by Beth Gray

A recent article on CNNMoney.com explores the issue of finding a green job and why many are finding this task so difficult.  While President Obama has expressed his intention to migrate the United States toward a more green economy, those searching for jobs in this new economy are finding that it’s not as easy as many would think.  The article’s author, Anne Fisher, quotes Carol McClelland, founder and executive director of a website called Green Career Central who notes, “’The idea of ‘green’ jobs has gotten so much press that many people mistakenly think the jobs are already here.’”  In fact, as McClelland points out, “’Major economic shifts always happen slowly’” and the shift to a green economy is no exception.

The article points out that only 12 percent of federal stimulus spending in 2009 went to green projects.  As a result, progress towards and jobs in the green economy have been slow in materializing.  Fisher points out that as additional funds become allocated toward green projects, the United States workforce will begin to see a greater number of jobs in the green economy.  For those with a passion for sustainability and hopeful to land a job in the green economy, however, there are resources available to help in the search.

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by Allison G. S. Knox

When I think of the environment and issues affecting sustainability, I think of Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth and garbage in landfills. I never think of the tea industry and what it is doing to lessen its impact on the environment.
 
Tea has made a huge impact in the history of the world and the history of the United States.  Most Americans recall the story of the Boston Tea Party – patriots dressed as Native Americans dumping the newly imported tea from England into the Boston Harbor.  The tea industry has been very influential and at least one tea company is now working to impact the health of the environment in a very positive fashion.
 
Yesterday, I enjoyed a mug of tea by Celestial Seasonings – a highly regarded tea company based in Boulder, Colorado.  As I was preparing the mug, I noticed a statement regarding their commitment to the environment on the box.  The statement read, “Our unique pillow-style tea bag is the result of our commitment to doing what’s best for the environment.  Because these natural fiber tea bags don’t need strings, tags, staples or individual wrappers, we’re able to save more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills every year.”  

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by Beth Gray

Information Technology (IT) operations and infrastructure can be a significant portion of a school’s overall carbon footprint.  As a recent article by Matthew Sarrel in eWeek Magazine points out, taking steps to green your data center and IT infrastructure can not only help reduce your school’s greenhouse gas emissions, it can also provide tremendous cost savings. 

Sarrel points out in his article that “a warm feeling at night is not a compelling business reason for going green, but saving millions of dollars on power and HVAC sure is.”  He describes how many companies and organizations have taken steps toward greening their IT operations and in turn have experienced tremendous cost savings.  IBM, for example, announced in May 2009 that it is building a green data center.  The project, anticipated to cost some $12.4 million, is being jointly funded by IBM, New York State, and Syracuse University.  Highlights of what IBM is touting as the “world’s greenest data center” include an on-site power generation system for electricity, IBM’s most innovative and energy-efficient servers, and computer-cooling technology.  Other companies and organizations, including Sun, the National Security Agency (NSA), and Microsoft, are also touting green data centers.

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 by Jessica Stasiw

Being good to the environment can start with what you’re putting on your plate. By taking small steps to purchase certain items closer to home, you can make a small difference in the movement to decrease greenhouse gas emissions released into the environment.

A great way to evaluate your impact on the environment is to create your own greenhouse gas emissions inventory. This inventory will help you determine how much carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide your daily activities release into the environment. Some food companies have begun this process as well, and are taking inventory of their own emissions into the atmosphere. According to a study by Everyday Health, a person can easily produce 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year just by consuming food. In comparison, a myriad of household activities only accounts for 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. There are a variety of ways in which your food choices impact your overall carbon footprint.

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