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Job Prospects With Solar Training Courses

Can you imagine yourself working in an exciting new industry that's pushing environmental boundaries? 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. Current global fuel supplies have a limited lifespan. We're constantly being told to use less energy in our day to day lives. Consumers are becoming more educated on alternative methods and resources for powering their homes.

In the UK, householders with the oldest and lowest rated boilers can apply for grants to cover some of the costs of replacement. Moves such as these mean the demand for appropriately certified fitters and installers continues to increase. It's therefore a good idea commercially that your electrical or plumbing training includes working with green energy systems. And if you are currently working in a domestic trade, you can take additional green courses to increase your skill-set.

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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.

Which Technology Is Considered Green?

When we talk about green energy, we mean any functional source of power that has been created from a natural resource.

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. People with the right skill-sets are becoming increasingly in demand to implement these.

Solar Energy

Solar thermal systems can utilise free heat from the sun to warm up household water. The current range of solar heating systems includes several that are sophisticated and state of the art. Working alongside regular water heaters, these systems can supply the majority of hot water that will be needed by a family during the warmer months of the year. If we look at the whole year, roughly fifty per cent of their hot water will come from solar power. We can choose either flat or tubular 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.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels capture energy from the sun and use it to generate electricity. When the panels are facing the light, they can generate energy all year round (though obviously the more sun that shines on them the better). PV panels are linked to an inverter that could be installed in the roof space. This is then connected to the fuse board of the house to supply electricity for lighting and appliances. Users of solar electricity will not only reduce their carbon footprint, they'll also cut their electricity bills by over a third. Equally they can't waste any solar electricity, as the national grid is automatically fed back any electricity that isn't being used.

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.

Installation of Solar PV panels usually comes under 'permitted development' which doesn't require planning permission. A quick check with the local authority will confirm this.

Geo-thermal Ground Source Heat

Ground Source Heat Pumps create heat sources from solar energy that naturally exists in the earth. 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. This collects the heat as it circulates, and transports it to the heat pump. Underfloor heating can benefit most from the warmth provided by heat pumps. 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

As you go through a study programme, your knowledge of replenishable energy sources and new technology will grow. Look for a course that will take you through all the domestic essentials, including health & safety, laws and regulations and if relevant guidance on starting your own business. 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. The green market is growing fast, and opportunities are increasing in existing domestic properties, new builds and social housing.

Careers For The Twenty First Century

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. Often more modern or alternative equipment can lower running costs significantly. The government is offering householders substantial grants to cover certain installation costs where work is undertaken by appropriately qualified Green Engineers.

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. 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!