Making the most of alternative energy distance learning often means finding the right courses for your business needs. You can learn more about sustainability and alternative energy with alternation energy online courses, which may help your business jump on the green bandwagon to create more profits.

From construction to home décor, "green" is the hippest way to bring in new business, and alternative energy courses can point you in the right direction to add a new dimension to your company. Look for:

1. Alternative energy distance learning geared to the construction industry so you can become a green builder in your area.

2. Alternative energy programs that offer courses on developing alternative fuels and fuel cells.

3. Colleges and universities that offer an alternative energy degree online to prepare your employees for the energy needs of the future.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Unearth alternative energy college programs and other courses for the building industry

If you're in the building and construction industry, you may know that alternative energy and green construction is the wave of the future. To get your company up to speed, there are plenty of renewable energy distance learning opportunities for you and your staff, so you can get up to speed and start offering green building solutions in your community.

I recommend: Advanced Buildings offers information and resources online on creating alternative energy buildings of the future. They also offer the Energy Profiler CD for you and your staff to use when evaluating existing construction. Solar Energy International (SEI) offers courses online in solar home design.

Learn more about distance learning renewable energy with courses in fuel cell development

When you're looking for alternative energy online courses, look for instructional CDs and other materials you can use to learn at your own pace. Alternative energy fuels are becoming more popular now, and you can learn how to design and develop fuel cells for your business, along with many other energy-based options that can add depth to your green business.

I recommend: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) offers a CD on Alternative Energy 101: Introduction to Manufacturing Fuel Cells & Advanced Batteries that can help bring your business into the century of renewable energy. They also offer many online engineering courses, as well. The University of Montana offers several alternative energy online classes and maintains information on energy happenings.

Find an online alternative energy degree to boost your employees' knowledge and understanding

If you're making the most of alternative energy distance education, find a college or university that offers online degrees in alternative energy or environmental science. Your staff can gain their degrees at their own pace, and you'll have qualified, knowledgeable individuals who can take your company far toward the future of alternative energy education and understanding.

I recommend: The American Military University offers an online environmental studies degree that includes information on sustainability and alternative energy. Green Mountain College offers an online Master's degree in environmental studies. The University of California, Davis Extension offers online courses in energy resource management with professional certification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking for alternative energy education, always look for accredited or professional organizations that offer approved courses for study. If the educational facility isn't accredited, most colleges and universities will not accept credits earned from these unaccredited schools, and your coursework could go down the drain.

Alternative energy distance learning may soon become a mandatory item in every business budget. Energy price spikes over the last several years and the increase in greenhouse gases have made more businesses aware that business as usual can no longer be the best model for growth and profit.

Energy awareness is no longer a matter of conscience. Alternative energy education can make your business proactive and profitable.

1. Distance learning in renewable energy can save money by making your company aware of fuel-efficient systems to hold your energy costs down.

2. Alternative energy programs can reduce your environmental footprint and promote your business’ role in developing a better future.

3. Distance learning in energy can help you maintain a competitive edge by keeping current with latest advances in alternative energy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Conduct your own energy distance learning with online publications

You don't have to limit your thinking to alternative energy online courses. One of the quickest and least expensive forms of distance education is self-education. A number of sites can keep you up-to-date with the most current articles in the field.

I recommend: Renewable Energy World covers international developments in alternative energy and renewable resources. They email a weekly newsletter and offer subscriptions to their digital journal (which you can also receive in hard copy). Bnet’s distance learning Business Library maintains an online database of articles, white papers and webcasts to keep you up-to-date with alternative energy developments.

Access alternative energy education sponsored by public agencies

Universities and government agencies frequently post alternative energy courses or entire websites devoted to keeping you current on renewable resources. The classes are more likely to be up-to-date and less likely driven by a sales-force agenda than promotional sites.

I recommend: The University of Oregon offers several alternative energy web classes with a variety of links and resources. The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) maintains regular resource updates as well as updated links to a number of educational resources.

Enroll staff in alternative energy online courses for professional development

If your business needs to stay on top of what's happening in alternative energy and you have a professional development budget, you might want to spring for online classes for key staff members. You can enroll staff in individual courses or encourage them to pursue an alternative energy degree online. While online course and degree offerings aren't abundant, they are out there.

I recommend: The EERE lists Oakland Community College’s Environmental Systems Technology program and the University of Montana’s Energy Technology program among the available online college courses in energy technology. The San Francisco Institute of Architecture also offers a number of courses including courses on solar and wind energy and alternative lighting systems. If you are already running an alternative model or holistically oriented business, Project Nature Connect offers an alternative energy degree online in Ecopsychology and in Integrated Ecology. Both take a holistic approach to energy and the environment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't just delegate alternative energy education to staff members, keep abreast of the issues personally. Ask your staff to update you on what they've learned in their coursework including resources you should consult.

Alternative energy distance learning options are changing daily, so staying up to date on the latest news and trends in the educational options is very important for anyone in the energy field. Use online publications to gain valuable information about the latest trends, or find connections through different universities and educational facilities to stay informed.

From choosing an alternative energy degree online to finding the right degree program at a university, energy resources including magazines, associations and educational facility websites can help you learn the latest issues and what to expect when choosing to further your alternative education. Combine resources including knowing how to:

1. Get your information from reliable associations and other renewable energy groups.

2. Find distance learning energy information through industry-leading publications.

3. Use alternative energy programs to find the latest information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Link to renewable energy distance learning associations and groups

Get a wealth of information including the latest news and trends in renewable energy education from associations and other groups dedicated to providing the most accurate renewable energy information. Most associations have links to educational resources and publications that can help guide you in the right direction when it comes to furthering your renewable education.

I recommend: Find helpful information at the U.S. Department of Energy/Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's information website, or use the student resources available at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For renewable wind energy information, try the American Wind Energy Association for additional resources.

Use renewable energy distance learning publications

The most obvious alternative energy distance learning news and trends information can be found in abundance at energy publication websites or through renewable energy magazines and other news resources. Find publications that include good educational information, and scan the magazines on a regular basis for the most current information.

I recommend: First read the article "Earning a Degree in Renewable Energy" in Sustainable Business. Review online articles in Solar Today, or subscribe to the print form of the magazine and use the educational articles. Look for current issues of Renewable Energy, including their yearly publications that covers all aspects of renewable energy including education.

Find distance learning renewable energy educational facility resources

Go directly to the source when looking for additional information about alternative energy courses and information. Whether you are looking for additional information about obtaining an alternative energy degree online, or want information about educational benefits or requirements for a degree program, the easiest solution is to ask the facilities you are considering.

I recommend: Find online alternative energy degree information at the Education Portal, or consider the Oregon Institute of Technology's renewable energy engineering degree and gain valuable information from that organization. The Illinois State University also offers a renewable energy undergraduate program, and they can provide you with additional resources.