GreenDegree.com

Funding for alternative energy projects has become available throughout the country and the world. This is fueling the growth of the alternative energy industry and paving the way for individuals with a green degree to leap into a job market that is waiting with open arms. The study and development of alternative green energy sources is the wave of the future in many ways.

In the past decade the world has become serious about dealing with our natural resource and pollutions issues. No longer is it just the environmentalists that are making waves, people are beginning to put their money where their mouth is. The development of green degree programs has been made possible because of it.

Wind, solar and hybrid power have all garnered significant attention. All three are extremely very viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Not only are they readily available, but they are renewable as well. If we can create the technology to make them cost efficient and sufficient to meet our needs we can become independent of foreign oil. Students in green degree programs throughout the country are delving into these issues.

It will be up to the green degree program students working on these technological developments to come up with solutions to the problems that still exist in the alternative energy system. They will also be the ones to step into the jobs that are waiting for them to carry the industry forward.

Individuals holding a green degree will be on the cutting edge throughout their lives in an industry that holds the promise of powering our country. Students are gaining access to new programs every year offering the study of solar energy, wind energy, and related technology. These programs are being funded and supported by states and municipalities because they understand that in the end they will more than make up for the money they have spent. It has become a necessity.

A whole new work force is developing in this field. So much so, that perhaps the blue collar worker of the future will be known as a green collar worker. All types of employees are and will be needed to keep this industry moving. Technicians, maintenance workers, engineers, managers, and support personnel trained in green energy will find they are greatly needed. A green degree may become as desirable as an MBA used to be. Perhaps a green MBA will be the coveted degree of the future.

Our country is taking important steps to bring about this change. Many do not even realize it is taking place. There is much talk of conservation and renewable energy resources and has been for some time. This new industry has been put in motion now and it seems obvious that it will continue for some time and continue to grow.

As more and more students continue to seek green degree programs and more programs become available, the necessary workforce will speed up the development process. As this workforce improves the profitability of each renewable resource through product development and efficiency, the industry will grow.

It is projected that we can reach the goal of producing 20% of our electricity needs with wind energy. But we all know technological change is unpredictable and many times we are able to make developments and improvements we did not expect. We may have to set the bar a little higher when we discover we can harness more of our renewable resources to meet our energy needs.

Recycling is an important aspect of the green degree program in building. Learning how to re-use resources helps to cut down on the consumption. Recycled rainwater is one example. By learning how to use it for non-potable intents is one of the educational aspects that are taught. Building facilities to handle this means you are utilizing a natural resource instead of using water that has been processed for drinking or other use.

When you earn a green degree in building, you will learn about the materials used and which ones do not emit harmful compounds that can be toxic. These compounds are not only harmful to the environment but humans as well. The use of volatile organic compounds (VOC) is prohibited from use in green buildings.

The use of the right types of insulation to conserve energy will be another aspect of green building that will be taught. Using organic materials versus man-made are another way of protecting the environment. The preparation of buildings for the use of alternative energy sources is essential for the builder to learn. Using fuel cells and photo-voltaic energy sources are important to new construction.

Green degrees are not just for scientists who are studying the ways of preserving natural resources. The need for professionals in every aspect of the business sector is already beginning and the need for many more is expected. The job growth in environmental positions is expected to continue to grow at a huge rate. Universities are already scrambling to add these courses to their curriculum.

There are many courses that accompany the green degree in building. The following are just a few that will be needed to further education in green building.

* Geography
* Sustainable Development
* Sustainable Living
* Land Use
* Community Planning
* Environmental Preservation and Restoration

When earning a green degree in building, not only will the immediate area in which you are building be a part of the consideration, but the community and use of the land will be as well. Building new green housing and business will have to be planned to include the community and the surrounding land as further construction will be needed at a later time.

The green degree in building will teach the basics of deliberately designing a building to use the resources we have to be environmentally friendly. Also, this is a step that will be a very important aspect to your career as the world turns to energy sources that are renewable rather than disposable. New development is one of the aspects being provided with money by the Federal government.

At the present time, electrical energy is used for such a humongous number of things that it is hard to imagine it may not be available as we know it today. The difference is we are striving to replace typical electricity with renewable energy in order to preserve the environment and the future. Builders, as well as many other professions will learn to adopt the use of renewable energy as the future of our world. It is already in progress and in a few years the green degree will be essential to all professions as this field expands.

When recessions occur, you can expect a recovery eventually to follow. This trend adheres to the law that economies move in cycles. While recessions are inevitable in any economy, within time a recovery will take place. In other words, a pairs of peaks and troughs exist in the lifecycle of any economy. This is a bittersweet reality that impacts everyone’s lives, including those with a green degree.

While the United States has had one of the largest economies in the world, like every other economy it has had its ups and downs. Besides the current recession, the most recent ones have been the recessions of 1973-1975, 1980-1982, 1990-1991, and 2001-2002. True, when contrasted with the Great Depression, which lasted throughout the 1930s, the recessions were relatively short and moderate. However, they were clearly recessions, and included multiple quarters in which the Gross National Product (GDP) dropped and unemployment rose.

While recessions eventually end, which indicators reveal it? While various sectors of an economy can suffer during a recession, the recovery of those sectors indicates a recovery in the nation’s economy. During the past four recessions, sectors that tended to decline included:

* consumer discretionary spending
* energy
* telecommunications
* utilities

An interesting observation is that while the financial services sector did not experience a major decline during the first 1973-1975 and 1980-1982 recessions, it was a major factor in the 1990-1991 and 2001-2002 recessions. Furthermore, it is quite evident to those with an economics degree and green degree alike, that the financial services sector has had a significant role in the current recession.

As a case in point, consider the impact of the housing sector in the 1990-1991 recession and the following recovery. First, it is important to understand the “homeownership rate.” This is the quantity of housing units that the owner occupies, divided by the quantity of housing units that owners do not own. While the homeownership rate ceased to increase steadily since the 1960s, the situation changed in the mid-1990s. The increase in the securing of loans to purchase houses paralleled the rapid expansion of the housing market. This resulted in an astounding creation of jobs, which played a major role in the recovery of the U.S. economy. A weak sector of the economy now had a clean bill of health!

While the housing sector will eventually recover from its current downtown, economics are uncertain about precisely when that could happen. However, many economic experts doubt that a housing boom will pull the USA out of the current recession.

On the other hand, one could argue that Earth’s environment has been experiencing a “recession” of sorts, for more than half a decade.

Scientific data indicates that Earth could be on the brink of destruction, due to factors such as global warming and the prolific use of non-renewable energies. The problem is enormous, meaning that an enormous solution is necessary. And that solution will require jobs, including a copious amount of jobs for those with a green degree. Perhaps the quantity of jobs required will even offset the 6 million jobs already lost in the current recession.

Can you imagine training in a solar village with hands on experience in solar technology? The job possibilities in this field are unlimited as the government funds more and more to alternative fuel technologies. Going to solar school is a growing past-time for many that are interested in Natural Building technologies and Solar Heating Options for sustainable home designs, as well as those in the commercial building fields.

There are workshops springing up around the country as the funding for classes and certifications is free flowing and scholarship money is sitting unused, even though many students that have discovered this field are going to solar schools on 100% scholarships, in some cases.

Some of the workshops may only be 4 day classes, while others are progressing through the degree process in engineering and construction design in the building trades. Going to solar school with an internationally known solar design engineer/builder as your trainer will offer you knowledge in passive and active solar technology design, retrofit and zero energy homes and buildings, which will become the wave of the future.

As more people take advantage of the tax credits offered for purchasing these systems, this field is expected to be booming in the years to come. While many people are getting laid off from the industries that have been shrinking due to the economy, solar is a field that can’t keep up with demand. Going to solar school and getting education and certifications is a way many of the unemployed can get into a stable and growing occupational field for the future.

Many states have been more aggressive about rounding up this federal funding than others. States like Texas, California, Colorado, Illinois and Ohio, for example, no only offer further education in the field, but are also offering incentives for public schools that take advantage of installing solar panel systems at their schools, not only for learning, but for cost savings.

Even the Europeans have started offering a one year master program in solar education, by going through solar school, so this field is not isolated to only our country, but is an internationally growing demand that will need to be filled by those that are familiar with research, design and installation of the solar panel technologies of the future.

While many of our young are now being educated through public school educations in solar school technology, the adult population is fairly unaware of the incentives and funding available to become knowledgeable and earn certification through solar school classes.

Many of the logical players in this field, such as architects, engineers and installers are pursuing further education, but college students that are concerned about future employment possibilities are fairly slow to understand the potential employment opportunities that can be available to them by getting in on the bottom floor of the ever-increasing demand for knowledgeable people in this field.

Solar school education is expected to become more important as the demand for alternative energy fuels grow and solar technology is one of the most viable options. As new homes and commercial buildings are built and “green” certifications increase, this occupational field is expected to employ many of those that are without work. Going to solar school is an investment that should pay off in a short amount of time.

As our natural resources have become depleted we have begun to consider alternative resources to power our nation and the world. We consume a tremendous amount of power throughout the world and it has become difficult for our typical options to fill the bill. Consequently, venture capital has been moving into this area of future development and moving us more quickly along the path of development.

Simultaneously, green degree programs are being developing in our colleges, community colleges, universities and technical schools. The growing need for trained people to work in this field has become urgent. As other industries are shrinking, the renewable resource industry is burgeoning.

An interest in wind technology and its development has grown rapidly. Wind is a very clean resource that is inexhaustible. It can be used to generate sufficient electricity to millions of businesses and homes throughout the country. It is one of the fastest growing sources of alternative electricity in the world. The United States alone can now produce enough electricity through wind technology to satisfy the needs of 7 million homes.

This is only the beginning. Experts predict that if things continue as they are going now, it is possible to provide at least 20% of our country’s needs through wind energy. This, however, requires a work force that is trained in this field. A green degree can give an individual an entrance pass into this growing industry.

Research is currently being done in an effort to improve the performance of the wind turbine. At the present time they are not particularly reliable. Repairs by trained technicians are need more often than would be ideal. Industries are partnering with universities to study such problems and by pursing a green degree you will place yourself right in the thick of this fascinating and evolving field.

Improved technology is needed to make the airfoil design of the turbines more efficient. The best use of materials and aerodynamics is being explored, as are manufacturing processes and systems development. Green degree programs are assisting in finding solutions to these problems and anticipating future ones in an effort to make this new readily available resource more cost effective.

Wind energy is not the only source of clean renewable energy being explored. Solar energy is also of interest. Solar energy has typically been produced by using solar panels, the large flat panels that are placed upon a roof that is made up of solar cells to capture the sun’s rays and turn them into electricity. This technology also needs perfecting and those in green degree programs are preparing to become a part of this developing industry as well.

Considering all there is yet to learn and discover in the renewable energy field, it is clear that this path will be an exciting one. We need the best minds and imaginations to go to work to solve our energy problems and to perfect our alternative energy equipment. A green degree can provide the stepping stone to entry into the field of renewable energy.

Will a “housing bubble” lead the United States out of the current recession, as it did during the middle 1990s? According to many financial experts, that scenario is unlikely, just as another Internet boom is also improbable. However, by better understanding the impact of the housing bubble during the 1990s recession, we can better understand the potential impact that a “Green Revolution” and those with a green degree, could have on the recession of 2008-2009.

The 1990-1991 recession had the marks of a genuine recession, including multiple quarters of increases in unemployment and decreases in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, remember the adage of former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill, that “all politics is local.” The economic downturn impacted certain areas of the country in particular, including California and the Northeast. These local hardships stemmed from a variety of causes, including increasing Medicaid costs, rigid tax systems, and new federal mandates. Nevertheless, the ultimate result was that these devastated regions had a significant impact on the decline of the nation’s economic health.

Nevertheless, the recession of the early 1990s did not last forever. The speedy expansion of the nation’s housing markets resulted in a change in the “supply and demand” dichotomy that plays a significant role in macroeconomics. However, it is vital that the amount of consumer borrowing for the purpose of purchasing new homes paralleled the increase in new homes available. This housing boom created an enormous number of jobs, and eventually helped America to climb out of the 1990-1991 recession.

The proof is in the pudding. The homeownership rate is the ratio of the number of housing units that the owners of those units occupy, divided by the number of housing units that non-owners occupy. That figure vacillated in the 1940, and grew steadily during the 1950s and 1960s. However, it went into neutral gear during the 1970s and then dropped in the 1980s. Then the homeownership rate increased again starting in the middle 1990s, which is when the U.S. economy began to flourish again.

If another housing boom (and Internet boom) is unlikely, then what could save the current economy? The good news for those with a green degree is that it is their field of expertise. Regardless of one’s political stripes, scientific data indicates that Mother Nature is extremely “sick.” And according to many environmentalists, nothing short of a “Green Revolution” will remedy the situation. However, even on a microcosmic level, “going green” can save households and businesses a copious amount of money. When entire nations begin implementing green mandates, the profits and savings will be exponentially greater.

In fact, companies’ “going green” has already become a trillion dollar industry! Such companies focus on creating business solutions to problems such as global warming and energy dependence. These are common sense innovations that those with a green degree can help to formulate.

Unfortunately, even the most knowledgeable and innovative economists are uncertain about when the current recession will end. However, it seems likely that a Green Revolution could have the same economic impact on the US economy, as the Information Revolution and Industrial Revolution did!