Within the next two years, the $787 billion stimulus is touting that it will create or save about 3.5 million jobs in America. Of the $787 billion, approximately $83 billion is targeted for green jobs, or jobs that are a byproduct of the U.S.' renewed focus on energy independence. Energy independence will help us live in more energy efficient ways that will save money, reduce waste and benefit the bottom line for years to come.

Compared with the potential black hole of complex derivatives that our current financial industry has been sucked into, the green building industry is one aspect of the economy that may be relatively recession-proof. Indeed, calculating returns from green building investments requires only simple math. To building investors, owners and operators, the lowered operational costs that green buildings provide create such a compelling return on investment (ROI) model that sustainable real estate investments may be the safest place to put money. President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has pledged billions of dollars for future green building projects and the existence of Federal and State tax credits and government subsidies bolsters the argument for sustainable green building retrofits and investments.

Opportunity lies in the retrofitting, measurement, certification and ongoing maintenance of these green buildings. As the number of green buildings grows, their owners will increasingly want third party certification to measure their buildings' effect on the environment. Once the buildings are certified, green building property and/or asset managers will take over and they will constantly be in touch with other third party green building operations services companies. The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") rating system seems well-positioned to be the leader in education and certification in this space. Becoming a LEED Accredited Professional or new LEED Green Associate is one way to get educated and set yourself apart from the pack if you are seeking to become employed in new green service industries.

History shows that the majority of sustainable job growth is created by entrepreneurship, not the government. The most successful entrepreneurs rarely look to the government for handouts; they doggedly pursue a dream, repeatedly overcome challenges and learn from their mistakes. However, the greening of America will change our lives. And in life-changing industries subsidies are often important to establish a foundation for future growth. For instance, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 which created the the National Highway System was heavily lobbied for by the automobile manufacturing industry and championed by President Eisenhower. The development of such an integrated system took many administrations over 35 years to implement. However, even with powerful entrepreneurs like Henry Ford, it still took over three decades and government assistance to make it work.

I think the Obama administration gets this, which is reassuring when one thinks of the challenges that green entrepreneurs face in the U.S., namely from well-funded, established "fuel from Hell" lobbies, such as oil and coal, that clean energy manufacturers and suppliers are trying to dislodge. These industries do not want to be replaced by fuels from heaven, such as geothermal, solar and wind, and they will do whatever they can to stop reducing or replacing our consumption of their products.

At a time when the US unemployment rate is at its highest in about two and a half decades, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, entrepreneurs may not admit or even want help from the government, but if we are going to shift our policies out of a cycle of addiction and towards energy independence, we need the government's help to level the playing field when competing with cheaper fossil fuels.

By adopting habits of purchasing our fuels from domestic and heavenly sources, the green jobs we create will be permanent jobs, not just transitionary ones.