Turning blue into green

There may not be a bright side to the economic downturn, but is there a ‘green’ side? A recession could be the first step to a truly green economy as more effort is being made in North America to prepare laid-off workers for alternative energy careers, turning the blue-collar workforce into green-collar one.

Those who have lost manufacturing jobs or other redundant positions are now eligible for possible retraining (3.4MB PDF) in one of several high-demand fields. These green-collar jobs include manufacturing solar panels, insulating green homes and servicing wind turbines. These are positions that can be filled by the now unemployed blue-collar workers — good for the economy and good for the environment.

The emerging eco-industry also needs tradespersons trained in new energy efficient construction techniques. This includes carpenters, electricians, plumbers, steamfitters and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics.

New trades are also developing in fields related to energy efficiency in buildings, including external insulation finishing system mechanics and green roof installers. Other trades are emerging in solar and geothermal installations, and in weatherization retrofits. Training programs and worker certification are also being developed.

A growing number of short courses – anywhere from a few hours to a few days – are available from the construction industry, trade associations, product manufacturers and energy service companies. Some also offer courses with broader themes such as advanced air sealing, energy efficient lighting or “building-as-a-system.”

The solution for the economy and the environment are the same thing: turning blue-collar work into green-collar jobs could very well be a win-wind situation.