Jobs and Careers in Renewable Energy

March 24th, 2008 by Carol Gulyas

This user-friendly and affordable volume provides a much-needed overview of the careers that are possible in the renewable energy field, the kinds of jobs offered within each, and a mini-summary of the science behind each sector, as well. Associations, organizations, and online resources, including online job sites, are included. Though not as helpful for those already established in their careers wishing to transition into the green economy, it provides solid information for high school or college students to help them envision what kinds of jobs they might be doing in this arena and what courses of study they would need to pursue. Each section includes:

• Brief summary overview of the technology behind the sector (helpful in its own right)

• Careers

• Training opportunities, schools, and university programs

• Resources, including professional organizations, websites, and publications

Each chapter begins with an introduction to the technology behind the jobs, from solar energy to wind energy, geothermal, bioenergy, hydrogen energy & fuel cells, and hydroelectric power and marine energy. It is also gratifying that the authors included green building, energy management, green transportation, and energy education. Missing is a discussion of the non-profit advocacy sector, which would make it more helpful for mid-life career-changers who don’t have backgrounds in science and engineering. Also glaringly absent is the government and policy sector, though since the book is organized around functional job descriptions, one could argue that those could be deployed both in government and non-profit arenas. Missing, too, is the area of training and online education, both growing at a rapid clip.

Disbursed throughout the book are snippets of actual job descriptions, language from real job ads, and college and community college course descriptions, which provide a good a picture of what one needs to get a foot in the door.

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About the Author

Carol Gulyas Carol Gulyas is a leader in the renewable energy community in Illinois, where she serves as VP of the Board of the Illinois Solar Energy Association. Recently she co-founded EcoAchievers -- a provider of online education for the renewable energy and sustainable living community. She spent 18 years in the direct marketing industry in New York and Chicago, and is currently a teaching librarian at Columbia College Chicago. Carol grew up in a small town in central Indiana, then lived in the Pacific Northwest, Lima, Peru, and New York City. She is inspired by reducing energy consumption through the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green building technology.