A Future in Green Energy - Solar Training
Can you imagine yourself working in an exciting new industry that's pushing environmental boundaries? Train to become a Green Engineer, and you can. In just a few short months from now, you could be helping people in the UK or abroad to reduce the amount of CO2 they consume, and cut their energy bills considerably.
Oil and gas supplies are running out, and energy prices are prohibitive. Householders in the developed world know changes will have to come soon. Members of the public are being urged to ease back on their consumption, and look to efficient renewable energy sources. British householders can get government grants for certain energy efficient improvements. Such measures bring more work for those with the right knowledge and qualifications.
So if you're thinking about training to become a plumber or an electrician, why not gear your skill-set towards green energy? If you're already in the trade, you can tune-up your knowledge and add to your current offering.
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Maximising Our Natural Resources
Planet earth provides us with a rich source of renewables from which to extract more energy for our own use. We can generate additional and efficient power supplies by utilising the sun, the tides and the wind.
Today's technology now allows us to benefit from solar energy in our homes if the right equipment is installed. Hence the opportunity for 'green collar' workers.
Solar Technology
Free energy from the sun can be absorbed by solar heating equipment and converted into domestic warm water. Systems have been on sale in the UK for several decades, and the technology is now well understood. Working alongside regular water heaters, these systems can supply the majority of hot water that will be needed by a family during the warmer months of the year.
Year round, something in the region of 50 per cent of the hot water could be met by solar energy. The solar energy 'collectors' come as either lightweight evacuated tubes or slightly more robust flat panels. Several leading manufacturers supply solar thermal products which are quite simple for professionals to install. The ideal position would be on a roof space that's angled in a southerly direction. Solar electricity systems are used to gather the sun's energy via PV (photovoltaic) cells. Again, PV panels are designed to be attached to a roof or wall that is preferably south facing.
As sunlight shines onto the panels an electric field is created that goes to an inverter inside the roof. The 'green electricity' that is created is then connected to the consumer unit within the property. As sunshine and light don't cost anything, owners of PV systems can save up to almost half their usual costs on electricity bills. (Clearly from a financial standpoint they also need to recover their initial investment.)
Any solar electricity that isn't used up can either be stored in batteries for a cloudy day, or sold back to the National Grid. The going rate for PV electricity has been increased by the government in 2010, which makes for a better return on the original investment of the system. Some European governments have fixed 'feed-in tariffs' for many years, which has led to an increase in the number of systems purchased, and a reduction in the amount they cost.
Heat From The Ground
Ground source heat (which in Britain remains fairly constant at twelve degrees centigrade) can be used to create electricity and warm water. To retrieve that heat, several hundred metres of geothermal plastic piping is buried underground, and filled with an eco-friendly non-freezing solution. The circulating solution collects the natural heat and takes it to the heat pump. The most efficient way to use this heat is in underfloor heating systems, but it can also be used for heating water in radiators. If consumers choose a ground source heat pump system to replace electric radiators, they'll find the new system much more efficient.
Green Engineering Training Courses
A good training course will prepare you for a rewarding career as a competent green engineer. In addition to key electrical certifications (like Part P) and plumbing requirements, your course should deal with certain legal obligations, government funding of green installations and health and safety. As solar energy and heat pumps will give you the most work, you'd be sensible to focus on those.
Courses in domestic green skills and qualifications are developing fast, to keep up with the increased demand caused by government incentives. Your course may also offer options on how to install rainwater harvesting systems or grey water recycling systems for example.
Security For The Future
An Energy Performance Certificate is now a legal requirement for all houses being sold in the UK - allowing buyers the chance to determine a property's typical fuel consumption, and gain advice on how it could do better.
Sometimes suggested changes can reduce bills by many hundreds of pounds per annum. The government is offering householders substantial grants to cover certain installation costs where work is undertaken by appropriately qualified Green Engineers.
That just scratches the surface though. The UK government is aiming for fifteen percent of the country's energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. We can't ignore the changes that must inevitably come, so why not get ahead of the crowd and secure your future now?
