Taking Care of Business
The telecommunications industry seems to be dialing into the green world, if you believe this week’s burst of headlines from that sector. In just the past week, Verizon was feted by the feds for an energy-efficient cal center. Cox communications unveiled its latest efforts to conserve energy and resources. Telecom giant BT announced a long-term carbon emissions reduction goal. And 24 postal services around the globe announced the creation of a carbon-measurement and -monitoring system that aims to standardize how the mail industry reports its carbon emissions.
Is it a confluence, or merely a coincidence? Probably more the latter than the former, though industry sectors seem to move forward, environmentally speaking, in packs. Whatever the cause, it signals that yet another industry not traditionally associated with pollution and waste has recognized the value — financially and reputationally — of going green. Unlike companies in other sectors, telecom firms by their very nature have significant capabilities to educate their customers, suppliers, employees, and others. Let’s see if they’re up to the task.
Meanwhile, an interesting new study on the potential of so-called green jobs indicates that there’s plenty of jobs to be found in the world of green and clean technology. The six areas studied — building retrofitting, mass transit, energy-efficient automobiles, wind power, solar power, and cellulosic biomass fuels — indicates that “the vast majority of jobs associated with these six green strategies are in the same areas of employment that people already work in to-day, in every region and state of the country.” For example, constructing wind farms creates jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists and truck drivers, among many others. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through retrofitting relies, among others, on roofers, insulators and building inspectors.
We’ll be looking more at green jobs — and green careers — in the coming months, including launching some new products aimed at everyone from recent college grads to mid-career changers to executives seeking to stay current.
Indeed, toward that end, we’re going through a mini-hiring spree here at GreenBiz. The green economy in action!
— Joel Makower, Executive Editor
New on GreenBiz Radio:
By Tilde Herrera
Wal-Mart’s Matt Kistler recently joined GreenBiz Radio to offer insight into working with its behemoth supply to design products and packaging to be more environmentally friendly.
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Headlines
The Latest News on Business and the Environment
Businesses Come ‘Together’ to Fight Climate Change
Cities, non-profits and businesses launched a climate change action campaign for U.S. consumers on World Environment Day. The program promotes energy-saving products and services, and aggregates the carbon dioxide and monetary savings of those participating in the initiative.
Verizon Call-Routing Center One of Three Facilities Awarded for Using Combined Heat and Power
A Verizon call-routing center, South Carolina energy plant and the University of New Mexico are using combined heat and power systems that have cut energy use by at least 20 percent.
TerraPass Launches Customizable Carbon Offsets Program
The company has developed a way to let its customers choose which types of offset programs they purchase; CEO says the move is a sign of a growing, more stable carbon market.
Hilton, Cox Communications Announce Sustainability Plans, Programs
Cox’s New England operations are on their way to meeting the company’s energy reduction plans, and Hilton has set a number of five-year goals.
DOE Taps Manufacturers to Advance Wind Power
The Dept. of Energy joined forces with GE, Vestas, Siemens Power Generation, Clipper Turbine Works, Suzlon Energy and Gamesa Corp. this week in a bid to grow wind energy production high enough to account for a fifth of total generation by 2030.
BT Makes a Big Climate Commitment
The telecom behemoth wants to cut its carbon emissions intensity 80 percent below 1996 levels by 2020 through energy efficiency, purchased low carbon power and on-site renewable energy generation.
Economy and Energy Edge Environment as Top Consumer Concern: Survey
Most Americans and Britons believe the environment was in better shape five years ago, according to the 2008 ImagePower Green Brands Survey, which also discovered that Whole Foods and Body Shop were deemed the greenest brands. Participants ranked the environment behind economic and energy issues in terms of concern.
With Investment, Millions of Blue and White Collars Can Be Turned Green
In the creation of a green economy, a wide variety of occupations throughout the country can become green jobs. A new report looks at just a few jobs that can receive a boost from green investments.
GM Phases Out Gas Guzzlers for Fuel Efficient Cars
Reeling from a tough economic environment and a general public thirsty for more fuel efficient cars, General Motors announced plans Tuesday to shift away from large trucks and SUVs toward a beefed up portfolio of gasoline-sipping and electric cars. A strategic review of its Hummer brand could lead to an overhaul or sale.
HP Licenses High-Efficiency Solar Tech to Speed Innovation
The partnership with Livermore-based Xtreme Energetics will couple HP’s transparent transistors with Xtreme’s highly efficient solar panels, and enable solar system to migrate from rooftops to building facades and other new locations.
Postal Services Around the Globe to Begin Tracking Emissions
The 24 member mail delivery services that make up the International Post Corporation have announced a pilot program aimed at measuring, scoring and reducing overall emissions from the global trade in mailed goods.
Columns and Features
Insight and Inspiration from the Experts
Corporate Green Teams: Sustainable Business from the Bottom Up
By Quynh Nguyen
When corporate sustainability initiatives spring up organically from employees’ own motivation, the results can include more than just shrinking a company’s footprint. Three companies highlight the different stages of how a green team evolves.
The Greening of Design, from A to D
By Joel Makower
The greening of design is gaining interest, and I’m not simply talking about our fast-approaching conference on the topic, Greener by Design
Featured Resource
A Wealth of Hands-On Help
Job Opportunities for the Green Economy
The Political Economy Research Institute provides a snapshot of some of the jobs than have the potential to be turned into green jobs as the country invests in green issues like mass transit, wind power and building retrofits.
GreenBiz Blogs
Joel Makower’s Two Steps Forward:
Going Down Under, Down Under
> More from Joel Makower
Marc Gunther on Corporate America:
Technology & Sustainability
> More from Marc Gunther
David Wigder’s Green Marketing Strategies:
Managing Environmental Risk by Looking through the Rear-view Mirror
> More from David Wigder
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