“In 2006, more than eight million Americans worked in (the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) industries, and RE&EE generated $933 billion of revenue. By 2030, under an aggressive deployment forecast scenario, there could be more than 40 million Americans employed in these industries—about one in every four working Americans. And in the aggressive scenario, the RE&EE industries could generate $4.53 trillion in annual revenue.”
— Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Economic Drivers for the 21st Century, Report by Roger Bezdek, Principal Investigator, American Solar Energy Institute
The new green economy is growing fast, and the role community colleges must play in building a green workforce to support this new economy is no longer an option, but a vital necessity.
Throughout the California community college system, campuses are implementing green building, energy efficiency and renewable projects – the Los Angeles Community College District alone has $2.1 billion in bond funding for this work. These projects are creating an ideal learning environment for students, giving them the opportunity to experience new technologies, and creating possibilities for hands-on training and apprenticeships.
At the Summit, you will learn from educators, policymakers, business leaders and a range of experts about:
- The curriculums that are being developed in conjunction with renewable energy and other green industries and coordinated among campuses
- Creating campuses that are models of sustainable practices to their communities
- The savings available from building and running green campuses
- Community colleges that are living laboratories where students learn by applying their skills and training to green their campuses
- Green job opportunities – what the “green collar” jobs are now, and what they will look like in the future.
Summit Program
The two-day event will feature general sessions with keynotes, speakers and more than 30 workshops and sessions addressing the full range of green workforce, education and building issues.
Educational Sessions
The educational program is intended to meet the diverse interests and purposes of those involved in participating and helping community colleges meet their purpose of Building Gateways to the Green Economy. The themes that will be addressed in presentations and workshops include:
October 8
Building and Design – Greening the Community College
Track 1: Building Design and Construction - Interactive sessions will focus on campuses and structures that are models of green building, design and construction. A sampling includes:
- LEED 2.0: Becoming a LEED AP (Accredited Professional)
- Advanced Building Concepts
- Cutting Edge Energy Projects at Community Colleges
- Indoor Environments: Green design for learning
- Emerging Green Building Codes and Regulations
- Finding Energy Savings in Existing Buildings
Track 2: The Business Case for Going Green - Interactive sessions will focus on ways to obtain funding for green projects and to analyze the real bottom line benefits of energy efficiency and green building. A sampling includes:
- The Real Savings from a Green Campus: How to find the bottom line
- Rebates and Incentives
- Green Bonds: Raising and spending bond money for green projects
- Campuses as Energy Producers: Net zero and beyond
- Green Partnerships: Public/Private collaborations leading to green campuses
- Costing Green: Disproving the misconceptions about green building
- Trustees as Green Leaders: Setting policy
Track 3: The Sustainable Campus – A Model for the Community - Interactive sessions will cover the full spectrum of what it means to become and maintain a sustainable campus. A sampling includes:
- Saving Money Through Green Operations and Maintenance
- No More Landfills: Waste management strategies
- Culture Change: Living and learning on a green campus
- Keeping Track: Environmental Management Systems
- Green Commuting: Alternative transportation programs
- Greening the Fleet: What works for on-campus vehicle efficiency
- American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) - Clinton Climate Initiative Partnership
- Procurement: Green F & E (furniture and equipment)
- LEED ND (Neighborhood Development) for Community Colleges
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October 9
The New Green Workforce – Curriculum Development and Workforce Development
Track 4: Educating the New Green Workforce - Interactive sessions will share best practices in curriculum development and design, which are educating students for the green workforce, economy and lifestyle. A sampling includes:
- Green Curriculum that Works: Best practices at community colleges
- Collaborative Curriculum Development: Involving businesses, teachers, administrators
- Green Buildings as Teaching and Learning Tools: community colleges as living laboratories
- Green Education Pipeline: CTE and vocational education to community college and beyond
- Shades of Green: Defining the Green Collar Workforce
- Managing and Developing Green Curriculum
- Apprenticeships and Internships: Success stories
- Determining a Green Career Path: Helping students find their way
- Workforce Investment Boards (WIBS) – providing money for workforce training.
Track 5: Meeting Current and Evolving Workforce Needs for the Green Economy - Interactive sessions will cover current and future market trends and workforce needs in the green economy. A sampling includes:
- How Community Colleges can move quickly to create courses for new types of jobs
- Green Collar Jobs: What are they, what is their real potential?
- Turning Forecasted Job Shortages into Gold for Community Colleges
- The Green Jobs Act of 2007: What it means for you
- Economic Forecasting: Job market trends and the role of sustainable campuses in California’s economic future
Questions? Call 626.577.5700
For more information, write to collegesummit@green-technology.org