December 23, 2010 -
Green Buildings
Green For All and SJF Institute named the first ever Green Jobs Award honorees. The Green Jobs Award honors businesses that contribute to the economy and the environment.
Bioengineering Group, a woman-owned science and engineering firm, was one of ten firms honored by Green For All and SJF Institute. The Green Jobs Award honors businesses that contribute to the economy and the environment. "Each of the companies chosen this year does its part in building the green economy through innovation and job creation here in the United States," said Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All. "They are demonstrating that by addressing the climate crisis we can take real steps in addressing the economic crisis as well."
Honorees are from across the country, representing diverse industries - from renewable energy and energy efficiency to consumer products and engineering. Together the companies honored employ more than 1,300 people and their aggregate revenue exceeds $150 million. "We hope that by acknowledging the tremendous work these companies are doing, we can support their noble efforts, and inspire other business leaders to follow their lead," says Bonny Moellenbrock, executive director of SJF Institute. Applicants were judged on their contribution to environmental quality, the quality of their jobs and benefits, the diversity of employment opportunities, and their level of community engagement.
"We are honored to have been chosen as one of ten recipients of The Green Jobs Award," said Kathy Santoro, director of human resources for Bioengineering Group.
"We see our firm as a place to put what we know into practice. Being "green" isn't just given lip service, its woven into the fabric of the company culture until it quite literally changes how people see the world. Giving employees the opportunity to contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes is a powerful motivator. "
Bioengineering Group, a proponent of early adoption of sustainable technologies and well-known leader in ecologically sensitive development and public infrastructure work, applies a tailored interdisciplinary approach to solving engineering problems. Current projects include the provision of engineering, program management, and construction management services, through a Joint Venture with ARCADIS, for the largest design-build civil works project in U.S. history—the $1.3 billion Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier that will provide hurricane and flood risk reduction for the city of New Orleans and enhancement of surrounding wetlands. The firm is also leading a significant program to accelerate adoption of renewable energy generation and ultra-low energy consuming facilities within the Department of Defense. Believing that every project offers the next opportunity to transact sustainability, Bioengineering Group provides design, environmental consulting, and sustainable site planning for private corporations, institutions, and local governments on small- to large-scale projects.
Founded in 1992, Bioengineering Group has been a pioneer in the field of ecological restoration and the application of sustainability principles to site planning, development, renewable energy, and water management. The firm provides a full range of science, engineering, landscape architecture, and construction management services with a mission of "Building sustainable communities on an ecological foundation." Distinguished by their interdisciplinary staff of ecologists, scientists, engineers, and landscape design professionals, Bioengineering Group is uniquely positioned to rigorously guide projects toward sustainable outcomes. The firm has worked with many municipalities, states, and government agencies to provide innovative site engineering and landscape architectural design; parks and greenways planning and design; integrated water management assessment and design; river and coastal restoration and flood risk reduction; wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and hydropower siting and development; as well as plan review, environmental permitting and remediation. Increasingly, the firm has been tapped to support projects which address renewable energy generation and creative solutions to achieve energy efficiency and security.
About The Green Jobs Award Program
With support from the Citi Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, SJF Institute and Green For All have partnered to launch a Green Jobs Award Program, which seeks to identify, recognize, and promote private companies that are leaders in quality green job creation.
The program celebrates businesses that are making valuable contributions to both the economy and the environment. The application process was open to private companies with at least $500,000 in revenue, and with a business model that preserves or enhances environmental quality. Applicants were judged on their environmental contribution, quality of their jobs and benefits, the diversity of employment opportunities, and their level of community engagement.