It lets you turn the heat down when you sleep and back up before you wake. It can also tell the difference between Monday and Friday, so you can turn down the heat while you’re at work. A good one costs about $20, and saves about $180 a year on energy bills.
So we don’t need to go home and install solar panels or put down bamboo flooring tonight? That’s a relief.
These five projects aren’t sexy, but everybody can do them.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
PLEASE CHOOSE THIS FOR YOURSELF
AS THE PRESENT CARETAKERS OF THIS SANCTUARY, WE DESIRE TO KEEP THE LARGER PARCELS OF THE PROPERTY UNDEVELOPED. IT IS A REFUGE FOR WILDLIFE, AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF A PRISTINE WILDERNESS, WHERE ONE CAN TRULY COMMUNE WITH GOD THROUGH NATURE.
-Norman Paulsen, p.473, The Christ Consciousness
PLEASE CHOOSE TO FILL YOUR YARD WITH LIFE - ORGANIC (NO CHEMICALS, EVER) - TREES, PLANTS, SHRUBS, FLOWERS THAT DRAW IN BEES & BUTTERFLIES, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS, SEEDS.
FEED THE BIRDS ORGANIC BIRDSEED -
PUT IN A BAT HOUSE -
RAISE HONEYBEES -
MAKE YOUR YARD A SANCTUARY FOR LIFE, NOT A CHEMICAL- AND MOWER-MAINTAINED STRIPPED-SOIL WASTELAND THAT WILL NOT BEAR LIFE WITHOUT THE USE OF CHEMICAL ADDITIVES.
THE ANIMALS ARE DYING AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP.
-Heather Havey
-Norman Paulsen, p.473, The Christ Consciousness
PLEASE CHOOSE TO FILL YOUR YARD WITH LIFE - ORGANIC (NO CHEMICALS, EVER) - TREES, PLANTS, SHRUBS, FLOWERS THAT DRAW IN BEES & BUTTERFLIES, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS, SEEDS.
FEED THE BIRDS ORGANIC BIRDSEED -
PUT IN A BAT HOUSE -
RAISE HONEYBEES -
MAKE YOUR YARD A SANCTUARY FOR LIFE, NOT A CHEMICAL- AND MOWER-MAINTAINED STRIPPED-SOIL WASTELAND THAT WILL NOT BEAR LIFE WITHOUT THE USE OF CHEMICAL ADDITIVES.
THE ANIMALS ARE DYING AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP.
-Heather Havey
Friday, February 6, 2009
Obama Surges Ahead in the Race to be Green
Obama surges ahead in the race to be green
The President's bold speech on renewable energy has thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the world's leaders
by Camilla Cavendish
February 6, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/camilla_cavendish/article5671343.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/camilla_cavendish/article5671343.ece?print=yes&randnum=1233915255121
The green race is on. Did you notice? Barack Obama fired the starting gun a week ago, but most Europeans were looking the other way. Ed Miliband, the Climate Change Secretary, is on the track, but has no one to hand his baton to - his colleagues in the Government are off expanding Heathrow and coal power. Coming up behind him are people who saw dollar signs flashing in President Obama's strident words about oil last week.
Going low-carbon is no longer a seminar subject for caring greens. It's a real live competition to beat the oil regimes and make profits, in which the new environmentalists will be alpha males.
The President's speech was astonishing. “America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes and a warming planet,” he said, on his sixth day in office. The US would no longer “bankroll dictators” but would create its own energy from the Sun, wind and soil. Unchecked climate change would lead to “violent conflict, terrible storms and irreversible catastrophe”. It was wrong to deny the science, he said. It was wrong to think that clean energy would damage prosperity. This was not the lukewarm language of appeasement, aimed at the green lobby. It was the language of wartime: a declaration of war on fossil fuels.
In one week America has gone from playing the dirty, recalcitrant schoolboy to auditioning as the world leader on climate change. That's quite a shift. And it has indicated to every energy investor and green entrepreneur that America is now the place to do business.
BP and Shell have abandoned their investments in renewable energy in Britain, in favour of the United States. The German power company e.on is close to pulling out of the London Array, Britain's biggest experiment in wind power. Even the Bush Administration operated a more attractive regime of subsidies for renewables than Britain. Now the world has a White House that will invest and regulate on an unprecedented scale.
The first two executive orders signed by the President were, he said, a “downpayment” towards the green economy. One tightened fuel-efficiency standards for cars, an issue once thought to be politically untouchable. The other gave permission to states to move faster than the Federal Government. This was a triumph for Arnold Schwarzenegger, many of whose attempts to green California have been frustrated by George W. Bush. President Obama seems determined that Washington will not stand in the way of innovation. He is colour-blind: it doesn't matter whether you're from a red or a blue state if you're green.
No country rises to a challenge like America. In the 1990s the US cap-and-trade scheme to limit acid rain worked far more quickly and cheaply than expected because, once companies saw the writing on the wall, they stopped moaning and invented clever alternatives.
Today 23 states have their own cap-and-trade schemes for capping carbon emissions. It will not be a huge step to take that national. Even the Republican Governor of Texas is proposing a $5,000 subsidy for his citizens who buy electric hybrid cars. President Obama faces an almighty fight over his stimulus package, which contains $90 billion of clean energy investments. But he is clearly determined to unleash a “big bang” that will change the energy game fundamentally.
For several years, I have been talking to investors and entrepreneurs who have been waiting for this moment. They want to grab some of the $16 trillion that the International Energy Agency thinks will be invested in energy infrastructure between now and 2030. They know that the low-carbon market could grow very fast.
It is no accident that some of the earliest clean-tech investors, such as Paul Allen, of Microsoft, and Vinod Khosla, of Sun, are dot-com billionaires. They remember how quickly fortunes were built when a critical mass of consumers suddenly shifted online. They know that canal barges ran out of customers long before they ran out of canals.
California has effectively outlawed the building of new fossil fuel plants. If the rest of the US follows suit, the big oil companies will have to move rapidly or risk running out of customers for their ageing infrastructure.
There is a long way to go. But what is particularly impressive about President Obama is his determination in the face of public apathy. By pressing the issue early and hard, he is showing true leadership. He wants to make insulated homes, clean technologies and connecting infrastructure a fait accompli. The risk for European politicians is that their own faltering steps will soon be outpaced. The EU carbon market is failing because its politicians speak green but keep shoring up old-fashioned industries.
Only one European leader seems to understand the need to unleash a “big bang”. Two weeks ago David Cameron launched an ambitious strategy for making Britain a low-carbon economy. It has put the Conservative Party way ahead of the field. While Labour writhes in the stranglehold of vested interests in the aviation and fossil fuel industries, the Tories, who are less naive about business, have plans to decentralise energy supply, invest properly in carbon capture, develop marine power and offshore wind, insulate all homes and build an “electricity internet” to help suppliers to make much more finely tuned decisions.
It is a big vision. It understands the need to offer the public what Mr Cameron calls the “holy trinity” of cheap, secure, low-carbon energy supplies. It also understands - which the Government does not - that Britain has very little time left to gain a commercial advantage in the clean energy field. There will be no prizes for coming third in a race in which the US is setting the pace.
The President's bold speech on renewable energy has thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the world's leaders
by Camilla Cavendish
February 6, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/camilla_cavendish/article5671343.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/camilla_cavendish/article5671343.ece?print=yes&randnum=1233915255121
The green race is on. Did you notice? Barack Obama fired the starting gun a week ago, but most Europeans were looking the other way. Ed Miliband, the Climate Change Secretary, is on the track, but has no one to hand his baton to - his colleagues in the Government are off expanding Heathrow and coal power. Coming up behind him are people who saw dollar signs flashing in President Obama's strident words about oil last week.
Going low-carbon is no longer a seminar subject for caring greens. It's a real live competition to beat the oil regimes and make profits, in which the new environmentalists will be alpha males.
The President's speech was astonishing. “America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes and a warming planet,” he said, on his sixth day in office. The US would no longer “bankroll dictators” but would create its own energy from the Sun, wind and soil. Unchecked climate change would lead to “violent conflict, terrible storms and irreversible catastrophe”. It was wrong to deny the science, he said. It was wrong to think that clean energy would damage prosperity. This was not the lukewarm language of appeasement, aimed at the green lobby. It was the language of wartime: a declaration of war on fossil fuels.
In one week America has gone from playing the dirty, recalcitrant schoolboy to auditioning as the world leader on climate change. That's quite a shift. And it has indicated to every energy investor and green entrepreneur that America is now the place to do business.
BP and Shell have abandoned their investments in renewable energy in Britain, in favour of the United States. The German power company e.on is close to pulling out of the London Array, Britain's biggest experiment in wind power. Even the Bush Administration operated a more attractive regime of subsidies for renewables than Britain. Now the world has a White House that will invest and regulate on an unprecedented scale.
The first two executive orders signed by the President were, he said, a “downpayment” towards the green economy. One tightened fuel-efficiency standards for cars, an issue once thought to be politically untouchable. The other gave permission to states to move faster than the Federal Government. This was a triumph for Arnold Schwarzenegger, many of whose attempts to green California have been frustrated by George W. Bush. President Obama seems determined that Washington will not stand in the way of innovation. He is colour-blind: it doesn't matter whether you're from a red or a blue state if you're green.
No country rises to a challenge like America. In the 1990s the US cap-and-trade scheme to limit acid rain worked far more quickly and cheaply than expected because, once companies saw the writing on the wall, they stopped moaning and invented clever alternatives.
Today 23 states have their own cap-and-trade schemes for capping carbon emissions. It will not be a huge step to take that national. Even the Republican Governor of Texas is proposing a $5,000 subsidy for his citizens who buy electric hybrid cars. President Obama faces an almighty fight over his stimulus package, which contains $90 billion of clean energy investments. But he is clearly determined to unleash a “big bang” that will change the energy game fundamentally.
For several years, I have been talking to investors and entrepreneurs who have been waiting for this moment. They want to grab some of the $16 trillion that the International Energy Agency thinks will be invested in energy infrastructure between now and 2030. They know that the low-carbon market could grow very fast.
It is no accident that some of the earliest clean-tech investors, such as Paul Allen, of Microsoft, and Vinod Khosla, of Sun, are dot-com billionaires. They remember how quickly fortunes were built when a critical mass of consumers suddenly shifted online. They know that canal barges ran out of customers long before they ran out of canals.
California has effectively outlawed the building of new fossil fuel plants. If the rest of the US follows suit, the big oil companies will have to move rapidly or risk running out of customers for their ageing infrastructure.
There is a long way to go. But what is particularly impressive about President Obama is his determination in the face of public apathy. By pressing the issue early and hard, he is showing true leadership. He wants to make insulated homes, clean technologies and connecting infrastructure a fait accompli. The risk for European politicians is that their own faltering steps will soon be outpaced. The EU carbon market is failing because its politicians speak green but keep shoring up old-fashioned industries.
Only one European leader seems to understand the need to unleash a “big bang”. Two weeks ago David Cameron launched an ambitious strategy for making Britain a low-carbon economy. It has put the Conservative Party way ahead of the field. While Labour writhes in the stranglehold of vested interests in the aviation and fossil fuel industries, the Tories, who are less naive about business, have plans to decentralise energy supply, invest properly in carbon capture, develop marine power and offshore wind, insulate all homes and build an “electricity internet” to help suppliers to make much more finely tuned decisions.
It is a big vision. It understands the need to offer the public what Mr Cameron calls the “holy trinity” of cheap, secure, low-carbon energy supplies. It also understands - which the Government does not - that Britain has very little time left to gain a commercial advantage in the clean energy field. There will be no prizes for coming third in a race in which the US is setting the pace.
Green Energy - Our Future Depends On It
Green Energy: Our Future Depends on It
BusinessWeek reader L.J. Furman sees alternative fuels as common sense for the common good
By L.J. Furman
February 4, 2009
http://www.businessweek.com/print/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/db2009024_215385.htm
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/db2009024_215385.htm
In July 2008, Al Gore challenged the U.S. to generate 100% of the electricity we need using clean, renewable, sustainable sources within 10 years. "When you connect the dots," he said, "it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices." Gore connected the dots to the crises we face and drew a picture of nonsustainability. We could meet the "Gore Challenge" via the deployment of 250 gigawatts of wind generation capacity and 50 gigawatts of solar, and it would cost approximately $911 billion. But is "clean, renewable, and sustainable" energy really necessary?
I'd argue yes—it's a business imperative. As I commented on the article "MBA Programs Go Green," "we must shift the business focus from today, tomorrow, and this quarter to the long term, [and] we must also shift the energy paradigm from fossil fuels to conservation, solar, wind, and geothermal."
The question of necessity is easy to answer. In April 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts vs. Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Defense Fund vs. Duke Energy that the EPA must regulate carbon emissions unless it presents scientific proof that greenhouse gases do not contribute to global climate change, and that the EPA must regulate companies that build new or renovate existing power plants and factories under the "new source review" provision of the Clean Air Act. On Nov. 13, 2008, the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) of the EPA ruled that the EPA had "no valid reason for refusing to limit" carbon dioxide emissions from new coal-fired power plants. The EPA said it will abide by the 2007 Supreme Court decisions and limit carbon emissions from new and proposed coal plants. We need alternatives to fossil fuels, if for no other reason than to obey the law.
Green Calculations
T. Boone Pickens forecasts the costs of the wind farms he wants to build in Texas at $2 billion per gigawatt. The 500 kilowatt solar array in place at the Atlantic County Utility Authority cost approximately $3.25 million, $6.5 billion per gigawatt. The New York Times estimates the cost of new nuclear capacity at $8 billion per gigawatt, not counting the costs of fuel, waste management, or government oversight.
We generate electricity by burning fossil fuels, controlling nuclear fission, putting solar panels in the path of sunlight, and harnessing winds, waterfalls, ocean currents, and the heat of the earth. Like fossil fuel and nuclear plants, geothermal plants use heat to generate steam, which turns a turbine, transforming heat into electricity. Traditional hydroelectric plants, like those at Niagara Falls and the Grand Coulee Dam, harness the kinetic energy in waterfalls. New designs can harness the kinetic energy in tides, waves, and ocean currents. Wind farms harness the kinetic energy in winds. These transform kinetic energy into electricity. Photovoltaic solar systems harness sunlight via the photoelectric effect to create electricity much the way green plants harness sunlight.
Harness, Don't Consume
These technologies harness a process rather than consume a resource. When we use a process, such as putting a photovoltaic module in sunlight and allowing the photoelectric effect to generate an electric potential, or we put a turbine in the path of a wind or water current, it is as if we have harnessed a horse or hitched a ride on a train that is running regardless of our presence as a passenger. Solar modules will degrade over time. Wind and other kinetic energy turbines need to be maintained, just as nuclear and fossil fuel plants degrade and must be maintained. But solar modules and kinetic energy turbines are not consumed in the manner of coal, oil, or nuclear fuel rods.
Harnessing sunlight, the kinetic energy of winds and water, and the earth's heat produce energy without fuels. No fuel transport, no greenhouse gases to sequester; no mercury, no radioactive wastes to store and manage. There are no solar mines, wind mines, or hydro-fuel wells.
Learning from Johnny Appleseed
Apple trees produce apples. You can eat the apples year after year or chop down the tree and burn the wood to stay warm or build furniture. But you won't get more apples. When we consume a resource as fuel, we use some of the energy, waste some, and release by-products into the biosphere. This is inefficient, expensive, nonrenewable, and nonsustainable.
Gore noted that "enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100% of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. And enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every year to meet 100% of U.S. electricity demand." To look at our old energy paradigm via this apple tree analogy, we have been chopping down the apple trees and burning them for fuel. Harnessing sunlight, winds, waterfalls, ocean currents, and geothermal energy is like planting apple trees and using the apples as our energy source. Johnny Appleseed would approve.
BusinessWeek reader L.J. Furman sees alternative fuels as common sense for the common good
By L.J. Furman
February 4, 2009
http://www.businessweek.com/print/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/db2009024_215385.htm
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/db2009024_215385.htm
In July 2008, Al Gore challenged the U.S. to generate 100% of the electricity we need using clean, renewable, sustainable sources within 10 years. "When you connect the dots," he said, "it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices." Gore connected the dots to the crises we face and drew a picture of nonsustainability. We could meet the "Gore Challenge" via the deployment of 250 gigawatts of wind generation capacity and 50 gigawatts of solar, and it would cost approximately $911 billion. But is "clean, renewable, and sustainable" energy really necessary?
I'd argue yes—it's a business imperative. As I commented on the article "MBA Programs Go Green," "we must shift the business focus from today, tomorrow, and this quarter to the long term, [and] we must also shift the energy paradigm from fossil fuels to conservation, solar, wind, and geothermal."
The question of necessity is easy to answer. In April 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts vs. Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Defense Fund vs. Duke Energy that the EPA must regulate carbon emissions unless it presents scientific proof that greenhouse gases do not contribute to global climate change, and that the EPA must regulate companies that build new or renovate existing power plants and factories under the "new source review" provision of the Clean Air Act. On Nov. 13, 2008, the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) of the EPA ruled that the EPA had "no valid reason for refusing to limit" carbon dioxide emissions from new coal-fired power plants. The EPA said it will abide by the 2007 Supreme Court decisions and limit carbon emissions from new and proposed coal plants. We need alternatives to fossil fuels, if for no other reason than to obey the law.
Green Calculations
T. Boone Pickens forecasts the costs of the wind farms he wants to build in Texas at $2 billion per gigawatt. The 500 kilowatt solar array in place at the Atlantic County Utility Authority cost approximately $3.25 million, $6.5 billion per gigawatt. The New York Times estimates the cost of new nuclear capacity at $8 billion per gigawatt, not counting the costs of fuel, waste management, or government oversight.
We generate electricity by burning fossil fuels, controlling nuclear fission, putting solar panels in the path of sunlight, and harnessing winds, waterfalls, ocean currents, and the heat of the earth. Like fossil fuel and nuclear plants, geothermal plants use heat to generate steam, which turns a turbine, transforming heat into electricity. Traditional hydroelectric plants, like those at Niagara Falls and the Grand Coulee Dam, harness the kinetic energy in waterfalls. New designs can harness the kinetic energy in tides, waves, and ocean currents. Wind farms harness the kinetic energy in winds. These transform kinetic energy into electricity. Photovoltaic solar systems harness sunlight via the photoelectric effect to create electricity much the way green plants harness sunlight.
Harness, Don't Consume
These technologies harness a process rather than consume a resource. When we use a process, such as putting a photovoltaic module in sunlight and allowing the photoelectric effect to generate an electric potential, or we put a turbine in the path of a wind or water current, it is as if we have harnessed a horse or hitched a ride on a train that is running regardless of our presence as a passenger. Solar modules will degrade over time. Wind and other kinetic energy turbines need to be maintained, just as nuclear and fossil fuel plants degrade and must be maintained. But solar modules and kinetic energy turbines are not consumed in the manner of coal, oil, or nuclear fuel rods.
Harnessing sunlight, the kinetic energy of winds and water, and the earth's heat produce energy without fuels. No fuel transport, no greenhouse gases to sequester; no mercury, no radioactive wastes to store and manage. There are no solar mines, wind mines, or hydro-fuel wells.
Learning from Johnny Appleseed
Apple trees produce apples. You can eat the apples year after year or chop down the tree and burn the wood to stay warm or build furniture. But you won't get more apples. When we consume a resource as fuel, we use some of the energy, waste some, and release by-products into the biosphere. This is inefficient, expensive, nonrenewable, and nonsustainable.
Gore noted that "enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100% of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. And enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every year to meet 100% of U.S. electricity demand." To look at our old energy paradigm via this apple tree analogy, we have been chopping down the apple trees and burning them for fuel. Harnessing sunlight, winds, waterfalls, ocean currents, and geothermal energy is like planting apple trees and using the apples as our energy source. Johnny Appleseed would approve.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Your Green Daily Planner =)
YOUR GREEN DAILY PLANNER
From your morning shower to your evening's meal, our slideshow will tip you off on greening your routine.
http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/energy-saving/one-green-year-gallery?source=email_gg_20090128&email=gg
You bring your own forks and spoons to use at work, replaced your conventional cheese with organic and compost your trash. Now it's time to pull together all the strands in the green year ahead of you and walk through a day in the low-impact life.
7:00 a.m. Read the morning paper online.
Reading a year's worth of newspapers on your computer saves 520 pounds of paper, or about three trees per year.
7:15 a.m. Shower with a low-flow showerhead.
Because low-flow showerheads reduce water consumption, they can save up to 10 percent on water-heating costs.
8:45 a.m. Brew a cup of eco-friendly coffee at home and pour it into a reusable mug.
Because conventional coffee is grown on clear-cut land and requires loads of chemical fertilizers, each household that switches to organic, shade-grown coffee helps protect more than 9,000 square feet of rain forest. Plus, Americans toss out 16 billion disposable paper cups per year
8:50 a.m. Power down before you leave the house.
TVs, stereos, chargers and most appliances with clocks drain energy when they're plugged in—even if they're not on. It's called "standby power," and it accounts for 5 percent of residential energy, costing U.S. consumers over $4 billion per year. Plug them into power strips that you can switch off easily.
9:00 a.m. Carpool to work.
According to the California Air Resources Board, approximately 50 percent of air pollution comes from automobiles.
9:30 a.m. At work, fire up your laptop.
Laptops require much less energy than desktops.
11:00 a.m. Print on both sides of the page, single-space your files and decrease the size of the margins.
Americans use 5.4 million tons of office paper every year. You use four times less paper when you print single-spaced and on both sides. Save even more by shrinking the margins to .75 inches from the standard inch.
5:55 p.m. Plug your computer into a power strip and switch it off at the end of the day.
Over the course of one year, you'll save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and reduce standby power loss.
6:00 p.m. Text your partner to say you're on your way home.
Text messages sent from a cell phone use 30 times less energy than sending an email from a desktop computer.
6:25 p.m. At the ATM, say no to a receipt.
It takes two billion feet of paper to create receipts for the eight billion ATM transactions that occur each year in America—most of which ends up as litter.
7:15 p.m. Before you head to dinner and a movie, print the tickets from your desktop.
Movie tickets printed at home are easier to recycle than the paperboard used to print tickets at the theater.
8:00 p.m. Eat dinner at a restaurant that serves locally grown, organic food.
From your morning shower to your evening's meal, our slideshow will tip you off on greening your routine.
http://www.thegreenguide.com/
You bring your own forks and spoons to use at work, replaced your conventional cheese with organic and compost your trash. Now it's time to pull together all the strands in the green year ahead of you and walk through a day in the low-impact life.
7:00 a.m. Read the morning paper online.
Reading a year's worth of newspapers on your computer saves 520 pounds of paper, or about three trees per year.
7:15 a.m. Shower with a low-flow showerhead.
Because low-flow showerheads reduce water consumption, they can save up to 10 percent on water-heating costs.
8:45 a.m. Brew a cup of eco-friendly coffee at home and pour it into a reusable mug.
Because conventional coffee is grown on clear-cut land and requires loads of chemical fertilizers, each household that switches to organic, shade-grown coffee helps protect more than 9,000 square feet of rain forest. Plus, Americans toss out 16 billion disposable paper cups per year
8:50 a.m. Power down before you leave the house.
TVs, stereos, chargers and most appliances with clocks drain energy when they're plugged in—even if they're not on. It's called "standby power," and it accounts for 5 percent of residential energy, costing U.S. consumers over $4 billion per year. Plug them into power strips that you can switch off easily.
9:00 a.m. Carpool to work.
According to the California Air Resources Board, approximately 50 percent of air pollution comes from automobiles.
9:30 a.m. At work, fire up your laptop.
Laptops require much less energy than desktops.
11:00 a.m. Print on both sides of the page, single-space your files and decrease the size of the margins.
Americans use 5.4 million tons of office paper every year. You use four times less paper when you print single-spaced and on both sides. Save even more by shrinking the margins to .75 inches from the standard inch.
5:55 p.m. Plug your computer into a power strip and switch it off at the end of the day.
Over the course of one year, you'll save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and reduce standby power loss.
6:00 p.m. Text your partner to say you're on your way home.
Text messages sent from a cell phone use 30 times less energy than sending an email from a desktop computer.
6:25 p.m. At the ATM, say no to a receipt.
It takes two billion feet of paper to create receipts for the eight billion ATM transactions that occur each year in America—most of which ends up as litter.
7:15 p.m. Before you head to dinner and a movie, print the tickets from your desktop.
Movie tickets printed at home are easier to recycle than the paperboard used to print tickets at the theater.
8:00 p.m. Eat dinner at a restaurant that serves locally grown, organic food.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
10 Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade
Ten Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade
By Anya Kamenetz
http://www.fastcompany.com/node/1129671/print
http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2009/01/best-green-jobs.html
"It's time to bail out the people and the planet," says Van Jones [1], author of The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems [2]. We agree, and this guide to to sustainability-focused career paths will help retrofit and solar-charge your work life.
Farmer
America has only two million farmers, and their average age is 55. Since sustainable agriculture requires small-scale, local, organic methods rather than petroleum-based machines and fertilizers, there is a huge need for more farmers -- up to tens of millions of them, according to food guru Michael Pollan. Modern farmers are small businesspeople who must be as skilled in heirloom genetics as marketing.
Schools: University of Vermont: Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Stone Barns Center For Food & Agriculture in New York State; University of Oklahoma: Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Evergreen State College: degree in Sustainable Agriculture.
Related careers: urban gardener; farmers market and CSA coordinator; artisanal cheesemakers; and other food producers.
Forester
Modern forestry a complex combination of international project finance, conservation and development. According to the World Bank, a staggering 1.6 billion people depend on the forest for their livelihoods. Foresters help local people transition from slash-and-burn to silviculture--teaching cultivation of higher-value, faster-growing species for fruit, medicine or timber, for examples while carefully documenting the impact on the environment. Deforestation, which causes around a quarter of all global warming, is also likely to be a leading source of carbon credits worth tens of billions of dollars [3].
Schools: Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Duke University: Nicholas School of the Environment; University of Michigan: School of Natural Resources & Environment.
Companies/organizations: The Nature Conservancy; New Forests Inc.
Solar Power Installer
Making and installing solar power systems already accounts for some 770,000 jobs globally. Installing solar-thermal water heaters and rooftop photovoltaic cells is a relatively high-paying job--$15 to $35 an hour--for those with construction skills. And opportunities are available all over the United States, wherever the sun shines. Currently over 3,400 companies in the solar energy sector employ 25,000 to 35,000 workers. The Solar Energy Industries Association predicts an increase to over 110,000 jobs by 2016â even more if anticipated tax credits are accelerated [4].
Companies: Akeena Solar; Sungevity; Sunpower; Full list at SEIA.org.
Energy Efficiency Builder Buildings account for up to 48 percent of US energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. LEED, the major green building certification, has over 43,000 accredited professionals [5]. But the cutting edge in efficient buildings goes far beyond LEED. Buildings constructed according to Passivhaus and MINERGIE-P standards in Germany and Switzerland, respectively, use between 75% and 95% less heat energy than a similar building constructed to the latest codes in the US. Greening the US building stock will take not only skilled architects and engineers, but a workforce of retrofitters who can use spray foam insulation and storm windows to massively improve the R-value (thermal resistance) of the draftiest old houses. A study by the Apollo Alliance recommended an $89.9 billion investment in financing to create 827,260 jobs in green buildings -- an initiative supported by the Obama stimulus package, which specifically mentions energy
retrofits [6].
Schools: Arizona State University School of Architecture: Energy Performance Climate-Responsive Architecture; University of Michigan: Alfred A. Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning; The Earth Institute at Columbia University.
Wind Turbine Fabricator
Wind is the leading and fastest-growing source of alternative energy with over 300,000 jobs worldwide. Turbines are 90% metal by weight, creating an opportunity for autoworkers and other manufacturers to repurpose their skills. According to the American Wind Energy Association [7], the industry currently employs some 50,000 Americans and added 10,000 new jobs in 2007. Their job board [8] is an excellent place to start looking for opportunities.
Companies: Vestas; Siemens; GE Energy.
Conservation Biologist The granddaddy of diversity, E.O. Wilson, famously called conservation biology -- discipline with a deadline. The urgent quest to preserve the integrity of ecosystems around the world -- and to quantify the value of -- ecosystems services -- leads to opportunities in teaching, research and fieldwork for government, nonprofits, and private companies. The forthcoming economic stimulus package from the Obama administration offers the prospect of increased federal support for science and research [9].
Schools: Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington and the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University. At the small College of the Atlantic [10] every student gets his or her degree in human ecology; it's been called the most sustainable college or university in the world.
Green MBA and Entrepreneur
The concept of the triple bottom line [11] has migrated from the margins to the mainstream of the business world. A recent report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayors Climate Protection Center found that business services like legal, research and consulting account for the majority of all green jobs -- over 400,000. This includes everything from marketing to the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) segment, to serving as a VP of sustainability within a large company, to piloting a green startup like Method or Recyclebank.
Schools: Stanford School of Business; San Francisco's Presidio School of Management; Leeds School of Business; University of Colorado at Boulder -- Deming Center for Entrepreneurship; the Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Wash.
Recycler The total number of recycling jobs in the United States is at more than 1 million, according to recent reports [12] (PDF, right click to save). Although the market for paper and plastic has slowed down recently due to the economic downturn, demand for steel is still strong -- 42 percent of output came from scrap in 2006 -- and recycling remains the economical alternative to high disposal fees. Worldwide more than 200,000 people work in secondary steel production, and the US is a major center of production. New laws and regulations [13] are also creating a need for specialized companies that can close the loop by recycling and repurposing e-waste, clothing, plastic bags, construction waste, and other materials.
Companies: Rumpke; Greenstar North America.
Sustainability Systems Developer The green economy needs a cadre of specialized software developers and engineers who design, build, and maintain the networks of sensors and stochastic modeling that underpin wind farms, smart energy grids, congestion pricing and other systems substituting intelligence for natural resources. Coders with experience using large scale enterprise resource planning have an edge here, as well as developers familiar with open source and web 2.0 [14] applications.
Companies: IBM, V2Green, WindLogics
Urban Planner Urban and regional planning is a linchpin of the quest to lower America's carbon footprint. Strengthening mass transit systems, limiting sprawl, encouraging use of bicycles and deemphasizing cars is only part of the job. Equally important is contingency planning, as floods, heat waves and garbage creep become increasingly common problems for metropolises. Employment in this sector is projected to grow 15 percent by 2016, and the jobs are mainly in local governments, which make them a slightly safer bet for the downturn.
Schools: Penn Institute for Urban Research [15]; Harvard: Department of Urban Planning and Design; Portland State University: Nohad A Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning.
Read more Top Jobs 2009 [16]
Yahoo! Buzz
Links:
[1] http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/danielle-sacks/ad-verse-effect/live-greenbuild-2008-van-jones-after-obama
[2] http://www.vanjones.net/page.php?pageid=2
[3] http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/127/carbon-boom.html
[4] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/jobs/14starts.html?8dpc
[5] http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1815
[6] http://www.plentymag.com/thecurrent/2008/12/obamas_green_stimulus_package.php
[7] http://www.awea.org/
[8] http://www.jobtarget.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=770
[9] http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/next/archives/2008/12/does_obama_get.html
[10] http://www.coa.edu/html/acfocusfieldecologyconservationbiology.htm
[11] http://www.sustainabilitydictionary.com/t/triple_bottom_line.php
[12] http://www.unep.org/labour_environment/PDFs/Greenjobs/UNEPGreenJobs-E-Bookp1-30-Executivesummary.pdf
[13] http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--recyclinglaw1213dec13,0,7263257.story
[14] http://open-sustainability.org/wiki/FISDEV:About
[15] http://www.upenn.edu/penniur/afteroil/home.html
[16] http://www.fastcompany.com/top-jobs/2009
By Anya Kamenetz
http://www.fastcompany.com/
http://www.fastcompany.com/
"It's time to bail out the people and the planet," says Van Jones [1], author of The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems [2]. We agree, and this guide to to sustainability-focused career paths will help retrofit and solar-charge your work life.
Farmer
America has only two million farmers, and their average age is 55. Since sustainable agriculture requires small-scale, local, organic methods rather than petroleum-based machines and fertilizers, there is a huge need for more farmers -- up to tens of millions of them, according to food guru Michael Pollan. Modern farmers are small businesspeople who must be as skilled in heirloom genetics as marketing.
Schools: University of Vermont: Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Stone Barns Center For Food & Agriculture in New York State; University of Oklahoma: Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Evergreen State College: degree in Sustainable Agriculture.
Related careers: urban gardener; farmers market and CSA coordinator; artisanal cheesemakers; and other food producers.
Forester
Modern forestry a complex combination of international project finance, conservation and development. According to the World Bank, a staggering 1.6 billion people depend on the forest for their livelihoods. Foresters help local people transition from slash-and-burn to silviculture--teaching cultivation of higher-value, faster-growing species for fruit, medicine or timber, for examples while carefully documenting the impact on the environment. Deforestation, which causes around a quarter of all global warming, is also likely to be a leading source of carbon credits worth tens of billions of dollars [3].
Schools: Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Duke University: Nicholas School of the Environment; University of Michigan: School of Natural Resources & Environment.
Companies/organizations: The Nature Conservancy; New Forests Inc.
Solar Power Installer
Making and installing solar power systems already accounts for some 770,000 jobs globally. Installing solar-thermal water heaters and rooftop photovoltaic cells is a relatively high-paying job--$15 to $35 an hour--for those with construction skills. And opportunities are available all over the United States, wherever the sun shines. Currently over 3,400 companies in the solar energy sector employ 25,000 to 35,000 workers. The Solar Energy Industries Association predicts an increase to over 110,000 jobs by 2016â even more if anticipated tax credits are accelerated [4].
Companies: Akeena Solar; Sungevity; Sunpower; Full list at SEIA.org.
Energy Efficiency Builder Buildings account for up to 48 percent of US energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. LEED, the major green building certification, has over 43,000 accredited professionals [5]. But the cutting edge in efficient buildings goes far beyond LEED. Buildings constructed according to Passivhaus and MINERGIE-P standards in Germany and Switzerland, respectively, use between 75% and 95% less heat energy than a similar building constructed to the latest codes in the US. Greening the US building stock will take not only skilled architects and engineers, but a workforce of retrofitters who can use spray foam insulation and storm windows to massively improve the R-value (thermal resistance) of the draftiest old houses. A study by the Apollo Alliance recommended an $89.9 billion investment in financing to create 827,260 jobs in green buildings -- an initiative supported by the Obama stimulus package, which specifically mentions energy
retrofits [6].
Schools: Arizona State University School of Architecture: Energy Performance Climate-Responsive Architecture; University of Michigan: Alfred A. Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning; The Earth Institute at Columbia University.
Wind Turbine Fabricator
Wind is the leading and fastest-growing source of alternative energy with over 300,000 jobs worldwide. Turbines are 90% metal by weight, creating an opportunity for autoworkers and other manufacturers to repurpose their skills. According to the American Wind Energy Association [7], the industry currently employs some 50,000 Americans and added 10,000 new jobs in 2007. Their job board [8] is an excellent place to start looking for opportunities.
Companies: Vestas; Siemens; GE Energy.
Conservation Biologist The granddaddy of diversity, E.O. Wilson, famously called conservation biology -- discipline with a deadline. The urgent quest to preserve the integrity of ecosystems around the world -- and to quantify the value of -- ecosystems services -- leads to opportunities in teaching, research and fieldwork for government, nonprofits, and private companies. The forthcoming economic stimulus package from the Obama administration offers the prospect of increased federal support for science and research [9].
Schools: Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington and the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University. At the small College of the Atlantic [10] every student gets his or her degree in human ecology; it's been called the most sustainable college or university in the world.
Green MBA and Entrepreneur
The concept of the triple bottom line [11] has migrated from the margins to the mainstream of the business world. A recent report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayors Climate Protection Center found that business services like legal, research and consulting account for the majority of all green jobs -- over 400,000. This includes everything from marketing to the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) segment, to serving as a VP of sustainability within a large company, to piloting a green startup like Method or Recyclebank.
Schools: Stanford School of Business; San Francisco's Presidio School of Management; Leeds School of Business; University of Colorado at Boulder -- Deming Center for Entrepreneurship; the Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Wash.
Recycler The total number of recycling jobs in the United States is at more than 1 million, according to recent reports [12] (PDF, right click to save). Although the market for paper and plastic has slowed down recently due to the economic downturn, demand for steel is still strong -- 42 percent of output came from scrap in 2006 -- and recycling remains the economical alternative to high disposal fees. Worldwide more than 200,000 people work in secondary steel production, and the US is a major center of production. New laws and regulations [13] are also creating a need for specialized companies that can close the loop by recycling and repurposing e-waste, clothing, plastic bags, construction waste, and other materials.
Companies: Rumpke; Greenstar North America.
Sustainability Systems Developer The green economy needs a cadre of specialized software developers and engineers who design, build, and maintain the networks of sensors and stochastic modeling that underpin wind farms, smart energy grids, congestion pricing and other systems substituting intelligence for natural resources. Coders with experience using large scale enterprise resource planning have an edge here, as well as developers familiar with open source and web 2.0 [14] applications.
Companies: IBM, V2Green, WindLogics
Urban Planner Urban and regional planning is a linchpin of the quest to lower America's carbon footprint. Strengthening mass transit systems, limiting sprawl, encouraging use of bicycles and deemphasizing cars is only part of the job. Equally important is contingency planning, as floods, heat waves and garbage creep become increasingly common problems for metropolises. Employment in this sector is projected to grow 15 percent by 2016, and the jobs are mainly in local governments, which make them a slightly safer bet for the downturn.
Schools: Penn Institute for Urban Research [15]; Harvard: Department of Urban Planning and Design; Portland State University: Nohad A Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning.
Read more Top Jobs 2009 [16]
Yahoo! Buzz
Links:
[1] http://www.fastcompany.com/
[2] http://www.vanjones.net/page.
[3] http://www.fastcompany.com/
[4] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/
[5] http://www.usgbc.org/
[6] http://www.plentymag.com/
[7] http://www.awea.org/
[8] http://www.jobtarget.com/home/
[9] http://www.businessweek.com/
[10] http://www.coa.edu/html/
[11] http://www.
[12] http://www.unep.org/labour_
[13] http://www.newsday.com/news/
[14] http://open-sustainability.
[15] http://www.upenn.edu/penniur/
[16] http://www.fastcompany.com/
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saving Money and Doing The Right Thing Drive Green Choices
Survey: Saving Money and Doing the Right Thing Drive Green Choices
by Dan Shapely
1.15.2009
http://www.thedailygreen.com/print-this/environmental-news/latest/energy-efficiency-survey-55011503
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/energy-efficiency-survey-55011503?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr ]
A survey shows most people in America want to do more to reduce global warming and improve energy efficiency, but cost is a common barrier. What keeps you from doing more?
Does this describe you?
You've made a few energy efficiency improvements to your home — some weather stripping here, some insulation there. You do it because it saves you money on energy bills, helps to reduce your contribution to global warming and generally makes you feel good about doing the right thing. And you'd do more ... if only it didn't cost so much.
If that's the case, you're like the average American, according to a new survey by Yale and George Mason Universities.
Of more than 2,100 surveyed, about half said they had already taken steps to make their homes more energy-efficient. And nearly 20% planned to do more this year. But while two-thirds would like to upgrade to a fuel-efficient car, one-third said they can't afford to.
The top motivators for people making these choices?
1. Saving money
2. Reducing global warming
3. The desire to act morally
4. Wanting to feel good about oneself
An encouraging finding: By a 2-to-1 margin, respondents thought going green would improve the quality of their life, rather than diminish it.
The survey suggests that government subsidies for energy efficiency improvements could work, since so many people want to do the right thing but are deterred by the high up-front cost of replacing an old appliance, car or other big-ticket item.
by Dan Shapely
1.15.2009
http://www.thedailygreen.com/
http://www.thedailygreen.com/
A survey shows most people in America want to do more to reduce global warming and improve energy efficiency, but cost is a common barrier. What keeps you from doing more?
Does this describe you?
You've made a few energy efficiency improvements to your home — some weather stripping here, some insulation there. You do it because it saves you money on energy bills, helps to reduce your contribution to global warming and generally makes you feel good about doing the right thing. And you'd do more ... if only it didn't cost so much.
If that's the case, you're like the average American, according to a new survey by Yale and George Mason Universities.
Of more than 2,100 surveyed, about half said they had already taken steps to make their homes more energy-efficient. And nearly 20% planned to do more this year. But while two-thirds would like to upgrade to a fuel-efficient car, one-third said they can't afford to.
The top motivators for people making these choices?
1. Saving money
2. Reducing global warming
3. The desire to act morally
4. Wanting to feel good about oneself
An encouraging finding: By a 2-to-1 margin, respondents thought going green would improve the quality of their life, rather than diminish it.
The survey suggests that government subsidies for energy efficiency improvements could work, since so many people want to do the right thing but are deterred by the high up-front cost of replacing an old appliance, car or other big-ticket item.
One Green Year: What You Can Do This Week
One Green Year: What You Can Do This Week
By Kate Hanley
January 12, 2009
http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/energy-saving/one-green-year-part-two?source=email_gg_20090114&email=gg
You could decide to lose weight—again—or this year you could resolve to lighten the load you leave on the planet. To help, we've outlined a series of small changes that add up to big results and divvied them up by time frame—tasks you can complete today, in the next week, during the next month and over the course of the next year. Breaking your efforts into smaller, more manageable tasks isn't a cop-out: By following this plan, each small step adds up to changes that will benefit the health of the planet—and, yes, even your own health—immediately and in years to come.
Food
Over the course of the year,your goal is to educate yourself about food—where it comes from, how it's packaged and transported, and what happens to the waste—so you can make wiser choices at every meal.
This week, start at the end: Research your composting options. Throwing food scraps in the garbage may seem innocuous, but decomposing food not only clogs landfills, it also releases methane—a far more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. And encasing food scraps in a plastic bag or landfill keeps fruits and vegetables from replenishing the soil, increasing our dependence on chemical fertilizers.
The University of Arizona estimates that if every American household reduced the amount of food it throws away by half, we'd cut our entire environmental impact as a country by 25 percent. Aim to do your part by composting your fruit and vegetable scraps. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, check out a no-fuss option such as the Once a Year Compost Bin ($139.99; cleanairgardening.com). Or find local resources that will accept your food waste, such as a community garden, recycling center or farmer's market, and start storing scraps in your freezer until you can make a drop-off.
Transportation
Vow to take two fewer car trips over the next seven days, replacing them with walking, biking or public transportation. Keep tracking each car trip in your notebook, and start writing down how many gallons of gas you're buying each time you fill up. And for each car trip you do without, note any other benefits you reap beyond saving gas—such as fresh air, exercise, community interaction or reading time—so you can see the full spectrum of ways that driving less impacts your daily life.
Energy
Schedule an energy audit to get a list of suggestions for reducing your home's energy use. You can either get a free audit from your local utility— the best choice if you rent since their suggestions tend to be smaller-scale projects, such as weatherstripping—or from an energy assessment professional. The latter is the best choice if you own your home, since they specialize in larger projects such as helping you choose efficient heating and cooling systems.
A professional assessment will run $350 to $550 but will likely pay for itself in energy savings if you end up making a major improvement. To find a certified building energy rater, visit resnet.org. And if you think an energy audit isn't worth the time or money, think again. "An energy audit will help you focus on the top one or two purchases that will have the biggest impact on your home energy use," says Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget ($14.95, STC, 2009).
Open a savings account devoted to green home improvements. Look at your budget and see what you can set aside toward a new efficient appliance, hot water heater or furnace. Even if it will take a couple of years to get there, it will pay off in the long run.
Everyday Purchases
Create your own personal "Going Green" kit. Small purchases that can add up to a big impact include: - reusable tote bags
- stainless steel water bottle
- travel coffee mug
- BYO-lunch supplies—an insulated carrier, utensils and wax paper or aluminum foil (instead of plastic wrap)
- compact fluorescent light bulbs
By Kate Hanley
January 12, 2009
http://www.thegreenguide.com/
You could decide to lose weight—again—or this year you could resolve to lighten the load you leave on the planet. To help, we've outlined a series of small changes that add up to big results and divvied them up by time frame—tasks you can complete today, in the next week, during the next month and over the course of the next year. Breaking your efforts into smaller, more manageable tasks isn't a cop-out: By following this plan, each small step adds up to changes that will benefit the health of the planet—and, yes, even your own health—immediately and in years to come.
Food
Over the course of the year,your goal is to educate yourself about food—where it comes from, how it's packaged and transported, and what happens to the waste—so you can make wiser choices at every meal.
This week, start at the end: Research your composting options. Throwing food scraps in the garbage may seem innocuous, but decomposing food not only clogs landfills, it also releases methane—a far more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. And encasing food scraps in a plastic bag or landfill keeps fruits and vegetables from replenishing the soil, increasing our dependence on chemical fertilizers.
The University of Arizona estimates that if every American household reduced the amount of food it throws away by half, we'd cut our entire environmental impact as a country by 25 percent. Aim to do your part by composting your fruit and vegetable scraps. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, check out a no-fuss option such as the Once a Year Compost Bin ($139.99; cleanairgardening.com). Or find local resources that will accept your food waste, such as a community garden, recycling center or farmer's market, and start storing scraps in your freezer until you can make a drop-off.
Transportation
Vow to take two fewer car trips over the next seven days, replacing them with walking, biking or public transportation. Keep tracking each car trip in your notebook, and start writing down how many gallons of gas you're buying each time you fill up. And for each car trip you do without, note any other benefits you reap beyond saving gas—such as fresh air, exercise, community interaction or reading time—so you can see the full spectrum of ways that driving less impacts your daily life.
Energy
Schedule an energy audit to get a list of suggestions for reducing your home's energy use. You can either get a free audit from your local utility— the best choice if you rent since their suggestions tend to be smaller-scale projects, such as weatherstripping—or from an energy assessment professional. The latter is the best choice if you own your home, since they specialize in larger projects such as helping you choose efficient heating and cooling systems.
A professional assessment will run $350 to $550 but will likely pay for itself in energy savings if you end up making a major improvement. To find a certified building energy rater, visit resnet.org. And if you think an energy audit isn't worth the time or money, think again. "An energy audit will help you focus on the top one or two purchases that will have the biggest impact on your home energy use," says Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget ($14.95, STC, 2009).
Open a savings account devoted to green home improvements. Look at your budget and see what you can set aside toward a new efficient appliance, hot water heater or furnace. Even if it will take a couple of years to get there, it will pay off in the long run.
Everyday Purchases
Create your own personal "Going Green" kit. Small purchases that can add up to a big impact include: - reusable tote bags
- stainless steel water bottle
- travel coffee mug
- BYO-lunch supplies—an insulated carrier, utensils and wax paper or aluminum foil (instead of plastic wrap)
- compact fluorescent light bulbs
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Green on a Dime - How to Go Prius Green on a Chevy Nova Budget
Green on a Dime
How to go Prius green on a Chevy Nova budget
November 05, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2008/11/going-prius-green.html
http://www.motherjones.com/cgi-bin/print_article.pl?url=http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2008/11/going-prius-green.html
What the eco-elite recommend:
The cheap alternative:
An efficient convection oven
Baking with heat-retaining glass or ceramic dishes rather than metal ones means you can set your oven 25 degrees lower.
A green dry-cleaning service
Hand wash silk, rayon, wool, and cashmere.
A hybrid car such as a Prius
Ride a bike. You'll save a bundle in gas, maintenance, and insurance.
Energy Star washers and dryers
Always fully load your washing machine and wash with cold water. String up a clothesline for drying.
Reverse osmosis to purify drinking water
Drink tap water where practical. Clean water is one reason you pay taxes, right?
Brand-name, ecofriendly cleaning products
Ever heard of distilled vinegar, club soda, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda?
A low-flow toilet
Make your own by submerging two full plastic bottles in the tank.
A new, energy-efficient refrigerator
Let your leftovers cool before putting them away.
A tankless water heater
Turn down the old one to 120 degrees from the standard 140.
Whole Foods
Produce from a local market may not be certified organic, but it's possibly fresher.
How to go Prius green on a Chevy Nova budget
November 05, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2008/11/going-prius-green.html
http://www.motherjones.com/cgi-bin/print_article.pl?url=http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2008/11/going-prius-green.html
What the eco-elite recommend:
The cheap alternative:
An efficient convection oven
Baking with heat-retaining glass or ceramic dishes rather than metal ones means you can set your oven 25 degrees lower.
A green dry-cleaning service
Hand wash silk, rayon, wool, and cashmere.
A hybrid car such as a Prius
Ride a bike. You'll save a bundle in gas, maintenance, and insurance.
Energy Star washers and dryers
Always fully load your washing machine and wash with cold water. String up a clothesline for drying.
Reverse osmosis to purify drinking water
Drink tap water where practical. Clean water is one reason you pay taxes, right?
Brand-name, ecofriendly cleaning products
Ever heard of distilled vinegar, club soda, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda?
A low-flow toilet
Make your own by submerging two full plastic bottles in the tank.
A new, energy-efficient refrigerator
Let your leftovers cool before putting them away.
A tankless water heater
Turn down the old one to 120 degrees from the standard 140.
Whole Foods
Produce from a local market may not be certified organic, but it's possibly fresher.
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