August Sustainability & Green Homes Job Round-Up
The success of the Residential Green Building Movement is highly dependent on increasing the construction workforce. With many young adults choosing degrees and office work, jobs in the skilled trades are in demand! The economic downturn and COVID wiped out many trades, and now, with the shortage, we can’t keep up with ensuring housing needs are met, and green building is the standard. As one recent podcast put it, if you want to save the planet, quit your desk job and become an electrician!
In Michigan, we are proud to highlight the DTE Energy BPI workforce development in Detroit and on that note, all sustainability jobs must consider equity so we can gain diverse voices and diverse ideas to ensure all benefit from green housing and jobs.
Open Positions
Sustainability – Energy Assessor, GHI Member, the City of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI
Sustainability Field Consultant with Jordan & Skala Engineers, Plano TX
Beneficial Electrification Analyst with Beneficial Electricaition Leauge, DC & Remote
Pubic-Private Partnerships Coordinator with Pearl Certification, Milwaukee WI
Territory Sales Manager at Knauf Insulation North America, Minneapolis MN
Chief Development and Investment Officer – Affordable Housing for the City of Detroit, Detroit MI
Associate, Water Programs with Elevate, Chicago IL
Executive Director, State Land Bank Authority for the State of Michigan, Lansing MI or remote
Resilience Programs Manager for the City of Miami, Miami FL
Regional Coordinators for clean energy projects, across MN
Architectural and Engineering Tool Manager for Building Transparency, United States
Project Manager at Just Air, Detroit or Grand Rapids MI
Chief Financial Officer for Pearl Certification, Denver CO or remote
Operations & Marketing Assistant with Cradle to Cradle Institute
Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries, Holland MI
Green Building Specialist – Multifamily with Steven Winter Associates, Washington DC
Vice President of Programs at Community Action House, Holland MI
Territory Sales Manager – Northern California for Rockwool, Sacramento CA
Many positions at new buildings institute, Portland OR
Resilience Policy Consultant at FUSE Corps, Jacksonville FL
Community Engagement & Climate Justice Manager for the City of Alexandria, Alexandria VA
Energy Code Specialist with Performance System Development of New York, remote
Building Technology Analyst for cove.tool, Atlanta GA
Sustainable Building Scientist at Home Innovation Research Labs, Upper Marlboro MD
Chief Resiliency officer – Miami Dade County.
Director of design innovation with Cove tools, Atlanta
Partnering with Earth Advantage to Provide Certification Data to the Green Building Registry
Earth Advantage Partners with the GreenHome Institute to Provide Certification Data to the Green Building Registry
[Portland, OR July 2023] —Earth Advantage®, Inc. and the GreenHome Institute announced today a partnership to deliver GreenStar Homes certification data through the Green Building Registry® (GBR). This partnership will provide easy access to this Certification data to the market and help facilitate inclusion in real estate listings.
Historically, important home data such as energy ratings, third-party building certifications, or solar electricity generation has not been included in sale or rental listings. This lack of data transparency has prevented appraisers and lending institutions from creating a thorough valuation, resulting in the potential loss of thousands of dollars of value per home, and preventing buyers from making a fully informed purchasing decision.
Since 2017, Earth Advantage’s self-funded, Green Building Registry has provided home performance data to the public and real estate multiple listing services. GBR partners with programs to provide verified data directly from sources such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score program, LEED® for Homes, ENERGY STAR®, HERS® Index Scores, and other national and regional third-party verification programs.
“The GreenStar Homes Certification program provides a clear pathway to upgrade all homes easily to increase sustainability, but without recognition and market comparison, it’s hard to find value. As someone who lives in a certified home and derives value from these efforts, it is important to ensure the expansion of an easy-to-understand and easy-to-find listing of green-certified homes. We are thrilled to collaborate with and promote the US Green Building Registry in this regard!” says Brett Little, Education Manager at the GreenHome Institute.
David Heslam, Executive Director at Earth Advantage states “The GreenStar Homes Certification has been utilized for over ten years. Earth Advantage is excited to help make these certified homes more visible to everyone in the market.”
About the Green Building Registry
The Green Building Registry (GBR) is the largest single-source for building performance data in the United States. GBR contains over two and a half million records of data on single-family, multifamily, and commercial buildings. Additionally, the GBR API allows any MLS, lender, or other data consumer or provider to connect directly to the information contained in the registry. Visitus.greenbuildingregistry.com for a free property search.
GBR is a wholly owned and self-funded initiative of Earth Advantage, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Earth Advantage is helping the US housing industry to create a more informed and humane residential real estate market. For more information on Earth Advantage visit: earthadvantage.org
About the GreenHome Institute
The GreenHome Institute is a Grand Rapids, MI-based non-profit that works around the US with a mission to empower people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live. GHI provides education, consulting, and certification services for residential green buildings, including our GreenStar Homes Certification Program, which offers free tools and resources to help anyone green up their new or existing residential project. GreenHomeInstitute.org
If you want to start your GreenStar Homes Certification project, go here https://greenhomeinstitute.org/greenstar/
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Meg Garabrant at 503.310.9138 x162, or email meg@greenbuildingregistry.com
Welcome, John Pady, Board Director Class of 23 – 25
As the Chief Expansion/Program Officer at CEDA John is seasoned professional in the field of Home/Building Performance, with a passion for net zero construction with a strong emphasis on equity, indoor air quality, and project management. With extensive experience and expertise in the industry, John has consistently demonstrated his commitment to sustainable building practices that minimize environmental impact and promote energy efficiency.
Throughout his career, John has played a key role in leading and managing projects that prioritize equity, ensuring that communities have access to high-quality, energy-efficient homes. His deep understanding of the importance of indoor air quality has driven him to implement solutions and technologies that create healthy living environments for occupants in marginalized and disinvested communities.
With a passion for net zero construction and a dedication to sustainability, John stays at the forefront of industry trends and innovations. He is a strong advocate for incorporating renewable energy systems, energy-efficient materials, and advanced building techniques to achieve optimal energy performance in residential and commercial buildings.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, John is actively involved in professional organizations related to Home/Building Performance. He is a respected member of the industry and serves on the board of directors for the Building Performance Association and is dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices and promoting equity in the industry.
Welcome, Ralf Scharnowski, Board Director Class of 23 – 25
Ralf is passionate about climate sustainability and social justice. As a board member of the GreenHome Institute, Ralf looks forward to applying his extensive entrepreneurial and business experience to promoting and supporting the organization’s mission. Ralf works as International Product Manager for building envelope systems at Sparta MI-based tesa tapes, focusing on air and waterproofing solutions for energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
Welcome, Kahryn Riley, Board Director Class of 23 – 25
Kahryn Riley is an attorney and native Michigander dedicated to working on the most pressing social and economic issues. She began her career in public policy as the director of criminal justice policy at one of the nation’s premier state-based think tanks, where she published peer-reviewed papers on the state penal system, juvenile justice system and bail scheme, and helped lead a bipartisan coalition to raise the age of adult criminal liability in Michigan from 17 to 18. Today she works in energy policy and clean energy technology, leveraging her experience with administrative law to pass more effective electricity regulation and open new markets for demand-side technology resources that help make the grid more reliable. She resides near Lansing with her husband and their two young boys.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kahrynriley/
Welcome, Debbie Coleman, Board Director Class of 23 – 25
A GreenHome Institute member since 2018 she is as a licensed architect for over 30 years.
Debbie has designed hundreds of low-energy passive solar homes for clients across the United States and Canada in many climate zones. She obtained a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona and has been a licensed architect for over 30 years. In 2002, she founded Sun Plans Inc. which specializes in internet-based, sun-inspired, passive solar home design. Debbie authored The Sun-Inspired House: home designs warmed and brightened by the sun which is available in the ever-expanding eBook from Sun Plans with over 150 house designs.
Her design philosophies incorporate Passive Solar Design Strategies; Guidelines for Home Building developed by NREL and are continuously evolving to adapt to the ever-changing low-energy construction methods and climate changes as well as other housing and energy technologies related to green building. She believes in efficiency first and building as small as possible as prerequisites to good house design. Her work has been published in Solar Today, Mother Earth News, Fine Homebuilding, Home Power, and Home Energy. In December 2022, she presented The Basics of Passive Solar Home Design webinar for GHI. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNEBqgmYx6I )
As a member of the American Institute of Architects, she understands architects, but with her typical services, her services align well with designers, draftsmen, engineers, and builders. Debbie has worked in construction, been the general contractor on her previous home, and coordinated a renovation on her current home. She is a LEED-GA and an active member of the American Solar Energy Society where she serves on the board of directors, the solar buildings technical committee, and the committee for the National Solar Tour that showcases many forms of sustainable living and buildings across all 50 states.
Debbie is passionate about how the sun can warm and brighten the interior of homes but enjoys being outside more than inside. She works very hard at connecting the two by bringing in the outdoors with careful attention to window placement which varies with each climate, piece of land, and family preferences with custom designs. Debbie has lived in a variety of places with cold, moderate, warm, humid, and dry climates. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places from the mountains to the sea, and being with others who share her love of the sun.
July Green Home & Sustainability Jobs Round-Up
Green Home & Sustainability Jobs Round-Up
One argument that inevitably comes up when considering the transition to a green economy is the loss of jobs related to unsustainable building practices and the fossil fuel industry. It is important to recognize that those workers deserve equitable transitions and resources to take on positions in green building and renewable energy. Here are some articles on that topic, including net zero job gains offsetting losses, the growth of clean energy jobs being seen in all states, and a specific example (which we need to see more of) where new wind energy jobs were filled by retaining power plant workers in NY.
Job Opportunities
Green Building Verification Project Associate (Field Technician), Ellicott City MD
Climate Initiatives Program Coordinator, Lansing MI
Technical Project Manager, Remote
Director of Finance, Washington DC
OSR Energy and Technical Services Manager, Atlanta GA
Senior Climate Justice Program Manager, Oregon
Healthy and Resilient Homes Project Manager, Kingston NY
Community Rebuilders – various positions, Grand Rapids MI
Project Manager, High Performance Buildings, Chicago IL/Remote
Product Manager, Remote
Residential Designer, Valparaiso IN
Energy Procurement Consultant, Grand Rapids MI
Project Manager, Boulder-Denver metro area
Account Manager, New Account Development, Miamisburg OH
Home Repair Manager, Detroit MI
Project Manager, Sustainable Buildings, Remote
Executive Director, Boston MA
Senior Account Manager, New York NY
Regulatory Director, Education and Innovation, Remote
Program Manager, Strategy, Portland OR
June 2023 Open Jobs in Green Homes and Sustainability
Once again, so many jobs are being offered in the residential green building, sustainability, and decarbonization sector. It is unthinkable!
A decade ago, I could have only dreamed of this when I was in the job market.
A recent article from Planet Detroit focused on Detroit, though it could be a template for the rest of the country or world, as it highlights over 100,000 of these jobs being added alone in just the city in the next decade. https://planetdetroit.org/2023/05/planet-detroit-green-jobs-guide-construction/
The article then explains what a green job, a green career, and where to find one is. Even if you have a job not specifically related to green, our friends at Project Drawdown would argue that every job is a climate job (https://drawdown.org/news/insights/what-are-you-working-in-service-of), advocating that you can look for ways to advance decarbonization in your current job and, do this, advocate for it!
Remember, the first step to advancing green or a climate job is to get your Green Associates Designation or GreenHome Associates. GHI offers free assistance in both of these once you become a member!
Our featured Job of the Month
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC is looking for a Performance Construction Manager in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky or West Virginia.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Support and implement an area Performance Construction (PC) program with a dedicated focus on residential construction core markets. Develop a successful regional strategy to uncover and capture new revenue streams with the primary focus on new construction, remodeling, and home performance.
AKA – If you are excited about heatpumps, it will be your job to get more heatpumps out the door.
Learn more – Performance Construction Manager
Other jobs you may be interested in
Manager, Building Impact – Climate + Energy, Remote
Director of Communications, Upper Marlboro MD
Product Manager, Miamisburg OH
HUD Multifamily Senior Advisor for Housing and Sustainability! https://lnkd.in/er5Qxetv
Senior Director, Sustainable Technologies, Melville NY (Hybrid)
Instructor, Construction Management & Building Science Technologies, Asheville NC
Learning and Development Lead, Chicago IL
City Climate Resiliency Manager, Tucson AZ
VP of Engineering, Berkeley CA
Project Manager, Austin TX
Project Manager I – Energy Council, Oakland CA
Specialist, Materials, Remote
Several career opportunities in affordable housing, Grand Rapids MI
Technical Program Manager, Remote
Building Energy Modeling Analyst, Upper Marlboro NY
Product Manager, Miamisburg OH
Sustainability Manager, Chicago IL
Product Manager, Municipal Technical Assistance and Consulting, MI
Manager, Grants, Programs, and Engagement, Vancouver BC
Multifamily Certification Project Manager, Portland OR
Architecture firm opportunities, AZ and MI
Project Development Manager, Arlington VA
Program Manager, Grid Services, Houston TX
Managing Director, Development, Washington DC
Policy Lead, Buildings, Seattle WA
Environmental/Solid Waste Program Coordinator, Cincinnatti OH
Habitat for Humanity opportunities, Holland MI
Environmental Protection Specialist, Washington DC
Customer Solutions Manager, Remote
Energy Efficiency opportunities, various locations
Passive House Consultant, Toronto ON
Senior Associate – Advancing Federal Climate Opportunities, Salt Lake City UT
Energy Engineer, Electrical and Renewables, Madison WI
Communications Director, Albany NY
Clean Energy Markets Analyst, Albany NY
Several opportunities in decarbonization in Minnesota
The team at New Buildings Institute just posted two new positions
– A Senior Project Analyst with experience in existing building energy, carbon and cost analysis, and energy modeling for code or certification. This is a full-time remote position hiring as soon as possible.
– An experienced Office Manager/Executive Assistant to work part-time in our downtown Portland, OR office two days a week and remote the other two days. Full health and other benefits are provided!
