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A Greener Future With Renewable Energy Courses

Wouldn't you like to build a career that not only pays you well but is also beneficial to the earth's resources? 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.

The cost of fuel is soaring as supplies become more finite. Householders in the developed world know changes will have to come soon. 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. Such measures bring more work for those with the right knowledge and qualifications. Therefore if electrical or plumbing work appeals to you, adding some 'green' skills could be very beneficial. Any experienced electricians or plumbers can take short courses in renewable energy solutions.

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Maximising Our Natural Resources

Green technology uses the earth's natural resources and converts them into usable energy.

Sunlight, wind, the tides and geothermal heat are all naturally replenishable, and thereby 'Green'. We've used wind and water for many years, but it's the sun that provides energy for many newer replenishable systems. That's why there's a need for skilled workers with green certifications.

Solar Systems

Solar thermal products gather free energy radiated by the sun and use it to heat domestic hot water. We've had solar thermal systems in Britain since the seventies, so today's models are now very well developed. They're used alongside existing heating systems and can supply almost all the hot water a British family might need from late spring to early autumn. Over the year as a whole, they should provide for approximately half their hot water needs.

There are two forms of collectors - namely evacuated tubes and flat plates. They should be fitted to roofs that are ideally facing towards the south. Solar electricity systems are used to gather the sun's energy via PV (photovoltaic) cells. As with solar collectors that heat water, these cells need to be exposed to the most light and sun possible, so a south-facing roof is ideal. They also need an inverter to convert the direct current electricity to alternating current. The inverter is then linked up to the power distribution point in the house to provide electricity for certain appliances and lighting.

Solar electricity is renewable energy that doesn't release any carbon dioxide or other harmful pollutants. Home owners will reduce their bills and their carbon footprint. If the household doesn't use all of their PV generated electricity, it's automatically fed back to the National Grid.

This year (2010) the government has stepped in to increase the amount of money energy companies have to pay for this recycled 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.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Naturally stored heat (mainly from the sun) can be found in the soil, bedrock and groundwater. In order to extract the heat, 40mm geothermal pipe is installed into the ground, and fed with a fluid solution. The heat arrives at the connecting heat pump because the solution warms as it flows around. The heat pump can then provide heating for houses by warming the water in radiators and underfloor heating systems. Heat pumps do need some power to operate, but for every one unit of energy they use, they generate four units of energy in return.

Constantly Evolving

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.

Green engineering training courses are developing all the time, as this exciting technology progresses. Most green courses will include optional training on installing and maintaining various types of Rainwater Harvesting Systems that are commonly used in the UK.

Security For The Future

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. In some instances, changes can produce huge savings. And in many cases funding is available from the British government to help pay for this, providing the installations are fitted by certified trades people.

And that's not all. World leaders state that carbon emissions must be reduced, and consumers must turn to more renewable energy solutions. The future for skilled green technicians is very bright - as there is no other way for the world to move forward.