Page 8 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2017 Issue
P. 8

Green Building NEWS



                  The Latest on Sustainability and Renewable Energy




                   STUDY: Working Green




                   Means Making More Green



                   In most states, environmentally friendly jobs often pay more than regular ones.
                             NYONE LOOKING FOR a green   because of a growing desire by the public
                             job should start in Texas. The   to do what they can to help to help the
                             Lone Star state is where five   environment,” Smith says. “They tend to
                             of the nation’s best regions for   pay well, if you have the right education.
                   A environmentally friendly work      Across our top 11 companions, the average
                   are located, according to a study by financial   worker in the green economy sector gets
                   technology company SmartAsset.       paid around 57 percent more than the
                     Dallas is the overall No. 1 locale for   average worker.”
                   sustainable occupations, while Houston, Fort   Wages can be high—up to $100,000
                   Worth, San Antonio and Austin are fourth,   annually in San Francisco and San Jose—
                   fifth, eighth and 16th, respectively. Denver,   but the high cost of living in those locations
                   Newark, N.J., and Oakland round out the top   offsets the better earnings. In contrast, Las
                   5 at numbers 2, 3 and 4, the story notes.  Vegas, with an average green jobs salary of
                     The survey, which covers the top 80 cities   $77,319, is in the top one-fourth of cities overall
                   in the nation, measures each area by number   (No. 13). But its low housing cost makes it
                   of green jobs available, average salary, green   the best city overall for profitable green
                   salary vs. everyday salary, and housing costs,   employment, according to the survey. GB
                   according to SmartAsset Vice President of
                   Financial Education A.J. Smith.      SmartAsset’s “Best Places for Green Jobs” report                        CREDIT: SMARTASSET
                     “Green jobs are becoming more popular   can be found at https://smartasset.com.


                   Research: Translucent Solar Panels Can Also Grow Plants

                   Although greatly reduced in power output, translucent PV shows promise for indoor growers.
                   A
                           GREENHOUSE BUILT WITH special, translucent solar panels can
                           grow as many tomatoes and cucumbers as one with standard
                           glazings, according to researchers at the University of California,
                           Santa Cruz (UCSC). Studies have already shown that translucent
                   solar panels in the kitchen can handle daylight and do “double duty” with solar
                   glass. But this new research takes the idea to its natural next step: as a way                               CREDIT: NICK GONZALES/UC SANTA CRUZ
                   to extend the growing season for certain crops, especially in colder climates.
                   Although this research was fairly narrow in scope, looking primarily at the
                   impact of the power-generating panels on plant growth, the implications are
                   far broader, according to Wavelength-Selective Solar Photovoltaic Systems:
                                                                           Surprise growth. Plants germinated in a smart greenhouse under
                   Powering Greenhouses for Plant Growth at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus.  translucent solar panels fared as well or better than those
                     There’s a catch, however. These translucent panels do not have nearly   cultivated in conventional greenhouses.
                   the power output of conventional PV products, which tend to clock in   power generation could negatively affect growth of some plants, according to
                   at about 22 percent efficiency. The output of these prototype panels   UCSC Professor of Environmental Studies and study lead author Michael Loik.
                   hovers around 5 percent.                                  The study appears in a recent issue of the American Geophysical Union’s
                     In addition to the relatively low power output, the use of red dye to increase   journal Earth’s Future. GB

                   6   GREEN BUILDER  November/December 2017                                            www.greenbuildermedia.com




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