Start a Green Consultant Business

    

Going green and living in an environmentally friendly way is not a passing fad. An increasing number of individuals, families, and businesses are starting to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and decrease their use of the earth's resources. This isn't always easy, so some people are looking to green or environmental consultants for help.

If you have a passion for the environment, are creative and eager to learn new ways to conserve and recycle, and enjoy teaching others about the environment, a small business as a green consultant may be a great option for you.

What is Green Consultant ?

(Green consulting) Environmental consulting is often a form of compliance consulting, in which the consultant ensures that the client maintains an appropriate measure of compliance with environmental regulations. 

Green consulting is a phrase used to describe a range of consulting services that are aimed at helping businesses become more ecologically friendly, or "green." Green consulting is a relatively new field, and its popularity is increasing quickly as more businesses see greening their business practices as a route to attracting new customers or retaining old customers. Greening a business can also in some cases help businesses to earn financial credits for being ecologically sustainable.

Green consulting can help a business lower its ecological footprint by looking at its operation and coming up with alternatives. For example, a green consulting firm may have experts inphotovoltaics and other alternative energy systems on hand, who they can deploy to a site to design a supplementary alternative energy system, or a system using no fossil fuels whatsoever. In addition to helping a company green its image, this can also provide financial savings in the long term, and most green consulting firms push their services as money-saving measures as well as ethical decisions.

The Pros

There are a number of benefits that can come from starting a business as a green consultant. Here are a few:

• The work you do will benefit the environment.
• You have a broad target audience and can work with individuals, families or businesses.
• You can consult in the areas you are most passionate about -- green business, green marketing, environmentally friendly household management, green pet care, etc.
• You determine how much time you put in and when you work.
• Green consulting can be a great part-time business.

Research and public attention about environmental concerns continue to grow, and the public awareness is changing how we live, eat and do business. Corporations are changing their business models to incorporate eco-friendly "green" technology and sustainable practices. Consumers want green foods and products and energy-efficient dwellings. Because of the demand, opportunities for green consultants exist in diverse variety of environments including small communities and big businesses. To become a green consultant, learn an industry well and define your specialty within the green industry so you can provide expertise to others who want to make the green transition.

Instructions

    1)   Get experience in corporate management. Companies want green consultants with the experience needed to work independently and accomplish changes. So if you want to work with big corporations, you need several years of management experience to get the background you need to become a successful independent green consultant. Add green projects to your plate whenever possible during your time in management. Document project challenges and positive outcomes on your resume. Read industry publications about green challenges in your industry and potential solutions so you can offer expert opinions to companies that call you about projects.

   2)  Build or renovate a house or a commercial premises using solar panels and other green energy techniques. Keep a blog about the process to publicize your project. Contact journalists in your city or town and ask them to write about your building project. Take the lessons you learn from your personal building project and offer free assistance to community green-building projects. With enough construction projects under your belt, you can look for consulting opportunities on paid projects.

  3)  Get formal training in your area of expertise. As the green transition in business practices picks up, some companies are seeking qualified green consultants with formal education in specialty fields such as sustainability, clean energy or resource management. A master's degree or an advanced certificate from a reputable college or university can help you gain advanced knowledge your specialty area. You can also get green training outside of academia. For example, the National Association of Home Builders offers the Certified Green Professional certificate to recognize expertise in green building practices. Your formal training adds value and credibility to your resume.

   4) Set up a home office or rent office space. Apply for the licenses and permits you need to run your consulting business. The licenses and permits you need will vary depending on your environmental consulting specialty. Visit the "Search for Business Licenses and Permits" page on the U.S. Small Business Administration website to find out about applicable regulations for your business.

   5) Network with company executives and professionals in your area to find consulting business opportunities. Many green projects and initiatives are new, and companies that have needs may not have a formal job titles or functions yet. Join your local chamber of commerce to promote your services. Use social media to connect with other experts in your field. Attend green jobs and industry conferences such as Good Jobs, Green Jobs to meet green experts and learn about environmental trends, and government policy.

 How to Become a Green Consultant

Research and public attention about environmental concerns continue to grow, and the public awareness is changing how we live, eat and do business. Corporations are changing their business models to incorporate eco-friendly "green" technology and sustainable practices. Consumers want green foods and products and energy-efficient dwellings. Because of the demand, opportunities for green consultants exist in diverse variety of environments including small communities and big businesses. To become a green consultant, learn an industry well and define your specialty within the green industry so you can provide expertise to others who want to make the green transition.
Steps:-

1. 
   1
   Earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Environmental consulting requires a sound basis in science, so choose a degree in biology, geology, chemistry or environmental science.
   • In order to help increase your skills, you may want to pursue a minor degree in business, public relations, construction, education or communications. This may dictate your future internships or your role in an environmental consulting firm.
2. 
   2
   Seek an environmental consulting internship. While you are still in undergraduate studies, or taking a break for the summer, apply for internships with private or governmental consulting firms. This will give you the necessary experience and contacts that will help you get a job after college.
   • Internships usually give you experience working on environmental projects. You may be asked to organize projects, write or assist on presentations, conduct research or laboratory work.
3. 
   3
   Get a job in a related field. Most consulting positions are available to people with 2 to 5 years of work experience. Apply for jobs as a technician or field consultant, so that you have experience in gathering, analyzing and processing environmental samples.
   • Most jobs in environmental analysis or fieldwork are entry-level experience. You may need to work up the ladder at your job in order to expand your skill set.
4. 
   4
   Take your Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This test is taken by people who want to pursue graduate studies. Many positions available in the environmental consulting field are now going to people with master's degrees, so ensure you get good scores, especially on the science sections.
5. 
   5
   Earn a master's degree in environmental science. An additional 2 to 3 years of study should allow you to specialize in a specific type of environmental consulting, such as land-use planning, hazardous waste or air and environmental quality. Receiving a master's degree will make it easier to get a job and help you to command a higher salary.
6. 
   6
   Apply for jobs in governmental or private consulting. With relative work experience, a BS and MS, you will have the credentials needed for a consulting career.
   • Apply for work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or other government agencies. You can ensure companies or individuals are meeting environmental standards, and help to shape environmental policy.
   • Apply for work with a private consulting firm. The largest job growth in the industry is currently within the private sector. The number of jobs available is likely to increase by 28 percent until 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The following are niches for green consulting:
   • If you enjoy fieldwork, you can be a consultant that specializes in gathering data and creating geo technical reports. If you enjoy investigation or analysis, then interpreting newly gathered and baseline data may be a good career path.
   • If you have experience or enjoy public relations or communications, you can consult about environmental education. Governmental and private agencies often hire people to do research or public education projects.
   • If you have a background in construction or architecture, you can specialize in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system. You can help individuals, businesses and agencies to build according to new green standards.
   • If you want to write policy or work with the legislature, then you will want to move to a government hub, such as Washington D.C. You will need excellent law base and communications skills.

For more details:-

http://work.chron.com/become-green-development-consultant-16550.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Become-a-Green-Consultant