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Hello! Thank you for visiting our Blog!   Here you can find information and updates on the latest corporate and legal developments around energy and carbon emissions management, corporate responsibility, water and waste management, cap and trade, carbon taxation and carbon accounting, environmental compliance, EH&S and Environmental ERP best practices.   We encourage you to read throught our posts and leave comments and suggestions with your feedback!   Sincerely,   The Enviance Team

Ohio State Student Spotlight: Ariel Miller

 

Name: Ariel Miller

School: The Ohio State University 

Major: Environmental Policy and Management; Anthropology

Ariel Miller is a senior at Ohio State, and was one of two winners of Google Nexus Tablets from our Second Annual Environmental March Madness tournament. Ariel is involved in a number of food system sustainability efforts on campus and around Columbus. For the tournament, she was asked to speak for the video submission about her student organization "Growing Green,” an after-school program educating K-12 students on how food and the environment are connected, what it takes to grow food, and how their actions have an impact on the environment.

How involved are you with environmental programs or sustainability initiatives on campus?

I have been involved in sustainability initiatives on Ohio State’s campus in a couple of different ways. During my first year I founded a student organization called Growing Green that teaches environmental science and edible gardening to elementary age students at a local Columbus City School. I lead the group through my senior year, and the program will now be carried on by another undergrad next year. I also participated in sustainability through research as the undergraduate research assistant for the Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI). This research group is housed in the School of Environment and Natural Resources and focuses on issues relating to food, agriculture, environment, and community development. Additionally, I conducted an honors research project exploring the barriers to home fruit and vegetable cultivation in Ohio and presented my findings at two campus research forums. Finally, I worked as the program assistant for OSU’s new sustainability major- Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability (EEDS)- helping to develop and launch the major in 2012.

How do you practice sustainability in your everyday life?

I aim to reduce my consumption of goods, electricity, water, gas, food, etc. during my day to day life as the first measure of sustainability. Walking or riding the bus instead of driving, avoiding food waste, turning off lights and electronics when they are not in use, and keeping down the heat/AC are all aimed at lowering my overall consumption. I also recycle and compost (and force my roommates to do the same), and we all give away old belongings to Goodwill or similar organizations to limit the amount of waste we generate. My particular interest in sustainability is with the food system however, so I focus the majority of my attention on what and how I eat. I purchase very little meat, avoid going out to eat or buying pre-made meals very often, buy fresh items instead of processed foods, grow some of my own produce, and shop at farmers markets from vendors whose growing practices I support. In addition, I participate in a few working groups and committees that are targeted towards improving community sustainability and making sustainability a more important issue in local, state, and federal policy.

What made you decide to study Environmental Policy and Management?

I decided to study environmental policy and management because I knew all through high school that I eventually wanted to do work that related to environmental issues. I am specifically interested in the interactions between humans and the environment however, so I chose the program that was best suited for this. I also decided to obtain a dual degree in anthropology to supplement the human element of my studies. With time I focused my coursework on food systems because food and agricultural issues were consistently the most interesting to me on a personal and academic level. Prior to studying at Ohio State I did not realize the volume of research and work being done on food related problems but once I came in contact with the faculty in the SRI and the projects they do, I directed my academic and extracurricular involvement towards solving food system issues.

What do you feel are the most pressing environmental issues your generation will face?

Climate change is easily the most important environmental issue that my generation will have to cope with because its impacts will be, and already are, global and far-reaching.  All environmental issues are intertwined with climate change because of the inherent ecological affects that will result from it, though the social, political, and economic results will also influence how environmental problems evolve over time.

What actions will be required to address these issues?

Political and civic engagement is absolutely crucial to address climate change as a whole, as well as the more specific issues that are connected to it. This can exist and be impactful at all levels, from colleges and universities to global organizations like the UN. A more complete and holistic understanding of the problems at hand is also a necessity for knowing with problems ought to be addressed within climate change. Many institutions are already doing research on climate change but there are always more questions to be answered and more opportunities for interaction between different fields of work. 

Do you have any advice for high school students researching environmental degree programs?

I would suggest that students interested in environmental degrees look for programs that are flexible in their specialization and coursework. I had the luxury of creating my own major program as an honors student in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, which allowed me to focus my studies more specifically and adjust my coursework as my interests evolved. 

Don't Miss our Live Webinar this Wednesday!

 

REGISTRATION CLOSES TODAY!

If you haven’t registered yet for our complimentary live webinar on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 11am/2pm then you’d better get to it!

Our live converstation will feature speakers from Tampa Electric Company and CH2M HILL, giving you valuable information about how to successfully evaluate, choose and deploy EHS, carbonr and water tracking software.

In this second installment of our webcast you’ll learn more best practices and lessons learned from experienced EHS and compliance professionals from Tampa Electric Company (TECO) and CH2M HILL on managing successful software projects involving EHS and water and carbon tracking. You’ll receive actionable advice for your own projects that will help you avoid common pitfalls and traps that can derail your deployment and implementation.

Among the things you’ll learn:

• What to consider when developing the scope of a software implementation
• Which internal organizational groups should be involved
• Best ways to integrate software with your existing internal systems
• Best practices in deployment and implementation of software projects

Speakers:
Byron Burrows, EHS Manager, Tampa Electric Company
Wade Carter, EHS Information Management, CH2M HILL

Moderator: Graeme Dykes, VP of Sales, Enviance

Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Time: 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern
Register here

 

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Spotlight on Ohio State’s Dr. Neil Drobny

At our annual User Conference a couple of weeks ago, we were lucky enough to hear from Dr. Neil Drobny, director of the Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability (EEDS) program at The Ohio State University – this year’s National Champion in our Environmental March Madness Tournament and winner of the $5000 grant (pictured below receiving a check from Enviance CEO Larry Goldenhersh).

As an educator, Dr. Drobny's interests relate to the business case for sustainability and the associated business strategies, practices and tools that have been adopted and that are evolving to enable the execution of sustainable business agendas.  His goal is to instill in the next generation of business leaders a passion to incorporate a sustainability agenda into their personal and professional lives.

In the below Q&A, Dr. Drobny highlights some of what he shared with the audience during his panel, titled “What Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders Need to Know” and expands upon some of the more important themes of the session.

What made you move from the business/consulting world into education?

I felt that I could have a greater impact on advancing the practice of sustainability in the business community by working with the next generation of business leaders. Today’s students, especially undergraduates, have a keen sense of urgency when it comes to driving change in how we use resources and how we steward the earth’s systems to assure the continuity of civilization as we know it. That said the students I am privileged to have in class are eager to learn from today’s leaders, but more to understand how to avoid mistakes of the past than to learn the rules for business as usual. 

What is the most important skill set that the next generation of environmental professionals will need?

 If I had to pick one skill set it would be to think in systems. Sustainability has risen to the top tier in the global agenda largely because we have built the foundation of our economies and our civilization on piecemeal and short term objectives. This approach has failed us miserably because of all the interconnections that get ignored by this approach, with the consequence that we often create greater problems than we solve. But if you will indulge me, I’d like just to list a few other important skill sets. Specifically I would mention the importance of (1) knowing that design sets the template for sustainability (be it a product, a process or an organization), (2) copying nature (where there is no waste) and (3) learning to work in teams (which is the prevalent model in the workplace for solving complex problems). 

As an educator, how do you stay on top of the most important developments in the environmental science and sustainability fields?

 I do several things, but never really feel on top of things because sustainability is such a dynamic field. I read a lot, and that is aided by the internet which is a big help in identifying and accessing information. Along the same lines I attend a lot of formal and informal seminars which tend to be excellent learning opportunities. In my classes I use a lot of outside speakers who often discuss topics to a depth greater than my own knowledge, so I learn right along with my students. And I learn from my students. Often the questions they ask, or just the way they frame them, opens my eyes to new points of view and new information. One other way I learn from my students is by assigning them papers to write that often go into a depth that I find informative. This need for continuous learning, however, is what attracts me to sustainability and to academia.

What are some of the examples of real-world projects that you and your students have taken on?

The projects my students work on are submitted by companies, or non-profits, and challenge the students to solve a “real” problem. I screen the projects and only bring to the class those that will challenge the students to think strategically. We do not do pure data collection or “turn the crank” type projects. As a result most of the projects are confidential and often the students are required to sign non-disclosure agreements. However to give you a feel for projects my students have performed here are some brief descriptors: (1) monitoring sustainability of suppliers using secondary data (i.e. no site visits), (2) sustainability/life cycle assessments of alternative packaging options, (3) strategies for motivating higher consumer recycling rates of key materials, (4) strategies for balancing tradeoffs involved in extraction of raw materials, and (5) design of a corporate sustainability report for a non-public company.

About Neil Drobny, PhD

Dr. Drobny's professional career started in environmental consulting. That segment of his career included the establishment and management of a regional environmental consulting firm that grew to over 125 people with operations in four states, which he subsequently sold to a larger organization. Typically, Dr. Drobny consulted with manufacturing organizations on issues related to waste management and emissions. This work led him to conclude that the root cause of many client issues was not environmental problems, but business problems evolving from the unwise use of resources.  This led Dr. Drobny to academia to build a new phase of his career working with the next generation of business leaders to instill an appreciation for, and awareness of, opportunities to operate in a preventive mode when it comes to environmental issues, versus the fix-it mode, which is much more expensive and, in the final analysis, less effective.  Initially, he taught courses in the university's MBA program, but then expanded into the undergraduate program and now has campus-wide responsibilities overseeing the EEDS major, which cuts across many colleges and departments at The Ohio State University.

For more information, please visit the EEDS page or Dr Drobny’s profile on The Ohio State University’s website.

 

May Monthly Poll

It's time again for our monthly poll, where we ask your opinion on a wide range of pressing environmental regulation issues. Our goal is to identify what matters most to you and present your unfiltered opinions on a host of hot button topics.

It's Springtime already, after the showers and into the flowers (or so we hope)! Time is flying! Now that the year is rolling into its second half, take a moment to think of all that you and your company has accomplished so far and think of all of the things you still want to achieve. Reflect and share you opinion! Participate in our monthly poll!

Recap of 2013 Enviance User Conference: Best Practice in Compliance and Environmental Leadership

Last week, Enviance brought together some of the world’s leading experts on environmental compliance and sustainability for our annual User Conference. Professionals from a variety of industries, including oil, gas, coal, retail, manufacturing and utility, met to discuss the latest trends in environmental compliance and best practices for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, waste and other metrics.

Along with the usual topical sessions ranging from Title V requirements to spill management during Hurricane Sandy, we were excited to present the session “What Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders Need to Know,” featuring Neil Drobny, PhD, director of the Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability (EEDS) program at The Ohio State University. Earlier this year Ohio State was named 2013 National Champion in our Second Annual Environmental March Madness tournament – a national competition evaluating colleges and universities on academic excellence and sustainability efforts.

Dr. Drobny spoke alongside Enviance CEO Larry Goldenhersh, on the topic of how higher education institutions can better collaborate with private industry to ensure that tomorrow’s environmental professionals succeed as they enter the workforce. During the session, representatives from some of the world’s largest companies engaged in an open dialogue, discussing the challenges in grooming the next workforce of business, engineering and compliance professionals to not only understand the importance of the environment, but also how to address these concerns within a large organization’s overall business goals.

One thing that really stuck out to us during the presentation was Neil’s unusual background. He started in environmental consulting, where he found that environmental concerns were not necessarily at odds with business goals. In fact, it turned out that most of his clients’ environmental problems were actually business problems. This understanding was what led him to Ohio State, where he started the EEDS program - a multi-disciplinary program that provides students with the skills needed to work in sustainability across a variety of fields - with the goal of making environmental impact a core part of his students’ understanding of business, so that sustainability would become a core principle of the businesses of tomorrow. The program is now the fastest growing program at Ohio State. You can find more information on the program, here: http://eeds.osu.edu/

We were thrilled with the level of excitement, passion and commitment from everyone who attended our User Conference. As always, it was a productive, busy, and fun chance for our customers, partners and employees to meet and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the world of environmental compliance and sustainability.

Until next year! 

How will you make a difference this Earth Day?

Every year on Earth Day, people all over the world celebrate our planet through actions meant to honor the Earth and the environment we live in. This includes outdoor celebrations, tree planting, awareness campaigns and educational programs focused on conservation and sustainability.

For the past couple of years, Earth Day has held special significance at Enviance. Last week we closed our Second Annual Environmental March Madness tournament and while Ohio State was our official National Champion, we were blown away by the tremendous efforts each of our final schools have put into both campus sustainability and instilling a passion for the environment in their students. The students in turn demonstrated a dedication to sustainability and environmental issues that was truly awe-inspiring.

Earth Day aims to inspire awareness and appreciation for the planet and our environment. What do you have planned for Earth Day?

For more information please visit www.earthday.org.

April Monthly Poll

It's time again for our monthly poll, where we ask your opinion on a wide range of pressing environmental regulation issues. Our goal is to identify what matters most to you and present your unfiltered opinions on a host of hot button topics.

As the rain starts up, everyone's just waiting for the flowers to bloom and the showers to end. While you're inside waiting for the first days of spring, give this food for thought a try. Get involved and tell us what you think!