by Vernon Huffman

Created on: March 26, 2008

Job Opportunities in the Emerging Society

Rising energy costs are driving a major shift in the world economy. The high consumption "throw away culture" of the USA can no longer be sustained. Necessity for efficiency will force many people to seek new careers. Below are a few that seem good fits for prognostications of a shift to sustainable lifestyles.

Attached Greenhouse Construction.

A contractor with experience building attached solariums can easily market skills by posting a notice on select houses with good solar exposure. Ideal candidates are often on the north side of the street along a south facing slope. "You can save on heating and food bills by expanding your house. Call me." Ideally, the builder can carry a contract that allows the homeowner to pay with money saved.

Passive Solar Retrofit.
The same strategy mentioned above can be expanded into broader design considerations by altering interior layout, relocating windows, and installing mass. Even houses in less ideal locations can benefit from an upstairs solarium or other innovative retrofit. Study the simple rules of insolation, insulation, and mass to apply your building skills to the emerging efficiency market.

Permaculture - Edible Landscaping.
Familiarity with local ethnobotany is a huge asset for a worker with a strong back and a green thumb. Replace impractical lawns with balanced ecosystems that benefit the human inhabitants. Well placed fruit and nut trees are often a good place to start. Design pathways to make it easy to gather food from perennial plants, planted compatibly.

CBA Farmer.
Community Based Agriculture is a growing segment, especially near urban areas. Farmers are planting diverse, low maintenance crops to deliver organic food directly to consumers. Many are utilizing "You Pick" systems to minimize seasonal labor costs, often bartering for needed services. If your family has land, consider this option.

Raw Vegan Chef.
Preparing nutritious meals without cooking is an efficient art, especially if one can provide key ingredients without relying upon imports. Even inside a city, mushrooms can grow in a cellar, algae in a sun-room, and sprouts near the kitchen sink, while tasty cultures are refined by generations of careful preparation. If you can please others by assembling delightful nutrition, your future is secure.

Bicycle Building & Repair.
The most efficient method of transporting a person has low impact on the environment as well as the body of the person propelling it. A well designed

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