CareerAlternatives.co.uk

Green Careers & Renewable Energy Training

How do you fancy getting into a job in a growing and technologically advancing industry? If you get trained and qualified in green engineering you can do just that! Certifications can take less time than you might think - within the next twelve months your job could be helping to offset the effects of global warming.

The cost of fuel is soaring as supplies become more finite. Our homes cost too much to run and keep warm, and they give off too much CO2. Western leaders are keen to encourage citizens to strive for greener alternatives to the more traditional methods.

In the UK, householders with the oldest and lowest rated boilers can apply for grants to cover some of the costs of replacement. This is both beneficial for the environment, and for the appropriately qualified tradesmen and women who can carry out the work.

So be sure to get details of the 'green' elements in any plumber or electrician training course you're considering. And if you're already a qualified tradesman or woman, you might think about bolt-on green courses to add to your portfolio.

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To learn the specifics of what's needed to get into the industry, we recommend you download your Free copy of our Training Information Guide.

Naturally Replenishable Resources

Green technology uses the earth's natural resources and converts them into usable energy. So we can use sunshine, rain, wind and the tides to generate more power for ourselves.

Previous generations created wind turbines and waterwheels. Now we can benefit from solar energy as well to provide us with heat and hot water. Consequently there's a growing demand for green engineering work.

Solar Energy

Energy radiated from the sun can be converted into hot water through solar thermal systems. The current range of solar heating systems includes several that are sophisticated and state of the art. They're used alongside existing heating systems and can supply almost all the hot water a British family might need from late spring to early autumn. The average domestic solar heating system should reduce CO2 emissions by 0.4 - 0.75 tonnes per annum. Solar collectors come as either flat plates or evacuated tubes. They should be fitted to roofs that are ideally facing towards the south.

To generate electricity, photovoltaic solar panels are used to capture the sun's energy. PV panels can be installed on roofs or walls with good exposure to sunlight. A DC electric current is created which has to be converted to AC by an inverter which is usually placed in the loft. This is then connected to the fuse board of the house to supply electricity for lighting and appliances.

Solar electricity is renewable energy that doesn't release any carbon dioxide or other harmful pollutants. Home owners will reduce their bills and their carbon footprint. If the household doesn't use all of their PV generated electricity, it's automatically fed back to the National Grid.

In April 2010 Government legislation in the UK increased the amount energy companies have to pay to buy back electricity, making the initial investment more attractive. Clearly the latitude of the property will impact how much energy is generated. So will the direction the panels are facing, the overall size of the PV array and any obstructions which block the light.

Naturally Stored Heat

Naturally stored heat (mainly from the sun) can be found in the soil, bedrock and groundwater. In order to extract the heat, 40mm geothermal pipe is installed into the ground, and fed with a fluid solution. This collects the heat as it circulates, and transports it to the heat pump. This heat can be used to warm the water for heating systems. Although heat pumps use electricity, they can still be considered 'green' because they produce four to five times more electricity than they consume.

Continually Developing

The right 'green energy' course will cover everything you need to pursue a worthwhile career in domestic renewable energy. You can expect to study and qualify in certain essential electrical and plumbing skills, and gain newer certifications that cover green energy. The majority of your work is likely to be advising on and installing solar panels and heat pumps, so be sure you've got those covered.

Training programmes are moving with the times, and will evolve as time goes on. You might be offered optional tutorials, for instance on rainwater harvesting to recycle water.

Working With Future Trends...

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. These reports frequently demonstrate how 000's can be saved over a few years.

And in many cases funding is available from the British government to help pay for this, providing the installations are fitted by certified trades people. In real terms though, that's only the beginning. 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. We can no longer close our eyes to the need for safer, sustainable power. For that reason, those who become skilled and qualified now will find themselves in the right place at the right time.