Green jobs in red hot markets

Interested in learning from leading experts on how to find a green job, propel your career, and participate in the next wave of economic opportunities for your business, organization, or government agency?

If you answered YES, then get your green tush over to Green Cities™ Florida, May 20-21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Designed as a non-traditional conference, Green Cities™ Florida will equip business, government and YOU with practical steps, relevant case studies, workshops and strategic plans for getting started on a green plan of action. The green economy is growing and transforming every part of the marketplace!

“The Apollo Alliance estimates that an ambitious $500 billion in federal spending over 10 years would create over 5 million jobs. This includes a broad range of activities such as building efficiency, renewable energy investments, smart growth, advanced grid technology, research and development initiatives and a ‘cap and invest’ program to reduce climate change pollution.” ~Jerome Ringo, President, Apollo Alliance

Hear more from Ringo on Wednesday, May 20th in his session entitled The Color of Green: The Next Inconvenient Truth

Here are a few more examples of the exciting & informative presentations that will transform the way you think, live, manage business and govern in Florida:

• What Makes a Business Green? to be presented by Alisa Gravitz, Director of Green America. Learn how a business, agency, or organization grows greener.  Ms. Gravitz shares how to implement authentic sustainable practices and policies into your work from the perspective of businesses who have been walking the green path for the last 25 years. Mark your calendar to attend this session on Wednesday, May 20^th!

• A Growing and Nurturing Your Local Green Economy workshop will be held on Thursday, May 21st, by Mary Anne Bowie, Founder, Sarasota Green Marketplace, where participants will learn how the Sarasota Green Connection Economic Development Model has evolved over a six year period and is replicable in other communities. Results include green building products retail store, local directory of 250 businesses that sell eco-friendly products and services, a 4,000 person community network, six years of monthly eco-forums and a grow the green economy focused non profit.

• Also on Thursday, May 21st, meet Robert Van der Like with The Cadmus Group who will conduct a workshop on Greening America’s Schools, New & Existing, through LEED. Van der Like currently manages the US Green Building Council’s pilot project for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in existing schools.

To learn more about the Green Cities™ Florida expert speakers and presentations, click here.

With the conference less than a week away, there is no time to waste. REGISTER now! Conference passes start at just $99.

For more conference information, visit the official website or call 1-800-408-0002.

Sustainability defined in simple terms

Ask ten people “What is sustainability?” and you’re likely to hear ten different answers.

Seems everyone’s jumping on the green bandwagon. We don’t think that’s a bad thing, because the more people talk about eco-friendly practices, the sooner green will become etched in our collective consciousness.

We’re all for green consumerism – if people want to buy new products, let them buy green! But sustainability is much more than making green purchases or driving a hybrid car. It’s how we “relate” to the planet and each other, fulfilling our responsibility as stewards of the earth – managers of the precious resources entrusted to us.

Therefore, we think it’s really important to understand the “path” of sustainability and how that path is walked – not just talked about.

Who better to explain the sustainable path than Georgia Malki – a woman who walks the talk and is leading the way in creating a practical and embraceable movement.

Georgia’s perspective on sustainability is one that views social, economic, and ecological responsibility much like a “caring parent” – a vital role to the success of our sustainable journey.

Georgia Malki is the President of Seven-Star, Inc. – green experts to the event industry and producers of the Green Cities^TM national conference series. Seven-Star is considered the world’s leader for green event production and green education.

Georgia will be speaking at Green Cities^TM Florida on Wednesday, May 20th. Her presentation Event Greening: Creating Sustainable Solutions will explore the unique challenges and opportunities that ecological and social responsibility pose for the event and hospitality industry. Meet Georgia in person and get some major green inspiration!

You can check out Georgia’s recent video “What is Sustainability?” on YouTube. You can also watch clips from other Green Cities^TM Florida speakers, including Robin Cape and Steve Cochran at GreenCitiesMedia.com, all of whom offer expert insights into sustainability.

To learn more about Green Cities^TM Florida, visit the official website or call 1-800-408-0002.

Green Cities^TM Florida, to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida May 20-21, 2009, will address the key elements that make-up a city such as energy, tourism, finance, construction, manufacturing, education, health care and infrastructure.  If you are in government, business or a student preparing for a career, this event is about your business, your community and Florida’s future!

Written by Joleen Deatherage for Green Buzz.

Green Cities Florida hosting LEED Training Course on Project Costs and Returns

Understanding LEED Project Costs and Returns will be offered as a training course May 21, 2009 from 1 to 5 p.m. during Green Cities Florida at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

This course is designed to help those working on a LEED project team learn how to handle cost issues to build more environmentally and economically sound projects. Information on construction and life-cycle costs are introduced – grounded in LEED certified project case studies and current research data.

The course also provides tools to calculate and evaluate the costs and benefits of LEED certification, as well as strategies to maximize resource selections.

Prior knowledge: Familiarity with LEED Rating System a must. USGBC’s “Green Building Basics and LEED” and “LEED Core Concepts and Strategies” strongly recommended.

This course will apply to the following continuing education credits: AIA/CES (HSW): 3.5, IDCEC (CEU): 0.3, IFMA (CFM/FMP): 3.5, CSI (CEU): 0.4, BOMI (CPD): 3.0

This course is not included with Green Cities Florida registration. You must register separately for this training held on-site at Green Cities Florida. To register visit the following link: http://www.greenbuild365.org/coursedetail.aspx?ID=90000033.

To learn more about the Green Cities Florida program, visit http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009/program.

Orlando to Receive Solar Cities Award during Green Cities Florida™

Orlando will be receiving a Solar Cities award at the opening plenary of Green Cities Florida on May 19, 2009.

Orlando has already received this designation, but the formal ceremony will take place at the Orange County Convention Center during the upcoming sustainable solutions conference, Green Cities Florida with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and John Lushetsky of the U.S. Department of Energy.

The long term goal is to make solar energy the norm, and no longer an alternative energy source.

Join us at Green Cities Florida for the formal ceremony!

To learn more about Green Cities Florida, visit http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009.

To read the back story about this event, visit http://www.cfnews13.com/FamilyAndHome/YourHome/2008/4/20/orlando_to_become_federally_funded_solar_city.html.