Working With Renewable Energy & Solar Energy Courses

How do you fancy getting into a job in a growing and technologically advancing industry? By training as a Domestic Green Engineer, you'll have the right skills for the job. Within months of getting started on a course, you could be ready to work here or overseas in a thriving new job or business. The world can't continue to consume oil and gas at current levels. 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. Moves such as these mean the demand for appropriately certified fitters and installers continues to increase. So be sure to get details of the 'green' elements in any plumber or electrician training course you're considering. If you qualified as an electrician some time ago, you may want to update your knowledge of renewables.

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How Do We Define Green Technology?

Modern technology is considered green when it utilises resources that are naturally replenishable. Whether we get rain, wind or sun, we can harness the energy and put it to further use.

We've used wind and water for many years, but it's the sun that provides energy for many newer replenishable systems. This is leading to a lot of work for 'Green' electricians.

Solar Energy Systems

Solar thermal systems can utilise free heat from the sun to warm up household water. As the technology has been available for a while, we now have a large number of systems to choose from. 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. Over the year as a whole, they should provide for approximately half their hot water needs. Solar collectors come as either flat plates or evacuated tubes. Installation is quite straightforward - in fact some of the tubular versions can be built whilst actually on the roof.

Another use for solar power is to create electricity. For this, we need photovoltaic or PV panels. As with solar collectors that heat water, these cells need to be exposed to the most light and sun possible, so a south-facing roof is ideal. They also need an inverter to convert the direct current electricity to alternating current. The 'green electricity' that is created is then connected to the consumer unit within the property.

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 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. 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

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. Warm air or water is then pumped around a home to supplement existing heating systems. If consumers choose a ground source heat pump system to replace electric radiators, they'll find the new system much more efficient.

Developing All The time

The right 'green energy' course will cover everything you need to pursue a worthwhile career in domestic renewable energy. 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 solar energy and heat pumps will give you the most work, you'd be sensible to focus on those.

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.

Work For Years To Come

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. Many assessments show huge savings could be made over a period of time if improved systems were installed.

And up to 80 per cent of the cost of installation work can often be claimed from the government if owners have 'green' systems fitted by qualified professionals. That just scratches the surface 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.

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.