Green Jobs and the Economy
On Tuesday March 31st 2009, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing that examined green jobs and their role in our nation’s economic recovery. The purpose of the hearing was to define the term green jobs, classify factors that grow green jobs, articulate the skills workers will need for green jobs, and identify how we can educate our future workforce for these jobs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act sets aside $500 million in competitive Workforce Investment Act grants to help train American workers for green jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries.
GREEN JOBS
You have white collar jobs, and you have blue collar jobs…. and now you have green collar jobs. Green jobs are jobs within the environmental sectors of the economy. Generally, they implement environmentally conscious design, policy, and technology to improve conservation and sustainability. There’s a growing movement in the business world to increase social responsibility. A sustainable green economy simultaneously values the importance of natural resources and inclusive, equitable, and healthy opportunities for all communities.
Here is list of popular green jobs:
- Green Business Owners
- Organic Farmers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Ecology Educators
- Ecotechnology Workers
- Solar Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Green Building Architects
- Environmental Consultants
- Conservation Movement Workers
- Green Vehicle Engineers
GREEN JOB GROWTH
Vital to fighting global warming, experts say, is the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, predominantly carbon dioxide.
The main cause of global warming is human activity, particularly carbon emissions from residential and commercial buildings, power plants and transportation, according to scientists.
Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, said green jobs will burgeon in various new technologies needed to fight global warming.
“If we really are serious about addressing global warming, we will need new technology in transportation, energy technology-renewable [energy], technology related to carbon capture and sequestration, new building-related technology [to cut emissions from buildings], air conditioning, insulation, windows, light [fixtures],” Claussen said. “But I think you have to balance that with jobs in old technology that will go away. The world is going to change, and every time you have a change there are winners and losers.”
Still, she said she believes there will be an overall growth in green jobs.
Claussen said addressing global warming will drive a need for non-technology-related jobs, as well: state and national government officials to write rules about how new technologies are used; economists to evaluate costs and benefits of investments; and international negotiators to hammer out global frameworks as technology expands.
“No sector of the economy will be untouched,” Claussen said.
Green Parties
Show your guests you are environmentally conscious by making your next celebration a green one. Below are a few ideas that can create a memorable green event:
VENUE
Choose an eco-friendly venue. Outdoor venues are favorable, as you don’t need added décor or flowers with nature’s beauty surrounding you. Also try to select a venue close to home. Guests will have to travel less, using less energy and fuel. The easiest choice would be your own home!
INVITATIONS
Almost all of your guests use the internet these days, even grandparents! www.evite.com is a great way to invite guests, track RSVPs, and even let guests communicate with each other. If you opt for paper invitations, find some made with recycled paper.
LIGHTING
Opt for a candlelit (palm or beeswax) dinner to conserve energy. Another option would be too have an afternoon get-together, where you are taking advantage of natural light from the sun.
CATERING
Hire a gourmet caterer who uses organic & local products. Have them prepare only what will be needed for the event. If there are leftovers, ask the caterer if the food can be donated to a local shelter, or at least composted. Another option would be to cook the food yourself. Research some local vendors, and visit farmer’s markets to find out what foods are best during the month of your event.
REUSABLE DECOR
Use eco-friendly, reusable products, such as linen napkins, dinner plates, utensils & glassware. If available, use locally grown flowers. Display your food using chafing dishes, platters & bowls instead of disposable serving pieces. Guests will be impressed by the elegance of your buffet!
RECYCLE
Get your recycling bins in order before the event, and clearly mark the containers so guests can “pitch in” with the recycling. If you hire a caterer, have them ask their staff to recycle anything possible. If you are lucky enough to live in a state like Michigan, you can even cash in on all those empty cans & bottles for 10c a piece!
PASS ON THE BALLOONS
Balloons are not biodegradable, making them a choking hazard for birds, fish, squirrels, and even kids!
Good website for links:
Sustainable Living
http://www.sustainabletable.org/�
Gift Giving/Registry
http://www.changingthepresent.org/registries
http://www.alternativegiftregistry.org/
THE FACTS
Americans spend over $2.5 billion dollars every year on wrapping paper. In lieu of a gift, ask guests to donate to their favorite charity in your name.
Green Your Mortgage
Our government has finally stepped in and now provides Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) as part of a federal program to help new home buyers finance energy efficiency upgrades and purchase new energy efficient homes. These mortgages help you take a higher loan amount to purchase a new home that meets certain environmental standards. Energy efficient homes are cheaper to operate and maintain helping to offset the costs over the long run.
EEMs for EXISTING HOMES
Energy Efficient Mortgages are available for existing homes as well. You’ll need a Home Energy Rating System Report (HERS). These reports rate your home on an index scale and suggest improvements and display your costs. According to Energy Star, a HERS certification showing that a home is energy efficient can increase its value by around 5 percent.
THE FACTS
According to Energy Star, a HERS certification showing that a home is energy efficient can increase its value by around 5 percent.
Investing in Green
There’s been a term on Wall Street for years, “SRI”. It means “socially responsible investing” and involves investing in companies that focus on sustainability and environmental issues. Recently in the wake of the Green movement, these stocks have begun to come into their own. There are also mutual funds termed “green funds”, that focus on companies with alternative energies and related technologies. A few of them are Winslow Green Growth (symbol: WGGFX) and The New Alternatives Fund (symbol: NALFX).
Green conscious companies are the way of the future, and large investing companies such as Goldman Sachs have already set aside $1.5 billion to privately invest in green companies. With rising fuel and energy costs those companies that change according to meet those new demands will be the ones that survive.
THE FACTS
Green minded SRI mutual funds have already reached $2.3 trillion invested.
Stop Printing Everything
According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, the paper industry contributes more to global warming than any other industry worldwide. Harvesting trees for paper reduces the CO2 offset trees normally provide, pollutes our waterways, and create garbage. Paper products are thought to embody a third of all landfill space in our country. The average American office worker prints or copies 10,000 sheets of paper every year, with an average office sending 4 million tons of paper into landfills every year.
Solution? Don’t print a hard copy unless its absolutely necessary. Emailing and Scanning has given us the ability to send documents electronically reducing the need to print hard copies. Even Personal Handheld Devices have the ability to accept emails, text message, and even MapQuest directions electronically.
RECYCLED PAPER
If you have the need to print, at least do it on recycled paper. Every major office supply store now carries recycled printing paper. According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, buying 40 cases of copy paper made from 30% post consumer paper instead of paper made from virgin pulp saves more than seven trees, 2,100 gallons of water, 1,230 kilowatt hours of electricity, and 18 pounds of air pollution.
THE FACTS
Selling Green
According to the Direct Selling Association (DSA), more than 15.2 million Americans participate in direct selling, generating over $32 billion for themselves and their parent companies. Shaklee, the original Green network marketing company, has products that include a highly touted line of all natural cleaners that are nontoxic, biodegradable, hypoallergenic and not tested on animals. Direct selling is not a scam, telemarketing, or a get rich scheme. If you work hard and believe in selling products to fuel the Green movement you can earn extra income for yourself.
Learn more by visiting the Direct Selling Association at www.dsa.org.
THE FACTS
According to the Direct Selling Association (DSA), more than 15.2 million Americans participate in direct selling, generating over $32 billion for themselves and their parent companies.
Green Your Computer
In the last 15 years nothing has changed the way we communicate more than the computer. The information age is upon us which means we are using more electrical devices than ever before. Every computer, cell phone and iPod in the country draws electrical power. The biggest energy hog of them all is the computer. The reason is people leave their computers on constantly, even when they are not being used. According to a recent study, if every American turned off their computer and monitor every night we would avoid emitting 8 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.
Solution? The solution is to adjust the Power Options on your computer to reduce the amount of power your computer draws when you are not using it. Your computer has the ability to adjust itself into a “low power mode” very similar to hibernation. Adjusting your Power Options can reduce the amount of energy your computer normally uses by 75%. (SEE BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS). The other option is to simply turn off your computer when you’re not using it.
ADJUSTING YOUR POWER OPTION SETTINGS
To adjust your Power Settings, click Start>Control Power>Power Options. Once the Power Options dialogue box appears, choose the “Power Saver” option and click OK, its that easy. Do it now!
THE FACTS
If every American turned off their computer and monitor every night we would avoid emitting 8 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.
Get Rid of Junk Mail
For me, there’s nothing more irritating than junk mail. Its like someone mails you a bunch of trash everyday so I can throw it away for them. According to Catalog Choices, 8 million trees are deforested every year to provide paper for junk mail, most of which goes unread. The average person receives 40 pounds of junk mail a year, all of which is transported via plane and truck filling our atmosphere with CO2. Whether you read them or not, at least recycle the paper!
OPT OUT OF JUNK MAIL
Fortunately there’s something you can do to rid yourself of junk mail. A great online resource is www.donotmail.org, click and follow the steps to remove yourself from mailing lists. Many catalog mailers use a database system called Abacus. Go to www.abacus-us.com and click on “Consumer Opt-Out” to take your name off those mailing lists. You can also call, 888-5OPTOUT to remove your name from other types of junk mailing lists.
THE FACTS
8 million trees are deforested every year to provide paper for junk mail, most of which goes unread.
Green Your Credit Card
Whether its mileage plus programs or shopping points, almost all credit cards have some type of spending reward. Today you have the option to use a “Green Card” which let’s you save the planet as you shop. What could be better than that?
The two main types of Green Cards are Carbon Offset and Affinity Cards. Carbon Offset cards invest a percentage of the purchases you make to emissions reduction efforts such as methane capture and reforestation. Affinity cards donate a small percentage for every dollar you spend to nonprofit organizations associated with the card.
THE FACTS
A Green Credit Card let’s you help the planet as you shop by donating money to Green Charities.
Green Business
The Green movement is creating many new opportunities in business. We are about to undergo one of the greatest socially driven changes in our country’s history. While we often talk about doing things to help the environment, it doesn’t mean you can’t come up with a Green business idea and help yourself at the same time. Green minded companies are the way of the future, and large investing companies such as Goldman Sachs have already set aside $1.5 billion to privately invest in green companies. Find a way to profit from a Green business and YOU could be the next millionaire story.
THE FACTS
Goldman Sachs has already set aside $1.5 billion to privately invest in green companies.