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Here you will find a range of resources on green-collar job creation and training as well as on green service programs and other related topics.

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Contact us to contribute to our growing list of resources. We are especially interested sharing success stories and overviews of good organizations, policies and programs.

Federal Government Links of Interest

US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (www.doleta.gov)

ETA’s home page has announcements of new green job training grant programs as well as updates on past ones. You’ll also find links to DoL activites funded by the Recovery Act and to the “Green Jobs Community of Practice” (http://greenjobs.workforce3one.org), hosted by Workforce3One.org (www.workforce3one.org). This CoP site is well organized, but underutilized.

US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov/green/)

Check here for regular updates about the federal government’s formal efforts to define, count, track and report on “green jobs” in a wide variety of industrial sectors.

US Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (www.eere.energy.gov)

Most of DOE’s efforts to promote “green jobs” and establish certification standards involve spurring energy efficiency efforts (weatherization, etc.) and installation of solar, wind, biofuels, biomass, and geothermal energy. These initiatives are housed at EERE.

US Environmental Protection Agency State and Local Climate and Energy Program (www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/index.html)

Check out this site for information about innovative local and state government programs, and for grant opportunities. Also a good place from which to link to the EPA’s brownfields redevelopment job training program (www.epa.gov/brownfields/job.htm).
The EPA touches on job opportunities in air quality, water and wastewater fields, solid waste management, recycling, toxics use reduction, and more. Start at the home page (www.epa.gov) and use the alphabetical resource to find what you’re looking for.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development Recovery Act Information (http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/recovery/about)

Many of HUD’s “green job” efforts are linked to the Recovery Act now. Information can be accessed through the portal above.

Grants.gov (www.grants.gov)

The central portal for all federal government grants and contracts, including those related to green jobs. Easily sortable by almost any combination of key words. Usually good to check at least every two weeks to keep up-to-date on funding opportunities.

State Government

National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (www.nga.org)

The NGA Center for Best Practices addresses green economy issues through its energy and environment section and through its workforce development group. Interesting work going on in 2010 through the NGA’s policy academy program.

Green Job Advocacy and Nonprofit Organizations

Green For All (www.greenforall.org)

A great site linking green jobs training programs and activists nationwide. Particularly good “Resources” section. Green for All also supports two good practitioner communities, one for “Pathways out of Poverty” programs and one linking community Retrofit programs aimed at energy efficiency.

Apollo Alliance (www.apolloalliance.org)

A national alliance of progressive organizations aimed at building a strong clean energy economy with good green jobs as part of a sustainable economy. Click on the “State and Local” tab for links to job training programs/chapters in metro regions across the country.

Center for American Progress (www.americanprogress/issues/energy)

Probably the best DC-based advocate for legislation and policy aimed at building a clean energy economy with good, green jobs. Clicking on the link above will take you directly to their energy section. Particularly good for research studies and policy ideas.

Green Economy Funder Groups

National Fund for Workforce Solutions Green Collar Affinity Group (www.nfwsgreen.org)

Living Cities (www.livingcities.org)

Especially useful for information about (and from) the organization’s program of “boot camps” for communities pursuing energy efficiency retrofit programs.

Council on Foundations (www.cof.org/programsandservices/pgc/ghhi.cfm)

Among other things, the CoF is developing a Green and Healthy Homes Initiative in collaboration with several federal government agencies, as part of its Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Program.
Energy, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Workforce and Training

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (www.irecusa.org/irec-programs/workforce-development/)

Absolutely indispensable. One stop shopping for information about renewable energy workforce issues, training and certification issues, studies, reports, links and news. Don’t miss it.

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (www.nabcep.org)

NABCEP standards for solar installers and related fields are often used to inform local and state licensure requirements and to provide the basics which many training programs use to create their curriculums. Increasingly influential in guiding certification and accreditation efforts.

Building Performance Institute (www.bpi.org)

Excellent information on certification and accreditation for professionals in the building performance industry, which includes energy auditing, weatherization/insulation, energy efficiency, and related fields. BPI standards are playing an increasingly important role in the development of “green job” training programs – especially in the residential arena.

American Wind Energy Association (www.awea.org)

A superb trade association organization. The Career Center has the nation’s best listing of wind energy jobs (www.careersinwind.com) with excellent descriptions of duties, responsibilities, and necessary qualifications for use by job training program providers. The AWEA also maintains a continually updated list of all US existing and proposed wind energy projects (www.awea.org/projects), which is a great resource for those wondering if there will be jobs for graduates from wind energy training programs.

American Solar Energy Society (www.ases.org)

Not as fully developed as the AWEA site, but a good source of basic information and of potential employers for training programs.

Center for Energy Workforce Development (www.cewd.org)

Excellent information about the coming shortage of trained workers to support the electric utility industry, including those using natural gas and nuclear power. Includes details about job needs, descriptions, training requirements, career pathways, and more.

Advanced Technology Energy and Environmental Center (www.ateec.org)

Especially good for free downloadable charts with energy career job titles/information.
Green Building Careers

Green Building Certification Institute (www.gbci.org)

The GBCI is the body that handles certification for all green building professionals/workers seeking the “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The GBCI site has all of the information about curriculums, standards, exams, certified trainers, and so forth.

We especially like the feature that allows you to find the names and affiliations of all LEED certified practitioners in the United States, sortable by profession, location, and other items. Find it at: https://ssl25.cyzap.net/gbcicertonline/onlinedirectory/

Water Quality and Wastewater Careers

Water Environment Federation (www.wef.org/AWK/pages_cs.aspx?id=589)

Like the energy utility industry, the water and wastewater industry expects a serious shortage of qualified technicians and other professionals as a result of a wave of baby-boomer retirements. The Federation is the nation’s leader for training and certification of these professionals. The site also includes a remarkably complete job posting site of water and wastewater openings throughout the nation.

Green Job Information Services

There are dozens of such services online. We particularly like:

Green Career Central (www.greencareercentral.com)
Jim Cassio’s Green Careers Information Site (www.cassio.com)

These sites are exceptionally comprehensive, very user-friendly, and frequently updated. The first site is run by Carol McClelland, author of Green Careers for Dummies (don’t be put off by the title). The second is operated by the co-author of Green Careers.