Sep
22
Fitting into a Green Collar Job
Filed Under Human Resources | Comments Off
Chris Marentis asked:
President-elect Barack Obama intends to remedy the economic woes of the United States with the creation of three million jobs during his first term. In December 2008, he reaffirmed the commitment of his incoming administration to specifically targeting those new positions at one field currently experiencing unparalleled growth: green technology.
“[We will]…support high-growth industries by training the workers that they need. This includes promoting green-collar jobs,” said Obama’s Secretary of Labor Nominee, Hilda L. Solis. “These are jobs that will provide economic security for all working families while securing our energy supply and combating climate change.”
That being said, business is going green not to just save the environment, but because it makes sense. With the aid of cutting edge technology, corporations are cutting their energy bill by 40% and saving millions. Green buildings are now more cost effective now than energy-guzzling counterparts and green cars make financial sense no matter what price oil is. Furthermore, green employees are a huge asset to their companies.
IBM’s most recent marketing campaign indicative of the corporate attitudes towards cutting energy and going green. It opens on a scene shot entirely in black and white, evoking the public perception of “the big faceless corporation.” A CEO-type leans across his desk and says, “Why should I go green?” Cue the voiceover: “Because it will save you 40% of 18 million dollars.” Suddenly the world blossoms into color and it’s that Technicolor explosion that is representative of the corporate attitude today. From small local firms to Fortune 500s, businesses are queuing up for their chance to snag individuals who can accommodate the dramatic shift in the market place. For the eco-minded, there’s never been a better chance to get a foot in the door and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t require a PhD in ecology to make it happen.
Whether you are a college student, a recent addition to the job market or a seasoned workforce veteran, chances are that somewhere in your chosen field there are openings for someone with a little green savvy and the proclivity to learn the ins-and-outs of this ever-growing field. Architects, lawyers, construction managers, consultants, journalists, engineers, scientific researchers and educators are but a few of those that have received the call to go green from on high. Even the entertainment industry plans to expand into the green arena as corporations like NBC Universal and Discovery Communications have publicly announced their intent to downsize their carbon output, while at the same time creating new media to cater to a green-centric niche.
With so many opportunities in green sector, Kevin Doyle, President of Green Economy, a Massachusetts-based workforce-consulting firm, says, first and foremost, one should choose their area of specification. Says Doyle: “Do you want to be up on a roof, retrofitting a house, setting policy or perhaps making a ton of money as a venture capitalist?”
It’s an important distinction. Wind farming, carbon trading, wastewater treatment, green building and bio-energy technologies all fall under the green umbrella, but there are several types of green certification one can achieve to order to market one’s self and skill set on a personal, rather than industrial, level. Green certification leads to green jobs, and the time is ripe to secure both.
As of this writing, there are but a handful of LEED-accredited professionals throughout the United States. Nearly every construction project going to ground in the coming year is seeking a LEED-certification – the industry standard for officially labeling a building or development as green –and trained professionals are need to facilitate the inspection process. Several other types of training are available in the “green auditing” sector, including inspecting energy efficient retrofits of existing homes (RESNET’s HERS certification) or businesses (green business certification). Fortunately, there’s a source for finding information on this diverse array of opportunities in one place.
Greenjobstoday.com is just one of the emerging businesses that have created an education and training platform to help people learn how to take their applicable skills and transfer them into the green arena. Greenjobtoday.com takes all of the guesswork out the green sector by bringing together green employers, seasoned professionals and the industry’s up-and-comers, so that never again will you find yourself asking, “What is a green job and how do I get one?” The answer is quite literally at your fingertips.
“We are going to aggregate the best of the best content with partnerships with the leaders of the green industry,” says Greenjobtoday.com’s CEO Chris Marentis, formerly a Senior Vice President of AOL-Time Warner. “We are building a proprietary publishing and marketing platform that will become the leader in the green space. Key here is content and web services to support the business turn-key solution to getting a green job and educating people on how to make money while saving the environment.”
The company’s newest release, Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets to Finding and Getting the Job You Want, is the ideal tool for empowering newcomers to the green marketplace . “With unemployment at record levels there has never been a better time to switch into a green collar job. Our book lays out a step-by-step process to help people get the proper education and training they need, so they can get the green job they want,” says the book’s co-author, Elliott Mizroch.
As the inside track for green job information, strategy and helpful tips, Greenjobtoday.com lets the layman get in on the ground floor of the biggest growth industry of the 21st century. As the federal government repositions the employment sector to go eco-friendly on all fronts, green collar jobs will cease to be the question mark looming over the head of Joe Q. Public. In just a short time, they’ll be the industry standard - and Greenjobtoday.com will be right there beside them.
TERRELL
President-elect Barack Obama intends to remedy the economic woes of the United States with the creation of three million jobs during his first term. In December 2008, he reaffirmed the commitment of his incoming administration to specifically targeting those new positions at one field currently experiencing unparalleled growth: green technology.
“[We will]…support high-growth industries by training the workers that they need. This includes promoting green-collar jobs,” said Obama’s Secretary of Labor Nominee, Hilda L. Solis. “These are jobs that will provide economic security for all working families while securing our energy supply and combating climate change.”
_____________________________________________________________________
That being said, business is going green not to just save the environment, but because it makes sense. With the aid of cutting edge technology, corporations are cutting their energy bill by 40% and saving millions. Green buildings are now more cost effective now than energy-guzzling counterparts and green cars make financial sense no matter what price oil is. Furthermore, green employees are a huge asset to their companies.
IBM’s most recent marketing campaign indicative of the corporate attitudes towards cutting energy and going green. It opens on a scene shot entirely in black and white, evoking the public perception of “the big faceless corporation.” A CEO-type leans across his desk and says, “Why should I go green?” Cue the voiceover: “Because it will save you 40% of 18 million dollars.” Suddenly the world blossoms into color and it’s that Technicolor explosion that is representative of the corporate attitude today. From small local firms to Fortune 500s, businesses are queuing up for their chance to snag individuals who can accommodate the dramatic shift in the market place. For the eco-minded, there’s never been a better chance to get a foot in the door and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t require a PhD in ecology to make it happen.
Whether you are a college student, a recent addition to the job market or a seasoned workforce veteran, chances are that somewhere in your chosen field there are openings for someone with a little green savvy and the proclivity to learn the ins-and-outs of this ever-growing field. Architects, lawyers, construction managers, consultants, journalists, engineers, scientific researchers and educators are but a few of those that have received the call to go green from on high. Even the entertainment industry plans to expand into the green arena as corporations like NBC Universal and Discovery Communications have publicly announced their intent to downsize their carbon output, while at the same time creating new media to cater to a green-centric niche.
With so many opportunities in green sector, Kevin Doyle, President of Green Economy, a Massachusetts-based workforce-consulting firm, says, first and foremost, one should choose their area of specification. Says Doyle: “Do you want to be up on a roof, retrofitting a house, setting policy or perhaps making a ton of money as a venture capitalist?”
It’s an important distinction. Wind farming, carbon trading, wastewater treatment, green building and bio-energy technologies all fall under the green umbrella, but there are several types of green certification one can achieve to order to market one’s self and skill set on a personal, rather than industrial, level. Green certification leads to green jobs, and the time is ripe to secure both.
As of this writing, there are but a handful of LEED-accredited professionals throughout the United States. Nearly every construction project going to ground in the coming year is seeking a LEED-certification – the industry standard for officially labeling a building or development as green –and trained professionals are need to facilitate the inspection process. Several other types of training are available in the “green auditing” sector, including inspecting energy efficient retrofits of existing homes (RESNET’s HERS certification) or businesses (green business certification). Fortunately, there’s a source for finding information on this diverse array of opportunities in one place.
Greenjobstoday.com is just one of the emerging businesses that have created an education and training platform to help people learn how to take their applicable skills and transfer them into the green arena. Greenjobtoday.com takes all of the guesswork out the green sector by bringing together green employers, seasoned professionals and the industry’s up-and-comers, so that never again will you find yourself asking, “What is a green job and how do I get one?” The answer is quite literally at your fingertips.
“We are going to aggregate the best of the best content with partnerships with the leaders of the green industry,” says Greenjobtoday.com’s CEO Chris Marentis, formerly a Senior Vice President of AOL-Time Warner. “We are building a proprietary publishing and marketing platform that will become the leader in the green space. Key here is content and web services to support the business turn-key solution to getting a green job and educating people on how to make money while saving the environment.”
The company’s newest release, Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets to Finding and Getting the Job You Want, is the ideal tool for empowering newcomers to the green marketplace . “With unemployment at record levels there has never been a better time to switch into a green collar job. Our book lays out a step-by-step process to help people get the proper education and training they need, so they can get the green job they want,” says the book’s co-author, Elliott Mizroch.
As the inside track for green job information, strategy and helpful tips, Greenjobtoday.com lets the layman get in on the ground floor of the biggest growth industry of the 21st century. As the federal government repositions the employment sector to go eco-friendly on all fronts, green collar jobs will cease to be the question mark looming over the head of Joe Q. Public. In just a short time, they’ll be the industry standard - and Greenjobtoday.com will be right there beside them.
TERRELL
Aug
6
Swro Design and Energy Recovery Part 3: Major Component Selection
Filed Under Human Resources | Comments Off
Energy Recovery Inc. asked:
The sand screens and micron filters were selected because of the durable and corrosion resistant fiberglass and PVC construction. The specific model of Eden micron filters was chosen to maintain the filter element flux at approximately 3.3 gpm/per 10″ equivalent.
Due to the relative remoteness of the installation site, multistage-centrifugal, high-pressure pumps have been selected for their reliability, availability of parts, economics of operation and easy maintenance. Centrifugal pumps in general are smoother, quieter, and require less ancillary equipment (i.e. pulsation dampeners) than positive displacement pumps. Hydropro has found that positive displacement pumps are much more prone to failure and lengthily downtimes than high-quality centrifugal pumps.
The Grundfos Booster Modules were chosen for several reasons. The inline style helped conserve space and provided ease of installation, allowing everything to be mounted on the same skid (with the exception of cleaning/flush tanks, raw water booster pumps, and chemical feeds). These submersible, multi-stage centrifugal pumps were also chosen because they are very efficient and quiet, and are constructed of corrosion resistant, 904L super austenitic stainless steel.
The high pressure feed and concentrate headers were made of 2205 duplex stainless steel for superior corrosion resistance, and the structural skid was constructed of FRP for low weight and zero maintenance. ERI´s Pressure Exchanger was chosen because of its high energy efficiency, dependability, and corrosion resistant materials.
Performance
Values for the projected power consumption rates that were presented in the proposal were based on a 27ºC feed stream of 45,000 mg/l TDS and a permeate flow rate of 100,000 gpd. The membrane manufactures projection software was used to determine the system parameters at a recovery of 35%, and these parameters were subsequently used to determine the projected power consumption. The result was an anticipated feed pressure of 900 psi and a specific power consumption rate of 3.02 kWh/m³.
Once the system was installed and operating, the specific power consumption was calculated based on actual system parameters and the result was a much lower value of 2.65 kWh/m³. There were several reasons the actual value was lower, the main reason however, was the conservative design. Because of some uncertainty in the feed water quality, the SWRO system was designed with a relatively low flux (approximately 8 gpm/ft2), and a somewhat large hydraulic envelope. As it turned out, the feed water TDS was closer to 36,000 ppm and fairly stable. The lower feed TDS enabled the system to operate at a lower membrane feed pressure of 790 psi and a higher permeate flow rate of 120,000 gpd, consequently using less energy than originally projected and making higher quality permeate.
Conclusion
With most of the system assembled, the installation was fairly straightforward and went smoothly. The two units were installed, started up, tested and operator training was completed in less than three weeks. There was, however, a problem with the feed water quality and the pretreatment system, which was discovered after only 24 hours of operation. It immediately became apparent that the raw water was loaded with particulate that was quickly fouling the sand screens and the micron filters. Fortunately, the feed system could be modified to flow into an existing 250,000 gallon seawater tank from the wells, and the SWRO feed was then drawn out of this tank. This settling tank solution worked quite well and provided a feed water with a pre-filter SDI of 1.25.
There was also one other performance issue that needed to be resolved. Initially, the permeate quality was less than what was projected, and it was not clear why. The system was extensively checked ant tested for leaks, and the possibility that seawater was somehow mixing with the permeate was eventually eliminated. It was finally determined that the membranes did not meet the design rejection required to produce the projected permeate TDS. Once the membranes were replaced, the system was making plenty of high quality permeate that was well below the maximum acceptable permeate TDS.
KAJUR and the residents of Ebye have since been enjoying low-cost, high-quality water for over a year now without any noteworthy system failures. They are so pleased, in fact, that KAJUR has recently awarded Hydropro another SWRO job utilizing work exchanger energy recovery.
JASON
The sand screens and micron filters were selected because of the durable and corrosion resistant fiberglass and PVC construction. The specific model of Eden micron filters was chosen to maintain the filter element flux at approximately 3.3 gpm/per 10″ equivalent.
Due to the relative remoteness of the installation site, multistage-centrifugal, high-pressure pumps have been selected for their reliability, availability of parts, economics of operation and easy maintenance. Centrifugal pumps in general are smoother, quieter, and require less ancillary equipment (i.e. pulsation dampeners) than positive displacement pumps. Hydropro has found that positive displacement pumps are much more prone to failure and lengthily downtimes than high-quality centrifugal pumps.
The Grundfos Booster Modules were chosen for several reasons. The inline style helped conserve space and provided ease of installation, allowing everything to be mounted on the same skid (with the exception of cleaning/flush tanks, raw water booster pumps, and chemical feeds). These submersible, multi-stage centrifugal pumps were also chosen because they are very efficient and quiet, and are constructed of corrosion resistant, 904L super austenitic stainless steel.
The high pressure feed and concentrate headers were made of 2205 duplex stainless steel for superior corrosion resistance, and the structural skid was constructed of FRP for low weight and zero maintenance. ERI´s Pressure Exchanger was chosen because of its high energy efficiency, dependability, and corrosion resistant materials.
_____________________________________________________________________
Performance
Values for the projected power consumption rates that were presented in the proposal were based on a 27ºC feed stream of 45,000 mg/l TDS and a permeate flow rate of 100,000 gpd. The membrane manufactures projection software was used to determine the system parameters at a recovery of 35%, and these parameters were subsequently used to determine the projected power consumption. The result was an anticipated feed pressure of 900 psi and a specific power consumption rate of 3.02 kWh/m³.
Once the system was installed and operating, the specific power consumption was calculated based on actual system parameters and the result was a much lower value of 2.65 kWh/m³. There were several reasons the actual value was lower, the main reason however, was the conservative design. Because of some uncertainty in the feed water quality, the SWRO system was designed with a relatively low flux (approximately 8 gpm/ft2), and a somewhat large hydraulic envelope. As it turned out, the feed water TDS was closer to 36,000 ppm and fairly stable. The lower feed TDS enabled the system to operate at a lower membrane feed pressure of 790 psi and a higher permeate flow rate of 120,000 gpd, consequently using less energy than originally projected and making higher quality permeate.
Conclusion
With most of the system assembled, the installation was fairly straightforward and went smoothly. The two units were installed, started up, tested and operator training was completed in less than three weeks. There was, however, a problem with the feed water quality and the pretreatment system, which was discovered after only 24 hours of operation. It immediately became apparent that the raw water was loaded with particulate that was quickly fouling the sand screens and the micron filters. Fortunately, the feed system could be modified to flow into an existing 250,000 gallon seawater tank from the wells, and the SWRO feed was then drawn out of this tank. This settling tank solution worked quite well and provided a feed water with a pre-filter SDI of 1.25.
There was also one other performance issue that needed to be resolved. Initially, the permeate quality was less than what was projected, and it was not clear why. The system was extensively checked ant tested for leaks, and the possibility that seawater was somehow mixing with the permeate was eventually eliminated. It was finally determined that the membranes did not meet the design rejection required to produce the projected permeate TDS. Once the membranes were replaced, the system was making plenty of high quality permeate that was well below the maximum acceptable permeate TDS.
KAJUR and the residents of Ebye have since been enjoying low-cost, high-quality water for over a year now without any noteworthy system failures. They are so pleased, in fact, that KAJUR has recently awarded Hydropro another SWRO job utilizing work exchanger energy recovery.
JASON