During touch economic times, making the decision to be a Green consultant opens the door to an exciting business with little competition.  Every other business has hundreds and thousands of competitors already in place.  Conversely, the Green consultants have far more business than consultants to serve the need.  One of the best areas of consultant is the exploding needs of emerging Green businesses. 

The real problem is that every business is busy promoting business and taking care of pressing needs.  Going Green is often relegated to weak efforts such as installing CFL bulbs or more technical thermostat.  Other businesses feel like they are participating in Green transition by visiting seminar and Green events.  Others businesses show their Green concern by writing a check to prominent Green programs.  None of these processes are effective and honest when there are so many missing issues that reside in their program. 

Due to the ongoing pressures of business, the smart decision is hire a professional who knows how to assess, suggest, and implement a variety of Green improvements.  Most Green consultants are self-educated and not well-rounded in their understanding of the subject.  The Green consultant should be well-trained in all areas of environmental concern that affects business.  This skill will allow the consultant to perform as the outsourced Green adviser to the company.   This allows this consultant to bring the best information to the company in a fashion that fits the company's particular needs.

The first steps is the Green Awareness training.  This training allows the in-house employees to buy into the Green program.   Most Green projects leave out the home team when so many of the practical issues go unmet.  Green Awareness training puts the whole office or company on the same page and actually makes an immediate impact on the Green program.  The Green Awareness training precedes the Green Management which is a twelveonth guided program earning the company's GCI Green Building certification.  Month by month, we offernew ideas for Greening the office allowing the company to earn the requisite 100 points needed for Green Building certification.

Knowing how to Go Green also means know where to find the providers required to turn suggestions into accomplished tasks.  It is very important to know that Going Green in a business is not done in a week, a month, or a year.  This evolution is still in its earliest stages.   We are still going to see many new ideas, new products as well as new issues as time passes.   One-time fixes are not appropriate for this powerful issue.   A Green consultant will be constantly learning what is happening in the Green economy.  New ideas are still coming out every day.  The need for serious consultants will not soon diminish, and new consultants are needed.

Green consultant training is being offered through the only source that can offer this trademark certification.  The Green Business League and joined with Green Clean Institute to offer training for aspiring Green consultants.  Find out more at GreenCleanConsultant.com and download an overview and application, but do it soon since classes are expected to fill up.  Classes are planned for Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Tampa, nad Philadelphia.

Michael Richmond is the director of the Green Clean Institute, contributor to the Green Clean Compliant blog, and chief adviser for the Green Consultant.