Green Education Prospectus
Green Job Growth
Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the National Establishment Time Series Database; analysis by Pew Center on the States and Collaborative Economics.
Green Job Distribution
Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the National Establishment Time Series Database; analysis by Pew Center on the States and Collaborative Economics.
Author Archives: janeforsythe
Important Trends in Alternative Energy
Breakdown Of Alternative Energy Use in the US
Recently, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released their most recent report regarding the consumption of alternative energy in the United States. While the nation’s complete dependence on fossil fuels is readily apparent in the report, there are signs of progress as well. Nationwide, renewable energy sources accounted for over 7% of the total energy consumption. Within that 7% the main type of renewable energy that was consumed was biomass, meaning the burning of fuels produced from renewable sources such as ethanol production and biodiesel accounting for 52% of the total renewable energy consumed. The biomass sector has seen substantial growth, more than doubling its market share in the period between 2004-2008. The second leading source of renewable energy consumed was hydroelectric power which accounted for 34%. Hydroelectric energy production has remained steady (with minor fluctuations due to water levels) at between 2.2 and 3.6 quadrillion Btu/yr for about 20 years. The leading states as far as hydroelectric power generation were Washington, Oregon, New York, California, Montana and Idaho, although there was some growth in Alabama, Arkansas and New York. Since plans for the construction of new dams is limited, it can be expected that these figures will continue basically unchanged.
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Posted in Green, Green Government, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Living, Wind Energy
Tagged alta wind energy center, american recovery and reinvestment act, california, clean energy, clean energy jobs, eco friendly, electricity, future of energy investment, renewable energy, solar, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, sustainability, types of renewable energy, wind energy, wind turbines
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Sustainable Landscaping Practices Should be Practiced by all Homeowners
Friendly, striking, and sustainable; these are qualities that homeowners should learn to strive for in their outdoor landscaping. They are not only great qualities that will heighten the marketability of the property, but proper landscaping can also increase the energy-efficiency level of the home. Furthermore, while some homeowners have the luxury of time to tend their garden some are just too busy for the task. Enter xeriscaping. It’s a fairly new concept that an aesthetically appealing garden can also contribute to sustainability, but with xeriscaping techniques it is possible.
But how do homeowners practice sustainable landscaping around their homes? How extensive does xeriscaping have to be, or at the very least what are some of the elements that comprise a sustainable outdoor landscape? An extreme example of a sustainable residential garden is called “Project Living Proof,” a model for a sustainable landscape design situated in the sprawling front of a 99-year-old house in the Rockhill neighborhood of Kansas City, owned by the Metropolitan Energy Center.
With rain gardens and rain barrels being an integral part of the design, the garden also includes native shrubs and flowers, raised beds for vegetables, a patio for backyard picnics, a low-maintenance lawn and permeable paving in the parking area. Likewise, the garden uses reused and recycled materials wherever possible. “Whatever stage you are in your greenness and seeking — whether you are thinking about it or are in the midst of it, you want to see what’s available to you. In this project, it’s almost all there,” says Jim van Eman, architect for Project Living Proof.
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Posted in Green, Sustainable Living
Tagged energy efficient homes, renewable energy, renewable energy projects, sustainability concepts, sustainable city, sustainable garden landscape, sustainable green living, sustainable housing, sustainable housing projects, sustainable landscape design, sustainable landscaping ideas, sustainable living, wind and renewable energy
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New Green Education Spotlight Needs to be on Women
Twenty percent more jobs will be created as the government invests in green initiatives. At least, that’s what policymakers have always believed in. They are right but the problem is, women are not as blessed with green jobs as compared to men.
With regards to white collar green jobs, women are not well-represented. As politicians discuss about green jobs, blue-collar work are most often given emphasis. Examples of blue-collar green jobs are home insulation or solar panel installation.
History does prove that women are undoubtedly underrepresented when it comes to manual labor construction work. Women only comprise 3% of the population of building trade workers. This gender inequality is just similar to jobs such as an electrician who’s hooking up HVAC units to installing solar arrays.
Those are blue-collar green jobs and are usually good for men. But what about women? Shouldn’t women be employed in white-collar green jobs too?
Actually, there aren’t any hindrances for women to take part as construction or energy lawyers, to engage in green projects or to establish businesses that promote innovative green products. Gender equity is just one of those issues. The real problem lies in the fact: there is a greater need to come with new efforts that encourage the demand for both blue-collar and white-collar workers and at the same creating an income that will revive America’s economy.
Still, women have lesser opportunities in the green initiatives. In the leadership of the ABA Construction Law, women are just 16% of the total population. There are even a few scientists, researchers, engineers and financiers. So, here’s a list of the things that need to be done in order to change this scenario:
Make white-collar green jobs suitable for economic incentives. In turn, America will have a greener economy. Green job trainings will just be wasted if there aren’t any newly-established businesses geared towards creating demand for people to build solar arrays. In turn, both men and women will be reaping the benefits.
There are now green education programs online such as those offered by the Eco Institution where women can be trained to become Eco Consultants. This green training allows them to perform green home makeovers in their area and help homeowners identify areas where they can save up to 30% per month on the their energy and water bills. Other green training programs for women involved in fields like law, business, engineering and finance. Alumni groups from various higher educational institutions can do their part. They could come up with programs that not only their alumni can benefit but as well as the other professionals within their geographical area.
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Posted in Car, Green
Tagged blue-collar green jobs, blue-collar job, businesswomen, economy, female engineers, female entrepreneurs, female financiers, female lawyers, female researchers, female scientists, green economy, green job trainings, green jobs, white collar green jobs, women
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New Eco Consultants Helping Homeowners Save Money by Going Green
How do you like the idea of calling in an Eco Consultant and when they come to your house, they do not only inspect but also install energy efficient solutions? Sounds convenient and efficient, doesn’t it? The good news is: it is already possible now as the trend in energy efficient home rages on.
Eco Consultants can easily detect energy-inefficient features in the house and offer outright solutions that will help cut down monthly bills. A full service that is an exact and timely answer to many busy homeowners who just don’t have a lot of time to inspect every corner of their house to find leaks that are costing them more energy consumption.
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Posted in Green, Solar Energy, Sustainable Living, green education
Tagged eco consultant, energy consumption, energy efficient homes, energy efficient housing, energy sheriffs, green energy, green housing, installation of automatic door-closers, installation of programmable thermostats, insulating paddings, programmable thermostats, renewable energy, renewable energy consumption, thermal energy
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Top Emerging Eco Trends in the World
The green economy is becoming a world-wide trend and it doesn’t stop at the creation of green jobs to uplift the lives of many hopeful individuals. If previous news of energy efficiency development centered in the construction industry recently, then we are in for bigger surprises as Dan Kammen—director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley; and Ron Pernick—co-founder and managing director of Clean Edge unveiled the hottest trends we can look forward to in the coming months.
For one, the call for more clean-energy investment will rage on following the call of US business elites led by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Bank of America chairman Chad Holiday this June for an annual $16 billion investment in clean-energy innovation. “Low-cost clean energy is the single most important way to lift poor countries out of poverty and create more stable societies. The whole world would benefit from this, and the United States can and should lead the way. The time for action is now,” urges Gates. Continue reading
Green Home Inspections Can Save Money for Homeowners
Are you seriously thinking of buying or remodeling your house while at the same time sticking on a specific budget? For many experts home investment is not a wise move unless you go the types with energy-efficient features. After all, buying or remodeling a house is by itself already a big move in your pocket and for the paying associated bills of energy consumption and other miscellaneous is another thing.
Indeed, more and more people are getting aware that houses with lighter energy-consumption are more efficient than those that would cost you your entire savings. And Philip Beere realizes that the market for this particular niche is rapidly growing when he founded the Green Street Development in Scottsdale, which to date has sold eight remodeled homes in downtown Phoenix. “I think it will happen. I think the (housing) crisis has created a more informed consumer. They are asking more questions about home energy savings and the overall cost of a home,” Beere said. Continue reading
Helping People Green Their Homes
Making one’s home environmentally friendly used to be Ed Begley Jr.s’ concern. But now, more and more people are jumping on the green bandwagon. Ed’s business has become everyone’s business as people are taking on ways to ensure that everything’s greener than ever.
There’ a million reasons why “going green” at home is essentially important. Captain Planet worked so hard to keep Planet Earth a good place to live in because what’s good for the planet is also good for us. Plus, saving money on utility costs is a really big help at times when the economy is at its lowest.
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Going Green an Idea Whose Time Has Come
Going green is fast becoming the new “in” thing, and by that we do not only mean in terms of home decorating or any fashion trend that is rapidly leading the commercial market these days. Take the case of Habana Outpost, an eco-friendly restaurant owned by Sean Meenan—the same man who masterminded the opening of another environmentally-inspired café called the Café Habana.
Recently, Mr. Meenan showed off his festive-colored eco-eatery to a group of girls, ages 11-14, who were delighted to experience not just the Outpost’s delectable menu but also catching a glimpse of the rainwater-collection system that feeds the toilets, a recycling and composting station, wheat-board wall paneling and corn-based plastic cups, and a bicycle-powered blender. Not only that, the amazing environmentalist also showcased the $40,000 solar panels installed in the restaurant and funneling electricity to the Outpost’s nearby buildings. According to Mr. Meenan, he was inspired by the early memory of Ronald Reagan who ordered the removal of the solar panels installed by Jimmy Carter in the White House. “It just seemed to me God gave us the sun, it’s there, we’re not doing anything bad by putting up some solar panels, right?” Mr. Meenan said. “They even kind of look cool.”
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Posted in Green
Tagged bicycle-powered blender, cafe habana, corn-based plastic cups, eco-eatery, eco-friendly restaurant, environmental awareness, environmentalist speaker, going green, habana outpost, recycling and composting station, sean meenan, solar panels, wheat-board wall paneling
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New Green Jobs Create Energy Efficient Workforce
Thanks to an all out campaign of the Obama Administration in providing clean energy investments-more than $80 billion and green job generation. With the growing demands for green jobs, many groups are committed to greener living by providing training and opportunities across the nation to fully-equip the next generation to be part of environmentally-friendly industries.
From hands-on jobs like installation of solar panels, electric vehicles maintenance, fuel cell technology researchers, wind turbines manufacturing, US is keen on having a low-carbon, clean energy economy. Latest addition is the California Green Jobs Corp. which provides education and skills training to low-income youth to land them a green employment.
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Energy Star Rebate Program Begins In Florida
Energy Star brings good news for Florida. If you’re from Florida and you own Energy Star-rated air conditioners, air source heat pumps, and geothermal heat pumps, then you’ve got a reason to be happy on Monday, the 30th of August 2010. Energy Star will be offering about $15 million in rebates for the above-mentioned units, with each rebate costing $1,500.
If you buy units starting Monday, August 30 until December 31, you qualify for the rebates unless the money has not run out before then. However, purchases made before Monday do not count at all. But good news though is the state’s expectation that the money will last for a while.
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Posted in Green, Green Collar, Green Government, Renewable Energy
Tagged air source heat pumps, air-conditioners, air-conditioning systems, duct testing, energy, energy efficiency rating, energy star, energy star rating, federal government, federal tax credit, florida, florida class 1 rater, florida energy star® residential hvac rebate program, florida licensed mechanical contractor, florida power & light, florida solar energy center, geothermal heat pumps, homeowners, hvac system, progress energy of florida, rebates, rebates program, renewable energy, seasonal energy efficiency rating
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