tagged w/ Environmental Studies
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Ecotech Institute, the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability, announced today that its January quarter kicked off with 100 new students, the largest start to date. With total current enrollment at 473 students, Ecotech witnessed a student population increase of almost 400 percent in just one year.
Ecotech Institute started classes in a temporary facility in June 2010 as it completed an overhaul of an existing vacant building. In January 2011, Ecotech’s 119 students began attending school in its LEED gold-certified campus in Aurora, Colorado. Since then, the facility’s offerings, faculty and student enrollment have continually experienced growth and improvement.
This June, the first graduating class of 39 students is expected to receive their degrees and in December 2012, another 50 students are expected to graduate. Of these students, the most popular degrees include Wind Energy Technology, Renewable Energy Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology.
“We knew we had something special when Ecotech opened its doors, and it’s inspiring to see increasingly more students come from across the country to pursue a degree that can truly make a difference in the world,” said Mike Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “With our first group of graduates in June, we can’t wait to see where they go and to hear their stories of success. This is definitely going to be a big year for us.”
Today, 90 percent of Ecotech’s students are men and 77 percent of the students are from Colorado. However, every day more and more students are moving from other states to pursue a degree at Ecotech, with students from 37 states and Puerto Rico currently represented. The top states from which Ecotech students have relocated include California, New Jersey, Wyoming, Illinois and Texas.
With the growth in students comes a growth in faculty as well. When Ecotech first opened, the school had one program director and two instructors. Ecotech now has three program directors and 24 instructors who teach in 11 hands-on learning labs. Ecotech’s holistic teaching approach gives students a chance to learn first-hand about the technology they will use in the field of their future career. At Ecotech, students also learn soft skills (communication, workplace etiquette), math and science basics and technology skills.
Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers seven highly practical degree programs and one certificate program that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers.
To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit us online at www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576. The next round of classes begins in April and applications are being accepted now. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.Ecotech Institute, the first and only college entirely focused on preparing... more
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By Mike Seifert, president, Ecotech Institute
Where will green technology take us in 2012? Ecotech Institute is keeping a close eye on that very big question. We are constantly monitoring cleantech industry growth and innovation, and looking for ways to align our environmental sustainability curriculum with employer and marketplace demands. Every day we read up on the latest research regarding solar power, wind energy, smart grid and other relevant industries. We want to make sure our students are up to speed when they graduate so their employers truly get the best, most knowledgeable employees.
In 2011, cleantech venture investment had an incredible year. As a result of financial backing, we saw an infusion of green start-up companies, new jobs and a growing belief in the future of cleantech industries. However, the challenges of this relatively new space also came to light as some companies met very public criticism.
As the president of Ecotech Institute, it’s my job to take a hard look at opportunities in cleantech now and into the future. Our career services team needs to accurately predict where Ecotech graduates will be able to make a living and make a difference in the world. Frankly, there is a lot of enthusiasm as we enter 2012 with a promising outlook about environmental sustainability’s growing role in the world.
This is a very exciting year for Ecotech because we will graduate our first group of students in June. As we continue to prepare them for the workforce this year, we are collectively interested in what industry leaders are predicting.
Here are some predictions of note:
1. According to a December 28, 2011 article by Michael Kanellos on www.greenbiz.com, “Renewables will start to win over the jobs argument.”
He states, “The 2012 Presidential election will be only about one thing: jobs. In the energy and sustainability context, the debate boils down to whether you think more jobs can be created through pipelines and offshore drilling or through erecting solar farms and retrofitting buildings.”
“But here is where renewables win: they don't take years….Many fossil projects, meanwhile, are bogged down in land use hearings….If renewables get results quicker, they become the better solution.”
My takeaway: Green jobs will continue to grow and companies need educated people to fill them.
2. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says this year is going to be a big year for wind power, both in the field and in policy. The association notes that unlike the volatile prices of fossil fuels, wind power has a fixed fuel cost of zero, making it a very appealing form of energy. However, Congress needs to act quickly to protect the future of wind energy in the U.S. If lawmakers do not extend the Production Tax Credit that is due to expire at the end of this year, taxes on wind will go up and jobs could go overseas.
My takeaway: Wind energy will continue to grow this year, however Congress needs to take action to make sure that growth continues in 2013 and beyond. Please contact your lawmakers to let them know the importance of extending the Production Tax Credit.
3. According to predictions from www.EnvironmentalLeader.com, solar innovation will serve as a perennial driver.
“Investment into good old solar innovation and projects is still strong, and has remained so for years, while other clean technologies have risen and fallen in and out of investment fashion.”
My takeaway: As money continues to be filtered into solar power innovation, we must keep a close eye on how these technologies will be built and maintained.
4. Jesse Berst with gigaom.com listed top predictions based on his takeaways from a webinar offered by renowned research firm IDC. He stated the following, “Smart buildings will become important to utilities. 25 states have energy efficiency standards or targets. Smart buildings can help meet such goals. The building energy analytics market will double between 2012 and 2015, jumping from $193 billion to $402 billion.”
My takeaway: The growth of smart buildings requires savvy energy efficiency experts.
5. In “10 solar trends to watch for in 2012,” Ucilia Wang, another contributor to gigaom.com, discusses solar energy’s impact on the grid. The article states that, “The increase in solar energy generation has nudged utilities and electric grid regulators to give more thought and investment to the impact of solar in their mission to deliver electricity reliably.”
“Since solar production can ebb and surge depending on the time of the day and the weather, new technologies and policies are cropping up to monitor solar energy production and minimize interruptions of power delivery.”
My takeaway: The marketplace needs educated professionals who understand the interplay between solar technology and the current energy grid system.
The green landscape will continue to shift and it is important to watch, learn and prepare future leaders. The excitement of clean technology innovation in 2012 and beyond ought to be celebrated by everyone who has a stake in making our world a better place to work, play and live.By Mike Seifert, president, Ecotech Institute
Where will green technology take us... more
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Everyone is talking about “green jobs.” While many people are eager to become employed in the sustainability sector, there are naysayers who don’t believe that they actually exist. This article provides examples of changing industries outside of the traditional cleantech sector.Everyone is talking about “green jobs.” While many people are eager to... more
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Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing America’s workforce for alternative energy careers in renewable energy and sustainable design, today announced growing demand for its Electrical Engineering Technology Program. As research continues to underscore the importance of an overhauled power sector, related job skills will be critical and Ecotech’s program is in the forefront for career training.
Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, launched in Denver, Colorado in April 2010 with seven highly practical renewal energy degree programs and one certificate program that provide graduates with skills that are valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers.
According to The 21st Century Electric Utility: Positioning for a Low-Carbon Future, a Ceres Report authored by Navigant Consulting, “The successful 21st century electric utility company will be very different from the utility of the 20th century. To remain competitive, today’s utility must respond to the risks and opportunities from climate change, carbon costs, volatile fuel prices, emerging clean technologies, expanding energy efficiency programs, increasing customer expectations and competing third party energy providers. Responding to these challenges will require new core competencies and revised business models for U.S. utilities.”
“Ecotech’s Electrical Engineering Technology Program is in high demand for its ability to prepare graduates for careers that require highly technical knowledge in the new energy economy,” says Alison Wise, Director of Career Services at Ecotech Institute. “For example, as the aging grid moves toward Smart Grid technologies, our students will have the knowledge base to sustain lifelong careers in this changing industry.”
This program prepares students for alternative energy careers while focused on the fundamentals of electrical engineering. Ecotech’s state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities allow students the opportunity to apply theory and graduates will be well prepared to become electrical engineering technicians.
The Electrical Engineering Technology Associate degree requires 96 credit hours of education. Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
• Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge to design, build, repair, calibrate, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery;
• Perform diagnostic electrical analysis;
• Meet industry standards within the electrical engineering field;
• Apply safety principles; and
• Coordinate a successful job search.
To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/. Applications are being accepted now and financial assistance is available.Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing... more
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Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainable design, today announced that students are now taking classes in its brand new facility. Located at 1400 South Abilene Street in Aurora, the school has transformed a vacant, large-footprint building into a progressive campus focused on educating future leaders in the ever-growing green landscape. Ecotech Institute launched its first round of classes in July 2010 in a temporary facility and the third quarter commenced last week in the new facility with almost 200 students enrolled.
The building is home to 30 classrooms, 12 state-of-the-art computer and science labs (e.g. electrical, wiring, solar, wind safety, controls, environmental science), studios, student and faculty lounges, a library, and a variety of other amenities.
In addition, the building incorporates energy and resource savings throughout. Some of the sustainable design components of the new campus include:
• Twelve polycrystalline rooftop photovoltaic solar panels with a system capacity of 2.8 kilowatts.
• Integral thin solar technologies embedded into the glass of the front building canopy. This system has a capacity of 9.4 kilowatts.
• Eight small wind turbines mounted on the roof to generate up to 4.8 kilowatts of electricity.
• A Vertical Axis wind turbine that can generate a total capacity of 4 kilowatts.
• Two solar trees, each providing 16.9 kilowatts of electricity, that will generate over 50,000 kilowatt-hours per year of electricity.
• Energy efficient lighting that will reduce energy consumption by 30 percent below standard lighting energy levels.
• Water sense, low-flow fixtures in lavatories.
• Motion sensors and a programmed schedule to limit lighting in unoccupied rooms.
“Beginning courses in our new building marks a tremendous milestone in our evolving growth,” says Michael Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “This campus embraces what we are most passionate about: access to exceptional education and commitment to the environment.”
“Green jobs are in demand in Colorado and around the country and we are pleased to provide top-notch, hands-on education that will deliver graduates to companies that are leading the cleantech sector,” Seifert added.
According to the Colorado Cleantech Action Plan, “Cleantech is growing in Colorado and creating thousands of jobs.” Citing the Pew Center’s report, The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses, and Investments Across America (http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedfiles/clean_economy_report_web.pdf), “Between 1999 and 2009, Colorado’s cleantech industry grew at an annualized rate of 18 percent, more than twice the rate of the Colorado economy as a whole (8 percent).”
Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers seven highly practical degree programs and one certificate program that provide graduates with skills that are highly valued by today’s renewable energy employers. The programs include:
• Electrical Engineering Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• Energy and Environmental Paralegal, Associate of Applied Science
• Energy Efficiency, Associate of Applied Science
• Environmental Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• Renewable Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• Solar Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• Sustainable Interior Design, Certificate Program
• Wind Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com. Applications are being accepted now. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing... more
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Everything is big in Texas, and what could be bigger than Texas oil? The Center of Land Use Interpretation (CLUI), based in Culver City, California, assesses the material and environmental impact of the oil industry in Texas through video and photography, documenting a state-wide profile of the state's energy infrastructure. At Blaffer Gallery - The Art Museum of the University of Houston -- the current exhibition Texas Oil - Landscape of an Industry offers this new exhibit as the result of CLUI's University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center’s first artist-in-residence in 2008. The exhibit is currently on view at Blaffer Gallery from January 17 - March 29, 2009. Visit the gallery's site for exhibition details.
Image: El Paso oil refinery. Photo courtesy of the CLUI Photographic Archive / Blaffer Gallery - The Art Museum of the University of Houston.Everything is big in Texas, and what could be bigger than Texas oil? The Center of... more
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CBS 60 Minutes profiles the village of Guiyu, China, the final destination of e-waste -- consumer electronics and computers intended for recycling from the United States. The program reveals that the disposal of e-waste is not exactly clean and green, but contributes to significant health problems in Guiyu. CBS reports that "scientists have studied the area and discovered that Guiyu has the highest levels of cancer-causing dioxins in the world. They found pregnancies are six times more likely to end in miscarriage, and that seven out of ten kids have too much lead in their blood."
The report on 60 Minutes traces the path of e-waste from Colorado's Executive Recycling in Denver to a container freight in Tacoma, Washington, bound for Hong Kong. Although some material is recycled, CBS correspondent Scott Pelley discovered that Executive Recycling ships its computer monitors and e-waste as cargo illegally shipped to China. Illegal according to Hong Kong's laws, and the laws of the United States and China, CBS reports.
Read more about this story, and view images and video from CBSnews.com.CBS 60 Minutes profiles the village of Guiyu, China, the final destination of e-waste... more
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City officials in Mexico City are embarking on a plan to lower urban temperatures and improve air quality in this vast and dense city by planting roof-top gardens and green roofs on buildings to filter out air pollution. Reporter Jeremy Schwartz, in his contribution to the Austin American Statesman ("Green roofs begin to take root", 20 October 2008), reports on this emerging effort to change the urban landscape in Mexico City with green space and lower energy costs as part of the city's $5.5 billion dollar "Green Plan." Read more about this ambitious new program in the statesman.com.
Photo credit: Officials hope to transform Mexico City, one of the world's most polluted cities, by installing more than 500,000 square feet of green roofs by 2012, starting with government buildings. Image courtesy of the Mexico City Government and the statesman.comCity officials in Mexico City are embarking on a plan to lower urban temperatures and... more
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A temple thought to have once housed idols and mummies has been unearthed near an ancient Inca site in Cusco, Peru The temple was discovered outside the ruins of a stone fortress known as Sacsayhuaman, which is thought to have been built by a pre-Inca culture called the Killke around 1100 A.D.A temple thought to have once housed idols and mummies has been unearthed near an... more
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Greek archaeologists believe a large hole in the skull of a third-century A.D. skeleton is rare evidence of ancient—and failed—brain surgery.Greek archaeologists believe a large hole in the skull of a third-century A.D.... more
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Archaeologists in Peru have discovered ancient temple ruins that could predate the Inca empire.
This is a big discovery.Archaeologists in Peru have discovered ancient temple ruins that could predate the... more
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When most of us think of Ancient Egypt, visions of pyramids and mummies fill our imaginations with wonder and splendor. This is not the case for a team of paleontologists interested in fossil mammals though, the Fayum district of Egypt shows them an even older history that extends much further back in time than the Egyptians.When most of us think of Ancient Egypt, visions of pyramids and mummies fill our... more
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The eye spots on the wings of butterflies and moths are intended to be conspicuous to predators, not to resemble the eyes of larger animals, a new study found.The eye spots on the wings of butterflies and moths are intended to be conspicuous to... more
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IS ANYONE INVOLVED WITH CURRENT PRODUCING A POD ABOUT FOCUS THE NATION?
As just a humble Senior at Mount Holyoke College and advocate of active participant in society. I wanted to inform. There is an event "Focus the Nation" happening nation-wide on January 31. This movement needs Current TV on its side. I think there is trove of possibilities in conglomeration here! Focus the Nation would be really amped up if it had a little more than local news, and "my space" to broadcast. I think that Current TV and Focus The Nation needed to be properly introduced. And that ya'll organizers and producers should be engaged somehow.
This is what its all about: focusthenation.org
To The Greatest Generation,
Focus the Nation is changing history. Thank you. With your hard work, we have become the biggest national teach-in in US history. Still 90 days out, we have already blown by our goal of one thousand schools and other institutions signed on. Your leadership has created a powerful movement that is changing the direction of this country.
THE NATIONAL TEACH-IN: On January 31st , thousands of students on every campus, millions of students nationwide, participate in workshops and panels, brainstorming global warming solutions. Are you with us? Are your faculty supporting you? Ask ten, twenty, fifty faculty to stand up as educators on behalf of your future. They will say yes. To make this happen, start with the MODEL TEACH-IN.
GREEN DEMOCRACY: Campus to Congress. Tell top decision-makers in this country about solutions. Invite every US senator and congressperson to engage in person. If they cant be there physically, then they will face a student audience via a video-chat. Focus the Nation is working with leaders in the House of Representatives to make this happen, in conjunction with their efforts to green the congress. The face-to-face, intergenerational dialogue of Green Democracy will move America to confront this civilizational challenge.
CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE: Vote on the top five solutions to global warming. Proposed solutions range from a coal moratorium, to large scale renewables investment, to initiatives to strengthen forests for carbon storage. Choose the Future is the place for serious discussion about how to achieve what science and justice demand. The week leading up to January 31st, you vote, and your Focus team delivers the results to your congressional office. Every political leader in the country will hear your voice. Join the discussion today!
THE 2% SOLUTION: A national, interactive webcast, airing live the evening of January 30th, featuring Stanford climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, and green jobs pioneer Van Jones. Show the webcast to launch your teach-in. Screen it at your high school, faith group, civic organization, or at a house party. Our goal10,000 screenings and a determination
TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING.
With these four components, together we will Focus the Nation.
© Copyright 2006-2007 Focus the Nation
!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">IS ANYONE INVOLVED WITH CURRENT PRODUCING A POD ABOUT FOCUS THE NATION?
As just a... more
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She graduates from Harvard Magna Cum Laude WITH a double-major in English & American Literature, and Visual & Environmental Studies. Under-achieve much?She graduates from Harvard Magna Cum Laude WITH a double-major in English &... more
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