Green Job Growth For Electricians

Written by Cathy on February 12, 2010 – 9:37 am -

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Houston Neal over at Software Advice wrote a very interesting article on Green Job growth for Electrical Contractors and re-naming to Energy Contractors. Good reading for anyone in the construction industry, for youth looking to get into the job market, for unemployed looking for another skill set, or in the case of my handyman who is 70 and still need to work.

‘In the next ten to twenty years, “electrical contractor” will no longer be a suitable job title for electricians. They will transition into “energy contractors” to support the fast-growing green construction market.

We see this as a coming renaissance in electrical contracting. There has been a revival of interest in the electrical trade as home owners and corporations adopt alternative methods (e.g. solar, wind, etc) to power buildings. What’s driving this? Federal incentives, lower material costs and savings from reduced energy spending.’ Read the rest of the article here at Software Advice /www.softwareadvice.com/articles/construction/the-coming-renaissance-of-electrical-contracting-1021010/



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Eco Friendly and Made In America

Written by Cathy on August 5, 2009 – 8:47 am -

Photo: www.ibdesignsusa.com

One of the ways you can help the economy grow is to buy local or made in America Products. It keeps American citizens employed and keeps stores open. Every American has a stake in manufacturing. It is the source of innovation, job security and financial contributions to the economy.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

  • Michigan lost 315, 200 Manufacturing jobs in 8 Years
  • Manufacturing is the largest single contributor the the US economy= $1.4 trillion
  • Manufacturing employs 14 Million American and supports 8 million more jobs (2007)
  • Manufactuing creates as many as 700n new jobs in other job secgtors.
  • Manufacturing is responsible for 2/3 for private research and development and nearly 80% of all new patents filed originate from the manufacturing sector.

So next time you go to the store, look at the label and find out where it’s from. If it says MADE IN AMERICA, buy it.

Resources

Will Manufacturing Return to America

American Manufacturing


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Social Impact Jobs by Zoosa

Written by Cathy on July 13, 2009 – 6:43 pm -

A new and unique website for green and social impact jobs has arrived in perfect timing for those who are looking for jobs, thinking of volunteering in the Green Job-sphere.

Zoosa.org has made a mission to make it easier for professionals to learn about and get involved in sustainable and socially impacting companies. Your social impact is effected by products you buy, investments, volunteerism, career and non-profits you may support.

Check out the site, tons of info and great articles on social impact.


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Green Business Start Up Ideas

Written by Cathy on June 22, 2009 – 8:55 am -

I just love Recycle Bill’s- here is his list of Green Business Start Up Ideas- perfect timing for those who have been laid off and are thinking of starting their own business.

For those who may not know, RecycleBills.com Llc. is more than simply another green blog– we are a new green business venture that plans to launJuly 1, 2009. We have a unique green product based on research on successful products from the Great Depression coupled with the Internet. In the meantime we thought we’d suggest some other green business ideas to those who might be looking for green ways to survive in a new greener economy. As for the rest of you, here’s more green business ideas.

Local Hybrid Vehicle Conversions, especially the conversion of various local delivery vehicles could be a huge money maker for the guy or gal who doesn’t mind getting greasy. The addition of a small diesel (think bio-diesel) generator to a GEM or other electric truck would turn these vehicles into real local delivery vehicles. Be sure to offer an enclosed cargo box as an option. Any company already making enclosed cargo boxes could provide you with boxes to install. And for anyone who considers themselves a real mechanic, welder or electrician this is a no-brainer.

Gasoline to Natural Gas and/or Hydrogen Automobile Conversions can be managed with the cars we drive today no matter how old your car happens to be. Refueling stations could be built in people’s homes and garages. For those homeowners who already have natural gas in their homes it’s a natural. For those of you with the technical background and little fear of grease this could be the next big thing. And if you happen to be a farmer you might want to consider building a still. Just be sure to fill out all state and federal permits to keep the revenuers off your back.

Local Home Grocery Delivery isn’t right for every community but for those of you who live in dense urban communities it might be just the thing– especially if you happen to be operating one of the nation’s few remaining mom and pop grocery stores. Yes, most of the big chains offer some sort of local grocery delivery service but it’s not something they’re geared up to do because it’s not a service they really want us to use. Big grocery chains make their big money on impulse shopping– home delivery doesn’t get customers into the store to buy on impulse. Buy that fuel-efficient delivery truck from your local hybrid vehicle converter and have at it.

Take Your Grocery Store where the people live. Think about it. Load that little truck with the things people need and park it in a neighborhood that doesn’t have a grocery store within walking distance. The cost of adding a local peddler’s license to your existing business license is quite low in most cities.

Parking Store Malls are the thing for the people who have some land in a densely populated area but haven’t the means or desire to develop the land. A parking store mall is simply an empty lot where you rent outdoor space to local peddlers. Might be just the thing for a landlord with several condemned houses and it might be enough to keep the neighbors from accusing you of being just another slum lord.

Reuseable Containers like canning jars, jelly glasses and attractive fabric feed sacks show great promise for existing manufacturers or the new manufacturer set to launch and looking for an edge. Henry Ford had Model T engines shipped in crates that became the floorboards for Model Ts– a shipping cart that could be converted into a chair or table might be enough to make RecycleBill buy your product over some other.

Reusable Restaurant Take-out Containers made from Aluminum and Stainless Steel and sold by green restaurants will be very much in demand by green patrons looking to do their parts to reduce waste and eliminate toxins ingested from plastics. Note: Aluminum should not be used with acidic foods and Stainless would no doubt be the best choice.

Electric And Gas Hybrid Bicycles And Scooters are going to be huge! I have a trike with an electric motor attached and it only took me about an hour to install. If only we could keep the stuff in stock…

Sell Your Junk On E-bay Selling your junk or other people’s junk is always better than throwing it away– one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Anyway, RecycleBill’s Ebay Store is often our company’s biggest money maker. If you live in Greensboro, NC and would like for us to sell your personal or business junk on e-bay simply e-mail me at RecycleBill@gmail.com and we’ll talk.

Eco Lawn Care might work in some areas. Most lawncare businesses are anything but green using lots of gasoline and nasty chemicals. And they’re loud. But if everything were to happen to fall in place you might make a living using human powered reel mowers or electrics. And don’t forget the electric weedwackers.

Green Cleaning is yet another idea. Some like the Wadell sisters of Carolina Green are already making it happen.

Online Shopping, while not as green as buying local, is still greener than buying from the big box retailers. You see, those UPS, Fedex and USPO trucks are still going to be driving past your house no matter where you shop– might as well shop at RecycleBill’s Green Store rather than waste the gas. Most orders over $25.oo include free shipping.

Alternative Construction such as building homes from plastic bags is another green idea that is bound to be a money maker. And if by chance you need to buy a good used bailer… Well, RecycleBill just happens to have one under the shed.

Solar Powered Crawl Space Heaters are simple to build and have the added advantage of being able to keep crawl spaces under houses drier than conventional foundation vents. They help to reduce the cost of heating the house and help to protect pipes from freezing– think about it. Also, there are literally dozens of solar accessories from solar window units to attached greenrooms just dying to find small local manufacturers and installers.

Solar Hot Water Systems have been around for over 30 years and they work. I’ve had one on my own home since the early 1980s and it turned out to be one of the best investments we ever made. As one who once founded a solar hot water business you will need to be a liscensed plumber or work with a liscensed plumber in most states. Also, at the bottom of this article is an advertisement for a home weatherization business that might tie in well with solar hot water businesses. I can’t speak as to how well the advertised system works.

Green Roofing Companies are where it’s at. Cities have huge problems with air quality and water runoff– green roofs reduce both problems. It’s not as hard as most people think it is and most commercial buildings are far stronger than necessary to support the weight. And as more and more building owners look to LEEDS certifications you can expect the green roofing business to grow.

EPDM and Ceramic Coatings, while not exactly 100% green, these liquid rubber and liquid ceramic coatings have the ability to repair existing roofs without tearing off the old roofing materials and sending them to the landfills. Some are even water-based and safe to use in drinking water and fish tanks. And if you use white or other light colors they will reduce the cost of cooling your home in summer. Expect them to cost about 1/2 the cost of a replacement roof and last about 10 years before a new coating will need to be applied.

Green Roof Leasing will bring a fortune to the guy or gal who can sell it. It works like this: Find owners of houses and especially commercial buildings interested in leasing you their roof tops, install solar collectors on their roofs and sell the power generated to the utility market. A twist of this idea might be to lease “farm land” on the roofs of commercial buildings and sell the produce. And to make it easier to find customers we created a free green leasing forum.

Fresh Fish are going to become quite scarce in the next few years. The world’s oceans are running out of fish and fish farming in public waters is fraught with problems. A small pond in your back yard could provide extra income. A bigger pond might provide you with an ample living. Forget Bass, think Catfish, Crappie and Carp. Or Tipilia if you live far enough to the south or can raise fish inside a building. Having to restock your entire inventory of fish every spring simply isn’t sustainable business.

It might be you could charge people to fish in your pond. In that case you might want to include Bass. My grandfather used to do this. While the rivers and streams where he lived were teaming with wild fish, people preferred to fish his pond because fish in a pond are easier caught. You see, they’ve become accustomed to eating fish feed and aren’t as wary as fish in the wild. The secret to making money this way is to let people fish for free as long as they buy their bait from you. This allows you to control what goes into your pond. Add a small tackle shop and it could be a huge money maker.

Rabbits and Chickens for eggs and meat. They’re inexpensive, easy to raise, require very little rooom and taste good. And the byproducts of both are fertilizer.

Worms, especially worms that can be used for composting and fishing, might be a money maker. RecycleBill is experimenting with red wigglers grown in shredded scrap paper, chicken poop and vegetable scraps. The only byproducts of raising worms are compost and worm castings that make super organic fertilizer.

Goat Rentals for cleaning up overgrown properties.

Backyard Gardening, while profitable, might not be a viable full-time income but for those with the skills and the space it might be just the thing. Remember: In a down economy you’d best be pitching what people need and not something they simply would like to have.

Small Scale Industrial Composting would allow you to charge people for taking their garbage and sell it back to them as compost, mulch and soil.

Green Crafting is in for a very rough road. (See bold type above.) I admire people who make and sell products from various recyclables but most of what I see has no real value to people who are struggling to make do. Even those green crafters who make things people need are going to have a tough time but a few will make it big.

Tire Boots with soles made from post-consumer tires could do very well for the craftsman who figures out how to make it happen. Getting the soles to remain attached to the uppers has been the biggest hurdle but if you’d like to give it a try I’ll give you the post consumer tires and provide you with the answer to the problem. Adding bias to the worn out radial will solve the attachment problem and sawing steel belts isn’t a big deal with the proper tools. But you’ll have to take a used tire off my hands before I’ll tell you how it’s done. Just  ask. BlackSpot makes shoes with tire soles but the soles are post-industrial and not post consumer. And they still have attachment issues. Either way you’ll never wear out the soles.

Niche Market Search Engines show promise and you need not be a computer programmer to build one. Google, Yahoo, MSN and other major search engines are quickly becoming worthless as SEO companies continue to game the system. As a matter of fact: Google is so into niche market search engines they will give you everything you need including the advertisers and a share of the ad revenue but for those of who who aren’t scared of selling, Squarespace provides me all the tools I need to build my niche market search engines at a very low monthly cost.

Pay People To Read will work for someone– especially if readers are presented with things they enjoy. Business like ClixSense are making money and making money for their users but frankly I find clicking on ad after ad to be quite boring. Still, I do it for a little while each week. The online publisher who figures out how to produce great content and share the profits with his or her readers will rule Web 3.0 and the online advertising industry. I’ve figured out how to do it but it’s not something that can be done alone. There simply isn’t time enough in the day for one person to manage such a business and produce the necessary content but a truly dedicated team could make it happen. This same idea could also be translated into print and would mean the death of the traditional print and Internet publishing industries. It will also take a few Million in capitol to get past the legal hurdles but someone with the bucks will eventually figure it out. Think billboards and forget Web 2.0 as it is set to die hard.

You can bet, if RecycleBill ever manages to scrape up a few million he will start paying his readers to read his RecycleBlog and he will then make a mint.

Legal Notices Website With newspapers going down the tubes now would be a fine time to drive a nail in the coffin by replacing their legal notices section with multiple blogs for legal notices that include a searchable database, keywording, categories and infinite storage capability. With Squarespace all the tools are already there and you can be up and running with such a service in just minutes. It could be ad based or you could charge a small fee the same way the newspapers do now except their fees aren’t small.

More Green Business Ideas:
Recycled Tire Chairs
Bingo Beans
Dagne Electric Vehicles
iDit
Organic Chickweed Removal Services
Solar Powered Windmills
Got Poop?
Forever Lawnmowers
Green Traffic Exchange


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Green Economy- Creates Jobs

Written by Cathy on February 12, 2009 – 7:55 am -

Another great resource for Green Jobs is Environmental Leader- They cover every thing- and I highly recommend you subscribe to their newsletter. Take a look at the below chart- it will help guide you in the right direction in your job search. 

……Green components of an economic recovery effort can both create jobs now and offset costs to taxpayers through future energy savings, according to a reportreleased by the Peterson Institute for International Economics and the World Resources Institute. To read more go to Environmental Leader 

 

green-recovery-matrix1


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Green Job Trends and Resources

Written by Cathy on February 12, 2009 – 7:18 am -

Job Trends Index

Listing of Recent Reports on Labor Forecasts for the Renewable Energy Industries

 Prepared by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council

 Since 2003, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has been tracking reports on labor forecasts and job trends.  This Index is usually updated once a year.  If you know of other reports that should be added, please contact IREC.   

 Recent Reports

  •  Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:  Economic Drivers for the 21st Century (November 2007).  This report estimates the size and composition of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency industries including technology, sales, tax revenue, jobs, occupations and skills.  It also forecasts the growth of these industries to 2030 under three scenarios.  Management Information Services, Inc. for the American Solar Energy Society. 
  •  Defining Energy Technologies and Services (March 2008).  This report addresses the energy workforce needs by providing educators with information needed to develop relevant curriculum that prepares students for energy technologies and services careers. One of the most widely used tools in the report is the “Energy Technologies and Services” careers chart, which provides a snapshot of the occupational areas and jobs. The Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC). 
  •  California’s Solar Industry Workforce (April 2008).  This report identifies solar firms in California, identifies solar occupations that are most relevant to community colleges, develops projections of future employment growth and defines skill sets and education requirements needed for solar occupations.  Economic Workforce Development through the California Community Colleges. 
  • Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities (2008).  This publication outlines strategies for developing green-collar job initiatives and pathways out of poverty at the local level.  The report describes a 4-step approach for local initiatives.  It includes 14 case studies of successful green-collar job training or policy in 11 communities on both coasts, the Midwest, and the South.  Green For All, in partnership with the Apollo Alliance, Center for American Progress, and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. 
  • Growing Green-Collar Jobs: Energy Efficiency (December 2007).  This is a first in a series of reports that explore how sustainability can be an economic engine for New York City. Prepared for the New York City Apollo Alliance, each report in the series is based on secondary research and interviews with business, labor, civic, community and environmental leaders. Following reports will include Clean Energy: Renewable Energy systems (which will include photovoltaics and solar thermal).  Urban Agenda. 
  •  Road to Energy Independence (October 2007).  This report documents the potential of a national Renewable Electricity Standard to create thousands of jobs making parts for wind turbines, solar panels and other clean energy technologies. There are summary reports for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.  There are more detailed reports for California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.  Produced by the Blue Green Alliance and the Renewable Energy Policy Project. 
  •  Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Census (August 2007).  The census identified 556 entities in Massachusetts engaged in renewable energy, energy efficiency and demand response, consulting and support, and university research related to clean energy. Employment in these firms, most of which are young and small, was estimated at 14,400, with an annual projected job growth rate of 20 percent. Prepared by Global Insight of Lexington for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Renewable Energy Trust. 
  •  Opportunity on the Horizon:  Photovoltaics in Texas (June 2007).  This white paper discusses the potential for economic growth in Texas through the creation of a solar power industry.  The report concludes that the state could create 123,000 new high-wage manufacturing and electrical services jobs by 2020 by actively moving toward solar power.  IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. 

 Other Reports

State Incentives – www.dsireusa.org

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.  Incentives are listed by state and type.

Summary tables provide an overview of state, local and utility incentives available in each state with links to incentive summaries. The Financial Incentives table provides federal government incentive information as well. 

Color-coded maps have been developed using the DSIRE database to provide a geographical view of the availability of selected financial and regulatory incentives across the U.S.

Index last updated:  June 1, 2008

  the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process that is referred to or linked to in this web site. Reference in this web site or in any links to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply IREC’s endorsement or recommendation. The views and opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.


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Top 117 Places to Find a Green and Eco Job

Written by Cathy on February 12, 2009 – 7:14 am -

 

 

 

Top 117 Places to Find a Green and Eco Job. 

I received this email from Renewal Energy Jobs-www.renewableenergyjobs.com – Job site for the global renewable energy industry. The offer Renewable energy jobs are are listed  in more than 20 countries worldwide.There is even a Green Jobs Conference (was Feb 4)  greenjobsconference.com . For trends go to Green Career Central.  Due to the economy- Thought I would re-post the list of Places to Look for a Green Job! 

  1. AgriSeek 
  2. American Fisheries 
  3. American Forest
  4. American Rivers
  5. American Waterworks 
  6. Biology Jobs
  7. Biodiesel-Jobs
  8. Bright Green Talent  
  9. Building Jobs 
  10. California Outdoor Environmental Education Jobs 
  11. Care2Jobfinder 
  12. Celsias
  13. Clean Tech Recruits 
  14. Common Good Careers
  15. Conservation International 
  16. Cyber-Sierra: Natural Resource Job Search 
  17. DevNet:
  18. Earth Day 
  19. Earth Share 
  20. EarthWorks: 
  21. Eco Psych 
  22. Eco Employ www.ecoemploy.com 
  23. Ecojobs 
  24. Eco.org 
  25. Eco Club/ Eco Tourism 
  26. Eco Employ 
  27. Ecology Fund 
  28. Ecological Society
  29. Environmental Career
  30. Environmental Education Directory 
  31. Environmental Construction, Engineering, Architectural 
  32. Environmental Defense
  33. Environmental Expert 
  34. Environmental Journalist; 
  35. Environmental League of Massachusetts
  36. EPA 
  37. Ethanol-jobs 
  38. Environmental News Network 
  39. Environment Placement Agencies 
  40. Enviro Work 
  41. Forest Services 
  42. Friends of the Earth 
  43. Geo Times
  44. Geography Jobs 
  45. GIS 
  46. Global Volunteer Network 
  47. Green Building Services 
  48. Green Biz
  49. Green Business 
  50. Green City Blue Lake: Area around the Great Lakes 
  51. Green Collar Economy 
  52. Green Collar Hiring 
  53. Green Directory 
  54. Green Energy Jobs 
  55. Greenopolis
  56. GreenSage
  57. Grist Magazine     
  58. Green Biz 
  59. Idealist 
  60. Institute of Enviro Management and Assessment 
  61. Internship Opportunities 
  62. Jobs That Matter 
  63. Just Means 
  64. Misco: 
  65. Montana Corps 
  66. My Space 
  67. National Association of Environmental Professionals 
  68. National Audubon Society 
  69. National Geographic 
  70. National Park Service 
  71. National Science Foundation 
  72. National Wildlife Federation
  73. National Weather 
  74. North American Association for Environmental Education 
  75. Ocean Careers. 
  76. Ocean Conservatory 
  77. Ohio 
  78. Organic Volunteers
  79. Orion Grassroots Organization 
  80. Outdoor Action Guide to Outdoor and Environmental Careers.
  81. Peace Corp 
  82. Pollution Online 
  83. Rails to Trails 
  84. Rainforest Alliance 
  85. RARE 
  86. Renewable Energy Jobs www.renewableenergyjobs.com – Job site for the global renewable energy industry. Renewable energy jobs listed  in more than 20 countries worldwide.
  87. Rodale Institute 
  88. Renewable Energy World 
  89. Resources for the Future 
  90. Reusable Bags: Chicago- see below comment for openings 
  91. Scenic America 
  92. Society of Wetland Scientist 
  93. Sierra Club 
  94. Socially Responsible 
  95. Soil and Water Conservation
  96. Solar Workshops 
  97. Southern Data Stream 
  98. Stop Dodo 
  99. Student Conservation Association
  100. Sustainable Business 
  101. Sustainable Pathways 
  102. Solar Energy International 
  103. The Green Guide 
  104. Thingamajob 
  105. Treehugger 
  106. United Solar: 
  107. United State Public Information 
  108. Urban Forest 
  109. Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund 
  110. Water Environment Federation 
  111. Water Jobs Now 
  112. Wildlife Society 
  113. Wiser Earth 
  114. World Resources Institute 
  115. World Watch Institute 
  116. World Wildlife Fund 
  117. Wwoof: (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

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Green Jobs Now

Written by Cathy on September 29, 2008 – 9:08 am -

 

 

 

Green Jobs Now  for more information- I am so late with this! 

On Saturday, September 27, we’re launching a national mobilization to say, “I’m ready for the green economy.” We are ready to tackle the climate crisis by building a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

Green Jobs Now is a National Day of Action that will empower everyday people to stage hundreds of grassroots events throughout the country. We will have a special focus on low-income communities, communities of color and indigenous people. This will send a message to our leaders that, when it comes to creating green jobs for a more sustainable economy, PEOPLE ARE READY!

Right now, there are millions of people ready to work and countless jobs to be done that will strengthen our economy at home. There are thousands of buildings that need to be weatherized, solar panels to be installed, and wind turbines to be erected. There are communities that need local and sustainable food and people ready to farm the crops. There are public transit systems and smart electricity grids in need of engineers and electricians. Americans are ready to build the new economy. It’s time to invest in saving the planetand the people. It’s time for green jobs now!


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25 Rich ‘Greenies’

Written by Cathy on September 22, 2008 – 10:11 am -

 

 

I have blogged on where to get ‘Eco Jobs’ , areas of opportunites, re-using to make money. So when I came across this bit on ‘25 Rich Greenies’ – I was very inspired and thought I would pass it on. Maybe you don’t want to be rich, but if you want to get involved in the Sustainable Industry, just read about these Greenies and hopefully you will find it as enlightening as I did. 

EarthFirst-. When you read the information about these millionaires and billionaires, it’s amazing how some of them were inspired by accident! 

Check it out


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75 Green Business You Can Start to Make Money

Written by Cathy on September 15, 2008 – 11:43 am -

 

 

Credit: Green Biz 

‘Our guest today is Glenn Croston: He’s a biologist and author of “75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make a Difference.” In his book, Glenn looks at solving the world’s environmental problems through the lens of entrepreneurship. The businesses run the spectrum: low-carbon groceries, environmental accounting, installing wind turbines, carbon offset investigator.

I caught up with Glenn to talk about the opportunities for a starting a green business. There are also inevitable challenges, such as marketing a green product or service to consumers who may be suffering from green fatigue.

Tilde Herrera: Glenn, you have a science background.  How did you come to write this book and choose these businesses to highlight?

Glenn Croston: Well, as a biologist, I’ve been reading and I’ve been growing increasingly concerned about the impact of our business practices on the natural world. As a father, I’m pretty motivated to do something about it.

So I set out looking at all of the different problems out there, and instead of just focusing on the problems though, I tried to look for opportunities for entrepreneurs to provide solutions. That’s pretty much how the whole book is structured.

We have a great need for clean water supplies and for water conservation in many parts of the world. So there’s one chapter in the book all about the opportunities to provide improved supplies of water for using things like gray water supplies, for saving rainwater, for being a green plumber, or for doing water conservation landscaping, for example.

Another chapter’s all about green building, so if our buildings are inefficient, if we have a problem with that then there are a lot of opportunities for solutions, as well for doing things like providing efficient lighting, for fixing our air ducts so they don’t leak, and for exploring new building methods like green pre-fab houses.

So really for every problem, there’s a variety of opportunities for businesses lurking inside of that problem and for entrepreneurs to build a business around it.

TH: So would you say that these businesses in your book are a combination of new businesses that have sprung up directly from addressing these problems, or are they just greened up, conventional businesses?

GC: I would say they’re both. So some of the things in the book are pretty innovative and things that are just now happening or that were the trend that’s heading in that direction.

Often it’s the case as well that a green business is, in essence, a greener version of an existing business.

So an example of that would be green dry cleaning. Of course, we already have a great number of dry cleaners but green dry cleaning — doing dry cleaning in a way without harmful solvents — is a relatively new phenomenon that people are trying to move into. So there’s a little bit of both in there.

TH:    Can any business be a green business?

GC:    I think so.  It’s a little bit hard to say exactly what is and isn’t a green business.  To me, people get caught up in these arguments about saying what is green and what isn’t. I think you really can’t just draw a line in the sand, and group all the businesses on one side as green and everybody on the other side as un-green.

I think it’s a relative thing, and it depends on where your business is today compared to where it was before and where the rest of your industry is.  If you’re improving significantly and you have data to show how you’re doing that — to show the environmental benefits that you’re producing — then that’s a positive step. I think that needs to be recognized.

Nobody’s perfect yet, so even businesses like Interface or Stonyfield Farm who have been making a real great effort for many years now, they’re not perfectly sustainable so really, nobody is.  The important thing is just to be able to keep on improving and to show people how you’re doing that.

TH: Glenn, what would you say are the common misconceptions or challenges that green entrepreneurs face?

GC: Well, I think there’s plenty still.  There are many misconceptions that people have.  Lots of people still think that going green is hard, that it’s inconvenient, that it’s an expensive luxury. Really, many people still believe that you can’t do the right thing and still make money. 
I think the answer to that is that it’s being done every day.  More and more businesses out there are doing well and doing right at the same time.

So for example, there’s this idea that green buildings are really very expensive and not affordable. But there’s more and more data saying that they’re not more expensive at all compared to regular buildings, and that people can actually save money by wasting less energy and increasing productivity.

So most business people are alike in the sense that they don’t like wasting money and they want to save money if possible, so I guess in that sense, everybody’s a little bit green.

So these perceptions are changing but it takes a little time for them to catch up to the changing reality out there.  I guess that’s one nice thing about the high profile of green business lately is it’s helping to change the minds about some of these misconceptions.

Another challenge, I think, is the idea that green is a fad, it’s a trend that’s going to blow over and we’ll all go back to business as usual. But the fundamental needs are so great.  There are so many drivers supporting the ongoing growth of the field.

Another big challenge that green businesses are going to face is they have to not only think about what they’re making, but how they’re making it.  They have to examine their own operations to green things throughout, so there are a lot of challenges but there are also many opportunities.

TH: Now can you think of any situations where branding yourself as green would actually limit your venture?

GC: Yeah, I think so.  People are getting a little tired of hearing the word green tossed around so much.  It’s getting a little overused and losing some of its ability to communicate a clearer message, a clearer meaning. So there could be some negatives, which go along with the positives today.

One thing about calling yourself green is it can maybe limit you in some people’s minds to a certain niche, a smaller market rather than opening up the broader market of people out there who aren’t opposed to green things but don’t necessarily think of themselves as being purely green — the really mainstream market out there. So if you call yourselves green, it might make people think that the green is really the main benefit of your product, rather than just an additional quality on top of being a great product.

TH: You were just describing this green fatigue. What advice can you offer entrepreneurs in terms of marketing their products or services?

GC: Well, one of the strategies I’ve heard people say is that it can be really helpful to back up your words with some meaningful facts and figures about the environmental benefits that you’re developing and creating with the greening of your business.  Don’t just say you’re green but show it and back it up with some measurable results.

I think it can also help to work with your clients, with their customers, to educate them about what you’re doing, to really reach out to the consumer, to the community.

I think another way to fight it is to not stay in one place, to keep on improving what you’re doing, your product, your services, and how they’re greener. So with Toyota, they’ve got the Prius, but they can’t just keep building the same Prius forever.  They’ve got to keep on working for the next generation, the plug-in hybrids coming down the road.

I think another way to fight it is to talk about the benefits to the consumers, not just being green, but what does it mean to them and to really drive it home to people that if it’s a great product and it’s a green one, too, then everybody’s going pay attention.

TH: Marketing yourself as a green business or choosing to focus on solving some sort of environmental problem — how does that impact your access to capital?

GC: Well, I think it really helps that green businesses have a real advantage in some ways in raising money today. 
People are attracted to investing in green businesses for a few reasons.  One is because they’re displaying rapid growth, and looking forward, they have enormous potential for future growth still ahead.

People, investors look at green businesses and they see that there are an array in many different fields, an array of government mandates and regulations supporting that growth with things like renewable energy. (They see) that the risk is really reduced for investors because they can see that there are some influences and some support there for the long term for businesses to go in the green direction.

I think another important reason that people are excited about investing in green businesses is because they just plain want to do the right thing. I think there’s a very human element out there that drives people to support green business.

For example, I was recently talking with Chris Larsen, one of the co-founders of the person-to-person lending marketplace Prosper. Within their lending marketplace, they’ve done some studies and some surveys, and they found that lenders are definitely attracted to green projects and businesses for these sorts of reasons. Where a bank maybe won’t even consider whether you’re green or not if you’re asking for a business loan, but in a person-to-person lending marketplace like Prosper, borrowers were actively trying to engage lenders to tell their story, to let them know what they’re doing in a green direction and to be more successful in attracting capital that way.

TH: So knowing what you know now, having researched this book, and from talking to all of these various business owners, what advice would you give to would-be entrepreneurs?  What are the things that they need to know?

GC: Well, I think one of the most important things we need to think about is it’s not just going on outside in the rest of the world.  What’s going on inside of them?  What’s unique about their own personal experiences and skills and interests that they have going for them that they can use as one of their assets and to get going? Really, those are going to be some of their most important assets.

I get people calling me all the time or asking me, “Glenn, what can I do?  What business is best for me?” It’s hard for me to say what business is for them, and I think a lot of it has to come from within them. So it’s important to do a little soul searching, see what they really care about, what they’re passionate about and what fits them best as a great starting point.

I think another important thing to know for them is once they’ve done that, that people often doubt:  “Well, maybe that’s not really for me.  I’m not a great environmentalist.” But really, I think there are opportunities there for almost anyone and people from a wide range of backgrounds: for plumbers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, bankers, artists, salespeople.  Really, there’s something there for almost anyone to join in with the green business revolution.

I think it’s also important to have a great idea.  It’s also important for people to think through some of the steps ahead. Yes, these are green businesses but they still have to think of and consider all the same steps that any other business does.

They are going to have to find a way to produce their product, they’re going to have to raise capital and they’re going to have to market it so having the idea alone isn’t going to be enough.  They’re going to have to plan through and go through all the same steps that any other business will.  There may be some uniquely green angles to it, which helps, but they’re still going to have to think about those things.

TH: Now tell me about this website that you started to help budding entrepreneurs.

GC: Well, along with the book, I’m developing a support resource for green entrepreneurs, which is called Starting Up Green.  It’s at startingupgreen.com. The idea is that once people get started, they’re going to need a lot of help along the way. The good news is that one of the great things about green businesses is that there are so many people who believe so passionately in the field that they’re willing to help others who are also trying to head in that direction.  There are a lot of green leaders who have been down this path before.  They know what works and what doesn’t work, and they’re willing to share that with other young entrepreneurs, green entrepreneurs who are also getting started. So there’s a wealth of help available.

At Starting Up Green, the idea is that the site will help them with insights, success stories, tips and with access to experts in various fields like green finance, marketing, HR, legal and all the really unique things which go along with green work in these areas.

TH: You sound so passionate about all of this.

GC: Well yeah, thanks.  To me, it’s somewhat personal because I’m a father, and I’ve got two girls. So the future, what’s going to happen in 2030 and 2050 is not just an abstract idea.  It’s something that really matters to me deeply and I think matters to a lot of people.
There are a lot of people out there who are really committed to making a difference. That’s one of the really great things about green business in general.

TH: Thank you so much for joining me today, Glenn.

GC: Thank you.  It’s been my pleasure.

You can buy this book from Amazon here


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