Green jobs are an integral part of a brand new employment sector that's expected to grow in the coming years. A green job, or green collar job, refers to employment at New Mexico businesses that work to lower pollution and waste or help clean and protect the environment. Jobs in renewable energy sources are a great illustration of green jobs.
Given that this is a new industry that'll be expanding rapidly and will likely put America back on the manufacturing map, there's a high demand for a new kind of skilled workers. Green job training programs have cropped up throughout the country to help get workers ready for these new green collar jobs.
Green Jobs Training Programs in New Mexico
Below are training programs and certifications for various kinds of green jobs.
New Mexico LEED Certification Programs
When it comes to green building certifications LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the gold standard. LEED has become very popular in the last couple of years and community colleges now offer LEED certification programs. The U.S. Green Building Council is also a superb resource for locating LEED certification programs in your town.
New Mexico Energy Auditor Training
An energy auditor examines a business or home to find where energy is being lost or wasted and makes suggestions for making the structure more energy efficient. Some areas are now starting to require homeowners have an energy audit before they can sell their residence. Individuals who have a background in engineering, home inspections or building are energy auditor naturals. Check with your community college to see if they provide energy auditor courses. The Association of Energy Engineers or Everblue both offer energy auditor training in New Mexico.
New Mexico Ecotourism Training
Ecotourism has become popular since many vacationers are now trying to be more environmentally friendly in their excursions. If you enjoy, travel, nature and science then a career in ecotourism may be just what you're looking for. Some New Mexico colleges offer classes in ecotourism. In Thailand the Ecotourism Training Center has established the Sustainable Marine Adventures Responsible Tourism (S.M.A.R.T.) training course.
Renewable Energy Training Programs in New Mexico
New Mexico renewable energy sources include solar, wind and geothermal energy sources. The excitement in all three are growing each day. If you're interested in geothermal technologies the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association provides workshops and training. For those thinking of getting a green job in wind energy the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and NABCEP both offer training in wind power and turbines.
In addition to the organizations mentioned above, there are also many local, state and national green jobs training programs.
Education Levels for Green Jobs Training in New Mexico
Many people may be wondering or even concerned about what level of education they need to have in order to take part in New Mexico green jobs training programs. The good news is that for many training programs students have to have no less than a high school diploma.
Some green jobs training in New Mexico will require a college degree or enrollment in college. Others, like energy auditing, requires other specialized knowledge. The level of education needed is mainly dependent on the type of green job you're interested in. One of the initial things you need to do is check with the certification program to determine what education prerequisites are needed.
Green jobs promise to supply workers with good paying, long term employment. Use the information above to find out more about green jobs training in New Mexico.