Green Collar Careers (GCC)

1. Green Collar Careers (GCC)

2. Blue Man Group – Defining the problem

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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 secondary decisions

7. 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 matching employment aspirations (salary and quality of life) with environmental values (global warming and pollution concerns). EMPLOYERS: have input into the training of the next generation of workers and to recruit new paid employees from past co-op students who are already familiar with their procedures and protocol.

8. 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

9. Partnerships • TDSB and OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) • Banyan Youth • Toronto and York Region Labour Council • CMHC

10. 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.

12. 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.

13. Lost Generation

14. Why GCC? Speaking to the head: . This is how the new environmental jobs are likely to be allocated in the next 2 years:

15. GCC Student Survey Data(60 students)Students asked to list 10 jobs or careers

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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Green For All

24. Green Collar Careers (GCC)