Greenest Companies To Work For In Baltimore
Okay, so you've taken just about every "green" step you think you can. You've changed your diet to all-natural, organic and free-range products. You've replaced your entire wardrobe with all-natural clothes made by fair-wage employees. You've converted your home to a virtual "green" house with LED lighting, rain barrels, solar panels and much more. You are a "green" activist in your community, leading recycling programs, managing a compost program and teaching others. You drive a hybrid or fully electric car. So, now what? You want to do more. But what's left? Have you looked at your employer? How "green" is your company? If you really want to take "going green" to the next level, consider searching for employment at one of these "green" companies in the Baltimore area. If you are currently unemployed or actively looking for a job, why not start here?
Waste Neutral
wasteneutral.com
Waste Neutral is a small Baltimore firm that helps businesses, schools and other commercial enterprises cut down on the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. It collects all sorts of waste products that can be put into composts and then will even return some of the end product back to the client if they would like to use the material in their own gardens or farms. Even though the company primarily focuses on organic waste (food products), part of the service it provides is an overall audit of a firm's waste needs. Waste Neutral will make recommendations about how to dispose of the company's waste in a "green" way. At this point in time, the costs are still a bit high, as Waste Neutral must haul the waste to a facility in Delaware, but the company hopes that with enough exposure and with the "green" community backing it, it will be able to make this a very affordable way to recycle food products.
TerraLogos Energy Group
terralogoseg.com
TerraLogos, Latin/Greek for "wisdom of the earth," is a design and contracting firm that performs energy audits for residential and commercial buildings. After the auditors give the customer an overview of what changes are possible to make the building more "green," TerraLogos can go ahead and do the renovations for the client. In business since 2006, TerraLogos has a roster of employees with expertise in fields such as architecture, landscaping, community planning and education. These "green" business activists are not out to just turn a profit. They want to educate the community. TerraLogos will even provide guest speakers if your company would like to learn more about ways to "go green."
Big City Farms
bigcityfarms.com
Big City Farms is a company with a really cool idea. Just as the name implies, the goal is to set up "mini farms" inside big cities. The best part is that you don't even need farmland. The first of these farms is built on a parking lot in south Baltimore where a city maintenance garage used to sit. The half-acre farm has six plastic-covered greenhouses and grows arugula, romaine, spring onions, basil, cilantro, fennel and even spicy, edible flowers. And the farmers do all of this in a layer of imported soil between four and six inches deep. Winstead "Ted" Rouse, chairman of Big City Farms, says, "Ultimately, we'd like to have 100 of these in Baltimore city – that would employ at least 300 people." Big City Farms is one of only 18 certified "B corporations" or "benefits corporation" in Maryland. A "B corporation" is one that benefits the local economy, community and environment, while also making money for the shareholders. This amazing operation cuts down on fuel costs and carbon footprints by providing organic, super fresh produce, and jobs, for locals. The first half-acre farm in South Baltimore produces enough to supply residences and 15 local restaurants. The company hopes to one day expand to a point where entire cities can have access to fresh, organic products grown within the city limits by locals.
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Tom Clocker is a freelance writer covering all things Baltimore. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
