January 24, 2008 3:54 PM

New Year, new color: green collar jobs
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 3:54 PM

Forget white and blue. The hot new collar color for the New Year is green:

A growing number of midlife career-changers like [nonprofit founder Jeff] Horowitz are trading in their nine-to-fives for jobs more in line with their convictions and concerns for Mother Earth. So-called "green-collar jobs" are on the rise -- the current tally of 8.5 million U.S. jobs in renewable-energy and energy-efficiency industries could grow to as many as 40 million by 2030, according to a November report commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society.

And the burgeoning industry is claiming scores of experienced workers who can put to use the skills they've acquired in more established fields such as construction, finance, and marketing. In some cases, the high demand for green career-changers translates into a larger paycheck. But more often, the satisfaction of making a positive difference in the world is enough of a boost.