Green Career Central Blog

Green Career Trends: Green Products Innovation Institute Creates Mfg. Standards, "Commissioning" for Buildings Going Green, The Smart Grid Needing More Consumer Education

The recently created Green Products Innovation Institute is providing consumer product manufacturers with information about using safer, less toxic chemicals.  Based on the Cradle to Cradle model, the California organization will help create green manufacturing standards for regulators and policy makers as well as manufacturers.

The model of "commissioning" could be used to improve the energy efficiency of skyscrapers and other commercial buildings. The term commissioning is taken from the naval practice of commissioning a new ship to determine its seaworthiness. In building commissioning, engineers find and fix small problems that may be preventing a building from reducing its energy consumption. In years to come commissioning agents may consult with building architects on energy systems, follow the building through construction, train the operating staff and track the energy usage through the first year to insure economic and green goals are achieved.

A newly released study from EcoPinion (a opinion survey) found 70% of consumers are not familiar with the term Smart Grid. Upon finding out more about the Smart Grid consumers warmed up to the idea, especially the cost savings portion. Utilities and other businesses involved in creating the Smart Grid now have their marketing and PR work cut out for them to inform consumers of the benefits of saving energy at home. 

Green Career Tip - Building Your Green Career: Lessons from a Bird’s Nest

How is your green career like a bird's nest?

On a recent walk, my walking buddy and I came across a bird’s nest.

As we looked at the nest construction, we were struck by its intricacies, and I was reminded of the intricate path to a green career.

Discover the correlation and how you can use it to your advantage in this week's Tip.

Follow the Green Money: BrightSource Energy Secures $150 Million, Tesla Motors Buys Closed Auto Mfg. Plant, Mitsubishi to Invest $75.5 Million in Smart Grid Products

BrightSource Energy, has secured $150 million in venture capital funding to further its plans to develop 14 utility scale solar thermal power plants is the Southwestern US by 2016.  Based in Oakland, CA with offices in Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. BrightSource continues to be a leader in amount of capital raised and contracts with utilities.  

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors has purchased the recently closed New United Motors (NUMI) factory in Fremont, CA with plans to build the Model S sedan in 2012.  The NUMI plant was formerly operated as a joint venture between Toyota and GM.  Toyota will partner with Tesla and take a $50 million stake after Tesla's IPO.  Electric car competitor Coda Motors has secured $58 million in investment capital to build electric cars for the US market in China. 

Electronics giant Mitsubishi has announced it will be investing $75.5 million in Smart Grid projects over the next few years.  In the North American market Mitsubishi will focus on transmission and distribution equipment products.

Green Career Trends: Kevin Costner Builds Oil Spill Clean Up Company, Executive Salary Compensation Tied to Environmental Metrics, Home Depot Selling LED Light Bulb

In reaction to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the actor Kevin Costner wanted the world to be ready for the next oil spill.  In 1995 he purchased technology that would separate oil from water and using $24 million of his own money Ocean Therapy Solutions was born.  BP and Ocean Therapy officials are working together to determine where in the Gulf to test the machines.  If the tests go well and BP approves, Ocean Therapy machines could be operating soon.

Companies looking to make an environmental difference as well as a return on investment, are using incentives to pay their managers for achieving sustainability metrics. Twenty five percent of the incentive pay for Xcel Energy executives is based on sustainability goals. The idea of paying executives is also popular among European companies such as ING, Akzo Nobel, and DSM.  

Home Depot has started selling LED light bulbs that use 9 watts of power and produce the equivalent of a 40 watt incandescent bulb for around $20.  Other manufacturers are expected to offer LED light bulbs soon.  Are consumers ready to spend between $20 and $50 for a light bulb that could last 25,000 hours or more? 

Green Career Tip - Green Careers for Gulf Clean Up and Remediation

Green jobs are already popping up as a result of the Gulf oil spill.

Clean up and remediation is going to take time, dedication, knowledge, and technology that works. This translates to careers.

Discover the kinds of professionals that are needed at a time like this in this week's Tip.

Follow the Green Money: DOE to Award $20 Million for Geothermal Technologies, eIQ Secures $4 Million, Solar City Buys Building Solutions, Samsung to Invest $20 Billion in Clean Tech Products

The Department of Energy has announced $20 million for research, development and demonstration of new geothermal technologies like low temperature fluids, recovering geothermal fluids from oil and gas wells, and high pressure geothermal fluids.  For more information about obtaining funding for your business, contact the Geothermal Technologies Program.

Based in San Jose, CA, eIQ has secured $4 million in funding to continue its development and deployment of their Parallux system for solar panels.  The system connects solar panels in parallel rather than in series making the panels more efficient and cheaper to install. Residential and commercial solar panel installer Solar City has purchased Building Solutions, a building efficiency software company.  Solar City wants to expand the services they offer customers to include energy audits. 

Electronics manufacturer, Samsung has made plans to invest $20 billion to develop and sell clean tech products such as solar cells, battery cells for electric vehicles and light emitting diodes (LED's).

Green Career Trends: American Power Act Introduced, Walmart Issues Sustainability Report, Electric Vehicles Take Off

The American Power Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman.  One of the largest targets of the legislation is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.  Areas of the green economy that would be boosted if the bill is passed include, vehicles and transportation, providing clarity and support for the continued creation of the Smart Grid and establish a Clean Energy Technology Fund that would stimulate more renewable energy. Time will tell how and whether this bill passes. Stay tuned!

Walmart has released its Global Sustainability Report, 2010 Progress Update  They are working to broaden and accelerate their 37 sustainability goals.  The report is also notable for including the places Walmart has come up short on achieving its own goals.

Today is the last day to place a deposit with Nissan to purchase the all-electric, four passenger Leaf vehicle. (The Leaf is available only in limited areas.)  If you would like to rent a Leaf, Hertz will begin renting them in 2011.  Navistar, one of the recipients of stimulus funding from the battery grant program, announced delivery of its first all electric commercial truck to FedEx.  The trucks will have a 100 mile range and be able to carry up 4,400 pounds. 

Green Career Tip - Gulf Oil Spill: A Turning of the Tides for Climate Energy Policy?

The Gulf Oil Spill... everyone's talking about it.

It’s difficult to comprehend the extent of the event and the impacts that will ultimately ripple through the fabric of our lives for decades to come.

Learn how it can affect climate energy policy and your green career in this week's Tip of the Week.

Follow the Green Money: DOE Distributing $62 Million to Concentrated Solar Power Projects, International Battery Secures $35 Million, Google Invests $38.8 Million in Wind Farms

The Department of Energy has announced $62 million in funding over the next five years for 13 projects in two main areas, concentrating solar power (CSP)system studies and concentrating solar power component feasibility studies.  CSP concentrates the sun's heat to power an engine or turbine that makes electricity.  One of the goals of the funding is to create electricity from the sun for up to 18 hours per day to reach the equivalent power output of a coal burning power plant.

Based in Allentown, PA, International Battery has secured $35 million in funding from venture capitalists to manufacture large format lithium-ion batteries for use in vehicles, by industries or the military. Utilities interested in the batteries for use as a grid storage device may create more of a demand in the short term than auto manufacturers that need them for electric vehicles. 

Internet search giant Google has invested $38.8 million in 2 wind farms in North Dakota.  NextEra Energy Resources will develop the farm with the expectation of producing 169.5 megawatts of power.  In February the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Google Energy the power to sell energy, capacity and services at market rates.

Connectivity Week – Career Development Track

Are you looking for a job in the clean tech sector?
Are you attending the Connectivity Week Conference in Santa Clara from May 24 - 27?

Did you know about the Career Development Track that is available to provide people with job hunting, skill development, and personal branding?

Carol McClelland, PhD will be facilitating a workshop at the Career Development Track entitled, "How to Make the Most of Connections You Make During ConnectivityWeek."

Check out the Connectivity site for more details.