How do you fancy getting into a job in a growing and technologically advancing industry? Get trained for work in the renewables industry and you’ll have the skills to do it. Whether you want to work in the UK or overseas, you could be installing equipment that saves CO2 consumption and cuts energy bills within months of starting a course.
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.
When we talk about green energy, we mean any functional source of power that has been created from a natural resource. We can generate additional and efficient power supplies by utilising the sun, the tides and the wind. Clearly windmills have been in use for centuries, as have waterwheels - but neither are very practical for most domestic homes. Equipment that captures energy from the sun however can be perfect for most houses. People with the right skill-sets are becoming increasingly in demand to implement these.
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. They are used in conjunction with conventional boilers or heating systems, and can provide most of the hot water for a UK family throughout the summer months. Over the year as a whole, they should provide for approximately half their hot water needs. There are two forms of collectors - namely evacuated tubes and flat plates. In order to collect the most heat possible from the sun, they should be installed on a roof that faces south.
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.
Ground Source Heat Pumps create heat sources from solar energy that naturally exists in the earth. Heat pumps are connected to great lengths of underground geothermal piping that contains a non freezable substance. The fluid becomes warm as it circulates inside the pipes and thus heat is transported to the 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. Ground source heat pumps will lower household fuel bills. They need a small amount of electricity to run them, but can produce four or five times as much as they consume.
As you go through a study programme, your knowledge of replenishable energy sources and new technology will grow. 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. You should acquire the right skills and accreditations to able to work with solar thermal and solar PV systems, and geothermal heat pumps. Training programmes are moving with the times, and will evolve as time goes on. Your course may also offer options on how to install rainwater harvesting systems or grey water recycling systems for example.
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!
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