You have a green job: the job you’ve got now!
Oct 14, 2009
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Green jobs are hot right now. Well, they are a hot discussion. I'm not convinced a green job revolution is going to transform our economy and employment to the extent that the Internet boom of the 1990s had sparked. I've been to many conferences and meetings focusing on "green," where everyone is asking each other about finding that green job. Besides the issue that few can describe what a green job is . . . definition aside, there just may not be that many for a host of reasons: the regulatory climate, lack of capital, and well, the lack of demand, to put it in Econ 101 terms. But if you are gainfully employed now, you could very well make that current job green.
So how? Maybe I'm wrong and there will be more green collar jobs in the next few months or years. But I would guess that prospective employer would want to know what you've done to make that job "green." Whether your an entry level sales assistant or a partner at a firm billing hundreds of dollars an hour, here are some steps that show you are doing more than drinking the green kool-aid. By some estimates, buildings account for 20% of the pollution in the US. Do what's easy first, and learn the trade-offs, because there is never a panacea for making your office completely carbon-neutral.
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Do not just think about recycling first. If your office isn't doing it, you are way behind the curve. But if your office is recycling, go the extra step and talk to your trash vendor or service. Stay late one evening: you may be surprised to see that everything thrown in the same bin or dumpster. Know what can be recycled in your community, and go the extra step and visit the waste sorting facility. If you find that your company is being scammed, it could be a good opportunity for you to educate--or change--that vendor.
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Audit your suppliers, start with paper, for example: if you are buying recycled paper that is shipped from the opposite coast, that may not be the most sustainable solution if you could buy locally sourced paper that can be recycled in your community. Go a step further: one silver lining of a down economy is that office furniture is cheap. Why buy new desks or cubicle panels if you can buy them used? I doubt anyone would notice the difference.
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Know your utilities. Perhaps the local gas & electric company provides an option for electricity from non-fossil fuel sources, or would permit your firm to purchase renewable energy certificates. Your municipal water provider would also give you tips on drought resistant plants for the outside landscaping and scaleable, water-saving steps for inside your office.
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Be smart: power strips and even better, smart strips, should be installed to reduce energy consumption from all those coffee makers, cell phones, and other gadgets that still suck up energy even when not charging or in use. Get away from that awful habit of leaving all office lights on: see what leverage your office has as a tenant to install motion detectors and other devices that can prevent all those empty rooms from being lit when empty.
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Think back to those Finance 101 classes. Most "green" and recycled products are more expensive. However, lighting, for example, requires significant up-front investment, but will pay off within a couple years, or even a few months. Work with your facilities staff, crunch the numbers, and prove the savings to the "powers that be" . . . which could be your the managers of the property your firm is leasing. Remember, your company wants to show how you can make OR save money--hence an easy opportunity.
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Evaluate your business travel policy. Yes, companies are tightening their travel budgets, but of course face time with clients or partners is critical. Start a sustainable travel policy, giving employees the opportunities to negate their globetrotting with a viable carbon offset program. Gold Standard (GS), Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007 (VCS 2007), and VER+ are just a few standards to which carbon offset programs should adhere.
I am only scratching the surface here. What has your company done in the quest to become more sustainable? What would you like to see happen at your office?
