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February 28, 2010 at 3:12 am · Filed under Uncategorized
When our daily energy requirements are met by ‘Green Energy’, then we are using resources such as wind, tides or geothermal heat. They are thought to be ‘Green’ due to the fact that they are easily restored and natural. When considering elements such as Wind Power and Windmills, in many cases we are looking back at the history of energy production. This idea is preserved by the use of technology, eco-efficient options and planet friendly alternatives.
In the home environment, one can see examples such as Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors. Moving on from this there are the Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) which can generate electricity from your roof. Equally important is that of Biomass Energy - which includes Stoves, Fuel, Pellets and Boilers burning Wood. We now also have Ground Source Heat Pumps - which draw out the heat left by the Sun. Not all ‘Green Energy’ is new - by considering Wind Power and Hydropower we are looking at some of the oldest forms of energy production.
Thermal Solar Energy - Typically referred to as Solar Energy this is mainly made up of two types of Solar Panels - each using different methods to achieve similar results. To begin with, we have the concept of drawing energy from the Sun to heat water - known as Solar Water Heating Collectors. Secondly, Photovoltaic heat collectors - often simply referred to as Solar Electrical Panels - which transform the solar radiation into electricity. Obviously situated away from blockages such as chimneys etc., these Solar Panels need to be mounted on south facing roofs at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal.
Within Solar Energy overall, Solar Water Power is most commonly used in the UK. With the capacity to deliver 50 percent plus of a household’s hot water requirement annually, Solar Water heating systems are crucial to energy in the UK. Typically, to fit this type of equipment will cost between 500 and 1500 pounds for a DIY kit - all the way up to 2-5k for a full professional fitting.
Biomass Energy Based Systems: This is a general term for all forms of plant and animal material e.g. wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. It’s the ability of this power source to generate diverse forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, that makes this so adaptable. The ability to generate electricity is one of the UK’s main green strengths - as it has one of the larger Biomass legacies within Europe. Added to all this, is the lack of C02 produced as a by-product of the whole process. Having a tree planted in place of another (that is felled for energy production) helps overall.
Within this field is the need for the use of ‘Energy Crops’, such as fast growing trees, e.g. Willow and Poplar or other entities grown on a Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses - because of their yield of dry matter. Other less known materials within this field are Agricultural and Municipal Waste. To begin with, Agricultural Waste is often produced as part of the agricultural process overall. Municipal Waste such as food or wood can also be utilised as a biomass product.
Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: By naturally heating the Earth, the Sun has the potential to generate both warm water and electricity. Using the ground temperature of around 12 degrees in the UK - we can both heat and cool buildings. These 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. This system can go even further - if energy efficient items such as wind turbines or solar electrical panels are used.
Wind Energy: As an energy source, wind energy has to be one of the oldest forms of energy creation in history. That aside, the ability to generate energy and both transfer this into the home or the local grid has been a relatively new option. With regard to wind generation, it is the UK that has the highest production within Europe. For the fact remains that, within the UK, we have the ability to generate 10 percent of our requirement from Wind Production - as opposed to the current value of only 1 percent. Electricity can be produced from as little as 2p per kWh, but generally comes in somewhere between 2-10p per kWh. The financial recovery process takes around 6-9 months.
Then there is Hydropower - something within Europe that the UK excels in. Although new in its approach, the act of harnessing energy from water has been going on for a long time. In total, this could produce something like 2 percent of all electricity required in the UK.
The Hydropower process uses a turbine that can convert the energy from one form into another. It is by either water ‘drop-offs’, or Natural River runs, that turbines can work through this process. ‘Micro-Hydro’ utilises a chunk of the outdated sluices and dam systems that have been killed off by the large national distribution methods. Whilst considered a smaller form of electrical output, this system is thought to be able to give some 200mW of capacity to the UK. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.
It can be seen that the route to ‘Green Energy’ is growing considerably, especially in light of the need for increasing energy outputs throughout the Western World. The UK domestic market appears to be one of the core beneficiaries of this technology.
It is the drive for installations in the domestic sector that looks to favour jobs such as plumbers and electricians. With EEC and UK recognition of renewable energy getting ever-higher on the political agenda, the grants and financial aid for introduction of these systems can only increase. It is by gaining the right certificates that will provide opportunities and job security for the long term. Look for combined electrical and plumbing training, with a key emphasis on practical green systems and installation.
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Pop over to Green Engineer Certification or CLICK HERE.
February 27, 2010 at 2:43 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Local plumbers remain typically on call-outs all over the British isles - no matter what the month or year. Although it’s more challenging to access industrial employment, there’s a great deal of household business to pick up. Exactly how often do you read about the challenges somebody experienced obtaining a local plumber to fix their central heating system? There is additionally loads more work available putting in ground floor loos, newer showers, en-suite bathrooms and so forth because families are moving less often and up-grading more frequently. As a result if you’re searching for skills-based retraining, a new domestic plumbing training programme could possibly be just the course for you personally.
Both technical colleges and the commercial training organisations ought to include at least foundation plumbing training in City & Guilds (C & G) certifications. Teenagers typically frequently seek a firm to get on-the-job experience with - so they can get NVQ accreditations alongside the City & Guilds. On the other hand, older individuals who wish to move professions typically get trained part-time. Typically the commercial companies are much more geared up re-trainees’ requirements, as their courses are actually less rigid and focus much more on the high-demand skills. Despite the fact that individuals in commercial institutions train part-time, they can learn expertise fairly quickly - by just concentrating on the level of re-training required to do the domestic contracts they are going to end up undertaking.
To be competitive, but continue to generate decent profits, you’ll need to become competent at costing accurately for contracts. This requires accounting for your overheads in order that you don’t lose money. When you’ve worked on a handful, it’ll all become quite routine. Quite a few of the much more business oriented training programs will , no doubt talk about self-employment practices.
A great deal of jobs can come from associates of families you have completed an excellent job for. Consumers always like to recommend really good jobs. Your actual plumbing expertise will typically be gained via study and hands-on practice, yet you may equally need to improve your communication skills. Business commonly will come in through the most surprising people today. Pleasantness and sound attitudes will certainly be remembered.
There’s frequently work around for plumbing technicians and heating technicians. Once you’ve got yourself prepared and qualified, you should become practiced at marketing yourself. It’s reasonable to state that your days tend to be occupied dealing with householder’s complications; when somebody’s suffered a major leak, or had very little water for a long time, they will invite you in like their long lost son! There is equally lots of variation, as you operate at many different homes together with completely different customers. Plus you get to choose the contracts to undertake.
Commercial plumbing technicians will typically work on Mon-Fri only, in most cases 8am to 5pm. Household plumbing engineers would be better to not conduct their timing so strictly however. Sometimes be in a position to visit in the evening to offer householders quotations for household enhancements - when they trust you they will be most prepared to leave you in their house in the daytime.
A new career move into the domestic plumbing sector is quite often prompted by a wish to build a small self-run business. The truth is the majority of fresh new career local plumbers get into the household sector - doing business mostly for themselves. It is hardly rocket science this happens, since the employment as well as the money rarely dry up for professional and persistent workers. You’ll find it easy to get into profit after you’ve learned the relevant skills and passed the relevant qualifications.
With some sort of recognised accreditation you will be ready to carry out work on a range of plumbing-related projects. Nearly all training colleges also offer more skillset re-training - which you might consider should you aspire to provide a larger bundle to your customers. It can be quite helpful to know more about kitchen fitting and/or bathroom fitting, or maybe acquire knowledge in gas. Multi-faceted commercial plumbing-related programs are usually the swiftest and most effective way to get into the self employed household marketplace.
You will find it a lot quicker to establish your business reputation if you provide several extra skill-sets. Every activity is likely to be a great deal more cost-effective, and end up with more income on your bottom line. There’ll be no waiting around for kitchen fitters or builders if you are able to do the work on your own - and also the client will probably be much more comfortable.
Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Check out electricaltrainingcoursesgb.co.uk/IntensivePlumbingCourses.html or Plumbing NVQ.
February 26, 2010 at 2:31 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Electrical energy is most probably amongst life’s necessities within the modern-day marketplace. Around Great Britain and also around the world most people depend to a great extent on the abilities of electrical personnel. The bottom-line is, electrical staff are used to install, regulate and also test appliances and structures. The job has always been heavily dictated to by means of health and safety benchmarks. The electric business overall is accountable for twenty Billion pounds of enterprise per annum within the United Kingdom alone. In the event that you have pondered changing in to electrical work, today should be a fabulous time for you to obtain your competence and qualifications.
Where home-owners stumble on a good domestic electrical engineer they are happy with, they may talk with various other individuals about them and as a consequence carry out a great deal of absolutely free advertising. Any chosen commercial trainer really should supply you with all the industry knowledge, and yet bear in mind to offer a great approach each time that you’re working for other people.
Household schooling such as that just described will likely take someone several hundred hours, distributed during what ever period you select. Schooling will teach you self-assurance and in the end success - seeing as you’ll never get stuck for work with these sort of highly-sought skill-sets.
The 2 recommended commercial certification bodies within the UK tend to be EAL (EMTA Awards Ltd) and also C&G. Quite a few people (primarily teens fresh out of education) also accomplish NVQ accreditation by using industrial placements. They are expecting several years prior to being approved on this path. Older career-changers ordinarily choose from more compressed curriculums designed to work within their own current obligations. These types of programs don’t include NVQ checks, because of course trainees happen to be largely directing themselves towards domestic projects. Specialized organisations give attention to coaching competencies that may help enrolees to learn about exactly what they require in months, not several years. Generally, trainees tend to be to some extent less qualified, nonetheless they definitely will have a solid grounding within the skills considered necessary for domestic labour, and their qualifications will undoubtedly be officially appropriate.
While tutorial contents will deviate to some extent, every level 2 EAL Domestic Installation Technician study course will adhere to a verified pathway. Any program will certainly focus on fundamental wiring principles - installing fresh electrics, rewiring housing, and installing appliances and so on. The law aims to confirm that domestic electrical labour is completed in accordance with ‘Part P’ legislation, hence any training will prepare everyone for those activities. The second crucial accreditation provided by City & Guilds (C&G) is definitely the 17th Edition IEE Cabling Regs. Other short C&G courses would offer you additional business opportunities. If you ever include the ‘Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations’ you may join with the NICEIC and then inspect, analyze and certify industrial plus commercial installations, along with household ones.
You’ll find it common for employed electro-mechanical staff to put in more or less a Forty hr working week - in some cases with additional overtime. Salaries frequently come in at about the 26,000 level, although it could be more than that throughout many places. In comparison, home-based electrical-related installers working for themselves will get paid a lot more, though they’ll likewise have to put in much more versatile working hours. Of course, anybody running their own company has got to cope with their expenditures too, although most of these shouldn’t be overly extensive.
Exactly who will get on all right with this type of occupation? You are going to need to be a hands-on, practical sort of personality - who’s strong with specialist tools. It is crucial to be able to observe safe practices recommendations and procedures, therefore you should be able to undertake tasks with remarkable accuracy. Your coaching will help you achieve the technical education, although you have to have the capacity to address challenges as you go. You’ll also want to display faultless color vision, and to stay physically fit, seeing that a lot of the occupation could be described as pretty arduous. And simply speaking, if your aim is self-employment, you should possess drive and also perseverance.
Our catalyst to study to receive an electrical certification frequently originates out of a desire for self-employment. Educational institutions will definitely be continually enrolling start-up pupils that desire an increased flexibility with their working lives. Because of continuing heavy demand from customers (notably in the home-based market place) it makes a whole lot of sense. Lots of guys train so they can possibly complete electrical labor part-time, which can bring in supplementary pay. Inevitably, some just simply prefer to be confident enough to carry out electro-mechanical work inside their own properties.
Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Check out plumbingtraininginfo.co.uk/electrical-certification.html or Electrician Training Courses.
February 25, 2010 at 3:21 am · Filed under Uncategorized
It does not matter what kind of market sectors happen to be declining and/or prospering, we can not function properly with out plumbers. Work that is in the domestic domain goes on to thrive, even with all the setbacks of recessionary times. We’re constantly reading of individuals who’ve had challenges obtaining a skilled person to deal with their plumbing issues. And with discount appliances and bathrooms available from places like Wickes, householders will always be on the lookout for experienced plumbers and electricians to fit them. Therefore if you’re ready to make a change, a closer look at a plumbing-related career could supply you with all you need.
Skilled plumbers who have the proper qualifications are established for life - people will constantly want your assistance. You’ll find plumbing work satisfying - people are really thankful when you take care of their problems - or simply try to make their home life simpler and easier for them. You will not get bored through mind-numbing work - that just gets to be the exact same old thing. Just about every working day is going to bring you different and absorbing issues to resolve.
It really is a substantial advantage to have several strings to your bow. You are likely to bring in a more substantial client base plus keep a lot more of the overall business earnings for yourself. There’ll be hardly any hanging about for kitchen fitters and electricians if you are able to perform some of the work yourself - and the client will be a lot less disrupted.
A career move to the domestic plumbing market is often inspired because of the hunger to possess a nice self-run business. Actually the bulk of fresh new career plumbers enter the household market - operating mostly on their own. It’s actually a shrewd direction to look at since there’s an abundance of money and jobs readily available for skilled men and women. No matter what competencies you begin with, practical retraining and certification is likely to soon introduce you straight into your own new line of business.
You are able to do City and Guilds re-training for a number of plumbing programs within both the FE colleges and commercial colleges. Individuals leaving compulsory education will usually enrol in further education college full time - then get work know-how and NVQs or SVQs. Nevertheless more mature job movers prefer to retain their old employment while they retrain part-time. This is usually where many of the commercial training companies score top: As they provide adaptable programs containing tutorials which will satisfy the requirements of the home-based plumbing-related marketplace. Although students in commercial institutions work part time, they can acquire knowledge quickly - by simply concentrating on the particular level of re-training that’s essential for the domestic work they’re going to end up undertaking.
Try and create a good rapport with each of your customers - they are more inclined to recommend your work to other customers when you do. Instructors will certainly educate you on the necessary plumbing-related requirements, nevertheless be certain to focus on your attitude. Work may very well be recommended from anybody and everybody! Addressing clients respectfully and courteously will certainly continually reap rewards.
A lot more often than not, plumbers inside the commercial sector tend to be taken on in order to work for a max 40 hr week. Yet, self-employed home-based local plumbers face a totally different working environment. Many employed folks can’t get permission to get a morning or afternoon off work, so local plumbers who are able to work outside working times can normally gain significantly more work.
Small business plumbing technicians really need to discover the way to quote for contracts both competitively and viably. This means considering all your expenses in addition to your time and energy. It is often quite hit and miss at the outset, but you’ll soon improve on any errors! Keep a look out for re-training companies that will help out on this.
With a recognised accreditation you’ll be equipped to work on different domestic plumbing projects. It’s also worth thinking of doing a few supplemental programs - in order that you are able to complete a lot more of any contract on your own. Favourite programs deal with household electrical related employment, tiling, unvented hot water, kitchen and bathroom fitting, energy efficient services, water regulations and of course gas. If you’re looking to change careers not to mention need dependable, well-paid on-going work, plumbing might just end up being the correct solution for you.
Author: Scott Edwards. Pop to www.electricianqualification.co.uk/plumbing-nvq.html or Apprenticeships In Plumbing.
February 24, 2010 at 3:46 am · Filed under Uncategorized
In a nutshell, ‘Green Energy’ utilises natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat to provide our daily energy requirement. ‘Green’ basically means that all the energy is renewable. It is easy to think that we may be travelling back in time when we think of items such as wind power and windmills. Overall, this is the method of using modern techniques to provide eco-efficiency and planet friendly options.
It is the use of simple renewable energies such as Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors, that suits the home environment. Equally there is electricity that is generated through roof-installed panels. A further factor revolves around stoves and boilers - which are known as Biomass Energy. Of course, then there is the heating from the Sun - often just called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Finally, we have two of the most traditional forms of energy generation that have gone through some resurgence over the last few years; these being Wind Power, Wind Turbines and Hydropower (including Water Wheels.)
Thermal Energy Systems: Typically referred to as Solar Energy this is mainly made up of two types of Solar Panels - each using different methods to achieve similar results. Firstly, there are elements that absorb energy from the sun and create hot water - known as Solar Water Heating Collectors. Furthermore, there are the Solar Electrical Panels (more correctly known as Photovoltaic heat collectors) which transform solar radiation into electricity. Across the board, Solar Panels should be mounted on a south facing roof, at an angle of 30 degrees away from horizontal - and to some extent away from blocking trees, surrounding buildings and chimneys.
In the UK, Solar Water Power is now one of the most sought after forms of Solar Energy. With the capacity to deliver 50 percent plus of a household’s hot water requirement annually, Solar Water heating systems are crucial to energy in the UK. Getting a professional fitting will cost around 2-5k, however, doing the job yourself could make it as low as 500 to 1500 pounds in total.
Systems Utilising Biomass Energy: Including all natural energy forms derived from plant and animal products - such as wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. It is extremely useful - in that it can produce a range of power sources, including heat and electricity. With one of the largest production legacies within Europe, the UK is a major player in Biomass-produced electricity. Considering all this, and the relative lack of C02 produced, makes the whole process highly green overall. To that end, many wood crops come from sustainable sources (as one tree is felled, another is planted in its place; thus the new tree absorbs the CO2 produced during the heating process.)
‘Energy Crops’ trees such as Willow and Poplar play a major part in the process - under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses - because of their yield of dry matter. Equally significant within this practice sit Municipal and Agricultural waste products. As a by-product, Agricultural Waste is simply part of the farming process. However, waste derived from food or wood is another biomass entity - called Municipal Waste.
Geo-Thermal Energy: Both warm water and electricity can be produced as by-products of the natural heating of the Earth by the Sun. Heating or cooling properties in the UK can be achieved using the ground source heat temperature of around 12 degrees centigrade. These 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. Heat source pump energy can go one step further (by gaining a 100 percent return) if the energy to power them comes from items such as wind turbines or solar electrical panels.
Wind Energy - An Update On Old Technology: In use for milling grain or pumping water, wind energy has been with us for a very long time, although its modern uses are complex. Recently though, there has been the trend to generate energy and deliver this onto the local grid. In the European union, it is the UK which is seen to have the largest wind capacity. The fact remains that in the UK, there exists the ability to realise 10 percent of our electricity requirement from wind power - as opposed to the current value of just 1 percent. Overall, electricity could be generated from as low as 2p per kWh - instead of the current 2-10 p per kWh. Therefore, recovery of cost takes approximately 6-9 months overall.
Within the UK, Hydropower suits the energy generation model. Although new in its approach, the act of harnessing energy from water has been going on for a long time. Interestingly enough, this type of energy production meets around 2 percent of the UK electrical total demand.
A hydropower system transforms the kinetic energy of the moving water into another type of energy by means of a turbine. It is by either water ‘drop-offs’, or Natural River runs, that turbines can work through this process. ‘Micro-Hydro’ however utilises old outdated sluices and dams. Having been reviewed recently, this form of electricity supply could provide 200mW of the UK capacity. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.
Because of the energy need of the Western World, we are now seeing a rapid rise in ‘Green Energy’. To be fair, the UK domestic market is actually leading the resurgence, with a variety of schemes.
Electrician and Plumbers are thought to be key in providing expertise during domestic installations. Grants and financial aid is also set to increase within the EEC and the UK - as ‘Green Energy’ gets ever higher status. This is a new industry - but getting the right certification can only improve job security and opportunities for the future. Electrical or plumbing training that incorporates green technology could be very useful for the future.
Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Hop over to Green Engineer Training or www.plumbingcourseinfo.co.uk/GreenEngineerCourses.html.
February 23, 2010 at 5:08 am · Filed under Uncategorized
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February 22, 2010 at 4:23 am · Filed under Uncategorized
When our daily energy requirements are met by ‘Green Energy’, then we are using resources such as wind, tides or geothermal heat. They are considered ‘Green’ because they are environmentally friendly. When considering elements such as Wind Power and Windmills, in many cases we are looking back at the history of energy production. Regardless of this, we are mainly talking about using modern techniques to offer planet friendly and eco-efficient solutions.
It is the use of simple renewable energies such as Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors, that suits the home environment. Next on the list you would find the actual solar electricity Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) - which basically generate electricity through roof-installed panels. A further factor revolves around stoves and boilers - which are known as Biomass Energy. Then there are the Ground Source Heat Pumps, which is simply the ground heat created by the Sun. At the end there are two of the most mature forms of energy production in the UK - albeit renamed now to Wind Turbines and Hydropower.
Solar Thermal Energy Systems - Also known as Solar Energy, this mainly uses two, albeit different types of solar panels to get the desired results. First, we have Solar Water Heating Collectors, which absorb energy from the Sun and transfer this into hot water. Furthermore, there are the Solar Electrical Panels (more correctly known as Photovoltaic heat collectors) which transform solar radiation into electricity. Solar Panels themselves need to be away from all light blocks, and should be on south facing roofs at angles of 30 degrees from the horizontal plane.
With Solar Power being so common within the UK, it’s Solar Water Power that is most often used. Solar Water heating systems can meet the need for more than half of all hot water needs in the domestic market. The average cost of installing this type of equipment is expected to range from 500 to 1500 pounds for a DIY system, through to 2-5k for a professionally installed system.
Biomass Energy Systems - Including all natural energy forms derived from plant and animal products - such as wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. Considering its ability to produce energy in the form of heat and electricity, this type of energy is extremely flexible. The ability to generate electricity is one of the UK’s main green strengths - as it has one of the larger Biomass legacies within Europe. It should be borne in mind that the whole process is designed to produce energy without an impact on CO2. Having a tree planted in place of another (that is felled for energy production) helps overall.
A process called Short Rotation Coppice (SRC), utilising trees such as Willow and Poplar, is used to meet the demands of such ‘Energy Crops’. Perennial grasses also produce a high yield of dry matter. Whilst Agricultural and Municipal waste may be lesser known, they are essential to the whole process. One natural offshoot of agricultural work is Agricultural Waste. Municipal Waste such as food or wood can also be utilised as a biomass product.
Geo-Thermal Energy Technology: This is primarily the heating of the Earth (mainly from the sun) and can be utilised in electricity and warm water production. In the UK, we are lucky that we can both heat and cool buildings from the ground source temperature of around 12 degrees. These 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. The energy generated by a heat source pump can in fact be considered 100 percent renewable, if the power to operate the pump comes from solar electrical panels or a wind turbine.
Wind Energy - An Update On Old Technology: The use of wind as a source of energy has been going on for thousands of years, especially in milling grain and pumping water. More recently, there has been the desire to deliver the energy created to the home - or to a local power grid. With regard to wind generation, it is the UK that has the highest production within Europe. Although we only utilise 1 percent of the current electricity capability from wind - we do have the ability to create 10 percent. Frankly, electricity can be realised from as little as 2p per kWh - as opposed to the current level of 2-10 p per kWh. The financial recovery process takes around 6-9 months.
Within the UK, Hydropower suits the energy generation model. Just like a thousand years ago, we are utilising the energy from water. That aside, it is fair to say that some 2 percent of the UK’s electrical load could come from this source.
By using a turbine, a Hydropower system can transfer the kinetic energy of moving water into another form. The important thing is that, without having to rely on water storage, the turbines can generate electricity. ‘Micro-Hydro’ however utilises old outdated sluices and dams. This process alone could meet 200mW of the UK requirement. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.
Due to the energy requirements worldwide, ‘Green Energy’ is naturally growing at a fast rate. The UK is very well placed to provide most of the schemes set out above, and the UK domestic market again is one of the key beneficiaries of this technology.
With the bulk of development work in the domestic area, both Plumbers and Electricians are set to capitalise in this area. It is the political view of this type of energy generation that results in grants and financial aid becoming ever-more prevalent. It is by gaining the right certificates that will provide opportunities and job security for the long term. You could consider either plumbing or electrical training programs that highlight green installation.
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Visit Renewable Energy Certification or Click HERE.
February 21, 2010 at 1:48 am · Filed under Uncategorized
When our daily energy requirements are met by ‘Green Energy’ then we utilise items such as wind, tides or geothermal heat. ‘Green’ basically means that all the energy is renewable. It’s interesting to note that in some instances we’re actually travelling back in time to utilise some of the older energy skill sets e.g. Wind Power (Windmills etc.) Overall, this is the method of using modern techniques to provide areas such as eco-effiency and planet friendly options.
Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors are examples of what can be used in the house as part of renewable energy technologies. Following on it is items such as the Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) that develop electricity through suitable roof-panels. Another key element is that of Biomass Energy, which relates to Stoves and Boilers burning Wood, Fuel and Pellets. There is the old heat from the Sun now known as Ground Source Heat Pumps. When we think about Wind Power and Hydropower we have two of the more habitual forms of energy generation.
Through a brief review of each we can look at those wanting to train and work in this area and the skills that they will need. Considering the points raised so far, this is expected to be somewhere in the domain of the Plumber, the Gas Engineer and the Electrician. It would be worth gathering information from as many different sources as possible, so check out our other pages on Electrical, Green and Plumbing careers. So it is worth checking out the sites for a variety of training providers as a result bookmark (CTRL-D) this page so you can come back.
Thermal Energy Systems: Often called Solar Energy, this is fact based on two types of solar panels each using different ideas to get their results. Making hot water from solar energy is the first stage and is known as Solar Water Heating Collection. Secondly, Photovoltaic heat collectors - often simply referred to as Solar Electrical Panels - which transform the solar radiation into electricity. Across the board, Solar Panels should be mounted on a south facing roof, at an angle of 30 degrees away from horizontal, and to some extent away from blocking trees, surrounding buildings and chimneys.
Within Solar Energy overall, Solar Water Power is now commonly used in the UK. Solar Water heating systems can provide over 50 percent of a household’s hot water requirement during the year. The average cost of installing this type of equipment is expected to range from 500 to 1500 pounds for a DIY system, through to 2-5k for a professionally installed system.
Biomass Energy and ‘Energy Crops’ - This is a general term for all forms of plant and animal material e.g. wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. Considering its ability to produce energy in the form of heat and electricity this type of energy is extremely flexible The ability to generate electricity is one of the UK’s main concepts as it has one of the larger Biomass legacies within Europe. Added to all this is the lack of C02 produced as a by product of the whole process. To that end, many wood crops come from sustainable sources (as one tree is felled, another is planted in its place; thus the new tree absorbs the CO2 produced during the heating process.)
By the growth of Short Rotation Crops (SRC) the UK is able to maximise the ‘Energy Crops’ return against the plant production overall. Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses because of their yield of dry matter. Whilst Agricultural and Municipal waste may appear lesser known they are essential to the whole process. Agricultural Waste is commonly formed as a by-product of traditional work in agriculture. Because it comes from food or wood Municipal Waste is also considered a useful biomass product.
Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: Used in the generation of warm water and electricity this energy mainly comes from the Sun and heats the Earth. Having a consistent ground temperature of around 12 degrees centigrade is fortunate for the UK as it allows both the heating and cooling of buildings. With four units replaced for every one unit of energy used these heat pumps are very effective. This system can go even further if energy efficient items such as wind turbines or solar electrical panels are used.
Systems Based On Wind Energy: As an energy source wind energy has to be one of the oldest forms of energy creation in history. Whether to a home or local grid when the energy has been generated it must be delivered to appoint if usage and cannot be stored. The UK alone is considered one of the best sources of wind generation within Europe. For the fact remains that within the UK we have the ability to generate 10 percent of our requirement from Wind Production as opposed to the current value of 1 percent. Instead of producing electricity at a rate of 2-10p per kWh we could be generating at 2p per kWh. Because of this it is estimated that it takes between half a year to three quarters of a year to cover the costs.
Finally, we have Hydropower; an area in which the UK does well within Europe. Just like a thousand years ago we are looking utilising energy from water. That aside it is fair to say that some 2 percent of the UK’s electrical load comes from this source.
A hydropower system transforms the kinetic energy of the moving water into another type of energy by means of a turbine. The important thing is that without relying on water storage the turbines can generate electricity. ‘Micro-Hydro’ utilises a chunk of the outdated sluices and dam systems that have been killed off by the large national distribution methods. Whilst considered a small form of electrical output this system has been thought to be able to give some 200mW of capacity to the UK. The capital cost of installing a micro-hydro system can run between 200 and 3000 pounds per kW of energy output.
It is down to the worldwide energy requirements that sees the growth in ‘Green Energy’. Considering this schemes laid out above the UK domestic market appears to be one of the core beneficiaries of this technology.
With the rise in demand for domestic installations both Electricians and Plumbers are well placed to take advantage of this technology. Not only in the EEC but also in the UK ‘Green Energy’ is rapidly gaining ground as the way forward and a range of financial incentives are in place to support this. It is by gaining the right certificates across the board that will help opportunities and job security for the long term. To that end it may be worth thinking about combined training where you can get plumbing or electrical training along with green knowledge.
(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Try Green Certification or plumbercourse.co.uk/Solar-Training.html.
February 20, 2010 at 5:54 am · Filed under Uncategorized
To begin with newspapers appear to love discussing what can be earned in Plumbing. Figures of 30-70k p.a. are touted, alongside much talk of the profound shortage in the number of Plumbers within the UK. The question now is - are we being lied to, or is this the truth? For an experienced Plumber, this amount of salary is both realistic and feasible. To be fair, the higher earnings of 70-100k p.a. are generally for those working within the self-employed field.
The normal working week is pretty standard for those who join an established company. Salaries of between 15k - 30k p.a. are easily achievable and will include typical benefits such as holiday pay and sickness allowance - what you’d generally expect from any UK employed status. The self-employed person can generally achieve higher incomes than those available from the traditional approach, but would need to consider working ‘out of hours’ - and probably longer than the typical 9am-6pm Mon-Fri model. This is more common in the domestic market where self employed plumbers often have to work evenings and weekends to suit those clients that work during the week.
Also there is the factor of self-employment and whether it goes with some people more than others. The inclusion of key elements such as utilising good ‘business sense’, covering areas such as advertising and marketing and getting your own cost-per-hour correct is integral to the picture. Equally, most self-employed people will need to pay additional costs to cover their materials and transport, alongside legal and accountancy fees etc. While these costs can mount up, so too do the benefits, however the costs should always remain a smaller part of the income generated. And the positives virtually always beat the downsides!
Without a doubt Student Entrants are looking for companies who can offer them regular employment and thereby teach them from experience. The Self Employed Entrant on the other hand will need to widen their list of plumbing accreditations and certifications as quickly as possible. Having said that, we should bear in mind that the majority of self-employed workers tend to migrate towards the narrower ‘domestic’ market, rather than the commercial sector. (The majority do at the very least)
In terms of plumbing education, there appears to be some similarity between the certification modules required by each path into the industry. There is considerable divergence though when the issue of NVQ’s (SVQ’s in Scotland) comes into play.
To begin with, the Student Entrant appears to rely more heavily on the NVQ structure than the Self Employed Entrant. The Self Employed Entrant will often call upon a wider range of certifications right from the outset; in order to satisfy their perceived client’s requirements. Without a doubt the self employed person needs to quickly gain the core domestic- centred qualifications to satisfy their typical household-based clients. It is within the workplace - where the NVQ element can be appraised that many Student Entrants carry on with their apprenticeship after having covered the key fundamentals through a college scheme. The Student Entrant can also make financial savings at the start, as it is a cheaper form of study overall. However, in relation to the Student Entrant the Self Employed Entrant will gain certifications faster and therefore achieve substantial financial gains in the long term.
To be sure the financial returns required is the result of clear careers discussions covering certification and the overall study requirements. It is extremely difficult for adults with a family to look after and needing 20kp.a. to consider going back to college and spending 3 years on low paid-apprenticeship work. It should also be remembered that many younger Student Entrants are entering an apprenticeship and thereby have their courses paid for them whereas the mature self-employed students do not. For self-employed people these costs are set by the course structure and the level of certification sought and can end up between 3k-10k+.
Student Entrants will in the main study at further-education colleges, the Self Employed student however has the option to consider the increased scope of private commercial colleges. It is through well known educational paths that many commercial training companies can offer routes into correct qualifications and skill-set requirements. The situation whereby Self Employed Entrants can continue with their current job and maintain their financial position remains one of the core advantages of training in evening, part-time or self study classes. With so many colleges at hand, the key is to secure as many with technical data sources and gather them. We have provided adverts and links from several to allow you to come back and review your options, so why not book mark this page (CTRL-D).
Many plumbing students will increase their ‘marketability’ through the use of further courses. Indeed it is through the added training provided that certification in areas such as Gas, Green Energy and Electrical can be gained. Gas training has always been a route for Plumbers to consider, as this forms part of the common domestic and commercial heating system.
Gas Training is considered a dedicated training program with key subjects followed by important NVQ’s. For those who trained as a plumber first and are now looking at extra skills this also offers many options for their on-going development. In review it is often felt that the mature student responds well to the blend of Gas/Plumbing training. It is by centring on these core elements and dropping the NVQ elements that the Mature Student appears to settle.
It is from this particular training program that the self-employed professional gains ground. Without a doubt the appeal is to learn a greater range of skill-sets and at the same time earn money from them. This adds to their overall package rather than having to rely on sub-contraction of key skills to third parties. Sub-contracting can not only reduce the earning potential of a job, but also erode the value in the customer’s eye, as they may have to wait for key stages to be handled by someone else before the final completion of the job. The more professional a Plumber is within their field the more that they have to offer their relative client base.
It is by working at their broader range of certifications alongside business skills that Self Employed Entrants can achieve much higher income streams that their Student Entrant counterparts. Note: This information deals with industry requirements and policies for the UK market alone.
Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Go to Plumbing Training or Plumbing Course.
February 19, 2010 at 5:28 am · Filed under Uncategorized
‘Green Energy’ is the use of items such as wind, tides and geothermal heating to provide us with our everyday energy fulfilment. Collectively they are thought to be ‘Green’ because they are ecologically sound and easy to replace. If we think of some of the older energy skills e.g. Wind Power then in many ways we are going back in time. However, it is the result of eco-efficient and planet friendly options that this process is maintained.
Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors are examples of what can be used in the house as part of renewable energy technologies. Equally there is the basic electricity generated through roof-installed panels. Following on from this is a process known as Biomass Energy which includes Boilers burning wood and the fuel they burn on. Then there are the Ground Source Heat Pumps which is simply the old form of heat from the Sun. Not all ‘Green Energy’ is new - by considering Wind Power and Hydropower we are looking at some of the oldest forms of energy.
As we expand on each, we’ll also cover some of the skill sets for those wanting to train and ultimately work within that particular field. Without a doubt this would be on interest to those in the Plumbing, Gas and Electrical sectors. Checking out the pages on Electricity, Green and Plumbing careers would also help gather as much information as possible. So it is worth checking out the sites for a variety of training providers as a result bookmark (CTRL-D) this page so you can come back.
Solar Energy Systems: By using different technologies, Solar Energy is effectively made up of two types of solar panels. Making hot water from solar energy is the first stage and is known as Solar Water Heating Collection. Secondly, Photovoltaic heat collectors - often simply referred to as Solar Electrical Panels - which transform the solar radiation into electricity. Solar Panels themselves need to be away from blockages, be on south facing roofs and finally be at angles of 30 degrees from the horizontal plane.
Within Solar Energy overall, Solar Water Power is now commonly used in the UK. These systems are very efficient and can deliver 50 percent of a household’s hot water requirement annually. There are two options to fit these items the first is to get a professional fit and the second is a DIY system, the former will cost around 2-5k and the second between 500 and 1500 pounds.
Biomass Energy Technology: Historically this has come from plants and animals nowadays this also includes new ‘energy crops’. It is by using such material in new ways to create energy that makes it so exciting. It is a useful point to make that the UK is one of the major producers of Biomass fuels within Europe. Considering all this and the relative lack of C02 produced makes the whole process positive overall. Because the system often involves one tree being planted for another being felled that many wood crops are deemed to have come from sustainable sources.
By the growth of Short Rotation Crops (SRC) the UK is able to maximise the ‘Energy Crops’ return against the plant production overall. Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses because of their yield of dry matter. Whilst Agricultural and Municipal waste may appear lesser known they are essential to the whole process. Agricultural Waste is naturally formed as a by-product of conventional agricultural activity. Whereas Municipal Waste is derived from wood or food and can be used for biomass energy.
Geo-Thermal Energy Systems… Used in the generation of warm water and electricity this energy mainly comes from the Sun and heats the Earth. By using the ground source temperature of approximately 12 degrees we can either heat or cool buildings within the UK. Generally items such as Heat Pumps are thought of as very effective as they often bring in four units of energy for every one that as used in generation. It is the fact that such a return of energy, sometimes almost 100 percent, that heat source pumps often operate in line items such as wind turbines and solar electrical panels.
Wind Energy: Although in forms as milling grain or pumping water, wind energy has been with us for a very long time, its modern uses are complex. More recently there has been the desire to deliver the energy created to the home or to a local power grid. In the European theatre it is the UK which is seen to have the largest capacity. Although we only use 1 percent of the current electricity requirement from wind we do have the capability to create 10 percent. Frankly, electricity can be realised from as little as 2p per kWh as opposed to the current level of 2-10 p per kWh. Recovery of the cost involved is somewhere between 6-9 months.
Within the UK, Hydropower is an energy process that suits the energy generation model. Although new in its approach the act of creating energy from water has been going on for a long time. Within the UK, this form of energy production is responsible for somewhere in the region of 2 percent of all electrical needs.
It is a Hydropower process, using a turbine that can convert the energy from one for into another. Utilising natural river runs or water drops through dams the turbines can work without a reservoir of water. It is by using this system that have been traditionally eroded by national distribution methods that allows for outdated sluices and dams to be used by techniques known as ‘Micro-Hydro’. This smaller form of electrical output has been recently reviewed and could allocate some 200MW of capacity to the UK system. A micro-hydro system like this would be expected to cost between 200 and 3,000 pounds per kW of the energy.
‘Green Energy’ is growing mainly due to the demands of the Western World. Needless of this the UK remains one of the main beneficiaries of this technology.
Once again it is the Electrician and Plumbing trades that are set to capitalise on the domestic installation process. With EEC and UK recognition of renewable energy getting ever-higher on the political agenda, the grants and financial aid for introduction of these systems can only increase. Gaining installation certification across these areas can only provide further opportunity and job security to anyone already in related fields or looking to retrain. To cover both ends you could consider blended training with electrical or plumbing training along with green systems.
(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Navigate to Solar Courses or Click HERE.
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