Businesses and the Environment

Why businesses should consider their effects on the environment?

Sustainable practices are already a fact. It's essential to look out for opportunities to use less and improve customer service or productivity. Businesses should think about the environment due to the larger issues, such as global warming, energy independence, and social impact. However we observe also other essential values:

• Energy reduction - an average 40% of the total energy use reduction by Energy Star Building would bring net savings of $1 a day per employee.  
• Space selection and efficient design can decrease energy costs, increase work productivity, and employee retention according to new real estate strategies.
• Businesses with sustainable practices are better positioned to recruit and retain employees. 58% of people working in office environment are 44 and younger, as per bureau of labor statistics, and sustainability practices are increasingly crucial to this group.
• Telecommuting - an option for a better work/life balance that improves productivity.
• LEED (Green Building Rating System) provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction. There is a long list of benefits of implementing LEED strategy from improvement in energy efficiency, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) and water quality to reducing solid waste, benefiting owners, occupiers, and society. LEED certified buildings are healthier. Collectively LEED certificates by giving the points and rank by the level of certification boost prestige of the properties. How we live and occupy the space determines the buildings performance, but also defines and demonstrates our commitment to the environment and the health of our organizations.
• For increasing number of computers that use a lot of power and cause disposal problems the solution may be server consolidation or cloud computing that will reduce a company's carbon footprint and save money.
• Incentive programs and tax credits, rebate programs http://www.energysavers.gov/financial/. All kind of local programs and regulations regarding the climate change and sustainability are supported by federal funding and resources. EPA http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/index.htm 
• The green building legislation will become more strict, mandated and regulated. Developers and building owners who are considering green construction practices or retrofit projects will be the industry leaders.
• Prestige - many companies are very proud contributing to sustainability and saving our planet, and so the clients.
• Promoting a healthy lifestyle, trying to be less wasteful, recycling and reusing supplies, using organic materials and new green technologies, etc. are all wonderful ideas. Things like banks offering "paper free" options, emails that say "don't print if you don't have to," are small things, but when quantity is considered, are certainly worth it. In fact, in many cases today, when given offers with similar price points and service, many consumers will opt for the "green" choice.
• As observed a boom in all things "green" and organic, trendsetters, celebrities, and polititians all over the world popularize "being green" by choosing such products (e.g. hybrid cars, organic food, all natural cosmetics, etc.) and services or providing new and innovative ideas.

Career opportunities available in the green related fields

There are ample opportunities in the green related fields. Many of them would be for professionals such engineers, designers, contractors, technicians, etc. Higher demand is for LEED professionals, green buildings specialists and energy consultants. Since renewables, such as solar, wind, or geothermal energy are the rapidly growing industry there will be also jobs in manufacturing, sales and marketing. Ample opportunities in green energy - products and services increase options for environmental education, program and projects managers, green IT specialists and more.

How to find green jobs? 

The series of articles from Green Collar Blog will help to identify current opportunities, along with My Green Education and Career and Green Career Guide.

Good Jobs, Safe Jobs, Green Jobs

Under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, green jobs have become a priority at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

$500 million is awarded to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries - Recovery Act initiative.

The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants (nearly $190 million) are designed to teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy - January 20, 2010.

The "Pathways Out of Poverty" grants ($150 million) will support programs that help disadvantaged populations find ways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency through employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries - January 13, 2010.

The Energy Training Partnership Grants ($100 million) will support green job training programs to help dislocated workers and others, including veterans, women, African Americans and Latinos, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. Approximately $28 million of the total funds will support projects in communities impacted by auto industry restructuring - January 6, 2010.

Green training grants ($55 million) will lead to green jobs and help communities across the nation spur economic recovery and begin the process towards energy independence - November 18, 2009.

DOL has also co-hosted forums on ensuring safety within the green jobs industry and increased access to green jobs for persons with disabilities "Health into Green and Sustainability" - December 16, 2009.

Nowadays a great deal of companies are trying to make themselves greener and people become more environmentaly aware, therefore there is countless green opportunities in nearly any industry. Below is the list of 10 Great Green Opportunities from the Emagazine:

Green Globetrotters: Travel and Hospitality

Sustainability Stewards: Planning and Land Use

Complementary Care: Health and Medicine

Power Pushers: Energy and Renewables

Planet Protectors: Legal Careers

Green Geeks: Information Technology (IT)

Eco Educators: Green Learning

Better Builders: Design and Construction

Improving Industry: Corporate Social Responsibility

Organic Occupations: Food and Farming

We could also add organic cosmetics, green fashion design, energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, recycling, green marketing, and many more...

“Where are the ‘green’ jobs?” said Marie Kerpan, founder of Green Careers, “There are a bazillion companies where you can take your skills and put it to work in a ‘green’ company.”

Green jobs can be found on many websites and the number grows considerably.  Below a short list of them:

• http://www.greengamma.com/ careers
• http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/greendreamjobs.main
• http://jobs.greenbiz.com/
• https://www.greencareercentral.com/
• http://www.alternativeenergy.com/
• http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/careers/jobseekers
• http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/environmental_jobs.htm
• http://www.sustainableindustries.com/jobs
• http://www.cleantech.org/pg/TechOpps/ViewTechOpps.aspx
• http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/jobs/
• http://www.sustainlane.com/green-jobs
• http://www.greenjobs.com/public/index.aspx
• http://jobs.treehugger.com/
• http://www.greenjobsearch.org
• http://www.environmentalcareer.com/
• http://www.careervoyages.gov/green-main.cfm 
• http://www.goinggreenjobs.com/
• http://www.greatgreencareers.com/
• http://www.5milliongreenjobs.org/
• http://www.environmentalcareer.info/ 

Where to look for green jobs in the next few years?

• Renevables, including the most dynamic growing solar industry (expected jobs in manufacturing, construction, installations, and sales) - In January, President Obama awareded $2.3 billion in tax credits for clean energy manufacturing projects, including investments in manufacturing facilities that solar, wind, energy efficiency and energy management technologies. U.S. Interior Department simplified the permitting process to speed up the construction of transmission projects. The Interior Department fixed $41 million from the economic stimulus package to advance production of clean energy on public lands. Chairman of the Green Jobs and New Economy Subcommittee, Sen. Bernie Sanders plans to reintroduce legislation that will provide incentives for buying solar panels and for solar companies to produce 10 million solar rooftops in the United States in 10 years.
• Training and education for “green” jobs
• IT jobs

Feel free to add more, comment and share your experience.

What is solar radiation?

Solar energy is created at the core of the sun by nuclear fusion, where millions of tons of hydrogen are converted into helium. The process generates enormous heat that causes atoms to discharge photons. Then photons are being absorbed by gas molecules, causing nearby atoms to re-emit other photons. After countless repetitions the photon finally reaches the sun’s surface. The last 20% of the journey to the surface of the Earth the energy is transported mostly by convection. It takes a photon approximately 100,000 years and circa 10²⁵ absorptions, and re-emissions to travel from the sun’s core to the surface. To reach the Earth sun’s ray takes about 8 minutes.

Cutaway - The three major zones of the Sun's internal structure. The core (temperature of 15 million degrees). In the large radiative zone the plasma and energy are gradually moved outwards from the core over a period of thousands of years. Finally, the hot plasma is cycled through a convection process (represented by the series of circles) in the convection zone up to the surface and out into space. SOHO

Outside the Earth at the average earth-sun distance at the top of the atmosphere, solar radiation is calculated to has an intensity of circa 1367 W/m², defined as the Solar Constant, but only about 40% of the solar energy caught at the top of Earth's atmosphere passes through to the surface. Still this amount of energy is thousands times more than all energy generated on the Earth.

Solar radiation is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. Infrared radiation (IR) emitted by the Earth's surface and its atmosphere is called terrestrial radiation. Components of solar and terrestrial radiation and their approximate wavelength ranges are as follows:

Ultraviolet: 0.20 - 0.39 µm

• 0.20-0.29 µm (UVC), 
• 0.29-0.32 µm (UVB), 
• 0.32-0.39 µm (UVA).

Visible: 0.39 - 0.76 µm

Infrared: 0.76 - 100.00 µm (near-infrared: 0.76 - 4.00 µm)

The electromagnetic spectrum (specific distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by the object) extends from below frequencies used for radio to gamma radiation, covering wavelengths from thousands of miles down to a portion of the size of an atom. Picture by Inductiveload.

Gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation < 0.20 µm are selectively absorbed in the atmosphere by oxygen and nitrogen and turned into heat energy.

The sun emits 7% of ultraviolet radiation in the range of 0.20 - 0.39 µm. UVC is absorbed by the concentration of ozone (O₃) gas in the stratosphere, while UVB and UVA can be responsible for sunburn.

The colors within the visible light are violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Visible light stimulates the perception of color, and regulates the timing of animal activities such as migration, or photosynthesis of plants. In this zone the sun emits nearly 44% of its radiation.

Infrared solar radiation is emited in 49% by the sun. Almost 37% is radiated between 0.76 and 1.5 µm (near IR) and only 12% at far IR. Infrared solar radiation with wavelengths greater than 700 nm is partially absorbed by carbon dioxide, ozone, and water present in the atmosphere in liquid and vapour forms. Roughly 30% of the sun's visible radiation (wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm) is reflected back to space by the atmosphere or the Earth's surface. 

Nearly 99% of solar, or short-wave radiation is in the range of 0.3 - 3.0 µm and the bulk of terrestrial, or long-wave radiation in 3.5 - 50 µm.

Every location on Earth receives sunlight at least part of the year, but the  amount of solar radiation varies and depends on geographic location (including latitude and elevation), time of day, season, landscape, and weather, such as cloud cover.

Since the Earth is round, the sun strikes the surface at different angles ranging from 0º (just above the horizon) to 90º (directly overhead and gets all the energy possible). The more inclined the sun's rays are, the longer they travel through the atmosphere, the more scattered and diffuse. Polar regions never get a high sun.

The total quantity of energy emitted from the sun's surface is approximately 63,000,000 W/m². As solar radiation passes through the atmosphere some of it is absorbed, some diffused, and some reflected by gas molecules and suspended particles. The solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface without being scattered is called direct beam solar radiation. Atmospheric conditions can reduce direct beam radiation from 10% on clear, dry days to 100% during cloudy days.

Direct sunlight has a luminous effectiveness of about 93 lumens per watt of radiant flux and if not blocked by clouds, is experienced as sunshine. Bright sunlight provides illuminance of approximately 100,000 lux or lumens per square meter at the Earth's surface.

Almost all of the energy that drives the various systems (climate systems, ecosystems, hydrologic systems, etc.) found on the Earth originates from the sun. The interest of solar energy is continuously growing, and professionals recognize it’s immense energetic perspectives. 

From sustainable point of view solar energy is the most attractive from all of the renewables. Solar power is free and clean. There is no side effects from obtaining it, no harmful emissions, no natural resources reduction, no waste production, and installation of the solar systems, in most cases on architectural structures, do not affect the scenery.

We can capture and convert solar radiation into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, using a variety of technologies. The technical feasibility and economical operation of these technologies at a specific location depends on the available solar radiation or solar resource.

GREEN LUXURY

May the "green" be luxury?

There was a very interesting discussion posted on LinkedIn. "How do you see "green" in terms of luxury"?

The author wanted to find out how to let clients know that the brand of luxury is not only beautiful, but also responsible? The responses and people's approach is so diversified.

Since the terms "green", as well as "luxury" have so extensive meaning, this topic could make a base for a good book.

What is luxury?

According to the dictionary luxury mean:

1. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort;

2. Something expensive or hard to obtain;

3. Sumptuous living or surroundings.

People have usually their own perceivability regarding luxury. For some it will be benefits, for others high life that most envy, for someone pleasure and comfort and for some just the cognizance they paid more.

Unfortunately I met a great deal of people who deeply believe the price make the product luxury. If the merchandise is priced below the certain level they even don't look at it, but being unreachable for most make that thing desirable. Sad, but true.

By Wikipedia in economics, a luxury good is a good with increasing demand as income rises. Luxury good may become a normal good or even an inferior good at different income levels, e.g. a collector stops buying increasing numbers of luxury cars to start collecting airplanes. As people become wealthier, they buy more of the luxury good.

"Green" and "Luxury" do not have to be antonyms and "Green" does not have to mean sacrifice. However we can easily find "non-green" examples of wastefulness used to make projects, products or services more luxuries.

In fact there are thousands of gallons of water used to maintain the green areas (golf courses, meticulously nurturing parks and lawns). On the other hand we cannot exist without flora, since it's the biggest producer of oxygen.

Many "green" sustainable investments cost a lot, and typically more technologically advanced project is, less affordable. There will always be some kind of return on that investment though.

LEED (Green Building Rating System) provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction. There is a long list of benefits of implementing LEED strategy from improvement in energy efficiency, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) and water quality to reducing solid waste, benefiting owners, occupiers, and society. LEED certified buildings are healthier.

Collectively LEED certificates by giving the points and rank by the level of certification boost prestige of the properties.

In housing having all the latest technology installed (usually that is commonly called luxury) increase the value of the buildings, but higher costs or paying more may not automatically mean luxury, and adding just a solar panel does not make the house luxuries.

How "green" can be marketed?

How convince people to pay more attention to the green aspect of the projects?

Few of the undoubted advantages are:

- long term savings (everybody watch costs; small companies, as well as huge corporations), even with the over the top water consumed designs or other non-green decorations, investors and managers can look for ways to turn green in so many other, invisible for regular user, aspects

- incentive programs and tax credits, rebate programs, itd.

- prestige - many companies are very proud contributing to sustainability and saving our planet, and so the clients.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle, trying to be less wasteful, recycling and reusing supplies, using organic materials and new green technologies, etc. are all wonderful ideas. Things like banks offering "paper free" options, emails that say "don't print if you don't have to," are small things, but when quantity is considered, are certainly worth it. In fact, in many cases today, when given offers with similar price points and service, many consumers will opt for the "green" choice.

Thus, we have observed a boom in all things "green" and organic. Trendsetters, celebrities, and polititians all over the world popularize "being green" by choosing such products (e.g. hybrid cars, organic food, all natural cosmetics, etc.) and services or providing new and innovative ideas.

People have finally started thinking about saving our planet.

Let's hope it won't be just another trend.