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From Pollution-Based to Inclusively Green

Posted by Ada McMahon at Mar 19, 2009 03:50 PM |

Melissa Bradley-Burns, Senior Strategist for Green For All, discusses how minority entrepreneurs can get involved in the green economy. And more... Crossposted from BlackEnterprise.com

From Pollution-Based to Inclusively Green

Melissa Bradley-Burns

Melissa Bradley-Burns, Senior Strategist for Green For All, discusses how minority entrepreneurs can get involved in the  green economy.  And more...

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Green jobs helping at risk youth

Posted by Jeff Crothers at Mar 19, 2009 04:39 PM
Green jobs mean so much more than helping the environment alone. These jobs can be a direct path for at risk youth to join an apprentice program. I know this first hand because I taught at Treasure Island Job Corps for 6 years. Our pre-apprentice plastering program at Treasure Island Job Corps helped many at risk youth that finished my program to join our apprenticeship program.

I have now become the Business Agent for Plasterers Local 66 and have an even bigger opportunity to help these young men and women get into our apprentice program. There is finally a green alternative to paint for any interior finish. We are working with Rosa Parks Elementary school in San Francisco to help them green their school with this material. Rosa Parks Elementary School won the green my school contest put on by CBS and Eco-media.

American Clay Earth Plaster is going to contribute the material and Plasterers Local 66 is going to contribute the labor. We are also going to have the trainees from Treasure Islands Job Corps Plastering class assist us in this project. This will be a perfect opportunity for the trainees of the program to work on a real job site. We are looking forward for this material to be more widely used in the Bay Area. As the demand for this material increases we will need to get more trainees from the Treasure Island Plastering class into our apprentice program to meet the demand.

This truly is a very exciting time and I’m glad to be a part of it.

nuts and bolts

Posted by Lewis at Mar 19, 2009 04:55 PM
Nice work Ms. Bradley-Burns! As a person who has built a couple green businesses in the Midwest over the past 6 years, I can tell you the time is right. I recommend looking at RESNET for residential. Builders can become Energy Star partners for no charge, and the ES, Thermal Bypass Guide is highly effective, even for remodelers. Check out the Energy Star website for additional details. And yes as you mentioned, much money is being funneled into weatherization programs. In the Midwest these are administered by Community Action Agencies, which are available by listing on the web. Weatherization is based on many of the same priciples found in Resnet and Energy Star programs. Training as an Energy Rater, which includes creating computer models, give the certified rater the position to certify EPA Energy Star as well as IRS Epact tax programs. Training for these is relatively quick term, and now that cash incentives are being attached to Energy Star, the demand is definately on the rise. Builders who want to collect on builder incentives, will need to work with a rater to certify their houses. HVAC people have new opportunities with heat pump technologies, and in the mild Pacific climate, air source can be a viable option. Duct work is now testable with a duct blaster (via energy rater) and is taking the ducting skills to a new level. PV installers, especially ones with roofing experience, as well as solar thermal system installers will begin to be in great demands as the Portfolio Standard incentives kick into higher gear. Check the Solar Association website. I know these are pretty specific points but they represent the nuts and bolts of many entry level type of 'green job' activites. Keep up the good work!

Like this...

Posted by Lewis at Mar 20, 2009 10:41 AM
excerpt from an email conversation within the Illinois Association of Energy Raters regarding new training opportunities..

The initial course is focused on people in the building trades. The idea is they will become qualified RESNET trainers and run energy efficiency courses through their unions.
 
Morraine Valley will also be offering the trainer training (gosh, that's fun to say) in April and May. Contact Linley White or Al Morez.
  
Steve Clark, Building Energy Analyst

GREEN DREAM GROUP
Chicago, IL
773.339.7642

http://www.greendreamgroup.com
Hello,
 
I believe that with the down turn in the building industry and increased awareness of rising energy prices these people are locating training opportunities via the web and being driven by the entrepreneur sprit.
 
I just put on a one day workshop in Bloomington this week and I had people from Chicago, southern Illinois and everywhere in between.
Brian Kumer - President
Thermal Imaging Services, Inc.
198 N. Robinson St.
Lewistown, IL 61542
Office: 309-547-5000
Fax: 309-547-5005
Cell: 309-251-1719
Email: brian_kumer@yahoo.com

nuts and bolts

Posted by Lewis at Mar 19, 2009 05:03 PM
Nice work Ms. Bradley-Burns! As a person who has built a couple green businesses in the Midwest over the past 6 years, I can tell you the time is right. I recommend looking at RESNET for residential. Builders can become Energy Star partners for no charge, and the EnergyStar, Thermal Bypass Guide is highly effective, even for remodelers. Check out the Energy Star website for additional details. And yes as you mentioned, much money is being funneled into weatherization programs. In the Midwest these are administered by Community Action Agencies, which are available by listing on the web. Weatherization is based on many of the same priciples found in RESNET and Energy Star programs. Training as an Energy Rater, which includes creating computer models, give the certified rater the position to certify EPA Energy Star as well as IRS Epact tax programs. Training for these is relatively quick term, and now that cash incentives are being attached to Energy Star, the demand is definately on the rise. Builders who want to collect on builder incentives, will need to work with a rater to certify their houses. HVAC people have new opportunities with heat pump technologies, and in the mild Pacific climate, air source can be a viable option. Duct work is now testable with a duct blaster (via energy rater) and is taking the ducting skills to a new level. PV installers, especially ones with roofing experience, as well as solar thermal system installers will begin to be in great demands as the Portfolio Standard incentives kick into higher gear. Check the Solar Association website. I know these are pretty specific points but they represent the nuts and bolts of many entry level type of 'green job' activites. Keep up the good work!

Green Business

Posted by Elizabeth at Mar 22, 2009 02:10 PM

Thanks so much Melissa Bradley Burns for your article. It helps me think about my green business that focuses on organic cotton t-shirts. I am a minority and I am already trying to incorporate green policy in my company before we launch in May 09. I would like to see what percentage of my bottom line can help other green charities and the like. More and more true green businesses are incorporating a certain percentage of their bottom lines to charities. I am definitely reading up and talking to people about Green for All Guide of Economic Recovery package. Again, thanks for your input.