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Michigan & California Commended for Creating New Green-Related Jobs

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

An op-ed in U.S. News and World Report, written by former Apollo Alliance president Jerome Ringo, commended Michigan and California as a success in creating new, green jobs based on policies that promote a clean environment and renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Green job growth is not segregrated to just two states. Opportunity in the green sector is happening nationwide - especially for indivudals who seek green career training. Read Ringo's report for more details:

The statistics don't lie: Even without a comprehensive national policy, clean energy jobs in the United States have grown at more than twice the rate of overall jobs over the past decade, according to a 2009 study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Passage of a federal clean energy and climate bill will increase these job numbers exponentially by unleashing a torrent of economic innovation that has the potential not only to save our environment and climate but also to revive the U.S. economy.

Several states are already demonstrating the kind of positive economic transformation that can result from progressive clean energy and climate measures. In four years, Michigan has created more than 11,000 renewable energy jobs-at family-sustaining wages-and the state recently adopted a standard requiring that at least 10 percent of its power come from renewable sources by 2015.

Another sterling example is California. The state's decades-long commitment to forward-thinking climate policies has caused green job growth to outpace overall job creation in the state by a rate of almost 3 to 1 since 1995. A study released in December by Collaborative Economics and Next 10 showed that even during the economic crisis, green jobs in California grew 5 percent between 2007 and 2008 while total jobs dropped 1 percent.

Source: The Michigan Messenger

Eligible for State or Federal Energy Efficiency Incentives?

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Today's consumer is more environmentally conscious than ever before. Even so, most of them are unaware that their good deeds could be rewarded with state and government incentives and/or rebates.

So, whether you are Photovoltaic Systems Installation professional or a Weatherization and Energy Efficiency professional, one thing is for sure - if you are employed in the renewable energy or energy efficiency sectors, part of your job will be consumer education.

Luckily, there is a comprehensive Web site that lists these incentives - The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). This Web site will allow you to search two different databases (renewable energy and energy efficiency) by state.

Once you select your state, you can narrow your search even further - by federal, residential and more. Additional search options include summary maps, summary tables, a library, glossary and more.

As a green professional in the renewable and energy efficiency sectors, being up-to-date and understanding which incentives pertain to the areas you serve can be beneficial to your career. For example, why not educate potential clients with direct mail campaigns or host a community, family-focused event?

The goal is to enlighten potential clients and show them how even the simplest energy saving efforts may result in not only recurring yearly savings, but attractive incentives. And it's your expertise they will need to make it happen.

Help others benefit from these valuable incentives and you just might become the go-to energy expert in your community.

Types of Green Building Jobs

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A green job is dedicated to reducing waste and pollution, as well as making the Earth a better place. Workers in the green community are in high demand, and sustainable and green building jobs are some of the top growing jobs in the green field.

Green building consists of using green products and sustainable building techniques. Some building products are considered green, like bamboo, because they are sustainable or rapidly renewable. And building techniques that may be considered green are those which help prevent wasted energy and utilize renewable resources. Green workers need to be able to distinguish between which products and techniques are green and which are not.

Here are a few different green building jobs to consider:

Architects - Green architects are involved in the design and construction aspects of building sustainable and energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings. They need to understand various green building techniques and sustainable products. Architects draw floor plans and blueprints, then they hand the drawings off to the designers, builders, electricians, and anyone else involved in making the plans a reality.

Builders - Green builders are dedicated mainly to using green building techniques which will be sustainable, prevent wasted energy, and utilize renewable resources. They use green building products to construct homes and commercial buildings.

Contractors - Green contractors are people who either work alone or in conjunction with other businesses to obtain various green building jobs. They may contract green building jobs, green installation jobs, or even painting jobs that require green painting techniques. They may choose to use green building products all or some of the time. It also depends on what each client is looking for.

Interior Designers - Interior Designers are responsible for the design of a building's interior. Some Interior Designers may choose to work solely with green products or to simply recommend green products to their clients and accept whichever decision they make.

Electricians - Green electricians are concerned with utilizing renewable energy and using electricity efficiently.

Installers - Green installers generally specialize in the installation of various green products, such as solar panels, green flooring, and other renewable building products.

Of course, there are many other jobs involved in green building, but these are the first that come to mind when one thinks of green building jobs. Any job that is dedicated to reducing waste and pollution, and to benefit the environment, is considered a green job.

Green building is about using green building products and materials, along with sustainable building techniques, to prevent waste and make the environment a healthier place. Green workers need to be able to distinguish between which products and techniques are green and which are not. Workers in the green community are in high demand and green building jobs are some of the top growing jobs in the green field.

Read More >>Types of Green Building Jobs

San Francisco Allowing Residents to Finance Green Upgrades with Property Taxes

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on February 8, 2010 that creates a citywide special tax district to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements. The loans, which will be attached to the property - not the owner, will be paid back through property taxes.

"This green financing program is going to create green jobs and fuel the next wave of energy and water efficiency and renewable energy development in San Francisco," Newsom said in a statement. "It helps home and property owners overcome the large up-front costs of major environmental improvements."

Beginning in March, San Franciscans will be able to seek financing from the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which will make $150 million in bonds available, according to Renewable Funding, a private group that will put up the capital and administer the program at no cost to the city.

Studies show that up-front costs are often the main barrier that keeps property owners from making green upgrades. PACE programs aim to remove that barrier.

The PACE model was launched in November 2008 in Berkeley, Calif. DeVries developed it while serving as chief of staff to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.

The concept is rapidly expanding, as 17 states have authorized PACE programs over the past 18 months. It was recently named one of the top 20 ideas that can change the world by Scientific American magazine and one of the top 10 breakthrough ideas for 2010 in the Harvard Business Review.

Source: http://content.usatoday.com

New York City's Green Initiatives

Monday, February 8, 2010

New York City has some impressive green goals - including 30 initiatives that aim to support and attract green businesses and entrepreneurs. These initiatives include renewable energy incentive programs for residents, like utilizing solar energy, and programs that place the unemployed into various internship positions with green-related businesses.

Learn more now - check out this Business Insider interview with Seth Pinsky, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) as he discusses how New York City plans on implementing these 30 green initiatives and more.

source: www.businessinsider.com

Read More >>New York City's Green Initiatives

California Approves First Statewide Green Building Code

Monday, February 1, 2010

The California Building Standards Commission has adopted the nation's first statewide, mandatory green building code. The new code, which is called "Cal Green," takes effect January 2011 and will require newly constructed buildings to satisfy a building criteria, including:

-Recycle 50% of construction waste as opposed to sending it to a landfill

-Low-pollutant paint, carpet and flooring

-Plumbing that cuts indoor water use

-Inspection of energy systems to ensure optimum efficiency

-Water meters installed in non-residential buildings

The new Cal Green building code will help the state meet AB32, a law that requires the California Air Resources Board to implement regulations that will reduce California's overall greenhouse-gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.

For more information, visit the California Building Standards Commission Web site at www.bsc.ca.gov.

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