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Career Development: Green Engineer Courses

How do you fancy getting into a job in a growing and technologically advancing industry? Gain professional qualifications in 'green skills' and such a career can be yours. People are increasingly looking at green energy systems to reduce their CO2 emissions - within twelve months from now you could be a certified installer of energy efficient equipment. Oil and gas supplies are running out, and energy prices are prohibitive. Carbon emissions will have to be reduced.

Political leaders are striving to guide people towards greater energy efficiency by promoting and incentivising replenishable alternatives. Those who replace old and poorly performing boilers in the UK can claim subsidies from the government. So domestic engineers with the correct skill-sets can find themselves in high demand. Therefore if electrical or plumbing work appeals to you, adding some 'green' skills could be very beneficial.

And if you're already a qualified tradesman or woman, you might think about bolt-on green courses to add to your portfolio.

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What Is 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. Previous generations created wind turbines and waterwheels. Now we can benefit from solar energy as well to provide us with heat and hot water. This is leading to a lot of work for 'Green' electricians.

Energy From The Sun

Solar thermal systems can utilise free heat from the sun to warm up household water. We've had solar thermal systems in Britain since the seventies, so today's models are now very well developed. They are used in conjunction with conventional boilers or heating systems, and can provide most of the hot water for a UK family throughout the summer months. Throughout a twelve month period, a system should be expected to deliver around half the total hot water requirement. Collection equipment comes in the form of the more efficient evacuated tubes, or the perhaps more visually attractive solid flat plates. 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.

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. From there the AC electric is connected to the electrical consumer panel that delivers electricity around the house. As sunshine and light don't cost anything, owners of PV systems can save up to almost half their usual costs on electricity bills. (Clearly from a financial standpoint they also need to recover their initial investment.) Equally they can't waste any solar electricity, as the national grid is automatically fed back any electricity that isn't being used. 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

Ground Source Heat Pumps create heat sources from solar energy that naturally exists in the earth. To retrieve that heat, several hundred metres of geothermal plastic piping is buried underground, and filled with an eco-friendly non-freezing solution. The fluid becomes warm as it circulates inside the pipes and thus heat is transported to the 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. Heat pumps need a small amount of electricity to run them, but the savings by far outweigh the costs.

Progressive Evolution

As you go through a study programme, your knowledge of replenishable energy sources and new technology will grow. 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. The majority of your work is likely to be advising on and installing solar panels and heat pumps, so be sure you've got those covered. All aspects of your training should be geared towards real-world demand, and lead to recognised certifications. If you have a special interest in water recycling, look for options that include rainwater and grey water harvesting.

Careers For The Twenty First Century

Each time a domestic UK property changes hands, the new householders must be shown an Energy Performance Certificate. This illustrates how energy efficient the house is, and how it could be improved. Savings in some cases can run into thousands of pounds a year. The government is offering householders substantial grants to cover certain installation costs where work is undertaken by appropriately qualified Green Engineers.

But that's just the start. The UK government is aiming for fifteen percent of the country's energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. We can't ignore the changes that must inevitably come, so why not get ahead of the crowd and secure your future now?