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Having a Green Degree does not necessarily mean that you’ll instantly become a millionaire. Although it certainly creates a huge difference between comfortable living and financial difficulty, an environmental degree is, in short and simple terms, a pathway to having a stable job, or creating a career. This is all because of the increasing demands for trained experts in the sustainability and renewable energy sectors.

Professional Estimations
It’s hard to ignore, but the facts concerning the industries that focus on renewable energy all point towards a pressing need for individuals that have Green degrees (or at least have an education that’s higher than the standards). It’s estimated that around 20 percent of the workforce in the renewable energy industry is expecting retirement within the coming ten years. This will leave around 100,000 empty positions in the industry.

Educational Trend
Individuals with a Green Degree /a> will certainly become valuable as the current curriculums of most schools will be ill-equipped to prepare students for the future. A significant shortage of professionally qualified individuals will arise at the turning years of the decade and this’ll prompt universities to focus on offering more Green degrees. A lot of energy professional analysts’ state that the currently impaired growths of the industries focused on renewable energy is attributed to the lack of trained professionals. Higher education and Green degrees will certainly fill this gap in the demand.

The ARRA
The ARRA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act) that President Obama signed into law (early 2009) is focused on designating about $20 billion towards renewable energy and sustainability. This is part of the current US administration’s stimulus package that’ll serve to create over 100,000 new jobs over the coming years. The ARRA also provides a loan guarantee program that is aimed at supporting renewable energy systems. A manufacturing investment tax credit of 30% is also slated towards manufacturers seeking to profit from renewable energy products. A Green Degree curriculum will certainly cover these areas for a lot of people, and with the new initiatives planned to create energy efficiency measures, it’ll produce even more jobs that total up to the number of 500,000.

Economic Revenue
Because of the US government’s current legislative actions and the rising trend of people who’re becoming aware of the advantages of energy management, the renewable energy industry revenue is expected to rise come late 2012. After ten years, it’s probable that the workforce demand will fill in at least 800,000 job openings. Due to revenue variations, industrial growth, and the prospective number of retirees, the expectations concerning these has generated an increasing demand for individuals that are professionally educated with Green degrees.

Individual Salary
People won’t have to worry about the salary. It’s all basically about supply and demand. A near-abundant demand for professionals with Green degrees simply means that a lot of companies are willing to pay in order to hire the right experts for Environmental purposes. Currently, salaries are estimated around $40,000 to $150,000.

A Green Degree certainly gives you the right advantage especially during the coming years. With a lot of industries focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency, you’ll certainly realize that you’ve made the right decision when you opted for an education with this kind of degree.

An increasing number of people across the world are now more interested than ever in what is happening to it. People who may not have considered the environment ten years ago are now recycling and talking about different energy sources. More people now prefer to eat organically grown fruit and vegetables that they know has not been sprayed with pesticides, and which is grown with organic fertilizer. The world is now more concerned about green issues than ever before, which probably accounts for the interest in green degrees, particularly those concerned with our immediate environment.

Environmental Policy and Management Degrees

World leaders are concerned about our environment and there have been a number of summits at which various governments have made policy agreements that are designed to conserve existing resources and find renewable energy sources. These policies are beginning to infiltrate public consciousness as many people change the fuel that they use in the cars, the food that they eat, and a renewed interest in recycling rather than adding to the rubbish piles polluting the world. While world leaders may be concerned that we do live differently in order to save our world, they need trained professionals to help make those policies work.

Universities recognize the need for professionals in every area, especially our environment. As laws concerning how we live and what we do in the world are constantly evolving so environmental professionals are needed to put politicians’ decrees into practice.

What is an Environmental Policy and Management Degree ?

The young people of today have a heightened sense of their environment and so there is plenty of interest in degrees where they can learn how to protect the world they live in. Environmental policy and management degrees are concerned with the use of the world’s natural resources and connections between that and the people living in the world and with economic factors. Again, this is an interdisciplinary study concentrating on ecological issues and policies that relate to planning and development aimed at sustaining the world. It involves exercising control in the world and managing resources in the best possible way.

Students on this degree learn about business and industry and their relationship to the ecosystem and study topics as wide ranging as the natural and social sciences, law, business and humanities. More professionals are needed to oversee projects that are designed to include the quality of the environment, and how this is managed on the ground. Graduates of this program work in business to ensure eco friendly practice. Students may also work in advocacy and on projects that are designed to improve the quality of the environment that people live in. They may work as consultants for public and private agencies and for governments advising on ecological issues and making sure that policies are carried out in the proper way.

If you want to become a part of the green generation so you can help out Mother Nature, then you’re going to need a degree in at least one environmental discipline. A Green Degree /a> is certainly what you’ll need in order to have the skills for tackling the challenges set by the recently emerging trend of a Green Economy. Demand for sustainable development and alternative energy has grown over the past few years and so has the need for professionals educated in these fields. Read on, to know of some of the various Green Degrees that are being offered today.

Policy and International Development
With policy and international development, you can learn everything you need to know on how to adopt scientific knowledge (and new technologies) so you can contribute to a greener economy. Policy based programs are the ones that try to address the issues of balancing out environmental concerns along with the implementation of technologies in our modern day lives. After a year of studying policy and development objectives, this Green Degree /a> will definitely let you acquire a good amount of knowledge on implementing change, whether local or international.

Engineering
A lot of engineers these days are being hired to provide green solutions for a better tomorrow. Not only are the solutions focused on providing a better environment, but they’re also focused on profit alongside over all betterment. It might prove to be more than challenging for some engineers, but every triumph in design and technology yields satisfaction unequaled by other conventional engineering positions out there.

General Environmental Science
The study of how an environment (particularly ours) interacts physically, chemically, and biologically, is called Environmental science. It’s a discipline of general examinations concerning ecosystems that cover topics like groundwater contamination, soil contamination, climate change, air pollution biodiversity, conservation, waste management, water quality, and sustainable management. Earning this particular Green Degree /a> certainly leads to a profitable career of researching and developing possibilities that are good for the environment.

Chemistry and Biology
With this particular field, you’ll develop quantitative research skills that’ll help you with any career in the environmental research and development categories. A chemistry or environmental biology degree can certainly make you invaluable.

Agriculture and Wildlife
You can learn how to lead organizations that focus on conservation, biodiversity, agriculture, as well as ecological solutions when you take up a degree in this field.

Social Sciences
If you think that general sciences such as chemistry and engineering are not for you, then perhaps a degree in social science will fit you perfectly. The social sciences of economics and anthropology are some of the highly valuable Green Degrees /a> that’ll prove advantageous for you in the social and environmental awareness era.

A Green Degree /a> is not merely about scientific education and research. Rather, it’s more about environmental awareness and responsibility. The one’s mentioned above are the basics of green degrees but you can certainly look for other such degrees that offer in-depth education on contributing to a greener economy. Degrees like Energy Studies and Sustainability Management are more precise and focus more on helping the environment. To top it off, they only take about 2 years to finish. But of course, having at least one of the basics mentioned above is a combination that’ll prove highly advantageous for you.

Technology can be both our friend and our enemy. On the one hand, we use technology to reach our goals, to fulfill our dreams and to lead a comfortable, happy life; on the other hand, technology weakens our bodies and destroys our home, planet Earth. Pollution is one of the main disadvantages that came together with technology. Electricity is nowadays something as common as air or water and not a luxury and our existence is based on it. However, what people do not know is that the electrical energy industry is one of the most polluting. Because of that, people have searched for alternatives and renewable energy was discovered. The Sun can give us much more power than we need and the latest technology can help us make use of that power.

Our future depends on how well we use the resources available to us and how we protect the environment. Renewable resources are unlimited and their use doe not pollute, thus they are the future. Solar energy is the most frequently used renewable resource. It is available to anyone, it is easy to use and the advantages are far greater than the disadvantages. Photovoltaic panel systems represent the latest technology in making use of one of the most abundant, natural resource on Earth. A Renewable Energy Degree /a> is represents the means of using this resource.

Technology is always going to advance and new, improved methods of using solar energy are going to be discovered. The many solar plants that have been built in the last few years, the many projects still to be finalized as well as the amount of money allocated for researching the renewable energy area stand as proof that renewable energy is the future of the energy industry. If PV systems are the means of using solar power, then a green certification /a> is the way you can use PV systems to your advantage.

More and more people are using solar panels to power their homes. Receiving a structured training in the area of renewable energy is the step you need to take in order to help people make use of the energy provided by the Sun. Anyone can have some knowledge about PV panels, but not many can design, maintain, install or sell these systems. In order to be able to do that you need a renewable energy degree Structured training, together with practice and experience can make you a part of the energy industry future.

It is very easy to design, install or sell PV systems once you have benefited from proper training. A green certification /a> can be easily obtained upon completion of a training camp. Furthermore, in just a few days, you can receive your renewable energy degree, gain experience and have the opportunity to learn from other people.

The renewable energy industry is at its beginning. The sooner you start training to use the latest technology in renewable energy, the bigger your chances are to be a part of the future of this industry.

The solar energy industry has developed quite rapidly in the last few years and it’s about to grow even more. If until a few decades ago, solar power was being used by big corporations, nowadays everyone can benefit from the most advantageous and pollution- free alternative energy systems. Photovoltaic solar panels can be installed on roof tops, thus allowing each one of us to use renewable energy to power our homes.

Photovoltaic panels can power your household or even your whole neighborhood. Having a solar energy certification enables you to work in this field and bring solar power to your community. The solar potential of the area, the PV dimensions and the necessary electrical energy are just few of the factors that have to be taken into consideration when installing a PV system. These PV systems can be individual, usually used for a single home, or they can reach large scale dimensions, for example solar power plants.

Because the future of the energy industry relies mainly on renewable energy, especially on solar power, a green certification represents the ideal start for any career. If you are an entrepreneur, an engineer, an architect, a business and sales professional or a solar contractor, taking a structured course in solar power is the ideal step towards a powerful career.

The world photovoltaic production has reached an incredible 3 500 megawatts in 2008 and the estimations for the years to come are even more encouraging.  It is estimated that in a few years time, the production will be double. The numerous projects for solar plants and the increasing number of homes powered by solar energy come to back up the affirmation that a green AA degree is a very wise choice on your part.

There are different methods of obtaining a green certification The most reliable and solid way is through solar energy training boot camps. When you attend a training camp, you will not only receive solid, structured information, but you are also going to be able to put into practice what you have learned. Furthermore, a training boot camp will allow you to learn from experienced people.

Depending on which field you want to specialize in you can choose from several training options. Whether you want to receive your green AA degree in sales of PV systems, you want to learn about design and installation of PV systems or you just want to design these systems, boot camps represent the ideal way of receiving solid training and a degree.

Solar panel systems are a great investment because they represent the future of the energy industry. If you wish to be part of this great future, a structured training in the field of renewable energy is the answer. Attending a solar energy training boot camp does not only offer you the chance to receive your green certification strong>, but also to gain experience and solid knowledge.

As the planet’s resources are limited and pollution threatens our whole existence, making good use of renewable resources seems like an intelligent move. Therefore, a green AA degree is the first step towards a new and successful beginning.

A green degree /a> represents your understanding of the future. Pollution has been one of major concerns of mankind for some time now, but nowadays more than ever, people are struggling to find alternative ways of using resources, thus polluting less. One of the most damaging industries is the energy industry. The amount of pollutants that result from this industry will come to destroy the planet and reducing this amount is just a temporary solution. The surest way to a clean environment is renewable energy.

One of the most used renewable resources is the solar one. This natural resource can be used through PV panel systems. These systems are not complicated nor necessitate a lot of work, but there are some factors which have to be taken into consideration when using such panels. Even if you are an engineer, an entrepreneur, an architect or a constructor, a green AA degree is very useful to solve some problems related to using solar energy.

Training in the field of renewable energy, especially solar energy, is very important because this industry is constantly developing. A green degree /a> is proof that you have the necessary knowledge to profess in this field. There are several methods of getting such a degree but not all of them are advisable if you want to gain the skills and knowledge of a true professional. The best method of getting a green AA degree is through a training camp. Knowledge is nothing if not put to practice. A training camp will offer you the possibility to learn about the latest technology in solar energy, practice what you have learned and moreover, benefit from the experience of people who have been working in the field you are training for.

Solar energy was always believed to be the future of the energy industry, but many have questioned this fact. However, the results that we have seen in the last few years regarding solar power only come to strengthen the fact that renewable energy is the future. In less than thirty years, the production of solar energy has come from 2 megawatts a year to an amazing 3 800 megawatts / year. This data alone can prove that the solar energy industry represents a future for all of us and that a green degree strong> is the future for every one of us.

Training is necessary in almost every line of work because new things are being discovered every day. Whether new selling techniques have surfaced, or a new and profitable way of creating electrical energy has been discovered, training makes us professionals in our line of work.

A green AA degree shows that we are professionals in the area that most represents the future, the area where pollution does not exist and renewable resources are put to good use. Undoubtedly, the future is full of surprises, but one thing is certain: training to use renewable resources to your advantage, stop pollution and make the world safer can never go wrong. Solar energy is the path to the future and training to use this energy is the first step to be taken in this direction.

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!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has resulted in high demand for programs offering a Renewable Energy Degree   Nationally, universities and colleges are responding with finely tuned 2 and 4 year Green Degree curriculums that are designed to fill the Obama Administration’s push toward environmental leadership.  In an industry with seemingly unlimited potential and where the average annual salary exceeds $95,000, students are responding in kind.

The American Solar Energy Survey reports that in 2009 there are expected to be 8.50 million Green Degree jobs and that annual income from Renewable Energy Programs will exceed $1 trillion.  There is energy work to be done and academia and government are coming together to establish the American dominance in the field.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides State Energy Programs with $3.1 billion in energy stimulus incentives.  A Renewable Energy Degree is advantageous in fields like solar energy, electric power, energy efficiency vehicle development and expansion of the biofuel industry.  Green energy is one of the few fields where employment opportunities are actually increasing during the current recession.

Globally, associates with a Green Degree can expect the same reception.  Australia has extended its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 5% by mid 2010.  In December, international environmental ministers are expected to declare united fronts in the race to cleanup the environment and make the world less dependent on oil.  A Renewable Energy Degree will provide the associate with a world of opportunity.

The Obama Administration has moved to the forefront with an aggressive plan authorizing $4.5 billion to convert Federal Buildings into environmentally- friendly operations.  This conversion bodes well for employees with a Green Degree and represents only one area of the President’s call for action. 

ARRA has also set aside $500 million in educational and job training incentives for persons interested in pursuing a Green Degree    The government’s $5 billion commitment to install Renewable Energy and weatherization improvements to low-income housing is seen as a win-win situation for the environment and the economy.  A two-year Green Energy Degree will prepare the associate for installation, design and construction of renewable energy housing.  Typifying the actions of many states, Colorado has initiated a program with $130 million set aside for the weatherization and energy improvements to housing.

Additionally ARRA has dedicated many grant programs to Renewable Energy and has enabled financing through other grants for installation and manufacturing of energy efficient modules.  Students with a Green Degree will be encouraged and supported by government actions that look to expand the Renewable Energy horizon.

There are simply not enough persons with a Green Degree to fill the demand created by the Obama Administration.  In a recent survey, 72% of energy leaders indicated that the green energy employment marketplace needed supply.  Demand for Associates with a Renewable Energy Degree will peak in the next five years and globally for many years to come.  In a field expected to produce more than billion in revenue in North America in 2013, students with a Green Degree will certainly have job security and opportunity in both the short and long-term.

By now, everyone knows that “green” generally doesn’t mean the color.  It stands for environmental concern, ecological renewal and an overall better world.  So what, exactly, is a Green Degree, and what does it have to do with you?

First, “Green Degree”, otherwise known as “Green AA”, is the short name for an Advanced Associates Renewable Energy Degree

If you came to this article because you were looking for a career change or are new to the workforce and planning what you want to do, a Green Degree has everything to do with you.  The renewable energy sector, which shows one of the highest growth rates of any sector, is experiencing a broad skills gap.

The main reason for the skills gap is due to age.  People age 40 – 55 are the largest group of employees in the renewable energy industry.  As these people get closer to retirement age or retire on their own, the skills gap widens.  Too many employees are leaving to enjoy their retirement years, and not enough “young-bloods” are coming in to fill the spots.

Now the industry has a skills gap they need to fill – and they’re willing to pay people to fill it.  According to an article by the New York Times, national starting salaries for graduates of two-year Green Degree programs range from ,000 to ,000, and starting salaries for graduates of four-year Green Degree programs range from $45,000 to $60,000.

Changing to a Green Career
Green jobs really aren’t that different from any other job position.  No matter what sector you work in, chances are that what you’re doing now has a related position in the renewable energy sector.

The area of solar energy, for example, may sound high-tech and out of reach.  However, just because it’s green, doesn’t mean it’s an area only for researchers or scientists.  The manufacturers need the same type of people as every other company: account executives, assemblers, customer service representatives, project managers – the list goes on.

The difference is in what you know.

The Green Degree br /> To be a “green” customer service representative, you’ll need to understand what you’re telling the customers.  As sales, you’ll need to be able to give potential customers an overview of what these products can do for them, as well as implementation factors.  For instance, do you know how to figure out where to put the solar arrays?  By the time you’re done with a Green Degree, you will.

As you delve into the courses for a Green Degree, you’ll learn about installation and construction for renewable energy methods, such as solar panels and wind turbines.  You’ll learn what goes into maintaining a green building, the renewable energy industry trends, the financial, business and policy issues for greener energy and more.  With the information a Green Degree gives you, you’ll be prepared to step into almost an area of the renewable energy sector – and do well in that position or area.

If you’re getting ready to step into higher education or want to change careers (for whatever the reason), look into a brighter future with renewable energy and a Green Degree