Interview with Anca Novacovici of Eco-Coach

The following is an interview I, Rory Huntly, conducted with Anca Novacovici the founder and president of Eco-Coach, a sustainability consulting firm based out of Washington, DC.

Rory: What is Eco-Coach?

Anca: Eco-Coach is a consulting firm that I founded in 2006 in order to promote environmental awareness and provide businesses and individuals with services and tools that would make the transition to a more sustainable way of working and living easier.

Rory: Ok, so why did you decide to create something like this?

Anca: Well, it was something that I had planned on doing for a while. Sustainability is a field that I connected with early on and decided to make a career out of it. I wanted to help businesses and individuals realize the economic advantage as well as the environmental benefits of being more sustainable.  In order to do this, I obtained my MBA at Thunderbird so that I could get the practical business skills to start Eco-Coach and hone my consulting abilities. I think the service we offer is one that anyone can benefit from.

Rory: So, who are the people that should be calling you for your services?

Anca: Any businesses interested in saving money through energy efficiency improvements, water conservation techniques, waste removal, and a number of other sustainable business practices. We have a network of over 75 consultants that we work with depending on the size and needs of the business. Among some of the specific services we offer are Eco-Assessments, Sustainability Benchmarking and Metrics, Sustainability Training and Educations, and LEED Certification Consultation.

We also work with individuals that have residential needs. We hold a number of educational workshops with topics ranging from energy efficiency in the home to green renovation consultations. These workshops are currently held at Greater Goods on U St, though we have also provided them at other venues, including faith-based and other organizations. For individuals who would like more in-depth information, we conduct home audits to assess specific ways an individual can lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

Rory: If I called you tomorrow and asked you to come audit my apartment or home what can I expect from the initial consultation?

Anca: First, we would have you fill out a questionnaire a week before the visit. This form helps us gauge what your goals are and what you have already been working on so when we come to your home, we will be able to tailor the audit specifically to your interests. On the day of the audit, we will walk through your home and pinpoint areas where there are opportunities for improvement. While conducting the walk through with you, we would have a conversation about what we are observing and explain the potential solutions. You would have ample time to ask any questions you might have about meeting your sustainability goals. Normally the process takes 1-1.5 hours. Finally, after a week or two (depending on the amount of research required) you would receive a report detailing our recommendations, listing out helpful resources like eco-friendly contractors or vendors, and the answers to any additional questions or requests you may have had during the interview that required extra research.

Rory: I noticed on your website, www.eco-coach.com, that you have co-authored a book called Sustainability 101. Can you tell me a little bit about?

Anca: Sure, I wrote this book with a fellow sustainability consultant, Jennifer Woofter, to provide organizations with an easy-to-use guide to begin initiating sustainable practices. The book is about 200 pages long and provides over one hundred action items with detailed instructions and resources for how to complete them. The book is available on the Eco-Coach website as well as through Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Rory: Anca, I want to thank you again for your time. My last question is simple: With all of the “green-washing” going on it is sometimes hard to discern what “green” means anymore, how do you define “green”?

Anca: For me, “green” describes an action, product, or entity that has a measurable positive impact on the environment. I often consider “green” in the context of meeting a triple bottom line (people, places, profit). If an action works to improve environmental circumstances using sound economic strategies, I consider it “green.” Furthermore, those actions should be actively passed on to other people to perpetuate the cycle of best practices and “green” action to create a sustainable system.

For more information on Eco-Coach and for Anca’s contact information please visit www.eco-coach.com. Anca obtained her Masters of Business Administration in International Management from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management, and her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Anca is also a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional and is on the Board of the Green Building Institute.