4 Solar Energy Guides You Should Read

So you want to go solar at home? There is a difference between buying solar products and actually knowing how things work. A few years ago, you’d struggle to find good books that could teach you how to go solar at home. These days, there are plenty of them around. Here are 4 solar guides that can teach you enough to be dangerous:

Solar Electricity Basics: A Green Energy Guide: written for those of you who have no idea what this technology is all about. It’s a short book but does teach you the basic so you can move on to bigger and better things.

Power from the Sun: A Practical Guide to Solar Electricity: a practical guide that teaches you how to install solar system units. If you have been wanting to go solar but weren’t comfortable with technical details, this book is for you. (more…)

3 Exciting DIY Solar Guides Worth Reading

A lot of people ask me about ways they can get started with solar technologies. Let’s face it. If you have never played with solar technologies before, it’s not going to be too straight forward to get started. After all, there are a few details you need to know before going solar at home. You want to figure out how you can go about remodeling your house to take advantage of solar technology. You can always go beyond that and tackle some geeky solar projects. But you can’t just jump into deep waters without some training beforehand. Thankfully, there are plenty of cool books you can pick up that give you the background knowledge you need to get the job done.

With that in mind, here are 3 exciting do-it-yourself solar guides that can help you get a fast start with this technology:

Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius: one of the most exciting solar books all around. Whether you want to get started with solar cooking or build a water purifier, this book has you covered. (more…)

How To Find a Green Job: Resources

So you want to find a green job? It’s one of the best fields to be involved in these tough economic times. A lot of IT institutions try to get people to sign up for their courses, promising them high paying jobs. But the IT field is as good as dead in the U.S. Don’t get me wrong. There are jobs out there, and if you are good at what you do, you can earn a good amount of money for your IT work. However, you simply can’t expect to get your head in the field of IT and start demanding those top dollars. Green jobs are another story. Since not a lot of people know how to do them, you have got the opportunity to get a jump start in this field and start getting those big bucks.

A lot of people want to find a green job but don’t know where to look. A few others have no idea what a green job entails. Whatever the case, there are books you can refer you to help you get all the information you need to start a green career. Since we are going to go green in the next few decades, your job will be secure for the foreseeable future, which is always a good thing. If you are looking for a green job but have no idea where to start, here are 4 books you should read:

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers: it’s the book to read for anyone who has no idea what green jobs are about and how to get them. Finding a green job may be difficult but it’d be even more daunting if you don’t know what you are looking for.

75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money: a great book that teaches you how to start a business, and what careers you can pursue in the green industry. If you are familiar with the business model, it’s easier to figure out what you need to do.

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5 Resources To Get You Started As an Ecopreneur

Starting a green business these days is a very smart choice. Unlike many industries, the green movement is not slowing down, and there will be money to be earned in this business as long as you play your cards right. In fact, you don’t want to wait till a couple of years to get started in this business. Now’s the time to pounce and get ahead of so many others that will no doubt enter this market.

Starting a green business is no different from starting any other business. It takes hard work and some know-how. You can always try to go with trial and error, but the best way to go is to learn from what others have done in the industry and use their knowledge to get moving quickly. Thankfully, there are many resources that you can tap into to start your career as an Ecopreneur. Whether it’s books or DVDs that interest you the most, you won’t struggle to find learning material in this field.

Here are 5 best books/DVDs that you could use to get started in this field:

75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make A Difference: if you are just getting started in the green industry and have no idea what the industry has to offer, you must read this book. It will give you all kinds of ideas that you can take advantage of to build a profitable green business.

Start Your Own Green Business: this is one of my favorite book. It’s concise and to the point. All the books in this series are great if you are an entrepreneur and want to navigate through a whole new field. If you need basic information to start your own eco business, this is the book you should read.

Build a Green Small Business: another good read on how to become a successful Ecopreneur. It gets you familiar with marketing, advertising, and networking techniques that build a loyal customer base and help you take your business to the next level.

2008 Global Conference – Green Is Green: a very informative DVD on the state of green economy that will open your eyes to new opportunities and challenges in this industry. Whether you want to start a green business or go green in your own existing one, this is a good DVD to watch.

Strategies for the Green Economy: this book is a more advanced book about the green economy and the challenges and opportunities involved with going green in your business and starting new green businesses. This books shows you what it take to be seen as an environmental leader.

Starting a green business with be challenging but as long as you are passionate about it, there is nothing you can’t achieve.

Your turn: what’s your favorite green learning resource?

9 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money

A lot of my friends ask me, “how can I start a green business?” Whether you want to get into the solar or wind business, there are many things you need to know to avoid getting in a dead-end venture. There is more to the green industry than setting up solar panels or windmills. In fact, the money is in niches that have not yet been saturated by other businesses. You don’t want to get into a niche that has so many players nobody’s making any money. You want to stay in those fairly blue oceans to capitalize.

The best way to start a successful business in the green industry is by finding new, emerging micro-niches. For instance, the green training niche used to be very profitable for many businesses. There are many that are still making money in it. But at some point you are going to struggle making a dent in this business. Even more so in a more saturated market. Thankfully, the green industry is still in its infacy and growing fast. So if you are passionate about solar, wind, and bio-fuel technologies, you are going to have a lot of opportunities to make money in this business.

Here are a few business ideas for your next green business:

• Solar consulting: providing tips on how others can go solar at home or in their business.
• Green IT: another emerging field in the green industry.
• Installation: you are always going to need installers.
• Mobile Solar: mobile solar solutions will be highly in demand in the future.
• Green portals: whether you are a blogger or you want to create a huge solar portal, there are plenty of ways to make money.
• Green Startup Services: you can always help others start their own green start-ups.
• Green packaging: many companies are taking advantage of this trend to save costs.
• Home modeling: you can always help others remodel their houses to take advantage of solar and wind technologies.
• Green Vlogging: if you are into vlogging, why not create a vlog about eco-friendly products/tips?

As you can see there are just too many ways to enter this industry and start making some money. Now I am not suggesting that it will be easy, but having an idea is a good way to start.

*P.S. for more ideas, don’t forget to read 75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make A Difference.

3 Green Books You Should Read

The green market is heating up, and the more reading you do, the easier you can stay on the top of things. While there are a lot of blogs that you can read on a daily basis to stay in toch with the latest developments in this industry, there are still a lot of books that provide you with a lot more information that you wouldn’t normally get on blogs. The dummies series may be a bit funny, but I have personally found some of the best books on various topics in the dummies series. The same can be said about Eco books. Here are 3 top green for dummies books that have been released recently:

1. Green Your Home for Dummies: Green Your Home for Dummies is one of the most comprehensive books on this topic. It shows you exactly how to go green in your daily life without breaking the bank. If you are new to this game and are looking for ways to help save the environment and live a green life, this is one book to consider.

2. Organic Gardening for Dummies: Organic Gardening for Dummies is a cool book that shows you how to develop your own environment-friendly garden. A lot of people know how to garden, but there are practices that you need to pay attention to to save the environment. This book teaches you how to do that exactly.

3. Green Business Practices For Dummies: Green Business Practices For Dummies is a great book for small business owners that want to help save the environment while conducting their business. A lot of companies are realizing the benefits of going green these days. Green IT is a field that is on the rise, and that’s only scratching the surface. There are many ways to save money conducting business and help save the environment as well. This book teaches you how!

Honorable mentions: Green IT for Dummies, Socially Responsible Investing For Dummies, Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies

Green Your Home For Dummies Review

The tough economic times have been a blessing in disguise for a lot of folks. A lot of people are hurting, and that has made them make adjustments to how they live their lives. One of the best ways to save money is by going green. And I am not just talking about going solar or using wind energy to power up your home. There are a lot of ways to go green and save money at the same time. And unlike what most people think, you are not going to have to settle for less with these technologies.

Green Your Home is a new book by the folks behind the “For Dummies” series that shows you exactly how to go green and save a lot of money in the process. I was very impressed how simple the book is to follow. You don’t have to be a green engineer to put into practice some of the tips that you learn in this book. By following the tips in this book, you can start saving money and save the planet as well.

What’s Covered?

This book not only shows you how to use solar energy to save money but also how to go about teaching your kids a greener lifestyle. You also learn how to remodel your house without breaking the bank. Here is what’s covered in this book:

• Green energy saving tips
• Solar power tips
• Green cleaning solutions
• Organic gardening tips
• Green food choices
• Tips for financing solar investments
• Tips on how to raise ecoconscious kids

Green Your Home for Dummies is not one of those books that you can finish in a weekend. It’s a comprehensive book that shows you how to get started with green technologies. No matter how advanced you are in the game, you are going to pick up some valuable nuggets here.