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A special report in CNN Money says "Earth friendly jobs aren't just about organic farming and installing solar panels. The carbon traders, eco-bankers and corporate climate strategists are shaping the new green economy.

A report from the American Solar Energy Society estimates that 8.5 million people worked in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries in 2006. The Apollo Alliance, a non-profit coalition of people from business, labor and the environmental movement working toward energy independence, estimates another three to five million green jobs could be created in the United States alone in the next decade.

But green collar jobs are not just about organic farming, installing solar panels or weather-stripping. ....green collar jobs are also about building entirely new businesses and upending markets." Read more here.

So-called "green-collar jobs" are on the rise--the current tally of 8.5 million U.S. jobs in renewable-energy and energy-efficiency industries could grow to as many as 40 million by 2030, according to a November report commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society. (Source: Switching To Green-Collar Jobs).

I feel a green career can be part of your present job, how you react to the various practices and procedures of the company and take on the initiative towards actions supporting the green practices - such as turning off lights and computers as employees leave for home. Asking the management to lower the AC to bare comfortable levels. When employees understand that it is up to them to to practice small habits at work that support the environment and not wait for a higher management initiative or enforcement of such habits at the workplace. However, it would only improve the chances of implementation if organizations practice such green habits habitually and not only for a day or two in celebration of Earth day or otherwise.

Even small contributions worldwide can have help in reversal of the present deteriorating health of our environment.

Some tips on healthy green habits at work:

1. Recycle paper


2. Do not print out documents which can be easily read or edited online, paper is precious


3. Use your own mugs and glasses instead of the foam and plastic cups


4. Put computer on the sleep mode at a shorter duration


5. If you feel the AC at work can be reduced or even turned off at certain days inform those in charge, do not assume someone else will


6. What type of lighting is used in your office area? Can you propose/convince your management to consider planning on some areas of natural lighting when remodeling or planning on a new office?


7. Place some plants around your work area to make it greener


8. Turn off computer and lights when leaving work


9. Carpool to work whenever possible and use public transport at least a few times a year

Research among more than 1,000 employees found the workplace behaviour of many sat in sharp contrast to their environmental efforts at home.

While 94% said they switched off domestic lights whenever they weren't using them and 85% said they switched off their home computer after use, only 66% turned off lights in the workplace and only 53% shut down their computer at the end of the day.

When it came to making a hot drink, over half of those questioned (54%) said they would only boil the amount of water they needed at home, while fewer than 10% said they did the same at work. (Source: Guardian)

Article by Shweta L. Khare, founder and president of Careerbright and Speakbright and courtesy of Careerbright blogspot