GCX Courses: What past students say

GCX brought their first course, Carbon Footprint Analyst (CFA), to market just less than 1 year ago. With fresh content, and South Africa’s leading carbon professionals delivering the course, the impact on market was instant. Having certified over 150 individuals from vastly different backgrounds, the reasons for why people choose to become certified differ as greatly as their backgrounds.

“I naively thought I would be able to do a complete footprint taking into account all the elements that need to be calculated. Soon after I had started with the process I learned a few very valuable lessons,” said Arlene Gorgeson of Metropolitan Holdings on her first incomplete carbon footprint attempt in 2007.

After conducting Metropolitan’s 2008 footprint with no external verification or guidance, she attended our course in 2009 to ascertain whether her methodology was correct. “The course was extremely valuable to me both in terms of confirming that I was doing the calculations properly as well as providing me with the practical skills to improve on my previous techniques.”

“For Metropolitan, it has served as a motivational tool to ensure that we have adopted an ongoing, iterative energy management plan. The year-on-year comparisons also provide an indication of progress, and highlight areas of concern”.

Value to Oliver Ryder, Director of Just Trees meant gaining a better understanding of the carbon world; carbon markets; how countries are talking to each other on it and how to calculate a carbon footprint. “I’ve started collecting data at home to do a personal footprint and I’ve complied all the info needed for the last 2 years from our business. Our primary focus will be to reduce carbon usage as quickly as we can.”

Taking advantage of the incredible media attention and the momentum around the beginnings of the green era, Sonet Jansen van Vuuren of Brandhouse, said that completing the CFA course has added immense value to not only herself, but also her future, and is in the process of planning some interesting internal initiatives.

Business needs are changing and having bid farewell to the neon 90’s, and rudimentary dot-com years, it is indisputable that that we are well into an era of green revolution. The opportunity exists to invest in green-skills development and to convert your awareness into business value .