If you work for Microsoft, odds are, “you’re a PC.” If you work in clothing retail, odds are you, you’ve evolved into somewhat of a “fashionista.” The truth is, a job you work for 10, 20, or 40+ hours a week can have a huge impact on your lifestyle. And, this is no different with “green” jobs.
We essentially live by the principles and products of the industry we work in. We all have that friend that works for a cell phone carrier like T-Mobile, and despite what you say about your carrier, they defend theirs at all times. We learn about our industry, gain knowledge about developments in our industry, and interact with other people in our company and industry.
So, with millions of new green jobs projected to hit the market in the coming years, we should see a large percentage of this new wave of employed Americans become more eco-friendly in their daily lives. From the ground up; from renewable energy jobs to organic food production jobs, employees will gain knowledge through their corporate families and their products and services. Why should it be any different? Those that “go green” feel better about themselves anyway, so combining this positive, “good deed” feeling with the impact from working in a clean-tech job will make Americans in “green” jobs, greener in their own lives, too.
I have become much more eco-conscious throughout the two years of planning and implementing Green Crawler. I recycle more, use my electronics efficiently, conserve water, and most importantly, I reach out to my friends and acquaintances, preaching to them about what they can do to be more green…and really, how easy it is. The company started as an idea. One that could help everyone be more “green.” But with time, as I worked more hours on this project, I have become an evolving “greenie.” This same effect should happen with anyone that starts a career in the “eco” industry.
A green building contractor, solar panel designer, organic farmer and photovoltaic installer will all be somewhat partial to “greener” choices in their daily lives. Even low-income workers can become more eco -friendly through this large wave of green jobs. “Green job” training programs teach low-income workers the skills necessary to join the emerging clean-tech, sustainable economy: energy-efficiency retrofitting, wind turbine maintenance, brownfield remediation, etc. Think being “green” is a high-income thing? Well, think again.
Green jobs will help us shift our infrastructure. There is no question. But in addition, the people that take these jobs, from the wind turbine maintainer to the green building contractor will be more green. Maybe not all of the 5-million people moving into these jobs, but even just half of those green workers would make a substantial contribution in our quest for a clean, sustainable economy.
