Green Career Central Blog

Green Economy Success Stories - What Else Is Possible!

If you watch mainstream media for news about the state of the green economy, you might catch an occasional story that gives you a glimmer of hope about the state of the planet.

But sometimes it feels like it's too little, too late! Are there any advancements that hold promise? Are there any success stories that actually demonstrate that innovative solutions can be implemented and scaled successfully? 
 
One of the best sources I've found for evidence of actual success stories that make a difference is EARTH - The Operators' Manual

I first ran across them when their posts landed on my Facebook news stream.

I scanned their page earlier this week to search for stories to share with you. I've sorted these stories into three categories based on the status of the project: v Currently Operational, Nearly Implemented, and Testing.

Read these success stories . . .

 

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As we celebrate Earth Week this year, we are excited to be stepping into a new era at Green Career Central and we look forward to working with you.

 

Green Career Trends: Bridgelux Developing New Silicon LED, Retrofficiency Offers Solution to Green Building Industry, Clean World Partners Recycles Waste Into Power

Bridgelux, a maker of LED lights is developing a new gallium nitride LED that would be "grown" on silicon wafers.  These wafers are currently being used to mass produce silicon chips for electronic devices.  This process could reduce the cost of production by as much as $7.50 per bulb. These new LED lights emit 135 lumens per watt. 

Based in Boston, MA, Retroficiency is a software as service company that uses data analysis to determine which commercial buildings among a portfolio of hundreds would be a good candidate for energy saving retrofits.  Currently it is estimated that buildings consume 40% of the power produced in the country and that up one-half of that energy is wasted.  Over the next ten years, building energy efficiency could become a $250 billion market. 

By using their proprietary technology, Clean World Partners can turn organic solid and liquid waste into renewable energy, soil amendments and other useful by products.  Using food preparation waste from production plants as well as discarded agricultural waste, Clean World is using their anaerobic digesters to divert tons of material from landfills and aid companies in their mission to have zero waste. 

Green Career Trends: Recyclebank Named to Clean Tech List, AT&T Saves Energy and $44 Million, Energy Efficiency Markets Blog Lists Opportunities

The Wall Street Journal named Recyclebank number 4 on their list of top 10 venture-backed clean tech companies. Recyclebank rewards consumers when they make pledges to reduce their energy use, increase the amount of recycling or learn about how they can add more green to their home and neighborhood.  Points can then be used to obtain discounts on products from major manufacturers

At the beginning of  2010 AT&T started 4,200 energy saving projects.  By the end of 2010 the results were in; $44 million in annualized savings were generated.  To achieve the results AT&T began training a limited number of employees to detect energy waste.  They also used the services of an intern from Climate Corps to study the usage of power. Replacing incandescent lighting with more energy efficiency lighting and adding power saving devices to office computers were implemented among other projects.  Plans call for even more projects in 2011.  

A recent survey by Comverge found utilities are making plans to increase their energy efficiency budgets by 10% in 2011.  If you are an efficiency company looking for opportunities to provide products and services to utilities, businesses and governmental institutions, it may be difficult to connect with them.  Energy Efficient Markets Blog has a list of nationwide opportunities available to efficiency companies. 

Follow the Green Money: DOE Finalizes Loan Guarantee to Geothermal Project, Smart Synch Raises $25 Million, Phononic Devices Receives $10 Million

The Department of Energy has finalized its $96.8 million loan guarantee to a project sponsored by US Geothermal, Inc. to build a geothermal plant in southeastern Oregon.  When completed the plant will produce 23 Megawatts of power. Idaho Power Company has contracted to purchase that power for25 years.

Based in Jackson, MS, Smart Synch has raised $25 million to continue to develop their Smart Grid infrastructure solutions that use public wireless networks.  Trilliant Inc. a provider of Smart Grid solutions has partnered with KORE Telematics to improve Trillant's utility meter communications.

Phononic Devices has received $10 million from venture capitalists.  Phononic is developing systems to remove heat using electricity, called thermoelectric cooling and also thermoelectric generation, turning waste heat into electricity. Based in Raleigh, NC., here is a link to their career page.

Green Career Trends: Sustainability Professionals in Demand, Clean Tech Investing Gets Boost, Two Testing Labs Added for Solar Thermal Devices

According to a new survey from AASHE, (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education), the demand for sustainability professionals continues to grow.  The survey also found high job satisfaction with those already employed as a sustainability professional and an average salary of $75,000 for Sustainability Director or similar position.  60% of those identified as a sustainability professional were women.

By looking for already proven innovations and having a global scope, Silver Lake Investing is hoping to bring to market many clean tech companies.  Silver Lake was started with funding from billionaire George Soros. Also creating a fund for eco investing is German automaker BMW.  They have launched BMWi, the investment arm of the company.  BMWi will invest $100 million into eco-auto technologies and ways of using apps to find charging stations.

Currently there are only five labs that are accredited to test solar thermal products.  Without approval from an accredited lab, solar thermal devices are not eligible for energy conservation tax credits.  Now in the works are two additional labs that would be able to perform the tests necessary for approval.  The labs, located in the University of New Haven and North Carolina State University, are giving students the opportunity to design the specialized labs.  

Green Career Trends: Solar City Expanding to East Coast, Climate Change Professionals Income Rising, Blu Homes Offers New Modular Home

With the acquisition of groSolar's residential solar division, Solar City now has the largest geographic footprint of any residential solar power installer in the US with 21 offices in 10 states.  They will expand their operations to include the states of  Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.  In addition to the acquisition, Citi Bank has set up a $40 million fund to finance Solar City projects.

According to the Carbon Survey, a global survey conducted by recruiter Acre Resources, climate change professionals are seeing their incomes increase at a slightly higher rate than the US average.  Climate change professionals saw their incomes increase at a rate of 4% versus the US average of all salaries of just 2.4%.  The survey also found 73% of respondents were satisfied with their position and 76% felt secure in their job.

Green home-builder Blu Homes, has created a modular 2,295 sq. foot home called the Breezehouse.  The home is constructed off-site using renewable materials like bamboo.  Building the home off-site is more efficient and reduces the amount of construction waste.  The modular home arrives on site via flat bed truck where it is assembled. Prices start at $520,000 for a 3-4 bedroom, 3 bath, 1 level home.

Follow the Green Money: OSISoft Receives $135 Million, Lighting Science Group Going Public, C3Nano Completes First Round of Funding

Developer of data management software for industrial applications, OSIsoft, has received a $135 million investment from venture capitalists. Based in San Leandro, CA, here is the career page for OSIsoft.

Lighting Science Group, a Florida based LED lighting company, has filed for public registration of common stock on the NASDAQ exchange.  The goal of this move is to raise $150 million.  The initial share price was not disclosed.  Lighting Science manufactures and distributes LED lighting for commercial and residential use.  The company has factories in the US and Mexico and has hired a contractor to make their products in Asia.

Hayward, CA based C3Nano, a first year start-up company that is developing transparent electrodes as a component of  transparent screens for use in cell phone and solar cells, has completed a first round of funding. The amount was not disclosed.  Last year C3Nano won the MIT Clean Energy Prize of $200,000.

Green Career Trends: DOE Announces "Sun Shot", EPA Regulations Would Create Jobs, Companies Commitment to CSR Goals

The Department of Energy has announced its "Sun Shot" plan of initiatives to reduce the price of solar power by 75%.  The goal is make solar energy cost competitive with fossil fuel produced energy without the use of subsides. The time frame set for this goal is by the end of the decade.

A new report from Ceres, a coalition of environmentalists and institutional investors, indicates that Environmental Protection Agency regulations that reduce air pollution would also create jobs.  The report found that the retirement of older coal burning power plants and the construction of newer plants would add as many as 1.5 million new jobs.

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gases and improve their corporate social responsibility, large corporations are making major commitments to sustainability.  For example, Proctor and Gamble has committed to powering all of their factories with renewable energy by 2020, FedEx has committed to improving vehicle fuel efficiency by 20% by 2020 and even Walmart has committed to selling $1 billion in produce sourced from 1000 small- and medium-sized farmers.  These commitments will require various functions and employees at all levels to work together to achieve the goal.

Green Career Tip: Seven Job Search Dos and Don'ts From Green Employers

On Friday I facilitated a panel of clean energy employers at Congresswoman Jackie Speier's 4th Job Hunter's Boot Camp. As representatives of the various clean energy employers were answering the questions I posed, I realized their answers would be perfect for a Dos and Don'ts article for this week's Green Career Tip.

Job Search Don'ts

• If you aren't qualified for a job...don't apply!
  
• Don't spam an employer by applying indiscriminately to many positions.

Job Search Dos

• Having a polished profile on LinkedIn is a MUST! In house recruiters use LinkedIn heavily to learn more about potential candidates. Make sure your profile says what you want it to say!
  
• If you are submitting your resume online, consider including a link to your LinkedIn profile to give hiring managers and recruiters more information about you.

For more Do's and Don'ts, read the full Green Career Tip of the Week. 

SD Forum Presenting the State of Corporate Sustainability on Wed. Feb. 2nd

At this event, representatives from major Silicon Valley companies will be speaking about early adoption of sustainability practices for financial rewards rather than costs.  Come hear Michael Beutler, SAP, Scott Coleman, Google, Joyce Dickerson, Stanford University, Brian Goncher, Deloitte, Bruce Klafter, Applied Materials, Inc., Andrew Williamson, Physic Ventures, and the moderator Mitch Zuklie, Orrick, speak about corporations embracing sustainability.  The event on Wed. the 2nd will begin with networking at 6pm, speakers from 7pm until 8pm, and QandA and networking from 8-8:30pm.  The location of the event is at the offices of Orrick, 1100 Marsh Road, Menlo Park, CA. 

If you reside in the Bay Area of CA and have identified corporate sustainability as your green niche, this is a great opportunity to network and learn about what is happening within corporations as they begin adopting sustainability practices. To register for this event, click on this link. 

The SD Forum is a non profit organization that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in Silicon Valley.