subject: Will A Green Lifestyle Provide Jobs? [print this page] I read in a financial column that going Green is expected to improve the economy by creating jobs.
But will it? How?
We are all aware that Green is clean: that Green will rejuvenate the environment: that Green will improve our health and that Green will save us money.
And let us not forget that solar panels on rooftops will improve the value of our homes, thus making money for us.
But will going green actually create jobs?
Our crippled, limping economy could certainly use a shot in the arm. But can going Green provide it?
Green has been described as God's Own favorite color.
The Irish have always known this.
That is why their leprechauns would never wear anything but Green.
Would you find an orange or red clad leprechaun convincing?
I thought not. Neither would I.
So how will going green stimulate the economy and provide jobs?
Mankind is like a caterpillar voraciously devouring the leaf that supports it.
Our stubborn dependence upon non renewable resources has left us few options. We have no choice but to switch strategies or perish.
Oh, fossil based fuels created jobs all right, but at what expense? Mining for instance provided jobs by forcing men down into the bowels of the earth where no human should ever have to go. It is common knowledge that mining destroys respiratory systems and shortens lives.
And as these kinds of jobs disappear how will going green replace them?
Could it be that, with solar panels appearing on multiple rooftops, and windmills sprouting all over the countryside, jobs will inevitably materialize?
Who knows? But this is my guess.
At the very top there will be new Ministries created.
A Ministry for Solar Power and another for Wind Power will create jobs for politicians. They will argue about whether we should be going green or reverting to dirty energy.
Then of course will be the issue of how to impose taxes on the use of the sun.
Inevitably there will be attempts at this and that will make jobs for civil servants.
Where there are civil servants there will be huge elaborately equipped offices providing many jobs from the CEO's down to office boys and janitors.
Next in the hierarchy will be the engineers. You know, the brainy guys who will produce all kinds of plans and mathematics.
Municipalities will devote departments and personnel to the issue of alternate power.
That will involve officers and inspectors making sure that the manner in which solar panels are positioned will in no way violate any by-laws.
Springing up everywhere will be manufacturing and packaging plants. Then will come distribution, stores and sales people.
There will probably be importing. I expect the Chinese can produce cheap voltaic cells in great quantities. So there will be busy trucks, ships, planes and trains engaged in transportation. Lots of employment there.
We will need mechanics and installers.
There will be trademark competitions which will generate advertising, TV, magazine, and newspaper promotions. Sports celebrities will sponsor certain brands.
Then inevitably will follow all kinds of spin off occupations.
I am a great believer in Do It Yourself projects but not everyone will be able. Elderly people for instance will need help. Very busy career people will be glad to pay others to attend to installations and cleaning chores.
What chores? Well, someone will have to get up on the roof for routine maintenance. I dare say that disrespectful birds will tend to foul those panels.
And creating another job we might have a guy with a ladder come regularly to clean our panels just as we now depend on a man with a ladder to periodically shine our windows.
We might think at this point that these newly created jobs will merely replace traditional jobs. But many of the old traditional jobs will still be needed.
It will be a long time before the new age energy is in place and also there are some homes which do not readily lend themselves to conversions, such as high rise apartments buildings.
There are bound to be some job opportunities I have not considered and we haven't even started on pollution free vehicles yet.
One more thought though. Since everyone will have more money there could be room for more bank tellers.
