Developing the Next Generation of Cleantech Employees
An Open Letter to Boston Cleantech Employers:
The last 2 years have been challenging, but Boston cleantech/clean energy companies are thriving, thanks to the drive, talent and innovative spirit of the region’s cleantech entrepreneurs, growing firms, and established companies, the strategic investments made by our considerable cleantech venture capital community, and state and local goverment policy that recognizes the strength and growth potential of the clean energy industry.
Last summer, in the midst of the recession, I introduced Mayor Menino to a dozen cleantech CEO’s, and I think we were all surprised and delighted to hear that every single one of those companies was creating jobs and growing.
The labor market remains awash with talented individuals who want to join the clean energy field. But we all need to work together to ensure that the workforce pipeline remains full, and that young people entering the job market have the skills, experience, and credentials to be competitive.
I know that many of you are committed to hiring locally. I want to commend Fast Cap Systems, a relatively new addition to the City and to the Innovation District, for their leadership on this issue. And challenge all of you to learn more about how you can support Mayor Menino and his effort to create summer youth employment opportunities for our young citizens.
I hope you’ll participate in a briefing next Monday June 20th, 10:30 am at the BRA’s offices in the Marine Industrial Park at 22 Drydock Ave. to learn more about how you can engage a Boston high school student in a valuable summer internship learning experience.
Josh Bruno, School-to-Career and Employer Engagement Director, at the Private Industry Council, which administers the City’s summer youth employment program, will be there to answer questions. In the meantime, calls and emails are also welcome. Please contact Josh at josh.bruno@bostonpic.org or 617-488-1327 for more info or to participate in the briefing.
Our industry is laser focused on developing products and services that reduce environmental impacts, while
read moreCity Engages Garage Owners on EVs
The City will unveil a 3 charging unit pilot in the near future. Meanwhile, Chevy Volts (purchased in Connecticut and New York) and Nissan Leafs have already been spotted on Boston’s streets.
The City and BRA will soon begin a process to identify the best strategy to roll out charging infrastructure across the City, and to help owners of private parking spaces make the best decisions about this new technology.
read moreBoston’s Cleantech Cluster Featured in American Business Journal
Boston’s growing Cleantech Cluster in the Innovation District is explored in the latest issue of the American Business Journal. The article (begins on page 46) describes how the core principles of the Innovation District – shared innovation, “living lab”, and environmental leadership – create optimal conditions for cleantech company growth and development. But our work goes beyond promoting principles. We’re working with developers to help them create affordable, shared office and lab space for venture backed companies, identifying beta testing sites - on public and privately owned buildings – for promising cleantech products and services, surveying cleantech CEOs on sector policy priorities, exploring a district scale sustainable grid project in the heart of the Innovation District, and more.
Contact me if you’re interested in learning more about the cleantech companies located in the Innovation District, or if you’re looking to relocate or expand your business there.
read moreLEED for Planets Pilot Rating System Released
(Washington, DC) – April 1, 2011 – Today the U.S. Green Building Council announced the latest pilot rating system in its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program: LEED for Planets. “This new rating system will allow us to measure the environmental success of planetary objects throughout the universes, known and unknown,” said Douglas Kot, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council – San Diego Chapter. Kot pointed out that the credit categories should be familiar to the users of other LEED Rating Systems; they include:
1. Sustainable Sites
2. Water
3. Atmosphere & Energy
4. Minerals and Resources
5. Carbon-based Life Forms
The rating system will include a list of prerequisites and credits so that each planetary body can decide the most cost-effective approach to perpetual existence. For example in the Sustainable Sites category, it is a prerequisite to have a range of temperatures that supports life—so being too close to the nearest star will not allow planets to become certified in this rating system. Like other rating systems Innovation in Operations will be rewarded, Galen Nelson, resident of earth noted that, “Things like opposable digits on sentient beings might make for a good innovation credit,” but, he continued “That the results would need to be evaluated to determine that those digits were being used for active stewardship of the planetary body.”
Some things will be new to the users of the LEED Rating Systems. Take the Water Category for instance, in the green building rating system points are earned for using less water in your building and grounds. In LEED for Planets, the Water Category perquisites include the presence of water in any form, but points may be achieved for liquid water covering more than 30 percent of the surface area. However, Nelson noted that the new system’s submittal requirement for water – 100 million gallons of ocean water – “might be a challenge for some planet applicants.”
Similar to other LEED Rating Systems, there are credit synergies between points and categories, for example in the Carbon-based Life Form credits there are points available for a long-history of multi-cellular life, but if those fossils are converted to fuel too rapidly, then it will negatively affect the Atmosphere & Energy credits as there is a penalty for Carbon Dioxide levels that exceed 350 parts per million.
Yes, folks, it’s April Fools Day. Hats off to old friend, collaborator, and green building colleague Doug Kot in San Diego.
Have a great weekend.
Galen
read moreThe Japan Disaster, Community Resilience, and Sustainable Economic Development
Community Resilience: Plan, build, deploy and maintain physical and social infrastructures such that vulnerability to natural and human hazards and disasters is reduced for all members of a community; ensure that communities are adequately prepared to respond to crisis in a manner that is effective and coordinated, and recovery is accelerated. (credit: STAR Community Index)
The earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant failures in Japan painfully highlight the importance of resilience, and the emerging consensus among planners and economic development practitioners that resilience must be prioritized along side job creation, conventional public safety, affordable housing, clean air and water standards, public education, etc. Resilience is indeed a recognized priority among those planning and building sustainable communities. And within that realm, cleantech plays a powerful supporting role.
While our hearts go out to the citizens of Japan, the disaster is a learning opportunity for communities around the globe that robust, sustainable energy supply systems, redundant and resilient water and food production and distribution systems, and resilient design deserve our attention and resources.
On Energy:
The nuclear plant failures have highlighted widely reported reminders that the plants, even when shut down, require power to maintain the cooling infrastructure necessary to prevent core meltdowns. Distributed generation, anchored by safe, clean renewable energy production and managed by smart grids and buildings can add stability and resilience to conventional grids and centralized power. At the building level, climate change adaptation experts within Boston City Hall are discussing the need to move power infrastructure out of basements, particularly in coastal, flood prone areas. Indeed, the emergency energy supply system at the Fukushima plant in Japan failed because the switching equipment was located in the basement and damaged by the flooding. While New England faces a much smaller risk of both tsunamis and earthquakes, sea level rise and powerful storms are already a reality.
Recognizing the need to maintain navigable, lighted roadways during disasters, the Dept. of Energy awarded a grant to Solar Boston, to develop a solar powered evacuation route through the City. And the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s effort to develop a vision for a district scale sustainable energy system in the Boston Marine Industrial Park includes an examination of relevant climate change adaptation strategies.
On Water:
Storm events are increasing in frequency and severity, putting pressure on conventional stormwater management systems. Increasing permeable surface area, and integrating smart stormwater infrastructure including green and blue roofs, bioswales and raingardens with conventional approaches will upgrade urban areas to meet these new challenges, while creating good, local jobs and providing other environmental and human health benefits.
Future posts will examine local food production and passive survivability as it relates to community resilience. Here in New England, while storm and flooding threats may be the most widely reported, a disruption in heating fuels coupled with an extended cold snap could threaten property and lives. What design elements would constitute a dwelling able sustain human life in Boston under such conditions?
read more
