BUFFALO, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viridi, a developer of innovative fail-safe battery technology that can be safely installed and operated in nearly any environment or location, has appointed Evan van Hook to its management team as the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, a new role created to advance core company values and to bring about a positive environmental and societal impact for the communities where its products and services are developed and deployed.
Van Hook was previously Honeywell’s Chief Sustainability Officer, where he led the multinational conglomerate’s health, safety, environment, product stewardship, and sustainability efforts for two decades, leading that company’s more than 90% reduction in greenhouse gases in its facilities and operations. In 2022, he was named by Constellation Research as one of the world’s 50 most influential executives in the field of ESG and also one of the American Energy Society’s 500 Global Sustainability Thought Leaders.
“Evan van Hook brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience to the Viridi team that will bolster our efforts to innovate the future of power,” said Viridi CEO Jon M. Williams. “Sustainability is at the core of our work, and I can think of no one better suited to lead our efforts in this space. I look forward to partnering with Evan to build our sustainable energy solutions and transform the future of our company and the communities where we operate.”
Van Hook is on the Board of the Housatonic Valley Association, which advocates for the protection of the environmental health of the Housatonic Watershed in the Northeast. He has also taught International Environmental Law at Columbia Law School, lectured at the United Nations ITR, and was a credentialed observer at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 23 and COP 24. He has authored numerous articles on environmental topics and is the co-author of International Environmental Law: A Case Study Analysis (Routledge 2019).
“Viridi has quickly become a leader in the energy revolution, working at the forefront of efforts to create new, much-needed methods of safe energy storage,” van Hook said. “I’m looking forward to continuing this work by expanding the company’s commitment to providing environmentally friendly, forward-looking solutions and helping Viridi grow as a leader in sustainability.”
Van Hook graduated from Yale Law School and is a former partner at the law firm Sidley & Austin and Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
IMAGE: Chief Sustainability Officer Evan van Hook
About Viridi
Viridi designs and builds battery systems that redefine energy storage and power the transition to renewable energy. Its innovative, fail-safe battery systems, developed from materials used for aerospace and military applications, bring on-demand, affordable power wherever it is needed, replacing applications that have been historically dominated by fossil fuel energy sources. Viridi brings point-of-use energy storage that is safe, reliable, scalable, and affordable for use in industrial, medical, commercial, municipal, and residential building applications.
The company’s 42-acre campus, a former GM manufacturing facility, is bringing green jobs and workforce training opportunities to one of the nation’s most impoverished zip codes. Through Viridi’s partnership with GreenForce Training, a non-profit recruitment and training organization that was founded to assist companies in supporting their workforce, Viridi is creating a sustainable roadmap for other green manufacturing hubs to follow, taking strides towards environmental and social justice for long-neglected communities. Learn more at: www.viridiparente.com.
