Considering Solar Energy Classes In The UK

Wouldn’t you like to build a career that not only pays you well but is also beneficial to the earth’s resources? If you get trained and qualified in green engineering you can do just that! By this time next year you could be up and running, advising people and installing energy efficient systems that will considerably reduce their household’s carbon footprint.

Fuel prices are continuing to rise as gas and oil is steadily running out. Carbon emissions will have to be reduced. Members of the public are being urged to ease back on their consumption, and look to efficient renewable energy sources. In Britain grants of up to 80 per cent are being made available (and in some instances 100 per cent) to cover the labour costs of certain energy efficient improvements. So domestic engineers with the correct skill-sets can find themselves in high demand. It’s therefore a good idea commercially that your electrical or plumbing training includes working with green energy systems. If you’ve been in the industry for a while, check out the new courses and certifications in green engineering.

The term ‘green technology’ refers to anything that creates exploitable energy from our planet’s natural resources. The sun, the wind and the rain can all be utilised by green technology. Previous generations created wind turbines and waterwheels. Now we can benefit from solar energy as well to provide us with heat and hot water. This is leading to a lot of work for ‘Green’ electricians.

Energy radiated from the sun can be converted into hot water through solar thermal systems. As the technology has been available for a while, we now have a large number of systems to choose from. Although in Britain we can’t rely entirely on them for all of our hot water needs, a typical family could expect to get most of their requirement in the summertime. Throughout a twelve month period, a system should be expected to deliver around half the total hot water requirement. There are various configurations for solar hot water systems, with either flat panel or evacuated tube collection systems. 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.

Another means of harnessing solar energy is through the use of photovoltaic cells which can convert sunlight into electricity. 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. This solar PV electricity can be used for lighting and for various appliances. Users of solar electricity will not only reduce their carbon footprint, they’ll also cut their electricity bills by over a third. The Grid will also automatically be fed any unused PV electricity, so if householders go away for two weeks, their solar power won’t be wasted. In the UK energy companies by law have to pay agreed rates to householders per kilowatt hour of electricity, but this can vary depending on the tariff they’re on. Planning permission isn’t usually needed to install PV cells, although listed buildings and houses in conservation areas should check with their local authorities.

Geothermal heat is the term used for the ground source heat that is stored naturally under the ground. If land is plentiful the surface ground collector method is used to get the heat out. If it isn’t, the borehole collector method is used. Either method requires burying a few hundred metres of plastic piping filled with an eco-friendly liquid. It absorbs the warmth as it circulates around the piping, and delivers it’s heat to the connecting pump. This heat can be used to warm the water for heating systems. Heat pumps need a small amount of electricity to run them, but the savings by far outweigh the costs.

Typical training will give you a greater understanding of renewable energy and the careers you can pursue. You’ll be taken through the basics of electrical and plumbing skills in the domestic market, before moving on to specific green technologies. Most courses will also deal with what government assistance is available and how people apply for it. As more and more householders are becoming interested in solar energy systems in particular, you should concentrate first on the skills that will bring in the most work. Essentially, courses are there to equip you for work – so all parts of your training should lead to industry recognised qualifications. The green market is growing fast, and opportunities are increasing in existing domestic properties, new builds and social housing.

The law now dictates that all homes sold in Britain must supply the new owners with an Energy Performance Certificate to illustrate energy usage and where efficiencies can be made. Savings in some cases can run into thousands of pounds a year. The government is offering householders substantial grants to cover certain installation costs where work is undertaken by appropriately qualified Green Engineers. That’s merely the beginning though. By the year 2016, the law states that all new houses will have to produce a minimum of 15 per cent of their energy from replenishable supplies. The time is quickly coming when everyone will be looking for alternative energy solutions for their homes. Demand for skilled installers is about to soar!

Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Go to HERE or www.workmap.com.

Originally posted 2010-07-05 04:01:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter