![Money and Main Street](/.element/img/1.0/sections/news/specials/americas_money/money_main_street_logo3.gif)
A new economy, a new career
These workers are changing what they do -- or how they do it -- to get by in this economy.
![Going green](https://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/galleries/2009/news/0906/gallery.recession_careers/images/bob_hauser.jpg)
Age: 50
Former job: General contractor
Current job: Green building consultant
Hometown: San Francisco
I am a general contractor in San Francisco specializing in multi-family residential buildings. I was in a pretty comfortable place, I was building substantial buildings and I'd been doing it for years. But, this segment of the market virtually disappeared over night.
I needed to reinvent myself in a substantial way. I have survived by selling my home and using the money (luckily there was some) to reinvent myself as a green building and green business consultant.
The green building industry is very much in its infancy. But these buildings and these efforts produce economic returns that are measurable.
NEXT: Selling foreclosed homes