The Green Economy: sharing the wealth of knowledge

with your customers

Presenters/Authors: Ife Grady, NCCU, Clark Nall, ECUand Nina Exner, NC A&T University

North Carolina Library Association 58th NCLA Biennial Conference

What is

“The Green Economy”?

Depends on who you ask…

Like the blindfolded men and the elephant

3 tenets of sustainability

•Environment•Economy•Equity

What is A “Green” Job?

Generating and storing renewable energy

Recycling existing materials

Energy efficient product manufacturing, distribution, construction , installation and maintenance

Education compliance and awareness

Natural and sustainable product manufacturing

Finding A Green Job

FocusDo your researchFollow the moneyCold callRetrofit your resumePlan for the long term

5 Developing

Careers

•Environmental Engineers•Environmental Scientists and Hydrologists•Construction Managers•Insulation workers•Interior Designers

What is the role of the American Reinvestment

and Recovery Act?

Recovery Act in

Nutshell

Save and create 3.5 million jobsStimulate the renewable energy industry

Undertake weatherization programIncrease college affordabilityInvest in new infrastructure

Green ResourcesPlenty of new resources out there:• GreenFile• Tons of new books• Websites, blogs, periodicals, & more

Find the green in older resources too:•Business Source Premier•Gale Virtual Reference Library•NetLibrary•Even PBS videos (like “Feeding and Fueling the World: Healthier Alternatives for Planet Earth”)

Green Resources

•Green movement•Green technology•Environmentalism•Sustainable architecture, sustainable living, etc.•Organic farming, organic gardening

Subject Headings

•Clean energy investment•Global warming•Waste minimization•Social responsibility in business•Ecology

Subject Headings

•GreenFile•SimplyMap•Business Source Premier•Morningstar Investment Research Center

NCLive Resources

How can I 'green' my business?Find examples of other businesses' greening attempts. •Business Source thesaurus terms:• Green Business• Business enterprises -- Environmental aspects• Process terms “Conservation of natural resources,” “Remanufacturing,” “Product recovery”, etc.

Economic accountability/analysis also an issue• Environmental economics• Environmental accounting

Green Patron Examples

 I think my business is pretty green already, but I want to get the message out to the greenies. What are some strategies I can use?

•Consider "Green marketing" thesaurus term in Business Source Premier

•In GreenFile, subject terms allow for more narrow definitions such as "Advertising -- Green products" and "Eco-labeling."

Green Patron Examples

 How do I know what regions are the best for targeting with eco-services?

SimplyMap data items:• Buy food labeled as natural or organic• Home Heating Fuel: Solar Energy

Green Patron Examples

I have a manufacturing business and we want to expand into some green product lines. What are some examples of products in development?

Try Business Source terms like:•Green Technology•Green Products•Sustainable Engineering•Natural Products•Recycled Products•Remanufacturing

Green Patron Examples

 How can I invest in sustainable businesses?

You can screen funds in Morningstar • Under "Special Fund Types" use "Socially Conscious Funds." •Note: That's not just eco-funds!•Combine with an industry like "Energy" to target green growth areas

Consider the Business Source thesaurus terms• Clean energy investment• Also “Clean energy industries" for industry research

Green Patron Examples

Where can I find green jobs?

On normal job listings, plus specialty job boards like the American Solar Energy Society’s job board (http://www.ases.org/ then choose Jobs)

Green Patron Examples

What education options are out there for green jobs?•There are targeted programs at many schools•Central Carolina Community College • http://www.cccc.edu/green/•NCSU • http://

continuingeducation.ncsu.edu/green_building_series.html

•Many schools also have green classes within a degree•Broad environment-oriented degrees like NCSU or A&T's environmental engineering programs•The Community College system is discussing starting a "Code Green" project for green training statewide.

Green Patron Examples

I am interested in organic farming.

•Use Agricola to identify books and articles on organic farming•Books on entrepreneurship and small business administration will help with business aspects•In Business Source Premier, try the subjects• Organic Farming• Organic foods• Sustainable Agriculture

Green Patron Examples

Where can I get information about renewable energy resources?

•The US Department of Energy has a for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/•In Business Source Premier, try the subjects• Renewable energy resources•Wind power• Solar energy•Hydroelectric power plants

Green Patron Examples

I’m interested in recycling as a business.

•The NC Department of Commerce offers assistance for recycling businesses http://www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/LocateYourBusiness/WhyNC/Incentives/RecyclingAssistance/ •In Business Source Premier, try the subjects• Recycling (waste, etc.)• Sustainable development• Recycling industry

Green Patron Examples

Where can I find information about green construction?•Subject Heading: Sustainable building—Design and construction•There are some good websites:• US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/• Sustainable Building Resource Directory http://www.sbrd.net

•In Business Source Premier, try the subjects• Sustainable building and sustainable architecture

Green Patron Examples

Questions?

Comments?

Thanks for your time and

attention!For more information contact:

Ife Grady, NCCU, igrady@nccu.eduClark Nall, ECU, nallh@ecu.edu

Nina Exner, NC A&T University, ninae@ncat.edu