Resource Center

Instructions

The Resource Center is a curated collection of information organized around 7 green economy “Sectors” and 7 “Topics.” In time, more Sectors will be added. Topics represent those areas in which educators and workforce development professionals continue to seek direction.

You can search by sector or by topic. Or across all sectors and/or all topics.

You can also perform a keyword search of all resources on the top right of this page.

Overview

Solar

The solar industry is expected to show steady growth over the coming decade largely due to rising energy prices, advances in technology through public/private partnerships and investments, and continued enactment of federal and state policies and financial incentives. more >>

Wind

Wind power is considered a leading source of new electricity generation in the United States, with the potential of providing 20% of the nation’s energy needs by 2030. more >>

Green Building

The green building market has expanded five fold over the last three years to a $48 billion national market—and is projected to triple in the next five years. more >>

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is considered the foundation of a vibrant and sustainable green economy, and one of the most cost effective ways to lower energy consumption, reduce operating costs, and mitigate carbon emissions. more >>

Sustainability Education

Sustainability education refers generally to learning experiences that enable students to develop the knowledge, behaviors and skills to help create healthier ecosystems, social systems, and economies. For the purposes of the SEED Center, this includes resources to help build non-credit continuing education for the incumbent workforce and integrating sustainability curriculum into existing credit programs. more >>

Sustainable Ag., Food & Land

The Sustainable Ag., Food & Land sector covers the areas of organic farming, horticulture, culinary art, and landscaping. This sector includes organizations and resources that integrate environmental, social and economic factors into land use, food preparation, and land specific practices in an attempt to create a more sustainable future. more >>

General Clean Tech

The General Clean Tech sector is a space for resources that encompass multiple ‘green’ sectors. Many are applicable to the broader clean economy and sustainability-related technology and will serve the general clean tech community. Resources also provide valuable information on sectors that are experiencing substantive development in the sustainability realm, like manufacturing and smart grid. more >>

Transportation and Fuels

The Transportation & Fuels sector covers the area of electric and hybrid vehicle development and maintenance, other forms of alternative and sustainable transportation, natural gas, fuel cells, battery storage, and renewable fuels sources including ethanol, biodiesel, algae, and methane. more >>

Certifications and Industry Credentials

Certainly, one of the biggest challenges facing green educators is the rapid and mostly uncoordinated emergence of green certifications and credentials. more >>

Curricular Materials

These resources and materials have been vetted by industry and education experts, and while not in the form of specific educator tools, will assist in creating quality curricula for your classroom. more >>

You will find more specific educator tools (e.g. syllabi, lab manuals, lesson plans, special classroom projects, equipment lists, etc.) submitted by SEED member colleges in our Curricular Materials Sharing Portal.

Employment Industry Projections

While job training providers have been quite active in past years working with local industry to define the emerging green jobs market and potential job growth areas, most still struggle to forecast accurately regional occupational demand. The U.S. Department of Labor has made recent strides toward classifying green occupations and competencies which will help communities define and track green jobs (and colleges to design appropriate education and training programs). Given the uncertain renewable energy and efficiency industry outlook, and rapidly changing technologies, access to the most up-to-date industry studies and employment projections will be critical. more >>

Innovative Practices & Partnerships

The job creation potential of the green economy has led to some unique job training and economic development partnerships and collaborations. more >>

Professional Development Resources

This section includes promising facilitated learning opportunities, including “train the trainer” programs, standing conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice for faculty and staff seeking to further their knowledge of industry trends and requirements. more >>

Policy & Funding Sources

Included you will find links and descriptions of agencies and organizations that typically fund sustainability and green job training initiatives as well as those that provide important information on national legislation and policies relevant to the clean energy sector. CHECK BACK AS MORE ARE ADDED. This section also highlights resources that provide guidance on how to supply input into program and grant design for certain agency solicitations. more >>

Skill sets, Competencies & Career Pathways

This section includes lists and assessments of skill sets and competencies tied to the green economy – across the broad industry as well as within specific sectors. It also includes some critical resources that colleges can use to align programs and facilitate student transitions. Included are green energy competency models and newly-developed career pathways that allow movement across educational and training programs. more >>

Sector:

Topic:

Featured Resources

ACORE's Renewable Energy in the 50 States

American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) Renewable Energy in the 50 States report provides an executive summary on the status of renewable energy implementation at the state-level. The report is a "living" document that will continue to evolve with updates and periodic revision. (November 2012)

Frontiers of Energy Efficiency: Next Generation Programs Reach for High Energy Savings

This report examines 22 program types and concepts to identify trends in their approaches to capturing cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities. It provides numerous examples of innovative programs. (January 2013)

A Historical Review and Current Assessment of Electric Utility Energy Efficiency Activity in the States

Three Decades and Counting: A Historical Review and Current Assessment of Electric Utility Energy Efficiency Activity in the States - The emergence of energy efficiency as a valuable, cost-effective, and significant energy resource has established the foundation for a new era of energy efficiency, an era marked by continued expansion and innovation. Read The Report!

Connections to Electricity Use Data and Information

The maps provided here show how your electric utility compares to others when it comes to providing you with data. Dive into the maps to see what data your utility provides you. Have your students think about policies they could support that would provide more useful information to energy users and that would help reduce pollution and resource waste. (Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in support of the Open Government Initiative to make energy data transparent, participatory, and collaborative.)

Financing for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

"This U.S. Department of Energy website section of their Solutions Center provides information on designing clean energy financing programs for state, local, and tribal governments. These materials help understand what can be done to make energy efficiency and renewable energies more affordable.

Keeping It in the Community: Sustainable Funding for Local Energy Efficiency Initiatives

This report describes several local funding options and provides examples where each has been adopted. Options discussed include utility partnerships; licensing, service, or waste fees; energy or carbon taxes; systems benefit funds; bonds; and options to capture the value created by avoided energy costs to create self-sustaining funds through revolving loan funds or other mechanisms. (May 2012)

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)

DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. This list of incentives is useful when conducting economic analyses of energy efficiency systems as an essential part of the curricula.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

A bipartisan local government initiative that would allow property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for their homes and commercial buildings through an assessment on their property taxes for up to 20 years. PACE financing spreads the cost of energy improvements such as weather sealing, insulation, energy efficient boilers and cooling systems, new windows, and solar installations over the expected life of the measures and allows for the repayment obligation to transfer automatically to the next property owner if the property is sold.
- CLICK HERE to view PACE Initiatives by State

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)

The Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is a non-profit, specialist change agent aiming to the market for renewable energy and energy efficiency, with a primary focus on emerging markets and developing countries.
- CLICK HERE for the REEEP Compendium of Best Practices

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. This website provides resources for energy efficiency including state and national energy policies, energy efficiency by sector, including residential; commercial; industrial; and transportation; events, publications, and consumer resources. The following links provide information on necessary policies and civic engagement opportunities at the federal and state levels.
- CLICK HERE for Federal Opportunities
- CLICK HERE for State Opportunities

More Resources

ACORE's Renewable Energy in the 50 States

Frontiers of Energy Efficiency: Next Generation Programs Reach for High Energy Savings

Report - Tax Reforms Could Save Energy, Create Jobs, and Pay for Themselves

The report looks at tax reforms that could be made in six major areas including promoting capital investment in manufacturing, encouraging advanced energy-saving technologies, and rationalizing depreciation schedules. The authors find that changes in these three areas would pay for themselves as the increased energy savings increase profits and tax receipts. (February 2013)

Report - Using Executive Orders to Advance Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

This brief highlights governor issued executive orders as they relate to energy efficiency or renewable energy. This report would be a good reading to include in any course that is addressing policy issues and systemic change related to energy, including introductory courses.
Also see the NGA's State Clean Energy Actions Database (2008-2012)

A Historical Review and Current Assessment of Electric Utility Energy Efficiency Activity in the States

Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC)

The Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) has free materials in energy efficiency, renewable energies, and other environmental topics. In addition to curricula and instructional materials, it includes occupational analyses and workforce analyses and trends.

Book - Beyond Green Jobs: Building Lasting Opportunities in Energy Efficiency

California Construction Academy’s new book, Beyond Green Jobs describes how comprehensive, deep green energy efficiency can bring the best benefits to the environment and create good, long-term careers. It demystifies the construction industry, captures snapshots of innovative programs throughout the country, and provides a foundation to bring energy efficiency to scale.
- Available for Free Download