Working Earth's Natural Resources: Green Engineer Courses...

Wouldn't you like to build a career that not only pays you well but is also beneficial to the earth's resources? Train to become a Green Engineer, and you can. 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 all know we should be lowering our carbon footprint. Governments are actively encouraging consumers to be more energy efficient and look towards alternative renewable sources of power. British householders can get government grants for certain energy efficient improvements. This means there's an increasing amount of installation work for properly accredited professionals. 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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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. Windmills and waterwheels have been around for a long time, but modern technology can now take advantage of solar power and geo-thermal energy to power homes and businesses. Trades people with green credentials can capitalise on this.

Solar Systems

Solar water heating collectors absorb energy from the sun and convert it into hot water. We've had solar thermal systems in Britain since the seventies, so today's models are now very well developed. Although in Britain we can't rely entirely on them for all of our hot water needs, a typical family could expect to get most of their requirement in the summertime. Over the year as a whole, they should provide for approximately half their hot water needs.

The solar energy 'collectors' come as either lightweight evacuated tubes or slightly more robust flat panels. As might be expected, a south-facing roof is the ideal location for these collectors. 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. The power distribution panel in the house will take the 'solar' electricity and use it in combination with that from the National Grid. Consumers will reduce their electricity bills significantly, as sunlight doesn't cost anything to run.

Obviously savings will start to take effect once the initial cost of the system has been recovered. 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. 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

Geo-thermal energy is heat from the sun that's naturally stored 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. The circulating solution collects the natural heat and takes 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. Although heat pumps use electricity, they can still be considered 'green' because they produce four to five times more electricity than they consume.

Developing All The time

Training courses in 'green collar work' will teach in-depth skills in all the important areas. 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.

Security For The Future

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. Savings in some cases can run into thousands of pounds a year. The government will give out grants when certain systems are installed by properly qualified installers. That just scratches the surface though.

Within the next six years, all new homes must generate at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources to be legally compliant. 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.