Archive for the Category ◊ Solar Installation ◊

Solar Cells and Solar Photovoltaic Electrical generation are among the most common and renewable energy sources available to date. During these times when awareness is increasing, the government is greatly increasing government programs to finance renewable energy sources. Solar panel installation training offers you the opportunity to cash in on government grants for solar training for the use of your unemployment retraining benefits, finding new green job employment opportunities or even just to find one of the many new jobs installing solar panels.

Finding a solar panel training school is about much more than just discovering somebody to show you the way that photovoltaic cells and solar panels work, it involves discovering a school of solar energy that can help you to get the certifications you need to get a job in the ever-expanding field of solar and wind energy or green jobs. The American government is throwing massive amounts of subsidies into the creation and expansion of green jobs including solar energy, solar training and photovoltaic panel installation, maintenance and repair. All of the training in the world will not do you any good unless you receive the proper NABCEP certifications that you need to become actively involved in the creation of green jobs.

Solar Power Training Certification is now required in many states in order to get one of the increasing number of jobs in renewable energy and even to bid on these jobs, Solar Power Installation Training and certification is required in many other states. While it is important to understand all of the principles of solar panels, training should include more than just the basics of solar panel installation and maintenance. What better place to study wind and solar training than in a NABCEP Certified Testing Center? The Boots on the Roof Six Day Boot Camp offers you the opportunity to study solar power and other renewable power sources within a NABCEP certified testing center. Not only will you have the chance to become comfortable working around renewable energy sources, you will also have the opportunity to grow more comfortable and relaxed in the same environment where you will be taking your Solar Certification Testing.

For those people who are more comfortable planting their boots on a roof than flying around the country, there is also online solar training available. You do not even have to put your boots inside the classroom at all if you are more comfortable that way. With Boots on the Roof’s online solar power training courses, you can still get everything that you need to pass the Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge of PV Systems or Photovoltaic systems. Boots on the Roof’s Wind and Solar Training is a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Energy Training classes both online and on campus to better suit your needs. When you are looking for schools for Photovoltaic Design and Installation, you need look no further than one of Boots on the Roof’s 6 Day Boot Camps. On campus or online, this is THE resource for all of your wind and solar training needs.

New solar technology is advancing at rates never before seen and probably not even imagined. Gone are the days of the old, bulky and inefficient solar panels. These days, more efficient solar panels are being created and designed which should soon bring solar energy into the mainstream as a viable and fully renewable energy source to replace fossil fuels completely. At this rate, it will not be long before a solar panel the size of a home roof will be fully capable of producing all of the energy that the home needs. The new solar technology revolves around new and improved designs for solar panels.

The new solar technology is made by improved designs for the solar panels and their components. These days, solar panels take up a lot less room and work far more efficiently. The components are state of the art and there is more power generated and less power loss when the solar panels are tied in to the home or buildings commercial electrical system. These designs also allow for the new solar technology to be installed much cheaper than traditional solar panel installations and with a lot less mounting and housing required. This means that in addition for it being less expensive, the installation of solar panels on your home no longer has to be an eyesore to all of your neighbors.

A look inside the housing for the new solar technology is where the first and most obvious changes can be found. The housing for the photovoltaic cells is much more aerodynamic than ever before allowing the air to pass through the solar panels meaning they get buffeted around much less and thus, last longer and work more efficiently. Additional new solar technologies include the use of thin-film solar panels that are not only smaller but lighter weight and a lot easier for the final installation. What is really most amazing regarding the new solar technology is the actual photovoltaic cells themselves.

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While the old photovoltaic cells were very limited in scope and how they could absorb the sunlight to convert it to electrical current, the new solar technology for photovoltaic cells allows these cells to work much more efficiently creating more energy in the same amount or even less space as their ancient solar panel counterparts. The new photovoltaic cells have a cylindrical shape that allows them to collect the sunlight from all three hundred and sixty degrees making them a lot less limited in the amount of time throughout the day that they are absorbing sunlight and generating electricity.

The old photovoltaic cells only absorbed sunlight for a limited amount of time each day and could only produce electrical for that limited amount of time making them extremely limited in both scope and efficiency. The new solar technology for these cells allows them to capture and collect sunlight for the production of electricity no matter where the sunlight is coming from even if it is diffused or indirect sunlight. The new solar technology is very impressive but hopefully it is only a good sign of things to come.

Solar Electricians are the backbone of the solar power industry. After all, photovoltaic solar cells convert sunlight into electricity, and that electricity then must be distributed throughout a building. Attending a solar school to get solar panel installation training rather than a regular vocational school, however, to get an Electrical Engineering degree specializing in solar power will provide you with a strong advantage in getting hired as an electrician in the solar power industry.

Why? The answer is because wiring a building to run off of solar power requires very different technologies and skill sets than wiring a building to run off of the local electrical power grid.

Using local grid power, regular home construction electricians are used to accessing a constant, regulated, steady flow of electricity from the local power grid. All they have to do is distribute that constant flow of electricity throughout the building via the standard residential electrical wiring network.

Solar power, however, is much more complex. Under solar power systems, electricity comes not from the local power grid, but from the sun. Solar panels in the roof convert sunlight to electricity. Consequently, the flow of electricity is neither regulated nor constant. To overcome this problem, electricity generated by the solar panels is stored in battery banks. The batteries, in turn, provide a regulated, steady flow of electricity to the building. If the batteries are depleted, the home electrical network needs to be able to switch seamlessly back over to the local power grid.

All this, obviously, adds an extra layer of complexity to wiring a building’s electrical network. Any electrician specialized in dealing with it will be in high demand in the solar power industry.iStock_000003896824Large

How will I use my Solar Power Training Certification–What Does a Solar Electrician Do?

In addition to wiring a home or building with the usual electrical network, a solar electricians must also set up the solar energy battery banks. This is not as easy as it sounds. The solar electrician must know what type of batteries to use, and how many will be needed. If there is more than one battery (as with all but the most basic solar power system there will be), the solar electrician will need to set up load-balancing equipment to charge and deplete the multiple batteries evenly. The electricity will also need to be converted from DC power to the 120-volt AC power used in the building’s wall outlets.

Solar electricians also need to be also to install instrumentation to measure the charge in the battery banks, and control mechanisms to switch over to local grid power when the battery banks are almost drained. Today, very few homes are capable of being powered entirely by solar energy. Most use a combination of solar and grid power, using the solar power produced merely to reduce their monthly power bill.

How Do I Become a Solar Electrician?

At least an Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field would be the required to qualify as a Solar Electrician. Obviously, a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree you be preferable. If possible, attend a solar school rather than a community college or a vocational school program to get solar panel installation training. Not only will a solar school train you in the specializations needed to work with solar power systems, but you’ll learn more about solar power in general. Both of these will make your degree more attractive for a solar power company, and increase your chances of being hired.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable Energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar PV Installation Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

Solar energy is becoming one of the fastest growing industries. There are many careers in this industry but one of the most popular is solar panel installation.  There are several parts to the solar energy system that you will learn to install. The main components are the solar energy panels themselves.   Some systems have batteries that the currents go to for storage but others require the energy be used right away. Solar panel installation training with teach you the difference and about the variety of systems available.

Most all systems that are installed today will have batteries to store solar power. This allows users to not only get power during the hours the sun is not up but on cloudy days as well. Solar energy systems are increasing in popularity. They are extremely efficient in saving energy as well as better for the environment then other energy sources. Here are some basic solar energy facts:

  • Solar energy is one of the best energy sources for our environment
  • It can be used to produce electricity through the photovoltaic solar panels to heat water, power heating & air conditioning units and any other electrical needs
  • As the used of solar energy panels increases the demand all over the world increases
  • Solar energy power is measured with 1 kilowatt equaling 1000 watts
  • A 100 watt light bulb utilizes 1 kilowatt per hour
  • In 1999 it was estimated that the average American household will use about 866-kilowatt hours per month in 1999 costing them $70.68 with this number being much higher now
  • 30% of this usage being to simply heat their homes

There are a variety of solar panel installation courses and training programs available throughout the country.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Thermal Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.


One of the biggest issues that individuals have when they are looking into solar school programs is the reputation of the program and finding a program that is going to give them the certification that they need, a price they can afford and that the certification is going to be worth something to them. There are a few things to look for when picking out a solar installation program to use for your certification.

One thing to consider is the reputation of the solar school.

  • How long as the school been open and what type of certification do they offer?
  • What is included in that certification?
  • Who is the program recommended by or accredited by?

These are all questions that should be asked prior to signing up for any program.

Most of the time you will find that solar school certification programs travel and many of them are given as conferences. This allows many solar school programs to travel around and help to meet the demand that is growing in the market today. The industry has an amazing demand for qualified technicians and a limited supply. This is why many of the schools have chosen to go this route. It allows for maximum exposure and means that if an area does not yet have a program available but has a demand for certificated solar energy technicians the demand can be met within that area. This saves time and money allowing the industry to expand without stagnating.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Thermal Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

Solar energy is one of the first things that come to mind when you think of renewable energy. Going green is something that has been all over the news, the TV and the internet. Schools and programs are expanding, growing and starting because of the increased demand for qualified workers in the solar energy field.

Solar school can provide you with the training you need to start a new career or simply expand an old one. There are a number of aspects to solar energy that needs to be considered. First there is knowledge of the technology.

Technology has changed over the years. Solar panels have evolved over the years and come in a variety of different systems. It is an engineer’s job for example, to determine how many pv solar panels, how large the panels should be and which type of panel should be installed. However, depending on the job description these types of engineers may or may not be installation technicians as well.

Another aspect of solar school is the actual physical installation of the equipment. There are many things to consider when installing solar panels such as the location of the panels. Many homes are not situated in a location that allows for maximum exposure from stationary panels. However, new technology allows flexible solar panels to move with the sun to allow for maximum exposure. These pv solar panels however require yard space, which increases the likelihood of shade. It is these questions that solar school helps train you to answer.

Boots on the Roof is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar PV training boot camp. To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.

A video about our Solar Thermal Training class, optimized for Plumbing, Swimming Pool & General Contractors looking to add solar-thermal systems to their existing service offerings. HVAC Contractors,Architects or Engineers with experience in plumbing, pumps or piping are also welcome.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Thermal Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

request_infoTraining in solar energy can consist of attending a university to get degrees in areas like electrical engineering. These people are the ones responsible for designing the photovoltaic cells and the systems that utilize them for manufacture. For those not interested in the more theoretical areas of solar energy, it is possible to get training that is more geared toward those with a mechanical aptitude.

Experts report that the vast majority of renewable energy technologies are powered by the sun. Although the greatest number of solar projects and electricity production is on a large-scale basis, renewable energy technologies are quite suitable for small off-grid applications, especially in the rural and remote areas where some sort of energy power is often crucial in the majority of human endeavors.

To meet this need, solar PV installation courses are currently being offered by the organization known as Boots on the Roof. This solar training provides both online courses for distance learners and in-person hands-on workshops in photovoltaic and solar home design. This training provides the springboard for an entry level position with a dealer or installer or other company in the photovoltaic industry. Students learn the criteria necessary for practical system design, guidelines for installation, safety issues, maintenance, and legal issues surrounding solar systems.

This training in solar energy is especially important in light of the California Solar Initiative (CSI). The initiative provides for rebates and incentives paid to Californians to install solar photovoltaic systems that will be attached to the power grid so the utilities can buy back the excess wattage generated for use by those without solar systems. There is a shortage of qualified technicians to fill the growing demand both among utilities and private corporations, and this shortage is expected to increase as more people go solar. Experts estimate that a career in solar energy and photovoltaic technologies will be one of the most secure in times to come.

Boots on the Roof is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar PV training boot camp. To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.

request_infoThe amount of solar power products available to individual homeowners and business owners can be very confusing for someone not entirely informed on what is necessary to set up a solar system for the property’s needs. Most customers are interested in solar panel installation as a part of a solar energy generation system designed to reduce costs. There are additional systems available which can also provide heating to the structure or hot water as needed by the homeowner.

Generally speaking, the solar power products needed for a solar power generation system include solar collector panels, a generator that converts sunlight to electrical current, and a net metering system that will connect the structure to the local utility grid. Systems that will heat a structure or will be utilized in a more traditional tank hot water system will need solar PV panels that can heat water as it runs beneath them and channel it into insulated tanks, or through specialized plumbing that runs into the house to help heat the structure. The installation of this latter type of system generally works better in a new build, rather than trying to retrofit it into an older structure.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has an extensive database surrounding solar energy and what is likely to be needed for different uses. In addition, there are links to other organizations which can help offer answers to your solar needs. A couple of the resources listed can even recommend a number of qualified contractors and technicians that can do solar panel installation and solar power systems for you.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Energy Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

request_infoTo best understand how solar energy can help the modern consumer save money and make responsible choices for a source of power that is truly renewable, a few basic concepts need to be understood when it comes to using a solar heating system.

PV solar panels (PV is short for photovoltaic) are collectors that capture solar radiation or radiant heat from sunlight and convert it to useable energy in the form of electrical current that then can be used to power appliances or other devices within the home or building. Most PV solar panels are connected in arrays that can be either mounted on the roof of a structure, or other places where it will receive the maximum exposure to the sun’s rays. The solar array may then be attached to the electrical system of the house by a cable.

If the house or building is close enough to a utility power grid, it can be added in through a net metering system. This net meter is able to run forwards and backwards so that the consumer can draw wattage from the grid if it is too dark or overcast to generate power. Any overage in wattage generated may be sold back to the grid to be used by other customers.

If a house is not close enough to a utility grid to conveniently hook on, a system of storage batteries can be installed which can store enough electrical current to take care of any power needs until such time as the PV solar panels can capture sunlight again and recharge the batteries. When connected to solar heating systems, photovoltaic solar panels can heat a house or provide hot water.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar PV Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.