As the clientele for such services as green auditing, many companies offering such services have found themselves with a shortage of trained help. Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC), based in Maryland, has begun offering training for green auditors. Those auditors who complete the course will be 'Certified SSC Green Auditors.'

The first session is at the end of August, in Washington D.C. and the fee is $2,500. Another is scheduled for January, with more to come. The training program is based on SSC's Green Audit methodology and will culminate in a certification from SSC, valid for one year. SSC's classes will be made up of consultants who want to provide auditing services to small businesses, especially those organizations that don't have the resources to dedicate personnel to green strategies.

"We've been providing SSC Green Audits for more than two years, offering our small business clients a cost-effective, reliable way to assess their current environmental performance and identify ways to go green," said Jennifer Woofter, the president of SSC in an interview with GreenBiz. "Now, we're offering consultants across the country the opportunity to learn our methodology and apply it with their own clients."

Woofter has seen the demand for green auditors rise sharply since she founded SSC two years ago. SSC works with 250 freelance consultants and is looking to add to that number. She expects to take on at least 20 new projects by October. SSC expects to certify between 60 and 75 consultants each year through the training program, and will most likely hire from that pool. But consultants who wish to work on their own — or use their skills for their current employers — will also benefit from the training course. The course covers such topics as calculating an organization's carbon footprint, gauging an organization's green weaknesses and strengths and determining employees' attitudes towards green processes.

"One of the most valuable tools in our Green Audit arsenal is our ability to benchmark clients' carbon footprints," said Woofter. "Instead of a seemingly random number of greenhouse gas emissions, we can tell you how your company stacks up against other similar organizations. That makes it easier to understand where you rank on the 'green' scale, and how much work you need to do."

The course also provides auditors with a variety of tools to complete projects, including templates and calculators. They will also have access to SSC's practices and processes.

Image — SSC