Green Energy Careers & Solar Power Courses

Wouldn't you like to build a career that not only pays you well but is also beneficial to the earth's resources? Get trained for work in the renewables industry and you'll have the skills to do it. 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. We're constantly being told to use less energy in our day to day lives. Governments are actively encouraging consumers to be more energy efficient and look towards alternative renewable sources of power. Those who replace old and poorly performing boilers in the UK can claim subsidies from the government. Moves such as these mean the demand for appropriately certified fitters and installers continues to increase.

Therefore if electrical or plumbing work appeals to you, adding some 'green' skills could be very beneficial. If you qualified as an electrician some time ago, you may want to update your knowledge of renewables.

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'Green' Energy Solutions

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. 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 Systems

Domestic hot water pipes can be connected to solar water heaters to provide free heat to the system. Systems have been on sale in the UK for several decades, and the technology is now well understood. 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. Throughout a twelve month period, a system should be expected to deliver around half the total hot water requirement. 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.

Photovoltaic cells or panels also absorb the sun's energy, but this time electricity is produced. 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 power distribution panel in the house will take the 'solar' electricity and use it in combination with that from the National Grid. 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.) If the household doesn't use all of their PV generated electricity, it's automatically fed back to the National Grid. To encourage more people to invest in solar PV systems, UK legislation has increased the amount energy companies have to pay for this fed-back electricity. Planning permission isn't usually needed to install PV cells, although listed buildings and houses in conservation areas should check with their local authorities.

Geo-Thermal Energy

Naturally stored heat (mainly from the sun) can be found in the soil, bedrock and groundwater. Plastic pipes are buried under the surface and filled with a soluble solution that won't damage the environment. This collects the heat as it circulates, and transports 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. Heat pumps do need some power to operate, but for every one unit of energy they use, they generate four units of energy in return.

Training For A 'Green' Career

A good training course will prepare you for a rewarding career as a competent green engineer. You can expect to study and qualify in certain essential electrical and plumbing skills, and gain newer certifications that cover green energy. 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.

However, as technology and the law on environmental construction evolves, so too will training in this sector. Most green courses will include optional training on installing and maintaining various types of Rainwater Harvesting Systems that are commonly used in the UK.

Work For Years To Come

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. 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.

In ten years' time the British government aims to be on target for 15 percent of the nation's energy coming from renewables. Issues concerning climate change and rocketing fuel costs mean that green renewable energy is emerging as an excellent business for anyone with the right skills.