Working With Renewable Energy & Green Engineer Careers

Can you imagine yourself working in an exciting new industry that's pushing environmental boundaries? By training as a Domestic Green Engineer, you'll have the right skills for the job. 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.

Oil and gas supplies are running out, and energy prices are prohibitive. Householders in the developed world know changes will have to come soon. Western leaders are keen to encourage citizens to strive for greener alternatives to the more traditional methods. British householders can get government grants for certain energy efficient improvements. As well as being good for the planet, this is also very good news for domestic installers with the right certifications and expertise.

And so it makes a lot of sense to add some training on renewable energy to any regular electrical or plumbing course you do. 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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Naturally Replenishable Resources

Naturally renewable resources are being converted into usable energy because of developments in 'green' technology. Sunlight, wind, the tides and geothermal heat are all naturally replenishable, and thereby 'Green'.

Clearly windmills have been in use for centuries, as have waterwheels - but neither are very practical for most domestic homes. Equipment that captures energy from the sun however can be perfect for most houses. Consequently there's a growing demand for green engineering work.

Solar Technology

Solar thermal systems can utilise free heat from the sun to warm up household water. Systems have been on sale in the UK for several decades, and the technology is now well understood. 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.

Throughout a twelve month period, a system should be expected to deliver around half the total hot water requirement. The solar energy 'collectors' come as either lightweight evacuated tubes or slightly more robust flat panels. Installation is quite straightforward - in fact some of the tubular versions can be built whilst actually on the roof.

Another means of harnessing solar energy is through the use of photovoltaic cells which can convert sunlight into electricity. These panels are again fixed onto (preferably) south facing roofs (or walls). The more sunlight they absorb, the more electricity they generate. As this is DC electricity, an inverter in the loft is required to convert it to AC. This solar PV electricity can be used for lighting and for various appliances.

Householders can expect a photovoltaic system to provide around 40 per cent of their annual electricity, and so reduce both their bills and carbon footprint significantly.

If the household doesn't use all of their PV generated electricity, it's automatically fed back to the National Grid. In the UK energy companies by law have to pay agreed rates to householders per kilowatt hour of electricity, but this can vary depending on the tariff they're on. In Britain an average of 850 kWh of electricity a year is generated for every kWp of solar PV installed. Put in perspective, the average household consumes approximately 4,700 kWh a year.

Heat From The Ground

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. The circulating solution collects the natural heat and takes it to the heat pump. The heat pump can then provide heating for houses by warming the water in radiators and underfloor heating systems. If consumers choose a ground source heat pump system to replace electric radiators, they'll find the new system much more efficient.

Green Engineering Training Courses

The right 'green energy' course will cover everything you need to pursue a worthwhile career in domestic renewable energy. 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. Most of the domestic interest in the renewables market is focused on solar thermal solutions and heat pumps. It makes commercial sense to concentrate on these.

Essentially, courses are there to equip you for work - so all parts of your training should lead to industry recognised qualifications. You might be offered optional tutorials, for instance on rainwater harvesting to recycle water.

A Step In The Right Direction

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. In some instances, changes can produce huge savings. The government will give out grants when certain systems are installed by properly qualified installers.

In real terms though, that's only the beginning. World leaders state that carbon emissions must be reduced, and consumers must turn to more renewable energy solutions. 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!