Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Ecotech Institute Debuts First-of-its-Kind “Clean Jobs Index”

National Index shows where to find clean jobs and compares state sustainability initiatives

Denver, Colorado, January 23, 2013 — After nearly a year of research, Ecotech Institute today revealed the first-ever “Clean Jobs Index”, which aggregates all the available clean jobs in the U.S. The Index found that there were more than three million clean jobs available across the United States (3,014,785) in 2012. The Index breaks down clean jobs by state, with links to local jobs listings. In addition to providing objective information on jobs, the Index also looks at a variety of sustainability factors that affect citizens’ lifestyles, including alternative fueling stations, LEED projects, total energy consumption, energy efficiency, green pricing, net metering and state incentives.

Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on training students for renewable energy jobs, initiated and produced the Clean Jobs Index using a wide variety of external resources. Ecotech will update the sustainability factors of the Index data on a quarterly and annual basis (depending on when new data is released) and monthly as new jobs are posted for hiring.

To determine what jobs are deemed clean jobs, Ecotech used the “green jobs” definition from the U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which states that green jobs are either: (1) Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or (2) jobs in which workers' duties involve making their establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources (http://www.bls.gov/green/). Ecotech then took this definition and used data from Burning Glass International, whose patented job aggregation technology searches for job listings from more than 17,000 sources, to create the Clean Jobs Index list of available positions.

“The Clean Jobs Index addresses the prevalence of clean jobs and takes a unique ranking approach to hot topics in the world of sustainability,” says Colin Coyne, Managing Principal, The Coyne Group and LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional. “This tool is able to aggregate important factors that affect job potential, businesses, livability, politics and much more by using a methodology that is 100 percent objective and an interface that is clean, concise and practical."

Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index as of January 15, 2013 include:

Number of Clean Jobs in the U.S.: 3,014,785

Oregon is the number one state for the entire Clean Jobs Index, taking all factors into account. (See how other states rank at www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex).

Alaska is number one for clean jobs per 100,000 residents.

Idaho generates the highest percentage of energy by renewables at 85 percent.

Minnesota is number one for renewable energy and efficiency state incentives.

California ranks lowest in energy usage per 100,000 residents.

Massachusetts ranks highest for energy efficiency.

Maryland has the highest number of LEED projects per capita.

Hawaii has the highest number of customers on net metering energy per capita.

Ecotech Institute gathered data from a variety of independent research entities that develop and regularly publish cleantech information. Sources include a variety of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses, including: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Green Building Council, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

“We are very proud to introduce the Clean Jobs Index to the world. Its aggregate data offers incredible insight into how each state is performing in areas of tremendous importance,” says Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s director of sustainability. “The possibilities for the Index’s use are infinite. We recommend that state leaders reference the data when policy is initiated, when companies are looking to build or improve operations, and especially when people are looking for jobs.”

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex/ and to learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
303.433.7020 (o) or 720.244.4268 (c)
jfoust@csg-pr.com

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

eCommerce Phenom Justin Ligeri Launches Coaching Program - Selling on Amazon

In a few short years, Justin Ligeri has gone from zero to online selling hero, his company Yagoozon earning a spot on the Inc. 500 list of 500 fastest growing companies in the US. Now, Ligeri will share what he's learned, through his new Amazon FBA coaching program.

Providence, RI, January 22, 2013 (Straight Line PR) -- In November of 2010, Justin Ligeri was staring at bankruptcy. He was flat broke and looking at the toughest economy of the last eighty years. At the time his company, Yagoozon, Inc. was a mere figment of his imagination.

However today, Yagoozon is an online force to be reckoned with, having generated over 25 million dollars in sales during the past two years. 

"I get asked every day by people who hear my story, if I could coach them to success," says Ligeri. "I have never been able to create the time to do so. But recently I decided that I would open a coaching program to teach others the mindset and techniques required to flourish online."

Ligeri says simply, "I have been blessed," as he talks about his successes. A short YouTube video, in which he shares a few details of his success with Amazon FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbBk1N-DAlk

"The core of my program is understanding the leverage that is available when you have the correct entrepreneurial mindset," explains Ligeri. "The Greek Mathematician Archimedes said that if you give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum to place it on that he would move the world. Selling online is no different. It is all about understanding the leverage that is possible when you set everything up correctly."

Ligeri knows a thing or two about leverage. Yagoozon officially opened its doors on April 11, 2012. In October 2012, his company was inducted into the Inc 500 list of 500 fastest growing companies in the United States.

Visit http://www.JustinLigeri.com to see how this young entrepreneur took his idea for an online toy store, and built it into an award-winning enterprise, using the power of Amazon's eCommerce infrastructure.

About Yagoozon, Inc.:
Yagoozon is the fastest growing online retailer of toys, costumes, and novelty items. The company focuses on customer service and purchaser simplification. Headquartered in Warwick, RI, Yagoozon leverages the strengths of the Amazon retail platform, adding their self-described "obsession" with excellent customer service, to take online retailing to a whole new level.

For more information, visit Yagoozon online at http://www.amazon.com/b?me=A393ZKPVGVX3TX or find Yagoozon on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yagoozon/226200834154092

Press Contact:
Justin Ligeri
Yagoozon, Inc.
380 Jefferson Boulevard
Warwick, RI 02886

Please contact http://www.PressReleaseNation.com for corrections or updates.

Press Release distributed by Straight Line PR

Contact:
David Lockman
RichContent
9734 Lincoln Lane
Blaine, WA 98230
360.312.4312
dlock@richcontent.tv
http://www.RichContent.com