Green career expert, Carol McClelland recently came to the Green Economy Post to answer your green career questions and they were so good ones. So, we decided to run a series of posts on some of the commonly asked green career questions. Carol McClelland, PhD, author of Green Careers For Dummies and Founder of Green Career Central
Today’s question ….
I have read that the Obama Administration is giving a lot of money to states for retrofitting and that energy auditors will be in demand. I was thinking about getting certified. However, I do not see many jobs for this type of work and I was wondering if getting certified will be a waste of money, of it there will be demand for this type of work in the near future.
Cynthia Mowry
Carol McClelland says:
Hi Cynthia,
Yes, the Obama Administration has recently announced the $6 Billion HomeStar program (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/fact-sheet-homestar-energy-efficiency-retrofit-program). As I understand it, President Obama outlined the basic purpose of the program, but it is up to Congress to put it into law. This means that it’s in the works, but no one is ready to write the rebate checks yet!
I have also heard that larger cities in California have received money to create energy efficiency/conservation plans in their regions. I know my county is planning to launch a training program in the next few months to train auditors and installers to meet ambitious energy efficiency goals that were associated with the stimulus funds they received for this project.
Before you leap into training, I would do a bit more research to understand how energy efficiency is unfolding in your state and region. It’s likely that it will unfold in stages. Doing your homework now will save you from wasting your money or help you plan your training in a timely manner.
Remember, rebate programs can definitely spur on an industry. We’ve definitely seen this happen in state after state in the solar industry. So at a minimum, the Obama announcement is a good sign, but you want to understand the program, track how it’s developing, and how it is landing in your area.
Good luck!
Carol
Recommended Green Career Resources Provided by Carol
SEVEN STEPS TO YOUR GREEN CAREER AUDIO – In this recorded audio program, Carol McClelland, shares a seven step plan you can follow to find your green career. In this audio you’ll discover: How to shorten the path to your green career with our 7-Step Action Plan; Tips to keep you moving forward to your goal; and answers to your questions about your next steps.
HOW TO SHORTEN YOUR PATH TO YOUR GREEN CAREER – This free ebook is a step-by-step process helping green career seekers use their passions, interests, experience, and training to plug into the green economy.
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