Green Collar Careers (GCC)

Blue Man Group – Defining the problem

Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative (TREC)

• History of TREC • Ontario’s community power pioneer • Established in 1998 to build a community owned wind

energy project • A not-for-profit co-op that incubates projects• Ex Place turbine completed in 2002 as a joint venture with

Toronto Hydro • Spun off Windshare – a for-profit co-op• 450 co-op members invested in the turbine• 750 kW machine, grid-connected

TREC Education Programin partnership with TDSB

• Kids’ World of Energy Festival: 4000 grade five students, annual event at Exhibition Place

• Kids’ World of Energy in Schools: renewable energy field trips and in-class workshops

• Green Collar Careers: green energy work placements for high school students with industry partners

What is a green job?

• facilitates the reduction of waste and pollution and benefits the environment

• Pays a livable wage with benefits that can support a family, potential for upward mobility.

What is GCC?A new initiative addressing the labour needs of the Emerging green energy industry by preparing today’s youth for tomorrow’s jobs. • educates students and teachers about the green collar sector and the

wide range of opportunities to be found in it.

• An opportunity students to:- better understand their role in the sustainable Energy sector - gain valuable job skills - gain exposure and access to the green energy job market.

• chance to for students to gain hands-on experience in a real work environment before making career related post secondarydecisions

What is GCC?• focuses on jobs in the Green Energy sector, targeting job

placements in: energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy

• In areas such as: manufacturing, research, installation, maintenance,Sales, legal, regulatory and educational components

STUDENTS: inspired to think about work in a new way – by matchingemployment aspirations (salary and quality of life) withenvironmental values (global warming and pollution concerns).

EMPLOYERS: have input into the training of the next generation of workersand to recruit new paid employees from past co-op students who are alreadyfamiliar with their procedures and protocol.

Some of our existing placements

• McKinnon Heating Cooling - HVAC – assisting and observing installations

• Resco. Energy -renewable energy/research – research• Toronto Community Housing - community engagement

and renewable energy, retro fits• Solera – solar installations – working with Auto-CAD

software• Green$aver – energy assessments/audits• Evergreen - research and program development• OSEA – event planning and database management

Partnerships

• TDSB and OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program)

• Banyan Youth• Toronto and York Region Labour Council• CMHC

Who is this Generation?

• Tech-Savvy: plugged-in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Family-Centric: willing to trade high pay for fewer billable hours, flexible schedules and a better work/life balance.

• Achievement-Oriented: They have high expectations of their employers, seek out new challenges and are not afraid to question authority

• Team-Oriented:They value teamwork and seek the input and affirmation of others

• Attention-Craving: craves attention in the forms of feedback and guidance.

Millennials Gen Xers Baby Boomers Traditionalists Time Span

1980-2001 1965- 1979 1946 – 1964 1925 - 1945

Population (USA)

92 million 62 million 78 million 39 million

Key Historical events

Columbine high school shootingsSeptember 11Corporate scandals (Enron)Afghanistan and Iraq warsHurricane Katrina

Aids epidemicSpace shuttle ChallengerFall of Berlin WallOklahoma City BombingBill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky scandal

Vietnam warAssassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr.1st man on the moonWatergate

Great depressionPearl HarborWorld War IICold WarCuban missile crisis

Traits Entitled, Optimistic, civic minded, close parental involvement, values work life balance, impatient, multitasking, team oriented

Self-reliant, adaptable, cynical, distrusts authority, resourceful, entrepreneurial, tech savvy

Workaholic, idealistic, competitive, loyal, materialistic, seeks personal fulfillment, values titles and corner office

Patriotic, dependable, conformist, respects authority, rigid, socially and financially conservative, solid work ethic

Why GCC? Speaking to the heart:

In the face of “no news is good news” 24 hour media, students need a more hopeful message about how they can currently participate and how they can help initiate changes for a more positive future.

Lost Generation

Why GCC? Speaking to the head:

. This is how the new environmental jobs are likely to be allocated in the next 2 years:

GCC Student Survey Data(60 students)

Students asked to list 10 jobs or careers

Key facts from the Profile of Canadian Environmental Employment 2007 report:

• Environmental employment is a significant component of the Canadian labour marketIt is estimated that 530,414 people—approximately 3.2% of the Canadian workforce—are involved in environment-related work.

• Environmental employment spans all major industries in Canada

Approximately 1 in 10 Canadian firms within the major industry categories employ at least one environmental employee.

• Environmental employees in management positions are older than the national averageFifty-four percent of environmental employees in management positions are likely to be 45 years of age or older, compared to the national average of 44%

• North America has 7% of world's population, but consumes 30% of the world's energy.

• Developing Canada's low-impact, renewable energy capabilities

will not only have substantial benefits for the environment, but also the economy.

Who is looking for “green” training courtesy of Kortright Centre’s Dave Nixon

The people who are looking for training is changing

• Up until recently– Green leaning academics often from arts background– No business background– No trades training

» This group needs comprehensive programs

• Who we are seeing now– Trade professionals expanding there skill set– New trade apprentices acquiring specialization– Retraining from other occupations with relevant skill sets.– Engineers looking for specialization

» This group may need selected skills only

Who is doing the “green” training?courtesy of Kortright Centre’s Dave Nixon

– Organizations currently involved in training• Unions• NGO’s• Manufactures

– Organizations entering training market• Community Colleges• Universities• Private Schools

What sort of skill combinations are needed?

courtesy of Kortright Centre’s Dave Nixon

Selected skills required for a solar hot water installation• Electrician

– A receptacle is often installed to plug the pump station into• Plumber / Pipe fitter

– The domestic water / process lines must be cut and the solar equipment connected• Instrumentation

– The SHW control system must be integrated with the Building Automation System• Steeple Jack

– The 4’ X 8’ glass glazed collectors must be installed on a 45 degree pitched steel roof two stories up

• HVAC– The line set must be run from the basement to the roof and the controls integrated

with the conventional heating system. • Roofer

– Flat roof penetrations must be sealed• Framer

– Roof trusses must be reinforced to accept additional loading• Millwright

– Heavy heat exchangers and pumps must be moved into place and anchored

Hurdles/needs

• Hub – need a hub for green info, a go to center. TREC is evolving to fill that role

• Less silo-ing – trades, colleges, high schools, students and employers all need to be part of same discussion, not having many separate discussions.

• General education on green collar sector very low

Green For All

Green Collar Careers (GCC)