More businesses are adding the position of chief sustainability officer to their staffs to make more environmentally responsible decisions.
"It is a trend. We have seen more companies go green. Public relations and marketing are looking to conserve resources," said Jose Beceiro, director of Clean Energy Initiatives at Austin Chamber of Commerce.
Companies such as Google and General Motors Corp. have added the position, but the trend has become especially prominent in law firms and architecture, Beceiro said. He attributes this to a growing number of businesses that are labeling themselves as green as a marketing strategy or to publicize their role as an environmental advocate.
The University is adding degree programs to increase green awareness. The UT School of Architecture created a sustainable design program catering to students who want to become environmentally responsible architects. Started in 1972, the program is the nation's oldest of its kind.
"It's a design program fully integrated with design but provides extra tools both environmentally and socially sustain able," said Steven Moore, director of the design program.
Since the program started, eight separate academic units at the University have added similar programs to create eco-saavy careers for students.
Brandi Clark, a sustainability consultant with EcoNetworking, attained her position by learning about environmental issues and attending conferences. She said there are now degree programs at multiple universities to prepare students for the growing demand for sustainability officers.
UT alumnus Manuel J. Mehos is chairman of the board for Houston's GreenBank, which was purchased and changed in 2005 with the intent to continue an evolution in sustainable banking, Mehos said.
"The main thing we're doing is working on incentives, mortgages and consumer loans for customers who want to invest in hybrid cars," Mehos said. "Incentives encourage paperless accounts, no checks, no bank statements and leaves everything electronic. In return, customers can get better interest rates."
GreenBank has had a sustainability consultant since it opened and has hired a full-time sustainability officer to join the team July 15.
Austin's proposed One Earth Bank has a similar vision to Houston's GreenBank and expects to open its doors by the end of the year, said Chip Bray, CEO and president of One Earth Bank.
"Mainstream services are thinking of turning green as a corporate responsibility," Bray said. "This is sort of the tip of the iceberg."
Be the first to comment on this article!