There has been much take lately of the need for a new energy economy (also known as the "green economy"), based on renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind, geothermal and biofuels, as well as resource efficiency.
Many workers are under the misconception that these green jobs are only for scientists and engineers. Not so. Construction workers, plumbers and electricians are needed to build new infrastructure and buildings, as well as retro-fit existing buildings. Mechanics are needed to retro-fit cars into hybrids and plug-ins. Manufacturing line jobs for wind turbines, solar panels and the like will be created. Many traditional occupations will be in high demand in a new green economy. There is also a need for support positions such as sales staff, trainers, accountants, general office personal, receptionists and janitors.
The American Solar Energy Society has an interesting article on How to Land a Green Collar Job.
New Energy & Green Economy Job Boards
(links updated as of Sept. 23, 2009)
American Solar Energy Society (ASES - lists jobs with over 40 companies in the USA)
American Wind Energy Assoc. (USA job listings & "post your resume")
Biodiesal Jobs (job listings for the biodiesal industry)
Biology Jobs (worldwide job listings)
Environmental Career Opportunities (USA job listings)
EnvironmentalCareer.com (USA job listings & "post your resume")
Ethanol Jobs (job listings for the ethanol industry)
Good Work Canada (job listings for Canada)
Green Energy Jobs (job listings for the UK and USA)
Green Jobs (jobs in North America and worldwide)
GreenBiz.com (mostly USA jobs, but a handful elsewhere)
Grist Jobs Board (a small number of only USA job listings)
Homepower Magizine - Job Listings (mostly USA, but some worldwide)
Jobs in Horticulture (USA and worldwide)
Natural Resources Job Search (listings for conservation jobs + job-hunting resources)
Renewable Energy World (Worldwide job listings & "post your resume")
Solar Energy International (seems mostly USA jobs)
Sustain Jobs (seems mostly UK, but some USA & worldwide)
Sustainable Business (mostly jobs in USA, Canada and UK, but a handful elsewhere)
Treehugger Job Board (mostly USA and Canada job listings)
US Forest Service (jobs with the USA federal government)
US National Park Service (jobs with the USA federal government)
Water Environment Federation (jobs in the water, wastewater, & environmental industries)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Bill Clinton talks about green economic growth
This video is a couple of years old (from 2007), but it is still worth watching.
Bill Clinton talks about green economic growth:
Bill Clinton talks about green economic growth:
Energy Conservation - Opportunities
In 2007, Alexander Jung wrote a piece for the German website Spiegel Online entitled Why Conservation is the World's Best Energy Source. In it, he writes "With humanity wasting massive amounts of oil, gas and coal to heat buildings, power industry and fuel vehicles, the potential for conservation efforts is vast."
With the world, and especially huge developing countries like China, India and Russia, using more and more energy, mostly in the form of finite fossil fuels, it is becoming more difficult, and expensive, to supply the needed energy. However, "one reliable source of energy is not even close to being depleted: Simply saving it may be the safest and cleanest option mankind has. It also happens to make a tidy profit."
Amory Lovin of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues in favor of what he refers to as "radical resource efficiency" and points out that saving energy costs less than buying it. Radical resource efficiency is just what it sounds like - the act of achieving maximum efficiency in the use of resources, such as energy. This includes using energy efficient technology as well as designing and planning homes, businesses, communities and lifestyles in such a way as to achieve maximum efficiency.
There is a really great commercial running on TV recently regarding energy efficiency. The scene opens up on an apparently naive and idealistic young lady nervously presenting her boss, a practical, no-nonsense middle-aged businessman, a report recommending a number of changes to achieve better energy efficiency for their company.
The boss, obviously just humoring his younger employee, patiently explains that those ideas are nice and will make the environmentalists happy, but he has to run his company in the real world. He then asks "Why should I sign off on this?" Obviously, he is not expecting a decisive answer.
The young lady responds by explaining that their company spends tens of millions of dollars on energy each year, and that those changes will save the company millions of dollars.
The boss, now with a stunned look on his face, asks "where do I sign?".
Radical energy efficiency and conservation is one of the more important next strategies in building a sustainable future. This creates a multitude of opportunities for those willing to seize them.
For politicians and others involved in public policy, the need for radical energy efficiency creates opportunities for leadership in the field of energy efficiency and conservation. Planning and supporting energy efficiency as a matter of public policy will pay huge dividends in balancing budgets and aiding the economy, as well as promoting national security.
For city managers and other bureaucrats who run local, state and federal governments, this creates opportunities for substantial savings and balancing budgets.
For scientists and engineers, this creates opportunities for research and development of new and improved technologies and systems.
For business leaders, this creates opportunities for saving money, building capital and improving cash flow.
For entrepreneurs, this creates significant opportunities for new businesses. Businesses involved in developing, manufacturing and selling new, energy efficient technologies have a promising future, as well as those involved in teaching and consulting other businesses and governments in energy and resource efficiency.
For employees, this creates opportunities for well paying jobs in new industries.
For individuals and families, this creates opportunities to greatly reduce household expenses.
Start looking around and imagining all the new opportunities that radical energy efficiency and conservation will create. And start considering all the ways you can benefit from those opportunities.
For ways to achieve radical resource efficiency, please check out The Resource Miser.
With the world, and especially huge developing countries like China, India and Russia, using more and more energy, mostly in the form of finite fossil fuels, it is becoming more difficult, and expensive, to supply the needed energy. However, "one reliable source of energy is not even close to being depleted: Simply saving it may be the safest and cleanest option mankind has. It also happens to make a tidy profit."
"Without much effort, the almost 500 million citizens of the European Union could reduce their energy use by one-fifth, studies have found. That would add up to savings of roughly €60 billion ($79 billion) per year. Such huge sums become less abstract when broken down to household level: An average family could save from €200 to €1,000 by using their energy more efficiently." -- Alexander JungMy own experience confirms this assessment. With a moderate amount of effort and expense, I was able to reduce my household energy usage not by Jung's 20% "without much effort" estimate, but by a whopping 60%. That equals an actual savings of a couple of thousand dollars a year, in addition to hundreds of dollars in savings in the form of tax deductions for some of the home improvements done to a achieve the reduction.
Amory Lovin of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues in favor of what he refers to as "radical resource efficiency" and points out that saving energy costs less than buying it. Radical resource efficiency is just what it sounds like - the act of achieving maximum efficiency in the use of resources, such as energy. This includes using energy efficient technology as well as designing and planning homes, businesses, communities and lifestyles in such a way as to achieve maximum efficiency.
There is a really great commercial running on TV recently regarding energy efficiency. The scene opens up on an apparently naive and idealistic young lady nervously presenting her boss, a practical, no-nonsense middle-aged businessman, a report recommending a number of changes to achieve better energy efficiency for their company.
The boss, obviously just humoring his younger employee, patiently explains that those ideas are nice and will make the environmentalists happy, but he has to run his company in the real world. He then asks "Why should I sign off on this?" Obviously, he is not expecting a decisive answer.
The young lady responds by explaining that their company spends tens of millions of dollars on energy each year, and that those changes will save the company millions of dollars.
The boss, now with a stunned look on his face, asks "where do I sign?".
"Between 75 and 90 percent of the energy we consume is wasted due to bad design and poor choices." -- Michael Potts of the Rocky Mountain InstituteWhat opportunities does this create?
Radical energy efficiency and conservation is one of the more important next strategies in building a sustainable future. This creates a multitude of opportunities for those willing to seize them.
For politicians and others involved in public policy, the need for radical energy efficiency creates opportunities for leadership in the field of energy efficiency and conservation. Planning and supporting energy efficiency as a matter of public policy will pay huge dividends in balancing budgets and aiding the economy, as well as promoting national security.
For city managers and other bureaucrats who run local, state and federal governments, this creates opportunities for substantial savings and balancing budgets.
For scientists and engineers, this creates opportunities for research and development of new and improved technologies and systems.
For business leaders, this creates opportunities for saving money, building capital and improving cash flow.
For entrepreneurs, this creates significant opportunities for new businesses. Businesses involved in developing, manufacturing and selling new, energy efficient technologies have a promising future, as well as those involved in teaching and consulting other businesses and governments in energy and resource efficiency.
For employees, this creates opportunities for well paying jobs in new industries.
For individuals and families, this creates opportunities to greatly reduce household expenses.
Start looking around and imagining all the new opportunities that radical energy efficiency and conservation will create. And start considering all the ways you can benefit from those opportunities.
For ways to achieve radical resource efficiency, please check out The Resource Miser.
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