Tag Archives: sustainability

Travel

Monterey County Tourism Makes Significant Strides Towards Destination Sustainability

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Addressing plastics and measuring sustainability progress are critical steps in the path

Monterey County, CA, December 18, 2018 – The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) has joined two initiatives that will further its goal of ensuring Monterey County is one of the world’s leading sustainable destinations by both setting ambitious goals and measuring long term impacts.

The first is with Positive Impact, a global not for profit which exists to provide education and collaboration opportunities to create a sustainable event industry – and a vision to address the role of plastics in this industry. MCCVB is the exclusive destination partner for Positive Impact on this project which has already included collaboration with a number of United Nations bodies and in Spring 2019 will see the launch of materials to help the global industry measure and understand the role of plastics.

“MCCVB is already resetting boundaries for responsible tourism and by partnering with our organization they are taking a leadership position for the entire meetings industry,” said Fiona Pelham, CEO for Positive Impacts. She added, “Certainly understanding the role of plastics which will lead to its elimination from the future meetings and conference landscape is a considerable goal, but it is critically important and partnerships such as this with Monterey County are the building blocks of collaboration necessary to achieve it.”

Meetings and events are big business in Monterey County, which is a destination known for inspiration and innovation. “This partnership is completely in line with that legacy,” says Tammy Blount-Canavan, President and CEO of MCCVB. “Our tourism economy owes everything to our ecosystem, and so taking this bold step ensures further protection of our environment and further demonstrates the innovation of our region.”

Measuring success is also critical to MCCVB’s mission. The organization joined the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) initiative, an alliance focused on helping destinations, convention bureaus, and businesses promote sustainable practices. The GDS-Index does this by measuring and comparing sustainability strategies, policies and performance of participating destinations and by sharing best practices from around the world.

GDS-Index recently released its yearly survey of global destinations at the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) annual meeting in Dubai in November. Monterey County scored 52% on the sustainability index just behind Geneva and ahead of U.S. cities like Washington, D.C. and Houston. The scoring allows MCCVB to set a benchmark and improve in the coming years.

“Ultimately, protecting our destination is every bit as important as promoting it,” said Rob O’Keefe, Chief Marketing Officer for MCCVB. “These initiatives contribute to our long term viability as a top tourism destination plus they are essential to the balance we seek to foster between visiting travelers and the residents who call our beautiful region home.”

These latest partnerships align with the MCCVB’s Sustainable Moments Collective. The purpose of the collective is to share best practices from concurrent sustainability initiatives and use the group’s collective influence to reach visitors and residents alike. More information on MCCVB’s Sustainable Moments initiative and collective can be found at SeeMonterey.com/Sustainable. For more information on Positive Impact, go to PositiveImpactEvents.com. For more on the GDS-Index, go to GDS-Index.com.

About Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is a 501c6 organization that drives tourism for Monterey County. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to drive business growth through compelling marketing and targeted sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.85 billion in 2017, representing a 3.5 percent increase from 2016. This $2.85 billion in visitor spending supported 24,990 jobs, contributed $255 million in total taxes and generated $127 million local tax dollars that directly benefited the community.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.seemonterey.com/Sustainable

Construction, Energy, Environment, Non-Profit, Real Estate

The Rose receives 2016 Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award from the Urban Land Institute

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016-Nov-04 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — PLACE is pleased to announce that The Rose and three sister developments at Portland and Franklin Avenues (South Quarter) in Minneapolis were selected by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing as the winner of the 2016 Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award. This annual award honors developments that ensure housing affordability for people with a range of incomes. Representing the completion of South Quarter, The Rose offers 43 market rate apartments and 47 income-restricted affordable apartments in profoundly sustainable buildings that have neither furnaces nor conventional air conditioning equipment.

In 2010, affordable housing developer Aeon, in partnership with Hope Community, selected PLACE by competition to add specialized development consultant capacity as Sustainability Champion for the last phase of South Quarter. Aeon wanted the final buildings to be the best performing buildings of their kind in the country, on an affordable housing budget. A 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to public benefit, PLACE provided disruptive environmental design analysis, assisted in assembling and facilitating a world-class collaborative design and construction team, deepened community engagement, and refined financial modeling in furtherance of creating high-performance, healthy buildings for Aeon’s residents.

Minneapolis has the harshest climate of any large city in America. The biggest challenge for PLACE was to ensure that the team could deliver a building envelope capable of keeping residents cool in a scorching summer with high humidity and a frigid winter with temperatures plunging to minus thirty degrees Fahrenheit. Buildings in the U.S. are built each day to standards that cause them to consume 70% of America’s primary energy, with 52% of that energy going to heating and cooling. The Rose is 75% more energy efficient than local standards require, which also deepens affordability for residents; it represents PLACE’s most cutting edge restorative development work to date.

“This project is on the leading edge of workforce housing development and preservation,” said J. Ronald Terwilliger, chairman of Terwilliger Pappas Multifamily Partners in Atlanta. “It has it all—mixed-income housing, environmental sustainability, long-term affordability, and long-term financing.”

“The efforts of Aeon and Hope Community, with their many public and private sector partners, prove that previously disinvested communities can point the way forward for mixed-income, environmentally sustainable redevelopment in our cities,” said Stockton Williams, executive director of the ULI Terwilliger Center.

PRESS CONTACT
place
Chris Velasco
Executive Director
PLACE
100 Portland Avenue South
Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 309-3889
www.welcometoplace.org

Education

Ecotech Institute’s Free Online Course, “Introduction to Sustainability”, Changes the Way Students Approach Sustainability

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Student Feedback Demonstrates Appreciation and Value for the Course

Denver, Colorado, April 23, 2014 – Student feedback from Ecotech Institute’s free online “Introduction to Sustainability” course proved the opportunity was valued by students across the globe and changed the way they approached sustainability initiatives.

Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations, led the free online course for a second time earlier this year. There was a diverse mix of students, both men and women from all educational backgrounds and walks of life. Many students applied what they learned in the course to their communities and have said they’ll continue to expand on their education now that the course is complete. The course material applies to general green energy jobs, including solar jobs, wind turbine jobs, and overall careers in renewable energy.

“The first Intro to Sustainability course last year was such a wild success, we felt like we had no choice but to bring it back,” Crider said. “I’m so happy that we did. The feedback we received proves that the course truly changes students’ lives. By allowing people to learn free of charge, we can help more people learn what sustainable living is all about.”

The Introduction to Sustainability course is a “massive online open course” (MOOC), offered through the Canvas Network. MOOCs are a popular way for educational institutions to offer free courses to the public. Based in Aurora, Colorado, Ecotech Institute is the only college entirely focused on sustainability-related job training.

The MOOC course explores various definitions of sustainability used by governments, businesses, and individuals to address environmental, societal, and economic problems around the world. In addition, students learn ways to apply sustainable concepts to their own lives. As part of the course, students have to complete a capstone project that involves writing their own sustainability-focused mission statement, vision, and goals.

Some of the feedback includes:

“Thank you, Kyle! It’s been a rewarding experience. So much so that I decided to apply for a formal course of study, MSc in Environmental Tech. I have an interview with the school in a couple of weeks!”

“Thank you for such a wonderful class. By allowing people to learn free of charge, you have taught so many more. Just finding out about the Aral Sea in the first lesson has been the buzz of my village for weeks. Just thank you for implanting this knowledge. I so appreciate it.”

“I wasn’t aware of how far solar energy has come. I’ve been a fan of it but didn’t realize the cost had dropped so much that it was actually viable.”

“I never thought that one day I would be doing a course with people from different continents and countries. Technology really improved our standard of living, so there is no need to go overseas to study when you can study at home.”

Due to the overwhelming positive feedback, Ecotech Institute plans to offer future MOOC courses. The school will provide updates on future courses through its Facebook page, which users can “like” to access at https://www.facebook.com/EcotechInstitute. For more information on Ecotech Institute visit 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 green 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

Education

Grassroots Idea by Ecotech Institute Student Inspires Float in The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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About 150 students, staff and friends expected to participate in the parade to make it truly “green”

Denver, CO, March 13, 2014 – Chris Stevens, an Ecotech Institute student, wanted to help pick up recycling along The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade route in order to keep this favorite green holiday truly as “green” as possible. He took his idea to parade organizers and from there it turned into a float in the parade that could gather recycling along the route. Students and staff at Ecotech Institute rallied around Chris and today they are making final preparations on the float, which will include a student made recycling bin to collect all recyclables collected during the parade, a truck outfitted with solar panels and a wind turbine.

“It has been remarkable watching my vision come to life,” said Chris. “I originally just wanted to help pick up trash and it’s turned into so much more. Building our Eco-Float has been an exciting adventure that brought several students together in great ways and I’m so proud of what we’ve put together. Our efforts will keep the parade route much cleaner.”

Ecotech Institute is the first and only school in the U.S. that is solely dedicated to sustainable energy, such as solar and wind. Chris is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering technology and will graduate this April. For him, this idea was simple, but sends a powerful message.

“We have to care about not only where our energy is coming from as we look ahead, but also how we’re taking care of our planet today. Small changes can make a difference and we’re excited to help divert trash from the landfill – giving it a second life,” said Chris.

To see images of the float’s progress you can keep up with the construction team by following Ecotech’s social media updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EcotechInstitute and Twitter at @Ecotech_Inst.

Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colo., currently offers eight associate’s degree programs:

* Facility Management Technology
* Energy Efficiency
* Solar Energy Technology
* Wind Energy Technology
* Renewable Energy Technology
* Electrical Energy Technology
* Power Utility Technician
* Business Administration – Sustainability.

For more information on Ecotech Institute, visit 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 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

Education

Ecotech Institute Reveals Top Green Jobs for 2014

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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

Education

Ecotech Institute’s First Free Online Course, “Introduction to Sustainability,” Receives Positive Student Feedback

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Course Provided New Ways of Looking at Sustainability to U.S. and International Students

Denver, Colorado, August 19, 2013 – Descriptions such as “inspiring” and “eye-opening” were included in student feedback from Ecotech Institute’s recent free online “Introduction to Sustainability” course.

Students came from “all walks of life and from around the globe,” according to Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations, who led the course. There was a diverse mix of men and women in the class, ranging in educational background from high school to Ph.D., about half of whom had never taken an online course before.

“Many participants were so engaged that they actually requested that the class continue beyond the ten weeks,” said Crider. The course was designed to help participants think critically about environmental sustainability and how it impacts people at all levels, from corporate behavior to personal lives.

The course was Ecotech Institute’s first “massive online open course” (MOOC) through the Canvas Network, a popular way for educational institutions to offer free courses to the public. Based in Aurora, Colorado, Ecotech Institute is the only college entirely focused on sustainability-related job training.

The course explored various definitions of sustainability used by governments, businesses and individuals to address environmental, societal and economic problems around the world. In addition, students learned ways to apply sustainable concepts in their own lives, including the capstone project of writing their own sustainability-focused mission, vision and goals.

Some of the feedback includes:

“I’ll always remember it as the course that gave me the push I needed in deciding to continue study in a master’s program in Sustainability.”

“I learned a lot, removed some general misconceptions about sustainability, and am truly inspired to continue learning and reading more about these topics. Plus, I am taking actions to change my personal habits.”

“It was a much needed eye opener and has inspired me to open a consulting business (which I did last week) and have a little fun helping people save themselves…well, from themselves!“

MOOC instructor Crider continued, “I was invigorated by the engagement and passion that came from the course attendees and we were able to explore a wide variety of critical topics together. The diverse student population supports the fact that regardless of our differences we all live on the same planet and collectively need to play our part.”

Due to the overwhelming positive feedback, Ecotech Institute plans to offer future MOOC courses. The school will provide updates on future courses through its Facebook page, which users can “like” to access. For more information on Ecotech Institute visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.

Bookmarking: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ecotech-institutes-first-free-online-131000093.html

LinkedIn:
Subject: “Introduction to Sustainability” Receives Positive Student Feedback
Body: Ecotech Institute’s first massive online open course (MOOC), “Introduction to Sustainability,” was designed to help participants think critically about environmental sustainability and how it impacts people at all levels, from corporate behavior to personal lives. After the 10-week course was completed, it received glowing feedback from participants. “Many participants were so engaged that they actually requested that the class continue beyond the ten weeks,” said Kyle Crider, program chair and manager of environmental operations for Ecotech and who led the course.

Ecotech plans to offer future MOOC courses and provide updates on future courses through its Facebook page, which users can “like” to access. For more information on Ecotech Institute visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.

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

Education

New Data Underscores Need for Ecotech Institute’s Business Administration – Sustainability Program

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Ecotech’s Clean Jobs Index Indicates Nearly 60,000 Jobs in March that Require Both Business and Sustainability Knowledge

Denver, Colorado, April 18, 2013 – As more industries develop a commitment to green practices, the number of business-related jobs that require sustainability knowledge are on the rise. According to Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index, there were 59,803 U.S.-based jobs available in March that met the criteria of green jobs within a business environment. Ecotech Institute, a leader in renewable energy and sustainability education, continues to watch this growing trend and aims to fill the gap for qualified candidates with its two-year Business Administration – Sustainability degree program.

“Sustainability-focused careers span the globe and cross many boundaries from public and private sectors to nonprofits, consulting and more,” says Kyle Crider, director of sustainability for Ecotech Institute. “Organizations of all sizes that are looking to lessen their carbon footprint require someone who deeply understands the intersection between business and sustainability.”

Ecotech’s Business Administration – Sustainability program delivers a business education with a distinct focus on sustainability, which makes it easier for people to learn about, define and find sustainable business careers. Career opportunities include positions in management, sales, financial operations, production and many others. Additionally, the curriculum is ideal for people interested in entrepreneurship within the cleantech industry.

“The employee who has a holistic worldview will find more opportunities and have greater creativity, which can lead to an even greater profit potential,” adds Colin Coyne, Managing Principal, The Coyne Group and LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional. “Sustainable thought – properly taught and executed – represents that kind of holistic perspective.”

Ecotech’s business program provides students with knowledge and skills suitable for employment in a broad range of private and public sector organizations. Coursework includes accounting, financial analysis, human resources, project management, communications, customer service, sustainability, renewable energy and workplace ethics. In two years, graduates with a sustainability degree from Ecotech will have an understanding of the cleantech landscape and how sustainability plays a role in today’s businesses environment.

Ecotech Institute is committed to being a foremost expert on jobs in the cleantech economy. As part of that commitment, its “Clean Jobs Index” breaks down clean jobs by state with links to local jobs. To find available positions, Ecotech uses jobs data from Burning Glass International, whose patented job aggregation technology searches for job listings from more than 17,000 sources.

Ecotech Institute initiated and produces the Clean Jobs Index using several independent organizations. The sustainability factors of the Index data are updated on a quarterly and annual basis (depending on when new data is released) and job data is updated monthly as new jobs are posted.

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, go to www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex/; visit Ecotech Institute online to learn more about its Business Administration – Sustainability program.

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

Education

Ecotech Institute Offers its First Free Online Course: “Introduction to Sustainability”

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Ten-Week Course Offers Education on a Wide Variety of Sustainable Topics

Denver, Colorado, April 17, 2013 – Anyone around the world who has an interest in sustainability can now access some of the specialized education offered by Ecotech Institute – online and free. Ecotech Institute, the only college entirely focused on sustainability-related job training, is now accepting registrations for its “Introduction to Sustainability” course. This is Ecotech’s first “massive online open course” (MOOC) through the Canvas Network, a popular way for highly esteemed educational institutions to offer free courses to the public. Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations will teach the class, beginning on May 6.

The ten-week course will explore various definitions of sustainability used by governments, businesses and individuals to address environmental, societal and economic problems around the world. In addition, students will learn ways to apply sustainable concepts in their own lives.

The dynamic course will cover a broad spectrum of topics including, but not limited to, understanding environmental impacts (climate change, greenhouse gases, depleting resources), social consequences (impact of decisions on health, poverty, income distribution) and financial opportunities (emerging industries, job creation).

“This exciting course is a hybrid of many topics that all relate to our planet, offering students a deep dive into history, biology, sociology, business and much more,” says Crider. “We are excited to extend our reach to people beyond the campus, offering insight into how much sustainability affects every person on the planet every single day.”

Upon completion of the course, students should also better understand:

* Triple Bottom Line (people, planet, profit, or Three Pillars);

* Thermodynamics;

* Fossil fuels;

* The balance and relationship between air, land, water resources and techniques for protecting and/or enhancing each;

* Human impact on biodiversity and the planet;

* Core concepts of green building rating systems;

* The possibilities of solar and wind power to meet future energy needs, as well as natural gas, nuclear power, and biofuels.

Each weekly topic will include a multimedia introduction/overview, short supplemental reading assignments and optional, more in-depth materials for those who want to enhance their knowledge in specific areas. Students will take multiple-choice quizzes and develop a personal sustainability vision, mission and goals. Students are also encouraged to network and collaborate with each other through discussion forums and Q&A sessions.

Space is limited so sign up today for the Introduction to Sustainability online course.

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 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, Colo., 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Business

FRA Welcomes Georgia Sustainability Ruling

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A new executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia will ensure that the region’s forests are certified as ‘green’ in a move that has been praised by FRA.

Bainbridge Island, WA, August 23, 2012 – A new executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia will ensure that the region’s forests are certified as ‘green’ in a move that has been praised by Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The signing of the order is also intended to help the region boost the number of new buildings that are awarded LEED green building certification. The move will expand the definition of sustainable timber to include timber form forests certified under the American tree Farm System and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Until now, only buildings made from timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council could be eligible for LEED green building certification under the US Green Building Council.

As well as being supported by FRA, which advocates sustainable forestry in all its forms, the move has also won praise from the Georgia Forestry Association. The Association’s president, Steve McWilliams, said, “The governor has taken what I think is quite a stand for thousands of private timberland owners in the state by saying that we’re not going to let our wood be devalued by a policy wherein the end result of the quality of the product that goes into the building is substantially the same.”

FRA agrees that timber from forestry that has been managed sustainably should always be used as a preference to timber that has been sourced from non-sustainable sources. It also agrees that sustainability should not just be limited to FSC certification and that green building policies should be opened up to allow for other accreditation systems, such as those held by many of Georgia’s forests.

“Sustainability should not just mean ‘FSC-accredited’”, stated FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins. He added, “Any timber from forestry that is managed sustainable, through managed plantations such as those operated by Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada, for example, should be usable in green construction projects.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Business

Ecotech Institute Increases Veterans’ Resources, Including Partnership with Veterans Green Jobs

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With Veteran Population on the Rise, Ecotech Seeks to Understand the Educational and Emotional Needs of Military Students

Denver, CO, May 08, 2012 – Ecotech Institute, the first and only college entirely focused on renewable energy and sustainability, today announced that it has formed a relationship with Colorado-based Veterans Green Jobs, whose mission is to engage, transition and connect military veterans with meaningful employment opportunities. About 15 percent of Ecotech’s current student population is made up of military veterans.

Together, Ecotech and Veterans Green Jobs will focus on encouraging and enhancing opportunities for military veterans by promoting career opportunities in the green jobs sector, both in Colorado and nationally.

“Our military population has already been through so much and we want to make sure we’re providing the support they need to excel in school and go on to have productive careers,” said Michael Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “Veterans Green Jobs has a similar focus, believing that the right jobs can make all the difference in helping our military veterans enjoy a successful life after service.”

As part of its commitment to military students, Ecotech recently hosted a seminar on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), taught by the Denver Department of Veterans Affairs. Ecotech administration, program directors and instructors attended the session to better understand what many student veterans are going through. According to “Help my PTSD,” one in every five military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has PTSD and in the past year the number of diagnosed cases in the military has jumped 50 percent.

At Ecotech, 67 students are either military veterans or currently serving in the military. Of those, three will graduate on June 21, 2012. One of those students is Monica Soto, who will graduate in June with a degree in Wind Energy Technology. Monica spent more than eight years in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic, but after 9/11 she left the Navy to be closer to her son and build a career where she could raise him in one place. After trying some other career paths, she found Ecotech when seeking an opportunity that would capitalize on her training and previous associate’s degree, and also build a bridge between her time in the military and her life as a civilian.

“As a single mom and 100 percent disabled vet, I didn’t know where to find my place in the civilian community and Ecotech met my needs in a variety of ways,” said Soto. “I knew my purpose in the Navy and felt lost after I left; I now feel a purpose again. I’m excited about putting my skills to work to better my own family and our environment.”

Ecotech Institute will have its first graduating class in June 2012. Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative cleantech employers.

Learn more about Ecotech Institute, or call 877-326-5576. The next round of classes begins in late June and applications are being accepted now. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.

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.  Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, the college offers five associate’s degrees designed by experts in the industry for people seeking careers in the emerging cleantech economy. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.

About Education Corporation of America
Education Corporation of America is a leader in the post-secondary career school market with current enrollment of almost 20,000 students.  The ECA website is www.ecacolleges.com.  In addition to Ecotech Institute, ECA schools include Virginia College, founded in 1983, a private institution of higher education that offers non-degree and associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the areas of Health and Medical, Business, Information Technology, Interior Design, Computer Design, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Nursing and more in eighteen different cities.  Virginia College campuses are located in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida; Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah, Georgia; Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi; Charleston, Spartanburg, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina; Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Richmond, Virginia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Austin, Texas. The Virginia College website is www.vc.edu.  Virginia College also offers classes worldwide via the Internet, with student services and admissions facilities in Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa, Florida, and a Military Student Center also in Tampa.  Information about online classes at Virginia College is available at www.vconline.edu.  Additionally, ECA operates Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, with locations in Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Richmond, Virginia; Savannah, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida.  The website is www.culinard.com.  ECA also operates Golf Academy of America, with locations in Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The Golf Academy website is golfacademy.edu.

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