Capitalizing on Green Construction Boom with an Accredited Online MBA Program

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green building opportunities

After writing on online solar training courses last week, I received a proposal to share a post on green building and green MBA programs. Seemed like a good fit, even if it’s not what we typically write about (or especially because it’s not what we typically write about). So, here it is:

Sustainable construction and green building projects have boomed in recent years, even as other areas of construction have suffered due to the economic decline. The boom is expected to continue for at least the next five years, making this an optimal time for aspiring green tech professionals to pursue careers and position themselves for advancements in the market. Degrees in green building development through accredited online MBA programs should provide a new generation of green entrepreneurs with a way to capitalize on the growth in green and sustainable construction.

Growth in this industry is expected to climb annually by 23 percent, peaking at $245 billion, a recent study found. The number of green construction jobs is expected to rise to well over 8 million. The same study also estimated that green construction saved $1.3 billion in private business energy costs. This number is expected to rise to $6 billion by 2013. Some may wonder how the industry has pulled off such an impressive entrepreneurial sleight-of-hand during historically rough economic times.

Still reeling from the Great Recession and the collapse of the real estate and housing markets, the green tech industry has managed to harness the public sentiment regarding energy efficiency and sustainability, as well as federal incentives and subsidies, in order to create a verdant market in total building construction. This includes efforts to refurbish building codes in order to encourage energy-efficient construction practices and retrofitting commercial properties.

Industry lobbyists also say that they’re raising the bar on the LEED program and further instantiating the government’s Energy Star program. The green construction industry is expected to experience an additional financial boom when the real estate market returns to pre-Recession levels and the demand for new buildings and housings picks up volume.

Taking Advantage of Green Building Opportunities

What does this mean for aspiring professionals who are interested in green technology and sustainable business models? These developments could make the present a better time than ever to pursue an accredited online MBA degree. The Master of Business Administration degree, which is a popular cross-disciplinary degree, acts as an introduction to the fields of accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, and a variety of other disciplines. An MBA program normally takes about two academic years to complete, but there are accelerated, part-time, executive, dual, mini and blended programs as well.

With the rise of online programs, MBA degrees have received an accelerated boost that many people are taking advantage of as a way to put themselves on the track to a career in business without going too deeply into debt. Since this degree prepares students for a variety of fields related to finance, business, and resource allocation, it’s perfectly suited to assist people interested in joining the green construction revolution. Whether you want to work on the business aspect of a prospective enterprise or the funding or marketing, an MBA degree is often a prerequisite.

An impressive slate of schools are out there right now that offer accredited online MBA degrees. Liberty University Online, Post University, Grand Canyon University, Kaplan, Walden, and South University are just a few. Many of these programs are regionally accredited by organizations like the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and other groups. Some schools are even offering special “Green MBAs” that allow you to pursue a Concentration in Sustainable Green Building Development. Programs like this aren’t yet universally available in online programs. But in lieu of the recent trend toward green construction and sustainable business, you can expect virtually all MBA degrees to soon tailor their programs for people who want to focus on Renewable Energy, Energy Policy, Natural and Organic Resources, and other progressive fields of business.

Green building icon in hand via shutterstock


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Zachary Shahan

Zach is tryin' to help society help itself one word at a time. He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director, chief editor, and CEO. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, and Curaçao. Zach has long-term investments in Tesla [TSLA], NIO [NIO], Xpeng [XPEV], Ford [F], ChargePoint [CHPT], Amazon [AMZN], Piedmont Lithium [PLL], Lithium Americas [LAC], Albemarle Corporation [ALB], Nouveau Monde Graphite [NMGRF], Talon Metals [TLOFF], Arclight Clean Transition Corp [ACTC], and Starbucks [SBUX]. But he does not offer (explicitly or implicitly) investment advice of any sort.

Zachary Shahan has 7324 posts and counting. See all posts by Zachary Shahan