It's Lucrative Being Green
5 Hot Green-Collar Jobs
When architectural intern Jennifer Downey moved from Richmond, Virginia, to New York City last year, it took more than a college degree to land her current job with the design firm Marble Fairbanks.
Prior to moving, Jennifer obtained her Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, accreditation, a credential issued by the U.S. Green Building Council for architects specializing in environmentally conscious building practices. She attributes her current professional success to her knowledge of both architecture and the Earth.
"It's not enough to be an architect anymore," Downey says. "You've got to know how to do it in the most responsible way possible."
Architects aren't the only builders required to go green these days. The American Solar Energy Society, a nonprofit organization set on increasing the use of sustainable technologies, reports that 8.5 million Americans currently hold "green collar" jobs in renewable energy or energy efficient industries; however, that number could grow to up to 40 million by 2030 due to increased demand in alternative energy sources. To get a slice of the pie, here are five of the hottest earth-friendly fields.
Wind/Turbine Technician
Though wind energy currently accounts for just one percent of all energy used in the United States, the American Wind Energy Association reports that the wind industry grew by 45 percent last year alone. Those with a background in turbine manufacturing, operation, and repair will easily find work in states like California and New Mexico that have vowed to pull 20 percent of their energy expenditure from renewable sources by 2020. While renewable energy degree programs are offered on the bachelor's degree level, those with traditional manufacturing experience also can give their career a greener slant by taking a one- to two-year wind technology degree program at a community college.
Auto Retrofitters
The switch from gas-guzzling SUVs to energy-efficient alternative vehicles will require some serious manpower. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the automotive technician industry will expand just 14 percent by 2016, Green For All, an Oakland, California-based nonprofit specializing in green collar workforce training, says there will be a crucial need for workers who can upgrade existing vehicles to new environmental standards. As the bio fuel industry grows an astounding 50 percent per year, according to one study, technicians who can replace traditional engines with flex-fuel and diesel engines will have an advantage to finding work. Mechanics with a soft spot for Mother Earth can learn engine conversion at their local community college.
Sustainable Architects
With New York, California, and Wisconsin mandating that all new public construction be LEED-certified and other states soon to follow, the need for environmentally-minded architects will inevitably increase. The U.S. Green Building Council reports that the domestic green building industry increased net sales by more than $5 billion dollars in the last two years and currently sits at a walloping $12 billion. In addition to a four- or five-year degree in architecture, sustainable designers may also choose to take an additional one to two-day preparation course to get ready for the LEED Accredited Professional Exam.
Energy Systems Manager
Building new earth-friendly structures is only part of the battle. Greening up existing ones is the other. According to Green For All, between 1990 and 2003, U.S. energy companies spent $12 to $16 billion retrofitting municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals to be less wasteful. Dedicated to insuring indoor air quality and creating energy reduction initiatives, future energy systems managers can start their career at either the two- or four-year college level.
Environmental Engineer
With increased attention on bio fuels, solar-paneled buildings, electric vehicles, and geothermal electronics, the need for environmental engineers is greater than ever. The BLS estimates environmental engineers will see 7-25 percent more jobs added to their field between now and 2016. While the highest 10 percent of salary for an environmental engineer currently tops $100,000 annually, expect to invest some of that money first. A bachelor's -- and often master's -- degree is required to land a job in the field; however, students can find environmental engineering programs in nearly every corner of the United States.
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