Coalition Resists EPA's Waiving of the RFS

A group has come together to resist the possibility that the severe drought conditions in the US mid-west this summer, will prompt the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). To engage the American public and rally support, the coalition of renewable energy stakeholders has launched a new website called Fuels America, and a new twitter feed, @fuelsamerica.

“Fuels America is built around one core idea: renewable fuel is essential to the U.S. economy, our nation’s energy security, our rural communities and the environment,” noted former Congressman Jim Greenwood, President and CEO, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) in the release.

Green Careers Summit 2012 (Event)

This event will take place on Friday, October 12, 2012, in Calgary, AB at the Red & White Club. Are your students Canada's future environmental leaders? ECO Canada is inviting students in grades 11 & 12 and their teachers to the Red & White Club on October 12, 2012 for a day of environmental career exploration and learning at the 2012 Green Careers Summit.

Why should you bring your students to the Green Careers Summit?

• Meet environmental professionals and learn how they found their green career
• Talk to post-secondary students about studying in an environment-related program
• Discuss your interest in making positive environmental changes with other Calgary students
• Test your knowledge in an Environmental Career Case Competition, and present your solution to a real-life environmental problem in your community.

Arizona's Republican Governor Knows that Solar is Green and this is the Color of Money

Arizona governor Jan Brewer is of two minds on the green economy. During her reign as governor she has both repealed and expanded the clean energy policies of her Democratic predecessor, Janet Napolitano. She campaigned on a platform that promised to pull Arizona out of any effort to cap its pollution. Once elected she made good on her promise by signing an executive order that withdrew her state from cap-and-trade as well as California's clean car program. However, she could not ignore the value of solar power to provide jobs and grow the state's economy.

Best Places for Green Jobs in the US

The number of green jobs is proliferating around the world, but some places are better than others. In countries like the US, China, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore the recycling industry is experiencing significant growth to address their waste management issues. In the US, California, Florida, Michigan and Ohio are hotbeds of activity in energy efficiency.

Here is a list of some of the best US locations for green jobs from research compiled by the Examiner.

Top 10 "Shovel Ready" Green Jobs

Green jobs are growing rapidly around the world. Sectors involved with employment that is better for the environment are amongst the very few that are showing positive signs of growth in 2012 and beyond. According to Examiner.com, here are the sectors that are most likely to create jobs.

Investing in Education is the Key to Developing the Green Economy

In President Obama's State of the Union Address, he spoke about how America can win the future by out-educating, out-innovating and out-building the rest of the world. The challenge of building the green economy is dependent on well educated students and this depends on government investment.

Bill Increases Energy Efficiency in Oregon's Schools

Bill 2960 is bringing energy efficiency upgrades to Oregon schools. The bill enabled school districts to apply for low cost financing to pay for energy efficiency upgrades in schools.

Utility bills are one of the largest expenses for most Oregon school districts and are growing about 10 percent every year. Upgrading older buildings improves efficiency, ventilation and lighting while riding schools of mold and asbestos.

Creating Climate Wealth UK Summit

Creating Climate Wealth (CCW) UK summit, will be held at the University College in London (UCL), on September 13 and 14, 2011. The UK is at a low carbon economy crossroads. A ‘transition to 2050’ requires long term planning, huge infrastructure investments and sustained action on many fronts. Yet it also offers an immediate transformational opportunity to create new wealth, jobs and global competitiveness.

Video: Al Gore Criticizes Obama's Decision to Withdraw the Proposed Ozone Standards

In his jobs speech President Obama said, "I reject the idea that we need to ask people to chose between their safety and jobs." However, on the Friday before labor day, President Obama asked EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to withdraw the proposed new national ozone standards, delaying the safeguards until at least 2013. President Obama said that he is putting the new clean air regulations on hold for jobs. However, Al Gore argues that the President's decision impacts human health and the health of the environment.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Conestoga College Post Graduate Environmental Engineering

Conestoga College in Cambridge Ontario is an environmental engineering college. They offer a program which responds to increased concern regarding the protection and management of the environment.

Top Five Green Master Degree Programs

In 2010, Master Degree Online.com published their list of the five of the best sustainable schools. (This list has been updated by The Green Market for 2011).

Online Green MBA Programs

Here is a list of online green MBA programs assembled by The Green Economy Post:

World's Best Green MBA Programs

In an article titled The Top 5 Green MBA Programs in America (Probably the World), Karin Kloosterman suggests that despite a slow economy there are opportunities for those with who pursue sustainability oriented degrees. She quotes a Bloomberg Businessweek article about the surge of green MBA programs, "sustainability represents one of the few potential bright spots in an otherwise dismal recruiting environment."

Here are Kloosterman's top green MBAs:

Stony Brook University's Sustainability focused BA Degrees

Stony Brook University now has five new sustainability-focused BA degrees. Stony Brook University's Sustainability Program Director, Martin Schoonen, Ph.D., says, "Our students will be exposed to many of the challenges facing today’s world, and through critical examination explore possible solutions to create and define sustainable models for future generations."

See the program description for each of the five BA degrees: Ecosystems and Human Impact, Environmental Humanities, Sustainability Studies, Environmental Design, Policy, & Planning and Coastal Environmental Studies.

Course Descriptions for Green Courses at San Diego State University College of Extended Studies

Here are the five course descriptions from San Diego State University College of extended studies:
1. Fundamentals of Green Building Design and Construction
2. Green Building Commissioning
3. Introduction to Renewable Energy
4. Energy Efficiency, Evaluation and Design
5. Overview of Sustainability

Green Education at San Diego State University College of Extended Studies

San Diego State University College of Extended Studies understands the value of a green education. The college offers professional Certificates in three sustainable areas: Green building, energy management and sustainable practices. Students also have the option to customize their green courses to better fit their career objectives. These training programs are Military Spouse and Workforce Partnership approved.

Sustainability Certificates from Irvine Valley College

Irvine Valley College is a community college that offers Zero Waste certification for people seeking green jobs. Irvine Valley College boasts the leading transfer rate in Orange County and the third best transfer rate among all California community colleges.

Video: Sustainable Education at Central Piedmont Community College

This video reviews green education at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). Students are increasingly interested in sustainability and a growing number of schools, community colleges and universities are responding to this demand by offering a range of programs from short duration certificate programs to post doctoral degrees. One such school in Charlotte NC is providing more sustainable content as well as becoming more sustainable themselves. At CPCC, sustainability is woven throughout their curriculum. Local community colleges like CPCC are helping to provide the educational resources, for a well trained workforce that has a good understanding of sustainability. A green education helps to secure a good job and contributes to a strong economy, but it also supports a society wide paradigm shift which will see much greater importance being ascribed to environmental considerations.

For more information click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: College of Energy Environment and Sustainability

The college of Energy, Environment and Sustainability strives to expand knowledge of clean energy technology by providing green energy certifications. Using an online learning model this college enhances student competitiveness in the green jobs market. The College of Energy offers four different green job and career oriented green energy certifications, each of which focuses on a different aspect of clean energy technology and policy.

For more information click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: Green Education Directory Online

Green education is the way forward for jobs and the economy.
The solutions to problems we face start with each of us making sustainable decisions, this includes the careers we choose. There has never been a better time to get involved in Green Education and Sustainable business.

Green Education Directory contains a large number of college and university programs that promote green sustainable living and working. Their site features post secondary education programs and schools with associate, bachelor, master and doctoral programs as well as diplomas and undergrad and graduate certificates in green industries from Bio-Fuel, Eco Tourism, Environmental Science, Environmental Law, Green Agriculture, Green Architecture, Green Chemistry, Green Power Generation and Renewable Energy, Sustainable Business Management and Urban Planning.

Green is not the future, green is now. Get green and get educated!

To go to Green Education Directory or to request more information click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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