In college, Carrie Farrar spent six months studying abroad in Kenya, East Africa. Almost a decade later, that experience still shapes her life — and her work
“Africa was a real eye-opener for me in terms of how Americans live compared to many parts of the world and how we might reduce our impact,” Farrar says. “That experience affected the way I think about my lifestyle choices.”
Farrar now oversees sustainability practices for The Standard, an insurance and financial services company headquartered in downtown Portland. One example? Clean WindSM from Portland General Electric: Her firm buys renewable energy credits equal to 25 percent of the electricity used at its downtown campus and 100 percent of its Tanasbourne campus. Combined, those Clean Wind purchases in 2008 avoided more than six million pounds of carbon emissions, which equates to more than 6.2 million automobile miles not driven.
She works her values
The 28-year-old considers herself lucky to have a job that helps reduce the environmental impact of a major American company.
The insurer was founded locally more than a century ago and roughly 70 percent of its employees are Portland-based, so the company’s culture reflects the community’s green values.
For proof, Farrar points to some of the company’s accomplishments: There’s the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification for two of its buildings, including Portland’s first in LEED’s “Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance” program.
There are the solar panels at Tanasbourne that generate about 7 percent of the company’s energy use. And there’s the recent company picnic for almost 2,000 people that featured composting and locally sourced organic food. The only garbage: potato chip bags.
Thinking green, thinking big
Farrar speaks proudly of the company’s all-volunteer green team that boasts 85 to 90 members, as well as the management-level steering committee that helps shape and guide sustainability initiatives. Most of all, she’s proud to work for a firm that allows her to think big when looking for the next green action.
“I have the opportunity to look at everything and ask, ‘How else can we operate more sustainably?’” she says.
For someone whose personal passion has long been environmental stewardship and community involvement, it’s a great place to be. “Right now, my life and my work go hand in hand.”