Green Career Central Blog

Green Jobs Growing: Sustainability Coordinator Making a Big Impact

While the glimmer and spotlight on green jobs may have faded in the minds of some in the media, the green/clean/sustainable economy continues to grow.  In 2010 clean tech investing by venture capitalists totaled $4 billion, an 8 % increase.  Venture capitalists were not the only deep pocket investors in 2010.  The Department of Energy also invested millions clean energy.   Among major corporations, General Electric has or will be investing $10 billion in their Ecomagination sector over the few years.

All of this investment and funding is having an effect.  It may not be happening as fast as many of would like it to be, but there are companies moving forward and hiring.  One of the keys to getting hired and moving up is having the drive and desire to make a difference. 

Take the case of Cheri Chastain, hired as a part-time recycling assistant in 2006 at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California.  A short time later she was promoted to recycling coordinator where she continue to track data about the amount of waste that was being diverted from landfills.  By making a strong business case for recycling and sustainability, Chastain was promoted to Sustainability Coordinator, a position she wrote the job description for.  Under Chastain's leadership, Sierra Nevada has installed solar panels and fuel cells to guarantee continuous power to the plant.  They now get 85% of their power from renewable sources. Sierra Nevada has diverted 30,000 tons of waste from the landfill, saving $4.7 million in fees, money that can be used for employee benefits, update equipment and philanthropic involvement. Nearly 99% of the production waste and byproducts produced by the plant is recycled, including the oil used to cook the french fries in the on-site visitor restaurant. (It is used as transportation fuel.) "Closing the loop" is Chastain's mantra.

All of this effort has not gone unnoticed.  The EPA named Sierra Nevada one of their Green Businesses of theYear. 

By being enthusiastic and passionate about sustainability and working for a owner that valued the environment, Cheri was able to quickly move up the green ladder.

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.

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.

 

Green Career Tip - The Next Chapter in Ocean Plastics: The Birth of a New Green Industry

As I read about two organizations tackling the issues of plastics in the ocean, I realized that it’s possible we are witnessing the birth of a new industry.

Whether plastic waste in the ocean is one of your hot-button issues or not, you can learn how to identify clues that help you spot opportunities within your target industry. Read this week's article to learn more!

Green Career Tip - Wake Up! The Time for Sustainability is Now!

It’s amazing how different the world can look when you have the opportunity to see the world anew.

If you are feeling stifled or stuck in how you are thinking about your green career options, I encourage you to find a way to expand your world view.With the current, never-ending flow of information, you don’t have to look far to find opportunities to gain a new perspective of your options. Read this week's article to learn more.

Green Career Trends: Solar Thermal Power Plants Approved, Regenerative Energy Being Stored at Subway Station, IBM Developing Water Quality Solutions

The Abengoa Mojave solar thermal project has been approved and can now move ahead to start construction of the plant that will produce 250 megawatts of power.  It will be located on 1,700 acres of private land in San Bernadino County, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.  Also approved was the Beacon Solar Energy Project, a 250 megawatt solar thermal plant located on the western edge of the Mojave Desert.

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded Viridity Energy a partial payment of $900,000 to build a system that will capture the energy from subway cars as they brake to enter a Philadelphia station.  The regenerative braking energy collected from the cars will be stored in a large capacity battery at the station.  The stored energy can be used to power trains as they leave the station and also sold back to the grid, thereby lowering the costs of operation.  

Using their World Community Grid (a volunteer network of 600,000 PC computers), IBM is developing techniques to improve water quality and water safety. Some of the initiatives include, simulating how human behaviors affect watershed areas like Chesapeake Bay, improvements to water filtering and cures for water borne illnesses.  Here is a five minute video with more information about what IBM is doing. 

Green Career Tip - Cap and Trade Moves Forward Successfully at a Regional Level

It’s important that you know about the regional and national cap and trade initiatives and how they work.

In this article I spell out the basics and provide links you can follow to get more detailed information about the program in your area.

Learn more by reading this article.

Green Career Trends: GE Offering $200 Million for Smart Grid Ideas, Envision Solar Creating Solar "Trees", Synthetic Genomics Opens Biofuel Test Lab

General Electric along with four venture capital firms announced a competition with prizes totaling $200 million to seek ideas that will make improvements to the Smart Grid.  The evaluation committee, composed of employees from GE and its investors, will decide, along with web votes, which projects will be funded. 

One of the ideas often expressed about solar power is putting panels up in parking lots.  Envision Solar has taken this idea and is making it a reality.  In an effort to make the panels highly efficient, they are working on cost effective ways for the panels to follow the sun during the day and batteries to store the energy for use at night.  There is one other problem needing a solution.  The orientation of the cars in the lot is not always the same as the orientation needed to follow the sun.  (The videos on the Envision site are worth a look.)

Synthetic Genomics a biofuel start up company that uses genetically engineered strains of algae along with the financial help of oil giant Exxon, has opened a test facility in La Jolla, CA.  In May, Synthetic Genomic founder Craig Ventner and his team, created the first synthetic bacterial cell, the first artificial life form.  How quickly can the biofuel be created and the process scaled up to meet the billions of gallons of current demand is still unknown.

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 Trends: CPUC Says Utilities Must Make Useage Info Available to Rate Payers, Waste and Recycling Get a Boost, Denver, CO Now Has Bike Sharing

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has decided that utilities must give their rate-payers access to their energy consumption information as well as any third party appointed by the rate-payer.  This decision will allow home owners to see their energy usage in real time and companies like Google, Microsoft, Intel and others to build and sell software services and products to home owners and other rate payers.  This decision will take effect by the end of 2011 for California home owners. The question of requiring all state utilities to make this information available is under consideration by Congress.

While renewable energy like wind and solar are getting the media and venture capital attention, there is another part of reducing CO2 emissions that isn't quite as attractive, that being waste and recycling. But these green industries are finding ways to flourish.  Walmart and WasteManagement have worked together to recycle a large portion of the waste generated by the retail giant. WasteManagement now generates income from recycling, not just trash collecting. iGPS manufactures plastic pallets with a radio frequency chip (RFID) in them and rents them to businesses.  Plastic pallets being lighter than wooden ones, translates into less fuel consumed by trucks to move goods and are recyclable at the end of their life, with no new trees needing to be cut down. 

While already popular in Europe, bicycle sharing programs are getting off to a good start in the US, specifically Denver, CO.  Bcycle, is making 400 bicycles available in Denver on Earth Day. For $5 commuters can get a bike for 24 hours, a 7 day rental is $20, and for $30 you can rent for 30 days.  Look for SmartBike coming soon to the Washington D.C. area.