But just because I’m moving on doesn’t mean the green biz blog stops! Stay tuned with the new Greener Assets blogger who is going to take this blog to the next level.

It’s been a pleasure, thanks everybody! Cheers, Ali

Post from: EveryJoe

It’s been a pleasure…

The New York Times ran Majoring in Renewable Energy this week and talked about how the Oregon Institute of Technology has developed the country’s first four-year undergraduate degree program in renewable-energy systems. It’s an exciting development and one that proves the momentum in today’s job market for renewable energy expertise.

The news in Oregon follows suit to other schools around the nation that are putting renewable and alternative energy in the curriculum:

In 2006, the State University of New York in Canton started a four-year degree program in alternative and renewable energy. In September, Illinois State University in Normal will establish a four-year degree program in renewable energy. Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., offers an undergraduate degree in appropriate technology, an environmentally and socially responsible approach to engineering, with coursework in the design and construction of solar-powered buildings, drafting, design, woodworking, metalworking, computer literacy, architecture and green construction. (from the NYT)

Even if you’ve completed undergraduate or aren’t looking to spend four years in a classroom, there are lots of programs tailored to working professionals who are already in careers but looking to specialize in renewable energy or green technology. For instance, Boston Architectural College has several certificate programs related to green building which cover renewable energy systems like geoexchange and solar. I completed a Masters Certificate in Sustainable Design there, not because I’m a practicing architect but because I work in communications within the green building industry. And I just dig the subject.

I guess the point of mentioning all this is that no matter what industry you are in, its likely that specialized training or knowledge in “green” is becoming more valuable. If you’re interested in being part of the new green economy, which is going to include most every type of business, there are lots of programs out there that can give you a “green” edge. Speaking from personal experience, I’m very glad that I did a little extra training in a field I’m interested in. That this field is now one of the fastest growing industries makes it even more exciting. But really, it’s just about following your dreams and if those dreams are green there’s never been a better time to pursue them.

Post from: EveryJoe

Education Programs Focus on Green Technologies

Well, solar companies are taking this into consideration and making the incentive to go solar a little more feasible with creative financing. Solar energy is cheap, the sun shines freely. But the equipment needed to harness that energy and turn it into electricity doesn’t come so cheap. Enter solar rental.

With new financing arrangements, businesses can basically “rent” the equipment for solar energy. The solar company covers the install and the business (or homeowner) pays the solar company for the power. The structure of this energy deal is known as a “power-purchase agreement” model, or P.P.A.. Another example of this is PG&E’s recent PPA of wave power.

The New York Times has more on this new path to solar power, but this type of deal sounds like it could take the investment cost out of solar energy and make it more accessible to businesses.

Post from: EveryJoe

Think you can’t afford solar for your business? Think again.

Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC): NRDC is ‘the Earth’s best defense’ and one of the nation’s most effective environmental action groups. In action since 1970 by a group of law students and attorneys , NRDC today has over 1.2 million members and is a resource of scientists, lawyers and activists who’s collective goal is to protect wild places. For businesses looking to go green and lessen their impact on precious natural resources, turn to NRDC’s Greening Your Business.

TreeHugger: A true green, up-to-the-minute source of environmental news, TreeHugger is one of the most influential environmental websites on the internet. There’s a daily blog journal (which I highly recommend adding to your RSS), videos, interviews, contests and the very in-depth How to Go Green Guides. Check out TreeHugger’s How to Green Your Work for great tips and resources.

US Green Building Council: Building and remodeling greener buildings is something that everyone can contribute to, even if you are not a green building professional. When you are ready to expand, renovate or start new construction, turn to the US Green Building Council to find experts, information and ideas that can help you cut emissions, conserve energy and work in healthier environments. USGBC’s links and resources will lead you to the information you need, online here.

GreenBiz: GreenBiz, part of Greener World Media, is green biz news that covers the globe and more than the latest scoop, GreenBiz has tips, a job board and a great green resource in Greening Your Business: A Primer for Small Companies where you’ll find tips to reduce waste, increase energy-efficiency, build better products and keep up the good environmental deeds over the long haul.

EnergyStar: There are plenty of tips at EnergyStar to go green at home but you might be surprised to find there is also a Small Business Guide to help Green Your Business. Find ways to incorporate renewable energy, lower your emissions, building energy-efficient and conserve natural resources like water and forests.

Post from: EveryJoe

Five Best Online Resources For Greening Your Business

Behind the success of the USDA organic Honest Teas is a sustainable philosophy, but there’s a lot more to it says founder Seth Goldman and he’s sharing his secrets of sustainable success over at Green Biz:

More and more entrepreneurs are striving to strike such a balance between profit and principle, asking themselves, “Can I do the same in my company? Is my green dream really feasible?” Freelance writer and fair trade entrepreneur April Thompson spoke with Goldman recently to tap the leader for his secrets to start-up success.

Find out what it takes to be green from the get go: Seth Goldman’s Ten Great Tips for Socially Responsible Startups.

Post from: EveryJoe

Sustainable Advice from Honest Tea’s TeaEO

The sales rep who sold me my new phone suggested I place the old one in their collection bin to be donated to women who are escaping domestic abuse situations. My thought on that was what good is giving a phone that doesn’t work to someone in a dangerous situation? So the phone is sitting in a bag with all its outdated, unusable parts.

There are several reputable e-waste recycling programs popping up making it easier to get electronics recycled responsibly. One promising initiative is through the US Postal Service’s “Mail Back” program which has started in 1,500 post offices. Postage-paid envelopes can be found in post offices in 10 US cities, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Thursday at One Vote Matters let me know about LifeHacker’s post on the new “Mail Back” program (thanks, Thursday!). Lifehacker’s also got a great bunch of resources for recycling that you can find in the post there. With a little digging, I discovered that the “Mail Back” program is sponsored by Clover Technologies:

Clover Technologies Group, will recycle, remanufacture and remarket inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and small electronics. If the refuse can’t be refurbished and resold, its component parts are reused to refurbish other items, or the parts are broken down further and the materials are recycled. Clover Technologies Group has a “zero waste to landfill” policy: it does everything it can to avoid contributing any materials to the nation’s landfills. – BusinessWeek

Sounds like a great initiative that will make it easier to keep the work desk (and drawers) clutter free and keep electronics out of landfills.

Post from: EveryJoe

Free e-waste Recycling with USPS

1. If you could do whatever you wanted, how would YOU spend your $600?
2. Is that the same or different from how you actually plan spend it?

If I could do anything I wanted to do with an extra $600, there are two places I would put it. First, I’d give to at least a portion of it to Green For All. This is one of the most important initiatives in the US right now with its mission to help build a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Donations to Green For All are matched dollar for dollar by an extraordinary $1 million Challenge Grant so every dollar donated goes twice as far towards the Green For All initiatives.

I would also consider putting some of it into a trip for myself to New Orleans, which would of course be timed around the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival but with plenty of time to do some Habitat for Humanity work. A volunteer vacation with really good music and food sounds perfect to me.

What would I really do with the money? Probably put it in my savings account and await YET ANOTHER email from my bank letting me know that the feds have ONCE AGAIN dropped the interest rates. I am sympathetic to the people who have fallen prey to predatory lenders. A lot of what has happened in the US mortgage market is criminal. However, a lot of it could have been avoided if consumers and the government took more responsibility for their credit and spending. None of us are perfect, myself included, but I’m definitely getting a little fed up with the situation.

What would others do? Part of this meme is tagging other bloggers to answer the same question so my turn to tag: Ren at Accounting Solver, Thursday at One Vote Matters, Darlene at Interview Chatter, Dan at Property Crossroads and Blain at Talk Stock Trading. You are all tagged!

Post from: EveryJoe

What to do with a $600 Federal Tax Rebate?

One of the pioneers of responsible tourism has just been recognized by the Municipality of Puerto Ayora (the biggest town in the Galapagos Islands) for commitment to the preservation and conservation of the Galapagos archipelago and commitment to the welfare of the Galapagos community. Sven Lindblad, of Lindblad Expeditions, received the conservation award this week and announced a new initiative to further the sustainable commitment of his ecotourism business.

Linblad Expeditions has been bringing tours to the Galapagos since 1967, and working as an example of sustainable tourism in the region. Part of the Linblad experience was access to education about the unique natural wonder of the Galapagos – visitors gained insight into conservation efforts. The company also started the Galapagos Conservation Fund raising over $4 million to protect the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve. Linblad has also invested in social initiatives like FUNDECA (Fundacion de Artesanos Ecuatorianos) an initiative to support local artisans.

While many of us daydream of romantic lifestyles like heading a tourism company in one of the world’s most unique natural areas, the reality is that doing it with the earth in mind is a serious undertaking. Lindblad Expeditions has managed to build a business based on environmental stewardship – a feat that is rooted in real-world issues. Read more about how Lindblad balances business and environment at GreenBiz, Sven Lindblad Receives Major Conservation Award

Post from: EveryJoe

In Galapagos, Business is Delicate Balance

The initiative is meant to encourage students to pursue work that isn’t just about making the money to pay back big student loans. The Times reported that, in recent years, only about 10-12% of Harvard Law graduates in recent years went to work for a nonprofit or the government, opting instead to join law firms where income was in the six figures – understandable considering that law students can leave Harvard with student debt also in the six figures.

So if you’re headed down the legal path, remember that the earth needs good lawyers, too, and Harvard will cut you a deal if you defend it. Of course, Harvard’s not the only game in town, here’s the top 10 Environmental Law programs in the US (from US News & World Report):

1. Vermont Law School
2. Lewis and Clark Law School
3. Pace University Law School (NY)
4. University of Maryland Law School
5. Georgetown University Law School
6. New York University Law School
7. University of California–Berkeley (Boalt Law)
8. Stanford University Law School
9. George Washington Law School
10. Yale Law School

Via New York Times

Post from: EveryJoe

Harvard Trades Tuition for Public Service

The ever-expanding credit crisis in the US is rippling through the global economy and GreenBiz reported that “As share prices around the world continued to fall sharply in the wake of the weekend collapse of U.S. investment bank Bear Stearns, experts on Monday warned that clean tech projects could soon find it significantly harder to raise project financing as a result.”

However, the experts assembled in the UK last Monday gave a positive long term outlook for clean tech and noted that the current market conditions pose a short term problem.

“Clean tech is not recession-proof,” said Justin Adams, director of technical strategy, venturing and innovation at BP. “But the drivers behind current interest in the sector are enduring and will remain with us whether we go through a shallow or deep recession — there remains a huge upside to clean tech investments.”

At GreenBiz, Experts Warn Bear Stearns Crisis Could Curb Clean Tech Growth

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Bear Stearns Crisis May Pinch Clean Tech