Tag Archives: Clean Jobs Index

Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index Shows a 19 Percent Increase in Clean Jobs in 2013

National study shows more than 3.5 million clean jobs available in 2013, with a 57 percent increase in solar jobs

Denver, CO, March 07, 2014 – Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index, a tool to compare states’ use and development of clean and sustainable energy, found more than 3.5 million job postings in the clean energy sector last year. This is a 19 percent increase from 2012. The Clean Jobs Index classifies clean energy jobs based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics description, which says that a clean job is part of a business that benefits the environment or conserves natural resources.

Ecotech Institute, the only college entirely focused on renewable energy and sustainability training, created the Clean Jobs Index to provide objective job information about the renewable energy industry. The Index also looks at various sustainability factors such as alternative fueling stations, LEED projects and total energy consumption across the U.S.

Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index 2013

Number of U.S. Clean Jobs Postings in 2013:
3,599,022 (a 19 percent increase from 2012)

Large Growth in Clean Jobs (compared to 2012 clean jobs postings)
Solar Jobs – up 57 percent
Wind Jobs – up 20 percent
Renewable Energy Jobs – up 9.3 percent

Clean Jobs by Population (Jobs per 100,000 residents)
1. North Dakota – 2,554
2. Iowa – 1,811
3. Massachusetts – 1,768
4. Delaware – 1,700
5. Alaska – 1,644
6. Minnesota – 1,557
7. Maine – 1,549
8. Nebraska – 1,510
9. Washington – 1,461
10. Kansas – 1,456

Clean Jobs by State
1. California – 276,493
2. Texas – 268,349
3. New York – 190,964
4. Illinois – 168,998
5. Michigan – 143,319
6. Ohio – 129,447
7. Pennsylvania – 126,012
8. Massachusetts – 115,748
9. Florida – 115,066
10. Washington – 98,252

States With the Most Incentives for Sustainability and Renewables (in no particular order):
Minnesota
California
Oregon
Washington
Texas
Indiana
Colorado
Florida
New York
Iowa

“Renewable energy is the future and this data proves that more than ever,” said Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations. “With solar jobs up 54 percent and clean tech jobs up overall nearly 20 percent, it’s definitely an exciting time in the sustainable energy industry.”

Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index is an aggregation of statistics by state. Although it may indicate a greater possibility for employment in the clean economy sector, the Clean Jobs Index in no way indicates the presence or the promise of any specific job opportunities. Data for the Index is gathered regularly from independent research entities including: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Green Building Council.

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, please visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex. To learn more about Ecotech Institute, go to http://www.ecotechinstitute.com.

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers eight highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Ecotech Institute Reveals Top Green Jobs for 2014

Ecotech’s Jobs Expert Sue Pawlak to Host Webinar on December 19, Sharing Renewable Energy Jobs Outlook for the Coming Year

Denver, CO, December 17, 2013 – Green jobs are on the rise, and 2014 is slated to be a great year for growth in the sustainable energy sector, according to Ecotech Institute. The Ecotech Institute Clean Jobs Index has become a valuable tool in measuring and disclosing the reality of green jobs and other sustainability factors across the United States. The Index’s latest data reveals a bright outlook in 2014 for cleantech leaders, educators, political leaders, students and job seekers. A webinar on Thursday, December 19, will further address green jobs data and predictions based on the Index and insights from Ecotech’s career services department.

Within about the last 30 days, more than 72,000 green job positions with hundreds of job titles were available across the U.S., correlating with trends seen all year. For example, the solar industry had almost 500 job listings from November 5 through December 6, ranging from installation technicians to sales representatives and everything in between.

Jobs classified under the broad renewable energy umbrella had approximately 21,000 job listings offered in the last 30 days. This data includes many renewable energy sources with positions in the following areas:

* Energy Efficiency: 6,600;

* Electrical Engineering: more than 23,000;

* Power Utility: 744;

* Facility Management: more than 6,470.

Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colo., is the only college in the U.S. solely focused on training for jobs in renewable energy and clean technology. The school’s administration, instructors and career services staff consistently keep their fingers on the pulse of the industries in which they train, ensuring students have the skills they need to meet employer demand.

For more information on the jobs outlook for 2014, Ecotech will host a “Top In-demand Clean Jobs for 2014” webinar:

DATE: Thursday, December 19, 2013

TIME: 12:00 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m. Central/10:00 a.m. Mountain/9:00 a.m. Pacific

FEATURING: Sue Pawlak, Ecotech Institute’s Area Director of Career Placement

DISCUSSING:
– What were trends in sustainable energy career placement in 2013?
– Where are the green jobs located?
– What renewable energy jobs are available today?
– What are Ecotech’s sustainable energy predictions for 2014?

REGISTER: http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/landings/webinar/

For more information on Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com. The Ecotech Institute Clean Jobs Index is at ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
303.433.7020 (o) or 720.244.4268 (c)
jfoust@csg-pr.com

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index Shows More Than One Million Clean Energy Jobs Exist

National study, from the third quarter of 2013, also notes an increase in alternative fueling stations and ranks the top states in energy efficiency

Denver, Colo, November 21, 2013 – Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index, a tool to compare states’ use and development of clean energy, found more than one million job postings in the clean energy sector from July 1, 2013, through September 30, 2013. This shows a 54 percent increase in needed clean energy employees, evidence that the sector is rapidly growing and in need of experts.

Ecotech Institute, the first and only school dedicated to educating students solely in clean energy fields such as solar, wind and renewable energy, launched the Clean Jobs Index in January 2013 to provide objective job information about the clean tech industry. The Index also looks at various sustainability factors such as alternative fueling stations, LEED projects and total energy consumption in all 50 states. The Clean Jobs Index defines a clean tech job as one where workers make their business more environmentally friendly, use fewer natural resources or produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment.

To complement the increase in these clean energy job opportunities, 1,543 new alternative fueling stations opened across the United States since the second quarter 2013. Between the months of July and September, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee had the most alternative fueling stations per capita.

Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index, Q3 2013

Number of U.S. Clean Jobs Postings:
1,099,734 (a 54 percent increase from Q2 2013)

New Alternative Fueling Stations (Since Q2 2013):
1,543

States With the Most Alternative Fueling Stations (Per Capita):
Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee

In Q3, Ohio Moved From 24th in Energy Efficiency to 2nd in the Nation

The Most Energy Efficient States (in no particular order):
California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island*, Vermont and Washington

States With the Most Incentives for Sustainability and Renewables (in no particular order):
California, Texas, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon

*(Rhode Island added more incentives and rebates than any other state in Q3.)

“This data shows a long-awaited boom in the clean tech industry, from the increases in alternative fueling options to a massive amount of clean job opportunities,” said Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations. “States now offer more sustainability and renewable incentives than we’ve ever seen before, which proves that they’re taking the power of the industry seriously. In the state of the current economy, over 1 million job opportunities is a truly incredible statistic. We’re proud that Ecotech is the only higher education institution out there devoted entirely to helping students become successful professionals in this rapidly expanding sector.”

Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index is an aggregation of statistics by state, developed on a number of factors. LEED projects, energy efficiency, green pricing, net metering, total energy consumption and alternative fueling stations are all considered when ranking states. Higher index numbers suggest a state’s propensity to embrace renewable energy and energy efficiency. It may also indicate a greater possibility for employment in that local clean economy sector, though the Clean Jobs Index in no way indicates the presence or the promise of any specific job opportunities. Data is gathered regularly from independent research entities including: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Green Building Council.

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, please visit www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex. To learn more about Ecotech Institute, go to www.ecotechinstitute.com.

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers eight highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
CSG PR
East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Facility Management Program Addresses Need to Sustainably Update our Country’s New and Old Buildings

New Program Launches in June with Subject Matter from the International Facility Management Association

Denver, Colorado, June 05, 2013 – Across America in small towns and thriving cities, a similar issue is cropping up: aging buildings. While older buildings are often respected for their historical nature, there is often a need to update them for structural reasons, aesthetic purposes and even energy usage. In fact, right now The Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) is underway to collect data on the structure, operational characteristics and energy use of 12,000 buildings across the U.S. The data collected is only going to heighten the role of sustainability of buildings, both new and old, around the country.

With new window technology, energy efficiency options, water conservation choices and more, entire cities can improve their sustainability with renovation. Ecotech Institute, the first and only institution entirely focused on green jobs training, is launching its Facilities Management degree in June, which will train professionals to tackle this issue.

The International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), the world’s largest and most widely recognized association for professional facility managers, helped develop the curriculum for Ecotech Institute’s Facility Management Technology degree program. It is an associate’s degree program that will prepare students for careers in the field of facility management, focusing on the operation, maintenance, analysis, auditing and cost of energy management systems. Students will receive instruction that is designed to prepare them to analyze, operate, and maintain mechanical and electrical systems.

According to Ecotech’s Clean Jobs Index, there have been 75,000 jobs posted in the U.S. related to facilities management so far in 2013. To see applicable positions in each state, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex. A sample of possible facilities management jobs that graduates of this program could be qualified for include: Energy Manager, Facilities Manager, Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds and Plant Manager.

Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colorado, now has more than 520 students who receive hands-on training in the growing field of sustainability. In addition to Facility Management Technology, Ecotech currently offers the following degree programs:

* Solar Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Wind Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Renewable Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Energy Efficiency Program, Associate of Applied Science

* Electrical Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Power Utility Technician, Associate of Applied Science

* Business Administration – Sustainability, Associate of Applied Science

About Ecotech Institute:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index Shows the U.S. Had Nearly 750,000 Clean Job Openings in First Quarter of 2013

National Findings include Growth in the Solar Industry, along with an Increase in Alternative Fueling Stations and LEED Certifications.

Denver, Colorado, May 10, 2013 – Ecotech Institute today released new data from its Clean Jobs Index, which aggregates all the available clean jobs in the U.S. The Index found that there were 749,197 clean jobs posted across the United States between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013. The Index breaks down clean jobs by state with links to local listings, helping to fill the data gap left by the U.S. government when it recently stopped tracking green jobs due to budget cuts.

Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on training students for solar, wind and renewable energy jobs, launched the Clean Jobs Index in January 2013, although it can pull data for all of 2012. In addition to providing objective information on jobs, the Clean Jobs Index also aggregates data on a variety of sustainability factors in all 50 states, including alternative fueling stations, LEED projects, total energy consumption, energy efficiency, green pricing, net metering and state incentives.

One area that is illustrating tremendous growth is the solar industry. In Q1 2013, the Clean Jobs Index listed more than 8,000 solar jobs with titles such as solar sales representatives, installers, solar panel manufacturers and project managers.

Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index, Q1 2013:

Number of Clean Jobs Posted in the U.S. in Q1 2013: 749,197

States with the Biggest Gains in Clean Jobs Postings from Q4 2012 to Q1 2013: Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Vermont, West Virginia

Number of Available Alternative Fueling Stations Nationwide: 23,575, up seven percent from Q4 2012

States with the Most Alternative Fueling Stations: California, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington

National Number of Electric Car Chargers: 16,256, up by 1,274 from Q4 2012

States with the Most Incentives for Sustainability and Renewables: California, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, Washington

States with the Most Growth in Available Incentives from Q4 2012 to Q1 2013: Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon

New Building Space LEED Certified Within Q1 2013: 110,000,000 square feet nationally, up five percent from the previous quarter

“The Clean Jobs Index shows that there is tremendous job growth in the cleantech sector and signs of positive momentum on the state level for environmental factors that can affect us all,” said Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations. “When we see increases in LEED certification, we know businesses are making sustainable decisions; when we see an increase in alternative fueling stations, we know people are driving demand for greener forms of transportation. These are powerful indicators.”

Ecotech Institute regularly gathers data for the Clean Jobs Index from a variety of independent research entities that develop and regularly publish cleantech information. Sources include a variety of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses, including: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Green Building Council, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex; to learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com. To take a free online “Introduction to Sustainability” course taught by Ecotech Institute’s Kyle Crider, sign up today.

About Ecotech Institute:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers eight highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Ecotech Institute Announces New Facility Management Program

New Offering Complements the School’s Solar Energy Training, Wind Turbine Training and Other Renewable Energy Programs

Denver, Colorado, April 03, 2013 – Ecotech Institute, the only college entirely focused on renewable energy training, has expanded its program offerings and is now taking applications for its Facility Management Technology degree program. It’s the newest of the eight different programs focused on training students for jobs in sustainability. This associate’s degree program will prepare students for careers in the field of facility management, focusing on the operation, maintenance, analysis, auditing and cost of energy management systems. Students will receive instruction that is designed to prepare them to analyze, operate, and maintain mechanical and electrical systems.

According to Ecotech’s Clean Jobs Index, in February there were almost 20,000 jobs posted in the U.S. related to facilities management. To see applicable positions in each state, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex. A sample of possible facilities management jobs that graduates of this program could be qualified for include: Energy Manager, Facilities Manager, Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds and Plant Manager and many more.

Ecotech Institute’s Facility Management Technology program was developed in coordination with the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), the world’s largest and most widely recognized association for professional facility managers. IFMA’s more than 19,000 members manage more than 37 billion square feet of property worldwide.

“Facility managers play a critical role in understanding and changing the sustainable nature of our buildings,” says Michael Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “Our graduates will be able to marry the operations of facilities management with the fundamentals of sustainability, making them unique and forward-thinking employees.”

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates should be able to:

* Operate facility systems in a reliable manner

* Manage a facility system budget

* Make data-based analysis of energy utilization patterns for commercial buildings

* Recognize and correct inefficient building energy system interactions

* Use appropriate software to obtain information necessary to maintain and optimize building operations

* Recommend facility improvement plans

* Apply safety principles to facility management

* Prepare and present technical and project reports

* Communicate facility issues effectively at all levels.

Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colorado, now has more than 520 students who came to Ecotech from across the country for hands-on training in the growing field of sustainability. In addition to Facility Management Technology, Ecotech currently offers the following degree programs:

* Solar Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Wind Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Renewable Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Energy Efficiency Program, Associate of Applied Science

* Electrical Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Power Utility Technician, Associate of Applied Science

* Business Administration – Sustainability, Associate of Applied Science

About Ecotech Institute:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Clean Jobs Index Lists More Than 103,000 U.S. Jobs that Correlate with Ecotech Institute’s programs

Ecotech Continues to Grow as Leading School for Careers in Sustainability with more than 120 Graduates and 520 Students

Denver, Colorado, March 04, 2013 – Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on jobs training in sustainability, is nearing its three-year anniversary, celebrating a growing student body and an incredible network of alumni. Ecotech Institute educates the future cleantech workforce, so it’s continuously monitoring the changing job landscape to see where its graduates will fit. Data from the recently launched “Clean Jobs Index” shows 103,016 job postings from across the country in January alone that Ecotech Institute graduates could fulfill.

Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colorado, now has more than 520 students who came to Ecotech from across the country for hands-on training in the growing field of sustainability. Since its inception in a temporary facility in April 2010, Ecotech Institute has moved into a new facility, introduced more programs, held three graduations and continues to rapidly expand.

Ecotech Institute held its first graduation in June 2012 and has since graduated two more classes, sending many talented people into the workforce. Career placement has been extremely successful with alumni working in 10 states at employers such as NextEra, M-I SWACO, Tradesmen International and Gamesa. The next graduation is April 5, where 44 more students will graduate, and the next start date for classes is April 8.

“Our continuous growth and alumni success illustrate a positive connection between our hand-picked programs, focus on relevant curriculum and in-demand jobs that require specific training and knowledge,” says Mike Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “We are proud to celebrate nearly three years of hard work and commitment to truly understanding what our students and potential employers demand.”

To better understand the clean jobs landscape, Ecotech Institute initiated and produced the “Clean Jobs Index,” which breaks down clean jobs by state and offers links to local jobs listings. Using a wide variety of resources, Ecotech Institute will update the sustainability factors of the Index data on a quarterly and annual basis (depending on when new data is released) and job data will be updated monthly as new jobs are posted. Ecotech Institute uses jobs data from Burning Glass International, whose patented job aggregation technology searches for job listings from more than 17,000 sources.

Ecotech Institute currently offers the following degree programs:

* Solar Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Wind Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Renewable Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Energy Efficiency Program, Associate of Applied Science

* Electrical Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science

* Power Utility Technician, Associate of Applied Science

* Business Administration – Sustainability, Associate of Applied Science

To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com. To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex/.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
303.433.7020 (o) or 720.244.4268 (c)
jfoust@csg-pr.com

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Ecotech Institute Debuts First-of-its-Kind “Clean Jobs Index”

National Index shows where to find clean jobs and compares state sustainability initiatives

Denver, Colorado, January 23, 2013 — After nearly a year of research, Ecotech Institute today revealed the first-ever “Clean Jobs Index”, which aggregates all the available clean jobs in the U.S. The Index found that there were more than three million clean jobs available across the United States (3,014,785) in 2012. The Index breaks down clean jobs by state, with links to local jobs listings. In addition to providing objective information on jobs, the Index also looks at a variety of sustainability factors that affect citizens’ lifestyles, including alternative fueling stations, LEED projects, total energy consumption, energy efficiency, green pricing, net metering and state incentives.

Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on training students for renewable energy jobs, initiated and produced the Clean Jobs Index using a wide variety of external resources. Ecotech will update the sustainability factors of the Index data on a quarterly and annual basis (depending on when new data is released) and monthly as new jobs are posted for hiring.

To determine what jobs are deemed clean jobs, Ecotech used the “green jobs” definition from the U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which states that green jobs are either: (1) Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or (2) jobs in which workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources (http://www.bls.gov/green/). Ecotech then took this definition and used data from Burning Glass International, whose patented job aggregation technology searches for job listings from more than 17,000 sources, to create the Clean Jobs Index list of available positions.

“The Clean Jobs Index addresses the prevalence of clean jobs and takes a unique ranking approach to hot topics in the world of sustainability,” says Colin Coyne, Managing Principal, The Coyne Group and LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional. “This tool is able to aggregate important factors that affect job potential, businesses, livability, politics and much more by using a methodology that is 100 percent objective and an interface that is clean, concise and practical.”

Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index as of January 15, 2013 include:

Number of Clean Jobs in the U.S.: 3,014,785

Oregon is the number one state for the entire Clean Jobs Index, taking all factors into account. (See how other states rank at www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex).

Alaska is number one for clean jobs per 100,000 residents.

Idaho generates the highest percentage of energy by renewables at 85 percent.

Minnesota is number one for renewable energy and efficiency state incentives.

California ranks lowest in energy usage per 100,000 residents.

Massachusetts ranks highest for energy efficiency.

Maryland has the highest number of LEED projects per capita.

Hawaii has the highest number of customers on net metering energy per capita.

Ecotech Institute gathered data from a variety of independent research entities that develop and regularly publish cleantech information. Sources include a variety of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses, including: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Green Building Council, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

“We are very proud to introduce the Clean Jobs Index to the world. Its aggregate data offers incredible insight into how each state is performing in areas of tremendous importance,” says Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s director of sustainability. “The possibilities for the Index’s use are infinite. We recommend that state leaders reference the data when policy is initiated, when companies are looking to build or improve operations, and especially when people are looking for jobs.”

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex/ and to learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
303.433.7020 (o) or 720.244.4268 (c)
jfoust@csg-pr.com

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com