Author Archives: alexispatterson

Clinton Global Initiative Reveals High Hopes for Green Jobs

At the recent Clinton Global Initiative conference held in New York Last week, a variety of different topics were discussed. Among the hottest topics: Green Jobs and the growth of the green economy. The Clinton Global Initiative describes itself as:

“…a meeting of innovative, action-oriented, and socially responsible leaders in the world. The Clinton Global Initiative’s Annual Meeting brings together heads of state, government and business leaders, scholars, and NGO directors. Participants analyze pressing global challenges, discuss the most effective solutions, and build lasting partnerships that enable them to create positive social change.”

That being said, it should be encouraging that green development and the green economy were one topic that was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. According to leaders at the conference, the green sector is the shining light amidst an otherwise gloomy outlook.

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Get a Home Energy Make Over and Save Money Immediately

There is one very simple, yet logical, reason why we often hear sectors telling us to make our home energy efficient, that is: to save on our monthly utility bills. Who doesn’t like that idea, after all? Times are hard, and people are always interested in finding out ways on how to save as much for other important expenses. This is also one of the reasons why some local government units are as happy to sponsor contests that would award homeowners with home energy makeover worth of cash to show everyone the benefits of remodeling our homes that would equate to energy efficient home living.

Take the case of one family in Virginia who won a free home energy makeover worth up to $10,000 in a regional contest sponsored in part by Loudoun County and WJLA-TV. The Lockett family was one of three winners chosen from nearly 3,000 entrants and will be receiving installation of solar panels at their home on Brookton Way. Loudoun County is involved in a wide range of efforts to reduce the county government’s energy consumption, improve energy efficiency and raise awareness about energy conservation. Continue reading

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Home Energy Savings by Greening your Home

How do you like the living in a house that is strategically constructed to save energy and water usage more than any conventional models? This question arises as environment-friendly buildings and green home architecture are becoming the latest buzz in the construction industry today. In buildings alone, if energy efficiency is introduced as early as during the design stage, the amount of energy saved is as much as 40-50 percent compared to the 20-25 percent in existing buildings.

Interestingly, in green homes, the benefits that homeowners can acquire are equally rewarding, with the operating energy costs and water consumption meter going down the line. This also explains why more and more housing development firms are beginning to adapt the green housing practices as they are deemed to increase the marketability of the project. Just imagine an energy savings of 20-30 percent and water reduction of 30-50 percent, making your utility bills more than manageable every month. But how exactly can home owners achieve an energy-efficient home features and start experiencing all the tangible and intangible benefits which included an excellent day light, enhanced air quality, etc.?

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Green Training and Education at Forefront of Career Education

Green jobs are no doubt becoming the latest buzz in the employment industry, and any environmentally passionate person deserves the right training to prepare him/her with the latest trends, skills, and techniques in managing green tasks. And this is where community colleges and other training providers come in with the goal of producing environmentally bright minds through their specially-designed courses and programs.

As more and more people realize the revenue-generating potentials of clean energy, the federal government has poured in $500 million to cover the training needs for green jobs, which propelled the interest of the public and many educational institutions. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the energy efficiency sectors are estimated to grow rapidly in the next decade, providing more green opportunities to low-income middle class and with the possibility of sweeping off the saddening unemployment issue of the nation. Hence, right at this time where the Obama administration is rendering full support to the creation of millions of green jobs, colleges and universities are just as ready to train future managers who will oversee the technologies, manufacturing processes and materials that will be used to conserve energy and help safeguard natural resources.In Eugene Oregon, Lane Community College is already offering two-year programs in n energy management, renewable energy or water conservation. Boasting with an organic garden, the college has also overhauled its faucets and toilets to conserve water as part of its initial step advocating green education. Currently, other community colleges are looking at the college’s programs as an ideal model for their respective green training. Continue reading

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Socially Responsible Business Opportunity

companies on global warmingGlobal warming has been a big concern and it gets even worse over the years. A two percent reduction in carbon emissions every year for the next 40 years is needed in order to stabilize our climate. As the fight against global warming continues, more people are becoming involved when it comes to environmental issues.

Business owners have been starting to be involved in this fight too. It has been observed in most companies that are now socially responsible that they not only help our environment but they have also gained in their business too. Most consumers today are now concerned with how environmentally conscious a business is. Several things that a small business that wants to green a company can do to become socially responsible and makare:
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Green Schools Opening for Students this Semester

Green Educational Institutions to open this semesterConscious steps have taken by every sector in greening homes and businesses. Environmental friendly and eco-awareness are being implemented to at least reduce global warming effect and climate change consequence. Loan programs to upgrade homes to green one have developed; reduce in carbon emission by computer use have been the priorities of tech sectors. Construction and designs of building are facilitated thru certification. Aircraft sector have programs to reduce their carbon footprints during flights, innovation on efficiency measures are being implemented; even political candidates have their “green platform” to get votes. State and local governments raced to become leader in clean energy industries and promoting eco-friendly programs.

As the school year begins, the education sector have also given their part in promoting green standards on campuses and welcome this school year in green style. How can this be done? Parents should encourage recycling old school supplies. Rulers, bags, pencil case, sharpeners are not disposable and can be used again. Recycled notebook, pens, markers are available in different green school supply stores. Healthy lunch and snacks can also be packed in reusable containers instead of unfriendly plastic bags and tin foils. The three Rs of Environment should be always kept in mind, reusable, recycling and reducing. This will not only save you lots of money, it will also instill a green attitude and behavior to your children which they will treasure until the next generation.
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Canada Eco Certification Becoming a Standard

school kid gardeningAs the effect of climate change and global warming takes its toll, more and more nations are going green, doing their share and coming up with conscious steps to save the environment. Most sectors have their own organizations to do their part to cut energy use, provide energy-efficiency measures, sustain environmentally friendly project and provide green jobs.

IT sectors have the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, a non-profit group cutting carbon dioxide emission from computer use. Airline groups have carbon offset scheme, a voluntary method for passengers to donate and offset the share of carbon dioxide acquired on their flights. United States Green Building Council created Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED promoting new concepts to save water consumption have indoor environment quality, energy-efficiency and materials selection for buildings construction and designs. Continue reading

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Green Jobs of the Future

green jobs imageThe global trend these days is generating green jobs. More and more countries are claiming to have included green jobs on their employment plans. Political candidates even brag about their platform on having programs to create green jobs. The term green-jobs is fast becoming a “by-word” for everyone, but do they really know what green jobs mean? Do they know what classification is needed for a job to be branded as green?

The concept of the “green-job” is very important but it is very vague. Yes, technically it is defined as a job or business considered to be environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible. It is a profession on which you improve energy efficiency, use renewable energy and protecting the environment leading to economic sustainability. But how would you categorize a job if it is green or not? If I am working on a steel factory emitting carbon on which the steel produced will be used for wind mill and solar panels, am I considered a green worker? If I am working on an automobile factory doing conventional cars and at the same time assembling hybrid cars, where category do I fall? Continue reading

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Obama Pledges Clean Energy Policy to Create 800,000 Jobs by 2012


In a speech given during a visit to a Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin battery plant on Monday, President Barack Obama predicted that the nation’s manufacturing and industry would be a primary source of economic growth and that the policies his administration is putting in place would create 800,000 jobs in the next two years.

“Our commitment to clean energy … [is] going to help lay the foundation for lasting economic growth,” Obama proclaimed at Wisconsin-based ZBB Energy’s main facility [AMEX: ZBB]. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and distributes energy storage systems and solutions based on their zinc-bromine rechargeable electrical energy storage and power management technologies.

The president also targeted Republicans for stymieing the Democrats’ policies in Congress. Attempting to pin the tail of economic woe on the GOP, he claimed that the party has “made the political calculation that it’s better to stand on the sidelines than work as a team to help American businesses and American workers.”
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