Solar Power for Houses: Your Residential Solar Power System

Increasing energy conservation and energy efficiency are the most cost effective ways to reduce the amount of money you pay for energy.  Before you invest in alternative energy sources, you should check that your house uses as little energy as possible while still allowing you the lifestyle you want.   Of the two approaches, the simpler is energy conservation.

Energy conservation involves using less energy by doing things like turning off the lights when we’re not in the room.  There is no upfront cost to such actions, although they do typically require behavior changes.

Ways to reduce your power use through energy conservation

• Turn all lights out when you leave the room
• Set your computer to fall into hibernation mode when it is not in use
• Unplug appliances when not in use, or get a power bar and turn the power bar off at night
• Buy a timer for your home’s thermostat so that your home will be warm when you’re home and moving about and cooler at night and when you’re at work
• Turn your home’s thermostat down a couple of degrees Celsius and wear a sweater – presuming your home is not leaky enough that you’re wearing a sweater anyway and freezing cold besides
• Turn the TV off if you’re not watching it

Basically, if you aren’t using it, it shouldn’t be on.

Energy efficiency involves using appliances that can do the same amount of work with less energy.  It does not involve you changing your daily behaviour.  The classic example is replacing incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent, but it goes far beyond this.  The largest use of electricity in many homes is heating.  By insulating the house, the amount of energy required to heat the house is reduced.

Cheap ways to reduce your power use through energy efficiency

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents
• Insulate your hot water heater
• Insulate your hot water pipes
• put plastic film over windows during winter

More expensive, but very useful

• Buy an energy-efficient refrigerator if your current fridge is more than 10 years old
• Insulate your ceilings, walls and floors
• Replace single-glazed windows with double or triple glazed windows

Of course, if you really want to increase energy efficiency there are a variety of methods for passive solar heating, but that is beyond the scope of this article.

When you install that new appliance…

I once lived in an apartment where the landlord had replaced all the windows with new windows that were supposed to be much better insulated and lose less heat.   However, he had installed them badly and there were gaps between the windows and the frame.  One of the gaps was so large you could see right through it to the outside.   Because of this, the house would not stay warm despite the new windows and the landlord complained about his energy bills to us.  Meanwhile, we complained that we were always cold.

This shows the importance of installing new energy efficient objects correctly.  If installed incorrectly, the object may well work badly if it works at all, and you may have done a lot of work and spent a lot of money for no energy savings.  So do it right the first time!

It is hardly surprising that with the growing interest in renewable energy sources, there is a corresponding growth of interest in people wanting to enter the solar jobs space. The area of solar energy is one that is proving to be particularly attractive, and is one that has expressed a growing demand for qualified and capable personnel to enter its workforce.

All of these developments have naturally given rise to the question of what training and certification requirements are needed for those who are looking to build a career in the solar energy industry. The obvious place to start is the training courses offered by both traditional learning institutions and technical and vocation organizations. These venues in particular have subsequently experienced a huge increase in the number of people interested in taking solar education courses.

This is a fairly logical turn of events since the gap between environmental and economic concerns is ever narrowing in the face of the need to develop alternative energy sources such as solar energy. The fact of the matter is that the rise of environmental technologies will result in the development of environmental jobs and �green� jobs, and students are becoming cognizant of this fact.

In fact, the high demand for solar courses has resulted in certain learning institutions being forced to place applicants on a waiting list. While this is a need that definitely has to be addressed in order to supply the personnel demands of the solar energy industry, it is a positive indicator in that it points to the fact that more and more people are interested in entering the field.

For those who are not able to get into any of the solar courses, further training options can be found in local community colleges, many of which have begun to offer courses directly related to renewable energy. Many of these courses offer the advantage of being taught by professionals that actually work in the areas of solar energy. Furthermore, community colleges also typically offer courses in electrical theory and construction, which provide just as much valuable training as specific solar courses�such as photovoltaic training for example�for someone who is looking to get a start in the solar energy industry.

It is interesting to note that while many professionals that currently work in the field of solar energy have earned their qualifications from traditional learning institutions�that is through regular degree programs and professional training programs in science, engineering or related disciplines�many of them have picked up the actual skills required by the job through direct, hands-on experience. In fact, there is a considerable number of professionals in the renewable energy industry that have developed the bulk of their skills and qualifications by way of solar training programs provided by their employers, even those that have previously worked at similar jobs in related fields.

A considerable number of the workers in solar energy field are experienced construction workers who have undergone apprenticeship programs. These solar education programs are either offered by trade associations or by vocational schools and community colleges, and they may last anywhere from a few weeks to a year. Applicants that manage to successfully complete these solar education apprenticeship programs are given a certificate of completion. These courses typically offer instruction in solar electrical system installation, system maintenance, and solar panel retro-fitting, and may even be applied for by high school level applicants that want to learn how to install or repair solar systems as a means of breaking into the solar energy industry.

While the people who work in the solar energy industry will likely continue to benefit from actual on the job experience for the foreseeable future, an increasing number of the future workforce will enter the field already possessing knowledge and qualifications that are specific to the field of solar energy. These individuals will be particularly suited to positions in the solar energy industry wherein relevant qualifications are more essential.

Those who are looking to become solar electrical system installers will greatly benefit their careers by obtaining certification through a program that is overseen by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners or NABCEP. While relatively few industry practitioners have earned their certifications through this program since it was established in 2003, the number will likely increase in the future as the program is implemented as an industry standard.

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Solar Training, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy
Education-Boots on the Roof.

For additional information on solar training courses, please visit Solar Training Boot Camps at
Boots on the Roof.

Article Source: Populate.net

In the face of the current energy crisis, with virtually all of the traditional energy sources rapidly dwindling, there is an increasing interest in alternative energy sources. More and more sectors are realizing the bigger role that alternative energy will play in the coming years, and it is a trend that will likely continue for the foreseeable future. As you can imagine, this will result in plenty of job opportunities in alternative energy, particularly in the field of solar energy.

At present, thousands of new graduates from varying educational backgrounds are considering careers in the field renewable energy. These fresh graduates are ideally positioned to fill the needs of financiers, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, provided they have the skills and capabilities required in the industry. And that is where the quandary lies.

While there is undoubtedly an increasing demand for experienced and qualified personnel in virtually every aspect of renewable energy, the demand greatly outweighs the supply. At the root of this wide demand and supply gap in the labor market, is the incessant lack of programs which train students careers in environmental jobs or green jobs. This void has begun to be addressed by a few educational institutes such as Boots on the Roof, a growing Solar Training institute in the heart of California, which is running a series of very successful solar training boot camps for students nationwide.

Interestingly enough, many of the professionals currently working in the renewable energy field began their education in other areas, even in fields that are totally unrelated. That being said, the best way to break into the solar energy industry is still by way of a thorough solar education as provided by traditional learning institutions, and Boots on the Roof is a good example to site here.

The younger generations in particular have taken advantage of courses offered by an increasing number of colleges and universities in sustainability and renewable energy.

In spite of these programs and similar others, solar companies are still dealing with under-staffed teams due to lack of skilled manpower. Some renewable energy organizations that are currently existent are now offering corporate solar training programs which are targeted towards applicants of different capability levels and interests. Some companies even offer solar training courses for military veterans who are looking for careers in the private sector.

You may also want to consider entry-level certificate program such as the ones offered by many technical colleges all over the country. These solar education courses typically consist of 24 hours of instruction, and will provide a basic entry point by which you can explore your opportunities in renewable energy.

While technical knowledge and background in solar courses is undoubtedly essential for those who are seeking careers in renewable energy, some basic business knowledge will come in handy as well.

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Solar Training, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy
Education-Boots on the Roof.

For additional information on solar training courses, please visit Solar Training Boot Camps at
Boots on the Roof.

Article Source: Populate.net