Green Jobs and Careers

NEW Energy WorkforceFoothill College

Overview• What is ‘green’?• What is sustainability?• What is cleantech?• A green economy• An electron economy• A green academy• Green competencies

What is Green?• Green is the link between the

environmental movement and sustainability

• Green living• vs.• Living green

What is Sustainability?• The three ‘e’s• Environment• Economy• Equity• And…• Personal sustainability

Cleantech• Cleantech is the use of technology to

develop products with:

• Higher efficiency• Lower impact• Improved process

Clean Technology

Cleantech Competencies• Renewable energy• Biofuels• EV transportation• Advanced materials• Batteries / fuel cells

• Green building• Smart energy• Water technology• GHG management• Environmental

careers

Electron Economy

Electron Economy• Renewable energy• Transmission grid• Smart energy• Energy efficiency• Electronomics• GHG sequestration

• Transportation fuels• Electric transportation• Energy storage• Fuel cells• LEED / Green

building

Green Collar Academy• We can’t consume our way to green

– Story of Stuff – Annie Leopard• What competencies did humans master

in order to arrive at Civilization 2.0?• What competencies do young adults

need to better navigate and engineer their socioeconomic networks?– Green Collar Economy – Van Jones

Green Collar Academy

Green Competencies• Energy• Electricity• Solar energy• Construction• Installer• Efficiency

• Smart Grid• Soil and water• Agriculture / biomass• Gardening / food• EV / auto technology• Alternative fuels

Sustainable Living Outcomes (SLOs)

• Communication• Collaboration• Cultural competency• Conflict resolution• Civic engagement• Computation and

Critical thinking• Chemicals and

consequences

• Systems and limits• Ecosystem services• Nutritional systems• Cradle to cradle / LCA• Intergenerational

impacts / decisions• Value vs. wealth• Diversity• Equity