Recent Articles from Martha Young
The business value of sustainability
First Data Corporation, a leading Colorado employer, is hosting a conversation later this month on the business value of undertaking sustainability initiatives within the company’s business practices. First Data, wholly owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP (KKR), provides electronic commerce and payment solutions to consumers, companies of all sizes, governments [[...]
A New Year’s reflection: Time, tools, space
A new year is an ideal time to reflect on your work, the environment and the tools you use to determine what worked well and what needs to be improved. Here are evaluation points and suggestions for enhancements to make 2012 a great year. Your Work 1. Do you love what you do? Do Mondays […]
A solar sensation in Fort Collins
The Colorado solar industry continues to grow and innovate. In mid-May, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. in Fort Collins broke the industry record for power inverter efficiency, which determines the amount of energy a solar array converts to usable power. The more efficient the inverter, the more kilowatts of energy produced per array. The bottom line is the more […]
The Sustainability Summit grows up
The 2011 Sustainable Opportunities Summit took a significant step forward in maturity this year, with breakout sessions organized along three tracks: Strategy, Tools and Fast Track. The keynotes and locknote were delivered by well-known people in the sustainable industry including Auden Schendler (Aspen Skiing Company), L. Hunter Lovins (Natural Capitalism Solutions) and Colorado Gov. John [&helli[...]
Understanding social responsibility
Social unrest is taking place all over the globe. We see the images of what is occurring in the Middle East on a nightly basis. We read about the oppression of people congregating across the Asian continent, especially in China. The United States is not immune from social unrest. It can be argued that the […]
What the solar industry faces now
Colorado’s Solar Energy Industries Association (CoSEIA) held its annual conference in Loveland in early February. CoSEIA has over 400 members, the largest membership of any other state on a per capita basis. The conference was sold out, a new high water mark for the association and an indicator of the increasing demands for actionable information […]
Help to get businesses going …
Small businesses make up the backbone of the United States economy. A few key facts from the Small Business Administration illustrate just how important small businesses are to our country: Small firms:• Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms• Employ just over half of all private sector employees• Pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll• […]
Give us sustainability we can use
I was speaking with the head of marketing at Justin’s Nutbutter earlier this month. We were brainstorming the reasons why some of the largest consumer products manufacturers were not interested in getting behind the sustainable squeeze packet journey. See my piece on the Squeeze Pack Summit here, and why this is a serious issue. We […]
Genetic engineering on your plate
What is a brand worth? I’ve been pondering this question since last week’s meeting at the Boulder Public Library lead by Jeffery Smith, author of Seeds of Deception. The meeting aimed to organize people concerned with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply and engage them to become activists. I had expected the group […]
A state does what the feds can’t
California’s Proposition 23, euphemistically labeled the California Jobs Initiative, was soundly rejected in Tuesday’s election. Proposition 23 aimed to table California State law AB 32, which requires the state to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Proposition 23 was seeking to have that law suspended until the unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 […]
Cleantech investment up close
Each quarter Deloitte and CleanTech share their research on clean technology investments occurring around the globe. In a webinar format, the two firms speak to the quarter’s investments as well as the cumulative trends. They use a large sampling of utility companies and global enterprise firms to establish a barometer of market trends. Q3 results […]
Squeezed but not forgotten
There are billions of them. They are everywhere. Thousands are produced every single day. And they never go away. Ever. I’m talking about squeeze packets. Squeeze packets are those small packets of condiments that are on the counters at fast food outlets. You see them filled with Dijon mustard, ketchup, pickles, salad dressing and nut […]