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How to Succeed In Green Engineer Careers

How would you like to get into an industry that is both cutting-edge and future-proof? 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. Gas and oil consumption can't go on as it is. 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.

People in Britain can often get substantial government subsidies to cover such things as wall or loft insulation and solar generated hot water. This means there's an increasing amount of installation work for properly accredited professionals. So be sure to get details of the 'green' elements in any plumber or electrician training course you're considering.

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

Solar Technology

Solar thermal products gather free energy radiated by the sun and use it to heat domestic hot water. Systems have been on sale in the UK for several decades, and the technology is now well understood. 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. The average domestic solar heating system should reduce CO2 emissions by 0.4 - 0.75 tonnes per annum.

We can choose either flat or tubular collection systems. In order to collect the most heat possible from the sun, they should be installed on a roof that faces south.

Another use for solar power is to create electricity. For this, we need photovoltaic or PV panels. 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. 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. 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. Some European governments have fixed 'feed-in tariffs' for many years, which has led to an increase in the number of systems purchased, and a reduction in the amount they cost.

Geothermal Heat

Ground Source Heat Pumps create heat sources from solar energy that naturally exists in the earth. 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. This heat can be used to warm the water for heating systems. Heat pumps need a small amount of electricity to run them, but the savings by far outweigh the costs.

Developing All The time

The right 'green energy' course will cover everything you need to pursue a worthwhile career in domestic renewable energy. You can expect to study and qualify in certain essential electrical and plumbing skills, and gain newer certifications that cover green energy. Make sure you come out with a good knowledge of ground and air source heat pumps, and domestic solar technology. That's where a lot of your future work is likely to be. Essentially, courses are there to equip you for work - so all parts of your training should lead to industry recognised qualifications. Additional options on certain courses could cover biomass, or grey and rainwater harvesting.

A Future-Proof Career

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. Many assessments show huge savings could be made over a period of time if improved systems were installed. What's more, when householders employ properly accredited installers, they can benefit from generous government grants to help cover the costs of having new systems fitted.

That just scratches the surface though. Today renewable energy provides less than two percent of all domestic energy. But by twenty sixteen the law states that for every new property built that figure must be fifteen percent. We can't ignore the changes that must inevitably come, so why not get ahead of the crowd and secure your future now?