The green industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the US economy today. According to a study conducted by the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses are responsible for the creation of over 8.5 million jobs in 2006, with a potential to “experience ‘explosive growth’” at a rate of 1.3 million jobs per year. There are a wide variety of training options available to anyone wanting to become a part of this new trend. Many colleges and universities now offer courses in everything from renewable energy to sustainable agriculture green chemistry studies, and there are many organizations that offer training programs for middle and low-income workers. An article written by Liz Galst in the New York Times presents a very intriguing hypothesis: Many of these programs turn average workers into environmentalists.
According to the article, there is no hasn’t been any scientific studies on the issue; but there are several facts that support the claim that having a green job makes some newly trained workers lead greener lives. Organizations like Solar Richmond, a San Francisco based group that offers courses for jobs in the solar industry, are oriented towards training low-income individuals. Public surveys have shown that this group is poorly educated on environmental issues when compared to middle or high-class citizens. As a result, blue-collar workers are unaware of what they can do to help the environment, such as recycling and riding their bike to work. According to Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins the chief executive of Green for All, another organization that offers green job training programs, training for a higher-paying job in one of many green industries exposes them “…to feel connected with something larger than themselves, and to directly change the face and future of their neighborhoods.” This sense of importance serves as a powerful motivator for lower-income individuals to begin practicing a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Despite the lack of official studies backing this apparent trend in the Green Economy, I believe that what Liz Galst had to say in her article is true. The example that she gives in her article proves her point quite effectively: Wayne Gatlin graduated last year from Solar Richmond, and currently works for Sun Light and Power, a local solar panel installer. He has since claimed that he is getting greener, saying, “I recycle now. I ride my bike. This was stuff I wouldn’t do before.” I think that Mr. Gatlin’s experience shows that most people who don’t “show” their concern for the environment by recycling or riding the bus simply need to be informed, and a green collar job is a excellent way to be exposed to that information. Organizations like Solar Richmond and Green for All are the low-income worker’s best chance to take that opportunity.
I found this extremely thought provoking. I would also assume that if someone is doing a green job that somehow in their life they are also carrying out a green lifestyle. But the problem that I could see is that some jobs that are considered green, such as construction of green buildings, the employees are just putting stuff together and not really thinking to hard about it. I may be completely wrong because maybe the workers will be given some tutorial information before they start the build about the purpose of what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I really had to stop and think. I would guess that people with green jobs are practicing what they preach, but I agree with Brett on the idea that jobs such as construction probably would not, unless they worked for a green construction company. I also agree with Erika that if people are forced to learn about environmental issues then eventually that will start being more green in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI think I would honestly be a little disappointed if someone with a green job didn't live green. I also really like the fact that organizations like Solar Richmond are reaching out to low-income individuals. If more organizations do that, it may not be as hard as it seems to help green America.
Thanks for the awesome blog! It was really interesting and exciting to hear how the "green economy" is creating initiatives toward lower income individuals and getting them involved in "going green" and leading greener lifestyles by providing opportunities for work that aid in protecting the environment. I looked it up and there is apparently a really intriguing book called the "The Green Collar Economy" by Van Jones that basically states "how one solution can fix our two biggest problems" which he indicates are the environment, and working class Americans. This definitely is relatable back to our class since we always discuss how a solution to one problem can provide a solution to another, etc. Van Jones concludes that "we cannot continue with business as usual. We cannot drill and burn our way out of these dual dilemmas." Meaning, we can't drill and burn our oil and fossil fuel resources as a way to boost economy, because this will only exaggerate already eminent environmental problems. He writes instead, that "we can invent and invest our way out of the pollution-based grey economy and into a healthy new green economy". If the Green Economy is used as a solution to alleviate environmental consequences and revive the economy, I wonder how other countries will adapt or if other countries have been developing similar plans. Could developing this type of economy be beneficial to the U.S. in terms of investment from other countries?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. I think education is half the battle, but there is another component that we cannot forget which is commitment. I mean if we think about ourselves her in school, we are all learning and informing others about how important the environment is and what exactly are the things that are provoking all the problems we face today. So, here i find my self being informed through school the same way people in green jobs will be, but yet sometimes I struggle to make the right environmentally friendly decisions.
ReplyDeleteI remember that when I lived back in Bolivia these decisions were much easier because we didn't have to make them. The way things worked was to get as much use out of the resources we had. And I think that is what we lack of here in the consumer based country.