Although there are many jobs in the green economy that don’t require special education, it’s often helpful to have specific training or degrees if you want to increase your earning power and responsibility. Below is a sampling of programs and training that can help you out:

Masters programs: These can include advanced degrees in environmental engineering, environmental sciences, and much more-

• M.S. in Sustainability Management: Offered by Columbia University; focused on the complex issues of environmental and sustainability management; contact Louise Rosen, lar46@columbia.edu
• M.S. in Environment & Community: Offered by Antioch University; approach environmental policy and sustainability issues from both a social science and natural science perspective; contact http://www.enviroeducation.com/cgi-bin/trk.cgi?http://www.antiochsea.edu/academics/enviro/index.html
• M.S. in Public Policy & Management: Offered by Carnegie Mellon University; focuses on environmental policy and research; contact http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/school-of-public-policy-management/public-policy-management-msppm/index.aspx

Solar and Wind training:

• NABCEP Registered Providers  of Entry Level PV Exam: excellent resource with listings of community colleges and other training providers
• Solar Living Institute: Offers regular workshops on designing and installing photovoltaic systems
• Infinite Solar School PA: 5-day trainings for certification by NABCEP and IREC
• Ontility: Solar, wind, and energy efficiency training 
• Boots on the Roof: Solar and wind training aimed at HVAC contractors
• Solar Source Institute: Provides design, installation, and business-related training

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is shaping up to be one of the world’s worst environmental disasters - one that will be with us for months, if not years. It will adversely affect millions of people, sea creatures, and plants. But even as BP struggles to shut down the well, hundreds of people are rushing to fight the spill. In fact, this disaster shines a spotlight on a part of the green economy you may not have considered - environmental monitoring and mitigation. These folks step in when things go wrong.To give you an idea of the scope, BP alone has 22,000 people involved in oil spill cleanup and mitigation!

What types of jobs are these? Let’s take a look:

• Commercial boat operators: to deploy booms, maneuver materials and equipment
• Environmental engineer: to measure and design responses to spills
• Oil spill cleanup workers: to work on and offshore responding directly to site conditions; usually requires OSHA hazardous waste certification and training
• Field technician: monitors water and air conditions prior to and after exposure from oil spill
• Logistics and support personnel: to operate trucks, boats, and other transportation equipment in support of spill cleanup efforts
• Biologist: to assist in collecting and treating soiled birds and other wildlife
• Skilled and unskilled laborer: to remove debris, set up protective barriers, and related activities
• Heavy equipment operator: to erect tents, operate fork lifts, erect barriers, and related activities

Good luck in your job hunt!

As part of our ongoing review of green job opportunities by sector, we’re focusing today on environmental engineering. This is a broad sector, ranging from companies that specialize in environmental impact statements, to companies working on recycling, and beyond.

Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites.

Here are some of the positions you’ll find in this sector:

• water and wastewater engineer
• environmental and safety manager
• air quality engineer
• hazardous waste engineer
• solid waste manager
• civil engineers
• sanitary engineers
• industrial hygienist
• laboratory analyst
• land management specialist

Potential employers include private consulting engineering firms, all types of government (local, state, federal), universities, corporations, and testing laboratories. Demand for most environmental engineering positions has consistently outstripped demand for the past several decades.

How to start? For all positions, you need a B.S. in engineering - usually civil, chemical, mechanical, or environmental. Many employers prefer a M.S. in environmental engineering. A big plus is strong communication skills, as many environmental engineering positions require interaction with non-engineers.

A good place to start looking for your environmental engineering position, of course, is on Great Green Careers. Also check local, state, and federal job listings. Good luck!

The green economy is all over - but some places provide more fertile ground for green job seekers. In a recent report by Jim Motavalli on The Daily Green, 5 cities are singled out for their growth in green jobs.

Growth in the green sector has been strong - and as many as 1.9 million jobs are expected by 2020 from the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The stimulus bill is pumping $30 billion into the clean energy sector alone.

Without further ado, here are the top cities for green jobs:

1) New York City: The city has just launched PlaNYC, which includes 127 initiatives for greening the city - plus $1 billion retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency. Interestingly enough, EarthLab Foundation ranks NYC as the 2nd greenest city in the US in terms of carbon output.

2) San Francisco:   California leads the nation in clean energy jobs, and many of those are in the San Francisco area. Voters recently approved $100 million in revenue bonds to support renewable energy, and 20 big construction projects have applied for LEED certification.

3) Boston: The number three energy source in this city is wind power! The city is home to multiple universities, green companies, and R&D firms - all combining to create a steady flow of new green jobs.

4) Detroit: Despite Michigan’s 15.3% unemployment rate, Detroit has benefited from DOE funding for green tech initiatives that aim to employ skilled labor in the area. There are a cluster of companies tied to green transportation in the area, and abandoned industrial plants have been converted to new incubators for solar and wind companies.

5) Portland: The Oregon city has a lengthy environmental heritage and is ranked most friendly to bikes in the nation. The state has almost 20,000 green jobs, many of them located in Portland.

You should also take a look at Clean Edge’s list of the 15 best areas for clean tech jobs, which includes Houston, Phoenix, and Austin.

The first thing most job seekers interested in green jobs ask is “What exactly is a green job?” Honestly, this is a pretty tough question to answer - apart from obvious professions such as renewable energy and green building, many jobs fall into a gray (rather than green) area.

Perhaps a better question to ask is: “What are the top green jobs available?” Luckily, we’re not the first to ask this - so without further ado, here are a few useful lists to get you thinking about your green careers:

From Forbes: 6-figure green jobs:

1. Chief Sustainability Officer (Chief Environmental Officer/ Chief Green Officer)
2. Environmental Lawyer
3. Environmental Engineer
4. Climatologist/Environmental Meteorologist
5. Renewable Energy Manager
6. Environmental Specialist/Scientist
7. Senior Urban Planner
8. Commercial/Industrial Designer
9. Conservation Scientist
10. Senior Hydrologist

From CareerBuilder: Top 25 green gigs:

1. Hydrologist
2. Environmental Engineer
3. Pest Control Technician
4. Conservation Biologist
5. Science Teacher
6. Toxicologist
7. Pollution Control Technician
8. Fund-raising Director
9. Ecologist
10. Camp Counselor
11. Business Manager
12. Economist
13. Forester
14. Environmental Attorney
15. Community Affairs Manager
16. Environmental Health and Safety Technician
17. Landscape Architect
18. Waste Disposal Manager
19. Environmental Chemist
20. Corporate Waste Compliance Coordinator
21. Urban and Regional Planner
22. Agricultural Inspector
23. Wastewater Water Operator
24. Wildlife Biologist
25. Pollution Control Engineer

From Boston.com: Green-collar jobs:

1. Green Interior Designer
2. Eco-Friendly Furniture Builder
3. Green Landscape Architect
4. Green Fashion Designer
5. Environmental Scientist and Hydrologist
6. Protection Technician
7. Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer
8. Construction Manager
9. Farm, Ranch, and Agricultural Manager Specializing in Organic Production
10. Financial Analyst/Adviser Specializing in Socially Responsible Investing
11. Solar Installer
12. Sustainable-Design Architect
13. Environmental Lawyer
14. Fuel-Cell Entrepreneur
15. Environmental Engineer

Start searching!