Get Your Green Degree! Funding Options for Solar and Wind Job Training

With solar and wind energies becoming more popular many different people are becoming more interested in green careers.  In fact with many people finding these green jobs to be more viable and helpful for the environment the government has been working to get different funding options available for people. These funding options can help people get into this exciting and quickly growing field of work.

Many wind and solar job training courses can be paid for through the use of credits from the American Institute of Architects. This group offers funding credits for people who want to continue their education in the field of energy and work with handling materials that can work for sustaining the environment to where fewer materials are used to create energy. People will be able to qualify for credits if they have taken prior courses in AIA endorsed programs.

People who are unemployed and are looking to move into the solar or wind energy fields with a green degree /a> should consider looking into the retraining benefits that they can get. Because of the positive impact that solar and wind energies make on the environment the government works with the Employment Development Department to help with getting green degree /a> education services paid for to those who are unemployed. This is especially beneficial for those who have been out of work for a while. It is important to know though that not all states work with EDD support.

Even members of the military can get funding for green degree training. The GI Bill, which offers education opportunities to active military members, can work to help with getting various educational services paid off when getting into these green energy fields. Not all groups will be able to offer full GI Bill support due to a lack of Veterans Administration approval or pending approval. However groups that do not work with this can still give substantial discounts to military members that qualify for the GI Bill. Spouses of active military members can qualify for funding as well.

It helps to take a look at these unique options when it comes to getting funding for one’s solar or wind job training needs. These include a variety of options for paying for training needs for green jobs including ones for those who are unemployed. With these it will be easier for a person to pay off costs required for one’s training. These factors can easily help getting into the green careers field.

Boots on the Roof is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar PV training boot camp. To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.

Green Jobs Training at Work

Because of government funding of Green jobs training /a>, many are on their way to launching new careers in a growing and high paying field. Many of those in existing fields are taking courses at solar energy schools and wind turbine training institutes.

Certifications and degrees in green tech are offered in accelerated courses or 2 and 4 year college degrees where they have implemented the proper training, as stated by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Labor Department.

A good example of green jobs training at work is the case of a 51-year-old oilfield worker that wondered about the view from atop a 300 foot high wind turbine. Because of her curiosity, she decided to go back to school to become a wind turbine mechanic, where she will climb and repair them in the near future.

In a shaky economy, this type of re-training can assure unemployed workers and those in shrinking occupations that there are job markets that offer growth, higher income and stability.

The community college courses and apprenticeships that are training workers to be wind turbine mechanics, fuel-cell engineers, solar panel installers and work in alternative energy occupations and energy efficiency jobs are what stand out about the renewable energy sector. Green jobs training will give $20 per hour workers a chance to make $50 per hour when they have completed the necessary courses.

Because the average annual salary of green collar jobs is above $95,000 per year, many will be able to find a higher paying job in a growing field where demand is expected to exceed supply. With an estimated 5 million jobs in this job sector, it is enough to eliminate the unemployed workers in the present time.

There is $500 million that has been funded for education and re-training. There is still money available for those that need to attend these courses in green tech.  Many of the existing students that are studying other degree courses in engineering, architecture, building and construction trades are already seeing these additional courses added as part of their curriculum.

Green jobs training programs can be utilized in a number of industries. As an example, the hotel industry has already been undergoing energy saving and green programs in an effort to help the environment and save energy, in addition to costs. Because the hotels are so energy intensive, programs across the country and the globe offer incentives for certifications in LEED or other “green” requirements.

For example, in Florida, a hotel must be certified with a “Palm” rating to receive government convention business. These ratings involve everything from water and waste management, green building supplies and products, and taking advantage of natural elements such as “greenscaping” in landscape and bamboo flooring in guest rooms, for example. The occupations involved to convert these hotels include engineers, architects, interior designers, and energy management system consultants. Even landscapers that are aware of “green” initiatives using natural plants, and proper locations for limited water use will have secure careers under the Green Jobs Act.

Green jobs training programs are offering higher paying jobs in a growing and stable field. This sector is anticipated to grow for the next decade on a global basis, so those that get the proper training, certifications and degrees will be in high demand for some time to come.

Feed in tariff: Creating a market for green energy jobs

An interesting post on Feed in tariff and how that is creating new jobs for the green energy industry.

Go Green with Solar Training

Learning emerging technologies, such as solar technology, is part of the fundamentals of “Green” building and over 5 million new “green” collar jobs are expected to be available. Learning photovoltaic systems and the fundamentals of green building will become a pre-requisite in many cases. Certifications are already being offered by some colleges, universities and trades schools through solar school classes.

It has been found that 74% of home buyers are willing to pay more for these technologies and 89% of multiple unit investors are building energy efficient buildings using all types of environmentally friendly lighting, appliances, and solar technology systems for heating and supplemental electricity.

While many architects, engineers, and building contractors are sending personnel to solar school to learn these technologies, the expected job growth in the field cannot be met with those in the pipeline at this point. Because of the expected growth in the alternative fuel technologies, it is anticipated that demand for trained personnel will far exceed available resources, unless more students are enrolled in solar school to fill these jobs.

There are many solar school courses offered online, as well through existing facilities. Some states are ahead of others in offering solar school classes, scholarships and incentives. Many states are offering incentives for public schools to start exposure to solar technology in public school classrooms, but the demand is expected to be unmet for several years before the school going population hit the job market.

There is a need to make the adult population more aware of the unspent scholarship money that is available for solar school education and certification. In addition, many of the unemployed could find new occupations in this growing field. By the year 2030, the renewable energy or green career field is projected to employ 16 to 37 million. Getting in on the ground floor of this field is the reason that solar school classes are becoming more popular and widespread. With new National initiatives in place, “green” collar jobs are the wave of the future. A solar school education will become a pre-requisite to work to the top jobs in this field.

Many that are in the construction and building trades will need to become certified and knowledgeable, especially electricians and installers. There will become a growing need for all different aspects to be learned for proper engineering, design, and installation of newer solar technologies. The research and development in the solar designs will be another area that will need knowledgeable staffing.

Certainly, anybody in the construction and building trades presently should sign up for solar school and get certification as soon as possible, in order to secure their positions and offer competitive advantage. By getting in on the ground level of emerging, sustainable and renewable energy trends, going to solar school can make you invaluable as the technologies progress.

Obama’s plans for Millions of New Green Jobs for Americans

If you were still clueless on what ’shovel ready projects’ would mean for the average job seeker, check out this video on the upcoming gren jobs hitting american states in the coming months.

 

A ‘Green Revolution’ Boom

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!

Green Jobs Training Can Help to Turn an Economy Right-Side-Up

Can something good stem from something bad? Actually, it happens quite frequently in life. While rain can drown out our picnicking, camping, and sporting events, we learned in elementary school that it serves a vital role in Mother Nature’s water cycle.

How bad have the most recent recessions been?

During the two latest recessions in the United States have occurred from 1990-1991, and from 2008-2009(?). During the recession in the early 1990s, the USA lost about 1.6 million jobs. However, that figure is miniscule when compared with the 2008-2009 recession, during which the economy has shed 6 million jobs (including jobs requiring green jobs training) since the beginning of 2001.

Thus, as with any other recession, the loss of jobs during the two most recent recessions has been one of the most devastating characteristics. During the recession of 1990-1991, unemployment was highest during the first part of the recession. However, it continued increasing for a year after the economy had begun to grow again. In fact, after the 1990-1991 recession, unemployment rates never dropped lower than their pre-recession levels–until five years AFTER the recession ended!

Meanwhile, the current recession has had a different trend than the 1990-1991 recession. Although most job losses occurred during the first part of the latter recession, over half of the 6 million jobs lost from the start of 2008 until the present, occurred ission, over half of the 6 million jobs lost from the start of 2008 until the present, occurred iin the first half of 2009 alone! Those job losses have happened in a variety of financial sectors, including some workers with green jobs training Because the current recession has not ended yet, the total number of jobs lost due to the recession, could ultimately be astronomical.

Can anything good result from the current skyrocketing unemployment? The housing boom that began in the middle 1990s created numerous jobs and ultimately helped to end the recession of the early 1990s. Could that scenario repeat itself during the current recession? Many financial experts doubt that a housing boom or Internet boom will end the United States’ escalating unemployment.

Nevertheless, the good news for those with green jobs training is that the current recession in the USA could actually have a silver lining. How is that possible? Just as the housing boom in the mid-1990s compensated for the jobs lost during the 1990-1991 recession, so a “Green Revolution” could ultimately have a similar effect during the current economic downturn.

Consider the fact that companies “going green” have exploded into a trillion-dollar business. Companies’ investment in reversing global warming and making the United States energy—independent can create new ideas, new solutions, and new jobs. It is actually feasible that the number of new green jobs could eventually outnumber the number of jobs lost during the 2008-2009 recession.

Why Get Green Jobs Training?

The economical climate we face today would probably discourage most people to attend training courses and get a degree. Even the renewable energy sector which is believed to be the most stable one has been affected by the present economical situation. However, the demand for people with a green jobs training is increasing considerably. This affirmation might sound contradictory, but in fact it is true.

There are several factors behind this increasing demand for green jobs training personnel. The most important factors are government support and the lack of qualified employees.

In February 2009 President Obama has pinpointed that over sixty billion dollars will go to the energy industry, a big part of which will go to the renewable energy sector. Approximately thirty percent of solar energy projects costs will thus be covered and the need for trained individuals will arise. Under such circumstances, having green jobs training means filling one of the five hundred thousand job vacancies expected to rise in the next couple of years.

Another one of the reasons why a green degree makes such a difference in one’s career is the lack of properly trained employees. Almost seventy percent of the surveyed institutions report that they lack individuals with green jobs training Moreover, many as forty percent of the qualified personnel are planning to retire in the years to come. This, cumulated with the fact that a significant number of people are not yet properly qualified to work in the renewable energy sector, brings out the importance of training for a green degree

With so many funds allocated for the renewable energy sector and lack of qualified personnel, green jobs training is priceless. These funds are aimed at “greening” buildings, building solar plants and supporting installation of individual home PV systems. Even if not all projects will be finished in the years to come and more funds will be necessary, there are a large number of work places to be filled with trained individuals. These two reasons alone should be sufficient to make anyone comprehend the fact that solar industry training is a treasure that can lead to a long, fulfilling career.

However, keep in mind that not all training camps can provide you with the necessary knowledge and practice to fill the desired job. A structured training course in renewable energy is crucial. Up to date information must be presented to you, practicing what you have learned should be a part of the training and last but not least, interacting with experienced personnel should also be part of the training. Once you have carefully chosen the training camp of your choice, you will get your green jobs training, in as little as two days’ time, depending on which course you choose to attend. Online training courses are also available for those who want to train and get a degree in solar energy.

The renewable energy sector is relatively known to most people. This is a fast growing sector in need of trained personnel. Green jobs training can bring you and your family stability as well as the satisfaction that you are contributing to making the world a clean place.