Green Jobs Now: The Green Economy is Here

Green Jobs Now: The Green Economy is Here

On September 27th, 2008, a national day of action took place all over America. Millions of people showed their dedication to cleaning up the planet by participating in Green Jobs Now. Hundreds of environmentally conscious events took place, many in urban and low-income communities. People planted gardens, increased their recycling efforts, and spread the word about the growing green-collar sector.

Building a Green-Collar Economy

It's clear that people are ready for green jobs now. These jobs are part of a new economy that moves away from waste and towards preservation. The focus is on energy efficiency, conservation, bio-fuels, and solar energy. Not only will green jobs help the environment, but they will also provide much needed jobs in a struggling economy.

You may not know it, but former president George Bush signed a Green Jobs Act in 2007. The Green Jobs Act allocated $125 million for training programs that help lower-class families, the unemployed, veterans, and teenagers enter the green-job market. President Obama has also pledged to create more green jobs.

What are Green Jobs?

Any occupation that helps preserve the environment can be called a green job. That includes jobs that are commonly known as blue-collar or white-collar.

For example, construction is thought of as a blue-collar occupation. But builders that create green buildings can also fit into the green-collar category.

A “green building” is one that's designed, built, and operated in an environmentally efficient manner. The building should conserve water and energy. If mass transit is available, the building should be conveniently located so workers have easy access. Green buildings should also retain the natural landscape as much as possible.

This is only one example of how a traditional blue-collar job can crossover into the green-collar sector.

Turn Any Job into a Green Job

Can you become a part of the green-collar movement without quitting your current job? Yes, you can. All it takes is a few simple changes to make your work environment more ecologically efficient. Imagine what a difference it would make if everyone made the same changes.

There are a number of things you can do:

• Use recycled paper.
• Turn off your computer and monitor at the end of the day.
• Turn off lights when not in use.
• Carpool to work or take mass transit.
• Recycle paper, plastic, cans, and glass when possible.
• Open windows and make use of daylight instead of electricity.
• Use energy efficient light bulbs.

Switch Careers

If greening your current job isn't enough, you can transition into a green career. To learn all about finding a job in the green-collar sector, get a copy of The Complete Green Job Guide. It tells you all you need to know about developing a green career. Visit (www.TheCompleteGreenJobGuide.com) now for more information.