Green Jobs for a Green Economy

The US Green Building Council has a great resource for understanding and enhancing the creation of jobs through sustainable building, especially the LEED Program. Check it out here, and at the Green Economic Recovery Resources page

- Norris Lozano

Green Jobs Create Economic Energy

In a recent story, "Up on the Roof, New Jobs in Solar Power", the New York Times reports strong economic activity in the renewable energy sector. And despite the downturn, many in the industry predict continued growth. 

Barry Cinammon, CEO of Akeena in California, anticipates that his solar business "will increase 40 percent from last year."

This anecdotal evidence corroborates what The Solar Energy Industries Association reports in its "Blueprint for Job Creation and Economic Security", (updated December 11, 2008) which outlines how the solar industry, in particular, has the potential to create "more jobs, per Megawatt, than any other source of energy."

The jobs potential for renewable power industries is especially strong in the inner city, according to Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center who, along with Majora Carter of the Majora Carter Group has started an organization called Green for All. 

Green For All is a strong proponent of "green collar jobs" which can be channeled and encouraged in the inner city, which has a disproportionately high unemployment rate - and therefore a high number of trainable men and women who are ready to work in all facets of growing renewable energy industries - manufacture, installation, design, sales, leasing, you name it.

Check out the Green Jobs Guidebook that was created in collaboration between the Environmental Defense Fund and the Ella Baker Center.

 - - Norris Lozano