Green Collar Jobs Initiative 

 

The Green Collar Jobs Initiative is a cooperative effort among the District of Columbia government, for-profit entities, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions to help prepare District residents and businesses to take advantage of the growing green sector of the economy. With the leadership of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, the Department of Employment Services, Department of the Environment, Department of Small and Local Business Development, and Office of Planning are the agencies in charge of the effort, working with partner organizations to help residents and local businesses fill the increasing demand for more environmentally sustainable construction and development.

 

With the passage of the Green Building Act of 2006 and several other upcoming public policy initiatives, there will be a substantial increase in the need for a green labor pool capable of filling the demand. For example, DC has 20 LEED-certified buildings and more than 150 additional buildings that are LEED-registered (in the pipeline for LEED certification) – more than any other city in North America. The restoration of the Anacostia River and its tributaries, upgrades to the water and sewer system and the modernization of our public school facilities are but a few of the major efforts to create a more sustainable city. Together, these and other projects will create a large demand for construction, building trades, environmental remediation, and operations workers.

 

Green collar jobs are employment opportunities in emerging environmental industries as well as conventional businesses and trades, created by a shift to more sustainable practices, materials, and performance. Specifically, a green collar job is one that results in the restoration of the environment, the conservation of natural resources, and the mitigation of pollution.  Examples of green collar jobs include installing green roofs, dismantling and recycling computers, and auditing the energy use of an office building. A green collar job can cover everything from green building construction to lead paint abatement, to brownfields cleanup, to river restoration to energy efficiency retrofits of buildings.