Green Collar Jobs in the Housing Sector

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Green Collar Jobs in the Housing Sector

• Green Affordable Housing Forum
• Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Howard Ways, AICP DC Office of Planning March 3,
2009
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What is the green economy?

• Sustainability is broadly defined as a long-term
  approach to development, management and growth
  that meets present human and environmental needs
  without depleting the resources or ability of
  future generations to meet their needs and
  improve or maintain their quality of life.
  Arizona State University, Global Institute of
  Sustainability

3
What is happening around the country

• CNN estimates that buildings in the United States
  are responsible for around 40 percent of all
  energy consumption
• Federal stimulus dedicates 4.5 billion to
  convert GSA facilities into high performance
  green buildings
• US Conference of Mayors estimates 4.2 million
  jobs in renewable energy and energy conservation
• Greater awareness of the impact of human behavior
  on the environment

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Creating a green economy in DC

• Better prepare businesses to be green
• Reduce carbon footprint and address global
  warming
• Look for additional opportunities for innovation
  (recycling, renewable energy, energy efficiency,
  etc.)

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Creating a green economy in DC

• Restore the Anacostia River
• Stormwater management
• Combined sewer overflow
• Take advantage of growing shift towards more
  sustainable development and green building
• DC was first large city in the U.S. to require
  private developments (2012) and government
  buildings (2008) to attain LEED or equivalent
  green building certification

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Creating a green economy in DC

• Establish a Mayoral Green Collar Jobs Advisory
  Council to help formulate a strategy to
• Identify and remove barriers to developing the
  green economy
• Collaborate with for-profit and non-profit
  organizations to promote green collar jobs and
  the green economy
• Increase overall public awareness about the green
  economy and the importance of  green collar jobs

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Creating a green economy in DC

• Complete a green collar job analysis to
• Determine green collar job demand from
• District green laws (Green Building Act of 2006
  and the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008)
• Major real estate projects and capital
  investments
• Proposed initiatives such as the Solar Tree
  initiative
• Identify challenges and barriers to employment
• Develop career ladders especially for the
  population most in need at-risk youth and
  returning ex-offenders

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What is a green collar job?

• Career-track employment opportunities in emerging
  environmental industries as well as conventional
  businesses and trades, created by a shift to more
  sustainable practices, materials, and
  performance. It includes both lower and higher
  skilled employment opportunities that minimize
  the carbon footprint of all inputs necessary and
  directly results in the
• restoration of the environment
• generation of clean energy and improved energy
  efficiency
• creation of high performing buildings 
• conservation of natural resources 
• The District used the terms green collar jobs and
  green jobs interchangeably

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Demand Study Findings

• DC could create 169,000 green job opportunities
  between 2009 and 2018
• Thirty seven percent require little or some
  preparation (low barriers to employment)
• Forty two percent will require a moderate level
  of preparation and typically require an
  associates degree or bachelors degree

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Demand Study Findings

• Top growth occupations with the lowest barriers
  to employment
• Construction laborers
• Roofers
• Painters
• Landscaping and ground keeping workers
• Office clerks

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Demand Study Findings

• Top growth occupations with moderate barriers to
  employment
• Carpenters
• Construction trade supervisors
• Operating engineers and construction equipment
  operators
• Electricians (including photovoltaic panel
  installers)
• Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
• Energy auditors

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Demand Study Findings

• Top job producers
• Private sector real estate development projects
  that are required to comply with the Green
  Building Act (57,000)
• Publicly financed real estate and capital
  projects required to comply with the Green
  Building Act (41,000)
• Private sector projects that voluntarily comply
  with the Green Building Act (22,000) 

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Demand Study Findings

• DC is conducting some of the most comprehensive
  watershed restoration projects in the country,
  including the Watts Branch, Pope Branch and
  Anacostia River
• DC has the first and largest municipal green
  youth employment programs, the Green Summer Job
  Corps
• In 2008, nearly 400 youth between the ages of 14
  and 21 participated

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How DC is Leading the Way

• DC has more than 420 LEED-certified or registered
  buildings (January 2009) - more than any other
  comparable city in North America
• DC has nine LEED ND registered projects (for ex.
  - Parkside)
• DC has over 125 identified green initiatives
• DC has greened its building code

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Regional Collaboration

• Chesapeake Crescent Initiative with DC, Maryland
  and Virginia to create a more sustainable
  regional economy
• Innovation Economy
• Environment Energy
• Secure Sustainable Development
• Sustained Regional Collaboration

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Completed Projects

• DC is greening its government offices

Before and after photos of the green roof
installed by DC Greenworks on behalf of the DC
Office of Property Management Reeves Center
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Completed Projects

• DC is promoting Low Impact Development

Installation of LID at Pope Branch by DC
Department of the Environment and community
volunteers
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Future Innovation

• Sponsor Green Advantage contractor training (LEED
  approved) March 9
• Exploring a Solar Tree pilot project
• Explore a women oriented green construction trade
  program
• Expand weatherization and energy audit programs
• Expand Green Summer Job Corps to serve more than
  800 youth in 2009

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Additional DC Government Opportunities

• Riversmart green grants from the District
  Department of the Environment
• Green Jobs Corps University of the District of
  Columbia
• www.green.dc.gov
• Howard.Ways_at_dc.gov
• 202-741-5219