NEWS: SSC Launches Nationwide Green Auditor Certification

SSC certifies eighteen Green Auditors in August training course

BETHESDA,MD. – September 11, 2008 – Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is pleased to announce the conclusion of the first SSC Green Auditor certification course. The eighteen environmental consultants who have completed the training are now authorized to use the SSC Green Audit methodology with their clients, and will receive preferential status when SSC seeks contractors for its own engagements.

“The SSC Green Auditor certification evolved out of a growing need for consistent, reliable Green Audit methodology,” said SSC President Jennifer Woofter. “Because every environmental consultant has developed their own approach, we found that clients weren’t exactly sure what they were getting when they began searching for a green audit provider. Our SSC Green Audit methodology solves that problem, allowing our certified auditors to deliver a clear set of recommendations, and a carbon footprint that is benchmarked against each organization’s peer group.”

Using SSC’s proprietary methodology and tools, certified SSC Green Auditors help organizations:

• Determine employees’ attitudes and awareness about “going green”
• Calculate your carbon footprint
• Assess environmental strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement
• Provide relevant, cost-effective, and impactful green recommendations

“The SSC Green Audit methodology is well defined and targeted in scope. I’m excited about the service offering, “said Matt Lillard, owner of Green Savers LLC and newly certified SSC Green Auditor. “It has great potential to deliver value immediately to the client, gain their confidence, and lead to a strong potential for follow on services. It gives them metrics that they can use to chart their progress over time. I’ll hope to build some of these features into anything else I add to my suite over time.”

“SSC has worked with more than two dozen clients over the past several years, honing the SSC Green Audit methodology. We’re excited to be able to broaden our services through a network of certified Green Auditors from California to Maine,” said Woofter. “Going green shouldn’t just be for big companies – and now it’s something that every organization can tackle with confidence.”

To learn more about the SSC Green Audit methodology, visit www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/greenaudit.

To learn more about becoming a Certified SSC Green Auditor, visit https://sustainabilityconsulting.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/events-become-a-certified-ssc-green-auditor/.

About Strategic Sustainability Consulting

Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire. Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.

For more information please contact:

Denise Buhrau, Project Manager

Strategic Sustainability Consulting

202-470-3248

504-214-4354

NEWS: America’s Response to Climate Change: All the Proof You’ll Need!

Confused about climate change? (Or is it “global warming”?) Having trouble explaining to others why the threat of climate change is real? Check out the following for a clearer picture and compelling proof!

A recent conference titled “Land of Opportunity: The American Response to Climate Change” held in Tupper Lake, New York focused on generating solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. One solution involves policy development specifically for creating negative or no-cost abatement (GHG reduction) solutions for two leading emissions-producing sectors: buildings and appliances, and power generation. Participants also drew upon the highly regarded McKinsey & Company report “Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?” McKinsey served as a Knowledge Partner to the conference.

Participants enjoyed a variety of action-oriented presentations, including a very concerning, compelling, and entertaining presentation by John Holdren, Harvard University Professor of Environmental Policy at the Kennedy School of Government. In his presentation, “Solving the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Problem,” Holdren explains that the term “global warming” is actually a misnomer. The term implies that the problem at hand is gradual, when in truth it’s quite rapid; uniform when it is highly inconsistent across all of Earth; mainly about temperature, but it encompasses everything about climate; and potentially benign, although it is entirely harmful. “A more accurate term,” he explains, “would be ‘global climatic disruption.’ That’s a big mouthful, but at least it’s not wrong.” Perhaps most importantly, and contrary to what we so often hear, he states, “This is not a problem for our children and our grandchildren. It is a problem for us, right now, people living all around the world.” To view his full explanation of what “climate change” really means, click here to watch his provocative presentation in its entirety.

Thomas Lovejoy, president of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, further elaborates on Holdren’s lecture with his presentation “The Science and Physical Implications of Climate Change.” Lovejoy gives a detailed account of what is taking place in the natural world (particularly the natural living world) due to climate change, what we can expect in the future, and what we can do about it. He rattles off such startling facts as “all tropical glaciers are retreating at a rate that they will be gone in 12 years,” and that if we continue to operate at GHG levels double that of the pre-industrial age, we are on course to lose 20-30% of all species on earth. He emphasizes, “This issue is even more urgent than most people appreciate.” Click here to watch his alarming lecture in full.

These are just two of many informative presentations from the conference. To access the entire list of video presentations, Power Points, and notable presenters, click here. If you find these presentations to be as gripping as we did, share them! We could all afford to gain some (more) perspective, and broaden our knowledge of global climate change (or “global climatic disruption”) and its severe implications.

If you are an individual or small business looking to reduce your GHG emissions, visit the Strategic Sustainability Consulting Online Marketplace for a wide variety of specialized products and free downloads. Or, if you are a small business that is interested in hiring a sustainability consultant, contact us for a free consultation. We can help you think through the best way to approach “going green” with special attention to your small business realities. Call (202-470-3248) or email us (info@sustainabilityconsulting.com) today!

Event: Webinar – Sustainability Consulting 101 on July 30

Are you interested in using your skills to make the world a better place? Are you passionate about the environment, social justice, and accountability—but not currently in a job where those values are promoted? Whether you’re a recent graduate in search of that first job, or an experienced professional looking to switch careers, the growing world of sustainability consulting has something to offer. But it can also be a confusing, ultra-competitive industry, and nearly impossible to break into without prior experience.

That’s why we’re pleased to offer Sustainability Consulting 101, an interactive webinar about the “ins and outs” of—what else?—sustainability consulting. You’ll learn:

– General trends in sustainability consulting, including the differences between sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and corporate citizenship consultancies.

– The philosophical and practical differences between 1) huge consulting firms with sustainability divisions, 2) boutique consulting firms, 3) NGOs that provide consulting services, and 4) freelance consulting opportunities.

– How to position your past experience to get your foot in the door with the type of organization best suited to your background and career plans.

– Resources you need to know in order to stay up-to-date with emerging sustainability issues.

– How to get involved in the SSC Consultant Network.

The webinar is hosted by Jennifer K. Woofter, president of Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC). In the past three years, SSC has grown from a 1-person start-up to a consultancy drawing on more than 230 sustainability experts.

Cost: $50

Sign-Up on Our Website: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com (click Events)

Space is limited to ensure an interactive experience where you can ask questions and get real answers, so reserve your space today. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive an email with log-in and call-in details.

If you have any questions, feel free to email SSC at info@sustainabilityconsulting.com.

EVENTS: Become a Certified SSC Green Auditor

Want to help organizations figure out how to “go green”? Have a passion for sustainability but no formal audit training? Join us for a 3-day training event and become a certified SSC Green Auditor! We’ll provide you with everything you need to successfully guide a client through a Green Audit.

Using SSC’s proprietary methodology and tools, you will learn how to:

• Determine employees’ attitudes and awareness about “going green”
• Calculate your client’s carbon footprint
• Assess your client’s environmental strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement
• Provide relevant, cost-effective, and impactful green recommendations

After you complete the certification, you will:

• Walk away with a host of tactical tools (surveys, spreadsheets, calculators, report templates) to make green audits a simple, consistent process
• Get access to SSC’s collection of green recommendations and results (for example, show your clients how their carbon footprint compares to other similar organizations)
• Be authorized to use the SSC Green Audit methodology and tools to conduct your own client engagements, with licensing fees paid to SSC on a per-client basis
• Receive free support from SSC staff, to help when questions come up
• Be listed on the SSC website as a certified SSC Green Auditor, and receive a “Certified SSC Green Auditor” logo to use on your own materials
• Receive preferential status when SSC contracts with local sustainability consultants

Program details:

• Date: August 27-29, 2008 (next session is January 28-30, 2009)
• Location: Washington, DC (specific details to follow)
• Cost: $2,500 per person (discounts available for groups)
• Length of certification: 1-year (annual recertification optional)

Are you right for this certification program?

This program is designed for people with a strong working knowledge of environmental issues, who are looking for a green audit methodology that will provide clear, concise, and compelling results for their clients. You should be comfortable with concepts like (but not limited to) climate change, waste/recycling, water management, ISO 14001, and sustainability reporting. Participants have probably read The Ecology of Commerce and Natural Capitalism, and can confidently answer simple questions about “green” workplaces. To ensure only the highest quality SSC Green Auditors, we reserve the right to limit access to the certification program.

To learn more about the certification program, send an email to info@sustainabilityconsulting.com and tell us more about yourself.  To register, go to our website at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and go to our events page–click forward to August and choose “register now”.

NEWS: Sports For Nature

What’s more fun than playing sports? Playing sports that raise money to protect our wildlife! This past April we joined seventeen other companies to sponsor an event called Tennis For Nature, a doubles benefit tournament held in Herndon, VA. Fifty-six players were cheered on by over 400 spectators to raise money for two environmental organizations: Defenders of Wildlife and Alaska Wilderness League. Winners were awarded trophies, a one-month membership to the Sport & Health Club, and most importantly, voted to split the funds raised 50/50 between the two organizations. In the end, the event raised a grand total of over $32,000! These funds will help to protect the gray wolf population of the Northern Rockies, support polar bears in Alaska, and improve and protect the habitat of gopher tortoises in Florida. Now, that’s an ACE for the environment!

EVENTS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting and GreenITtools.com Host Green IT Webinar

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is excited to announce a new webinar, Implementing a Green IT Program. This interactive online event, taking place on Thursday, May 1, will focus on the practical steps to improve your organization’s environmental impact and performance.
“There are huge environmental impacts associated with information technology,” says SSC President Jennifer K. Woofter. “Smart companies realize that pursuing a Green IT program can lower carbon emissions, divert e-waste from landfills, and help achieve a dramatic reduction in energy costs. It’s a win-win situation for their financial bottom line and the environment. The trick now is making it easy to implement such a program.”

SSC is pleased to present this webinar in partnership with Jessica Vreeswijk, founder of GreenITTools.com. Jessica has spent the last six years providing IT project management, operations management, consulting and technical services in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. GreenITTools.com provides practical, hands-on tools for IT managers in small- to medium-sized businesses to assess and reduce the impact of IT. The Green IT Guide and Toolkit for Sustainable Business offers first-hand advice and best practices based on Jessica’s own experience in spearheading a Green IT program.

In this 60-minute presentation you’ll learn:

– A five-step process for implementing a Green IT program
– Areas of opportunity and impact for Green IT
– Using the Green IT Toolkit to assess your organization’s IT impact
– Where to find resources to help you get started

This webinar is designed for IT directors, IT professionals and sustainability managers looking to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of the IT department.
Webinar: Implementing a Green IT ProgramDate: Thursday, May 1, 2008Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ESTLocation: At Your Desktop!Cost: $50

To register for this event, click here

About Strategic Sustainability Consulting:
Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire. Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.

About GreenITtools.com
GreenITtools.com was founded to encourage discussion and implementation of ‘green’ IT practices in small- to medium-sized businesses. GreenITtools.com offers articles, resources, guides and toolkits to build understanding, and demonstrate viability for green IT practices. Visit www.greenITtools.com for more information or professional services.

EVENT: Webinar – Implementing a Green IT Program

This is an exciting time in the IT industry as we collectively begin to look at the impacts of our business on society, the environment and of course the economy. As the businesses we support begin to look at the environmental impacts of operations, we must be ready to support them and do our part. There is no doubt that IT is a contributor to the problem, so how can we contribute to the solution? It can be hard to know where to start!

SSC is pleased to present Implementing a Green IT Program, an interactive webinar focusing on the practical steps to improving your environmental performance. In this 60-minute presentation you’ll learn about:

— how to assess your organization’s IT impact,
— benefits and opportunities around implementing Green IT practices
— getting started with our five-step process for implementing a Green IT program
— where to find resources to help you get started

This webinar is designed for IT directors, IT professionals and sustainability managers looking to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of the IT department.

Cost: $50
Time: Check our event calendar for the next date!

Strategic Sustainability Consulting is pleased to present this webinar in partnership with Jessica Vreeswijk, head of Pacific Sunrise Systems Consulting and GreenITTools.com. Jessica has spent over five years providing IT project management, operations management, consulting and technical services in the not-for-profit, government and corporate business sectors. Jessica has initiated the GreenITTools.com project in order to provide practical, hands-on tools for IT managers in small- to medium-sized businesses based on her own experience in trying to start a Green IT program. Jessica is an MBA in Sustainable Business candidate at Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

EVENT: Webinar – Green Purchasing

A Green Purchasing Policy is essential for a sustainable workplace: it reduces your ecological footprint, minimizes unnecessary costs, and indicates to stakeholders your organizations’ dedication to people and the planet. This webinar provides the strategic framework and practical tools needed to develop and implement an effective Green Purchasing Policy.

Green Purchasing Webinar
Location: Online, At Your Desktop!
Cost: $50
Sign-Up: Here

Topics to be covered include:

— Why It Is Important to Buy Environmentally Preferable Products
— Definitions of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
— The Identification of Desired Environmental Attributes
— Balancing Environmental Considerations with Performance, Availability, and Cost Requirements
— How to Empower a Green Purchasing Team
— Identification of Initial Priorities
— Assigning Responsibilities and Establishing Deadlines
— The Use of Existing Environmental Labeling and Certification Programs
— Creation of a Communications Plan
— Developing Measurable Goals and Reporting Requirements
— Regular Policy Reveiw

This webinar is co-hosted by Alex Szabo of TheGreenOffice.com, a company dedicated to accelerating the transition to sustainability in the workplace. Through the online sale of green office products, expert sustainability consulting, and strategic carbon offsetting, TheGreenOffice.com works to make office greening easy and cost effective.

EVENT: Webinar – Understanding Carbon Offsets

Today, Americans introduce roughly 6 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually – over 25% of the 20 billion tons released worldwide – exacerbating the effects of global warming. Government initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol attempt to curtail the impacts, but these initiatives are still years away from reaching full fruition. In the absence of effective government regulation, public demand for action has put a value on projects that reduce emissions, which in turn generate emission reduction credits. These credits are then used in carbon offsetting efforts.

Carbon offsetting is a relatively new concept for most people and, as such, has generated a good amount of debate. While simple at first glance, the market mechanisms supporting the generation and sale of offsets, as well as the way in which this activity results in actual emission reductions, are somewhat complicated. That’s why we are pleased to offer:

Understanding Carbon Offsets, An Online Webinar
Location: Online, At Your Desktop
Cost: $50
Sign Up: Here

In this webinar we will explore how emission reduction credits are generated, tracked, and “retired”. At the end of this webinar, you will:

— Have a clear understanding of the voluntary carbon offset market;
— Understand how carbon credits are generated, traded, and “retired;”
— Know how to accurately quantify an organization’s carbon footprint;
— Be able to identify key criteria for procurement of high quality, unassailable carbon offsets;
— Possess the ability to take an organization carbon neutral.

This webinar is co-hosted by Alex Szabo of TheGreenOffice.com, a company dedicated to accelerating the transition to sustainability in the workplace. Through the online sale of green office products, expert sustainability consulting, and strategic carbon offsetting, TheGreenOffice.com works to make office greening easy and cost effective.

EVENTS: Sustainability Careers for MBAs

Are you a current MBA student or recent graduate who is struggling with the independent job search that comes along with looking for a career that matches your passion for making a difference in the world? Are you confused about how to position your pre-MBA experience to help get you to where you want to be next? Or do you not even know what career options might be available to you and where to find sustainability job listings? We can help!

Join us for an interactive webinar discussing Sustainability Careers for MBAs. We’ll cover:

• An overview of career opportunities across common MBA concentrations such as marketing, finance, operations, and other areas — customized according to the interests of the call participants.
• An overview of generalist (or sometimes not so “generalist”!) career opportunities such as sustainability managers and consultants.
• How to position your pre-MBA experience to get your foot in the door with the type of organization best suited to your background and career plans. Plus, learn to guard against the #1 mistake made by job seekers in this field.
• Key job-search resources as well as resources to stay on top of your game and not be overwhelmed. Also, learn a surprising fact about recruiting for sustainability careers.

Please note that while this seminar is geared toward current MBA students and recent graduates, all are certainly welcome to join.

The webinar is hosted by Karen Seeh, Principal of jihi Consulting and an SSC Associate. Prior to her move into independent consulting, Karen worked for 10 years in the public, private, and non-profit sectors – starting as an early promoter of the triple-bottom-line and then moving into CSR as well as exploring hybrid business models. She has an MBA in International Business and Sustainable Enterprise from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies from IU-Bloomington. Throughout her career, she herself has explored many avenues in sustainability and has provided advice to hundreds of students and job seekers.

Cost: $50

Sign-Up on Our Website for a Live Session
or
Download a Recorded Session from Our Online Store

Space is limited to 8 people to ensure an interactive experience where you can ask questions and get real answers, so reserve your space today. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive an email with log-in and call-in details.

If you have any questions, feel free to email SSC at info@sustainabilityconsulting.com or call us at 202-470-3248. We look forward to seeing you soon!