Sustainable Series: New Holbrook Environmental Company Puts Clean in the Energy Movement

In talking about the clean energy movement this series has touched upon energy, the movement of young businesses, but not cleaning. 

"That's where I fit in," said Larry Vetter, president of Vetter Environmental Sciences (VES) in Holbrook. "With the green industry you think of electric cars and solar panels and that sort of thing; there is also the more traditional aspect. The clean up aspect." 

Before solar assessments, and before measuring energy efficiency, VES makes sure the sites that buildings sit on have a clean slate. Concentrating its services into four categories, VES focuses on air quality, environmental site assessment, environmental cleanup, and mold investigation. By its company mantra, VES surveys, samples and solves. 

A company of three, VES was founded in 2008, a young business like we've seen before in this series. Unlike the other businesses in this series, though, VES works predominately on a business to business bases, and less on the residential side. Amongst clients, Mr. Vetter said his company often works with banks, insurance companies, facility management companies, as well as real estate brokers. Though VES handles materials that would call for a Marty McFly space suit, Mr. Vetter said common problems run the gamut of water loss, a failed filtration system, mold, and musty odor. 

"Sometimes it's the tenant," Mr. Vetter said, "sometimes it's someone new moving into [a building or office] and sometimes it's a private home too."

Mr. Vetter breaks the process down into three phases. The first, like many professions, is research as VES conducts a historical background check on a site through federal and state records. A visual assessment of the site is also done, determining issues like potential for asbestos, industrial tanks on the site but not on record, and any potential problems with groundwater. 

With physical testing, the second phase confirm what is found. The last phase is addressing and carrying out any problems. 

"There's a whole variety of things," Mr. Vetter said, "chemical losses, oil losses, the associated testing that goes along with that; it can be any number of things." 

From visions of the gulf to old fruit, mold is a problem most people are familiar with. When it comes to Mr. Vetter that is an understatement. Since the turn of the millennium he has been identifying mold as a continuously growing problem relating to the likes of air duct cleaners and carpet cleaners. 

"Truth is most of us didn't know about it then," Mr. Vetter said. "But no one stops you from going to the Stony Brook library and educating yourself. There are opportunities to learn even if you don't have the background."

Familiar with the Stony Brook library, Vetter graduated from the school, but with a background in math. That background soon included environmental science as Mr. Vetter entered the field over two decades ago. Deciding to go out on his own, VES's beginnings included some ominous signs.

VES opened the same day Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy, Sept. 15, 2008. Considering the  industries the company mostly services, that was a worrisome coincidence. But being VES supplies a needed service for the growing industry of efficiency, on an island with plenty of available office space, the entrepreneurship of Mr. Vetter's venture has slowly grown, and was even recognized last month by the Hauppauge Industrial Association as a finalist for its small business 'Rookie of the Year' award.

"What could I do," Vetter said in regard to Lehman Brothers, "I wasn't about to give up. The die was already cast and you know, we're doing good. It's worked out quite well so far." 

Sachem Patch Sustainable Series

No. 1: Introduction to the Series

No. 2: Towns of Islip and Brookhaven Already in the Green Game

No. 3: Becoming Efficient and Saving Money with National Energy Audits

No. 4: Supplying the Sun in Sachem

No. 5:

Sustainable Series Useful Terms List