ReGeneration Roundup: Social Innovation and the Green Economy
Dell and The University of Texas are hosting a Social Innovation Competition for college students worldwide to submit their ideas on how to best tackle pressing social issues. Our current climate situation certainly qualifies as a pressing social issue, and already we’ve seen a slew of great ideas related to the environment and sustainability. Check them out here, and if you’re a college student, we’d love to hear your ideas as well. By the way, did we mention the winner of the contest will get $50,000 to begin implementation of their idea. Ideas addressing the environment also qualify for the $10,000 Tomberg Prize in Environmental Sustainability. That’s a potential $60,000! I’ve been watching the ideas coming in very closely, and have been very impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Looking forward to yours! Deadline for ideas is Feb. 20th. Also, a Twitter account has been set up so you can follow the ideas as they come in.
The Wall Street Journal has posted a very timely article titled “How to Go Green in Hard Times.” It covers, as the title suggests, a few affordable changes you can make to your home that will more than pay for themselves in a short period of time. There is also a cool audio section of the article in which a green-energy expert is interviewed for greater details. She even offers ways to get solar panels on your roof without breaking the bank.
While we’re on the subject of green and the economy, Jennifer Kho at Earth2Tech poses the question, “If Green Jobs Are So Hot, Where Are They?” Citing all the talk we’ve been hearing about the potential green jobs have to transform and reinvigorate our economy, she explored what areas of the green sector have been hardest hit by the recession, and which show the most promise.
And if you’re on the lookout for a green job, many environmental blogs offer a section with job postings in that sector. Treehugger recently pointed me to a website that has dedicated itself to exclusively to uniting employers and green workers, aptly named GreenBuildingsJobs.com.
The topic of the economy and the environment is very hot right now, and shows no sign of letting up any time soon. Some argue that the two go hand in hand, and others contend that they are opposed to each other. While I personally tend to lean to the former, both sides are making some very good points. The debate has even made it’s way onto the pages of this blog. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the debate and the challenging questions you guys have been posing. Keep them coming. The Green Room Forum was set up especially for debates like these, and I invite you to register and start a thread on this or other green topics that interests you.
