Going green is not only good for the planet, according to a new study completed for Orange County, it's also good for the job market.

Clean Technology - an emerging field focused on technology innovations that reduce environmental impacts - is a $284 billion global market that is expected to reach over $1.3 trillion by 2017. Recognizing the potential of this emerging industry to economic growth and job creation, Central Florida is among regions worldwide working to develop a cleantech cluster.

Establishing a game plan to accomplish that task was the purpose of the Orange County Cleantech Study, which was authored by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness. The report proposes a 17-point action plan, including the following: increase access to capital by creating targeted cleantech funds; create grants as incentives for research and commercialization of new technologies; enact comprehensive green building codes and ordinances; and expand partnerships within the community, including establishment of a Cleantech Leadership Council and Green Jobs Committee.

In issuing the report, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty noted that existing support for the industry on a local and statewide level, natural resources, and award-winning research facilities (such as UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center) already located in Central Florida will contribute to the county's goal of making this region a hub for cleantech. Emphasizing the long term job creation potential of this strategy, the Mayor added: "We can turn green into gold."

John Lewis, Orange County economic development administrator, added: "Cleantech is the next wave of innovation and job creation in the country. Regions that take advantage of that are going to be successful."

To view a copy of the study, click here.

Interested in learning more about the impact of green initiatives on our lives and our economy?

The Magic of Landscapes conference, to be held on Friday, June 26th in South Lake County, will focus on how quality landscapes and other quality of life factors help our region differentiate itself as we compete worldwide for business investment and corporate locations.

For example, did you know:

• Trees and grass maintenance can increase the sense of safety in neighborhoods.
• Quality landscapes can reduce temperatures, remove air pollutants and improve water quality.
• Green space has proven to promote emotional and physical healing and to have a positive impact on children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
• A federal congressional committee recommended environmental immersion as the number one strategy for improving U.S. schools.
• Students taking standardize tests score higher when they have a view of green space.

To learn more or to register, click here.

Technology and research advances are being made every day in Metro Orlando. And the "clean tech" industry is a bright spot for innovation.

RubeLab, a Lake County think tank specialized in advancing environmentally-friendly innovations and solutions, has built a solar-powered recharge station for electric cars and golf carts in downtown Eustis.

The charging station - dubbed RubeStation - accommodates three slots for small electric cars and features a pedestrian bench and shelter. There is 200 square feet of photovoltaic array of panels that produce approximately 3,000 watts of energy from the sun.

Building Lake County's clean tech industry is a key objective of the county's recently adopted strategic economic development plan.

During the opening session of the Green Cities Florida conference this week, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, together with county commissioners, Senator Lee Constantine, representatives from OUC-The Reliable One and EDC president Ray Gilley, "flipped the switch" on the solar panel system at the Orange County Convention Center. This one-megawatt rooftop PV system, the largest of its kind in the southeastern U.S., will generate 1,300-megawatt hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the power used by 100 typical houses. And, it will do so without producing any greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, community leaders officially opened Orange County's new Climate Change Education Center (CCEC), located in the South Concourse of the Convention Center. The CCEC, which will be permanently housed there, will offer visitors a unique look at some of the latest energy efficiency and alternative energy technologies.

With warm weather and consistent sunshine, Florida is an ideal location for solar research and application. And with growing awareness of clean technology, Orlando is poised to become a leading force in the solar industry.

The existence of a strong technology cluster and proximity to the University of Central Florida (UCF) - one of the nation's top research universities - help set Orlando apart. In addition to research being conducted by UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center, local companies are working to leave their mark on the industry as well. Lake Mary based Advanced Solar Photonics is poised to become Florida's first photovoltaic solar manufacturer by producing thin-film solar panels. In nearby Longwood, SKYShades is merging shade structures and solar power by harnessing thin-film solar technology atop sidewalk umbrellas dubbed "Powerbrellas" in order to power small electronics.

For more information on the growing clean tech industry in Metro Orlando, click here.

Watch below as Executive Vice President of SKYShades, Joe McKenna, provides more info on the "Powerbrella."

Traditionally, pallets were traded back and forth between shippers until they were discarded -- a process that was both inefficient and expensive. CHEP USA sought to solve this problem by creating higher-quality, rentable pallets for manufacturers to use without the storage and repair issues.

While the rental concept has been around for more than fifty years, CHEP has made the supply chain more effective by investing $20 million in logistical technology and tracking systems that use real-time, historical data to reduce the distance pallets travel and anticipate times of high usage. This system reduces energy consumption and green house gas emissions.

For more on CHEP, click here.