Watch as the White House Council on Environmental Quality takes questions on the new Green Economy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse?blend=1&ob=4#p/search/0/aFjhhEaj11U

When people hear the term renewable energy resources, many people think about fossil fuels. It is not that they can or cannot prove whether or not oil is actually a renewable energy source but that many people simply accept it on faith that it is. Reports back as far as the nineteen seventies indicated that we would be out of oil today and yet here we are, burning oil in even greater quantities and still not running on empty just yet. However, when people talk about renewable energy resources these days, it is hoped that at least someone will steer them towards truly renewable resources like wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power and other more natural methods of producing and generating electricity.

Hydroelectric power is very practical as evidenced by the Hoover Dam but it takes great rivers to produce electrical power sufficient enough to supply even small segments of the population. The environmental issues associated with dam building also make hydroelectric power questionable as a viable renewable energy source for anything more than limited and generally local use. While it is quite efficient, it is not the ideal solution for utilizing new alternative energy resources and will not likely provide enough power to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels to any great extent.

Geothermal power is regularly produced in many areas but again there are geographical limitations that prevent it from being a viable replacement for oil and coal. When discussing renewable energy resources, this has to be taken into consideration as the ultimate goal is to produce zero or as little as possible of the electricity that is consumed using fossil fuels.

The most viable method for using renewable energy resources to totally replace the dependence on fossil fuels is using a combination of wind and solar powers. Still, even the solar power generators have issues and create more environmental controversy so perhaps even that is only going to be of very limited use in replacing the energy production currently undertaken by burning fossil fuels. This leaves one very promising alternative. When it comes to renewable energy resources, solar power is among the most viable of all of the options. At present, there may be some limitations due to restrictions of space and the size needed to create a solar energy farm of any real merit but those obstacles are quickly being overcome with new solar energy technology.

The new solar power technologies of today already provide extremely efficient solar panels that produce more electricity in much less space than their predecessors did. The use of improved photovoltaic cells has increased efficiency to the point that solar power may very well be the ultimate replacement for fossil fuels. For renewable energy resources to be a viable alternative, they have to be able to replace energy that is dependent on fossil fuels altogether. The sun currently produces over four thousand times the amount of energy being consumed by all of humankind. The only difficulty is that this energy is not currently being harvested and utilized. As solar energy and solar power technologies become more advanced, more energy will be generated in less and less space. When speaking about renewable energy resources, solar power may just be the talk of the town and the answer to our current energy crisis.

Watch the latest green stories! 

The more efficient solar panels and solar energy become, the more people will be willing to use it and the more people will accept it as a viable energy source instead of as an alternative to power generated by burning fossil fuels. While the solar panels of yesteryear were bulky and inefficient, today we have much more efficient solar panels and the solar power technology is growing by leaps and bounds. The solar panels of the future are here today but that does not mean that they are not getting better all the time.

While the solar panels are the complete units, it is the actual design and the components of the solar panels that make them work and make them capable or incapable of producing a level of energy capable of being sufficient enough to actually help to reduce utility bills with the solar energy. The new solar collectors are both smaller and more efficient solar panels that help to increase the production of power using solar energy making them more useful and able to create a larger savings than their older counterparts could.

The components used in the newer and more efficient solar panels are what make them so incredible. One of the recent developments to improve the design of solar panels was actually coming up with a way for the airflow to pass through the solar panels. This resulted in solar panels that required a lot less framework during the installation which caused the costs of solar panel installation to be reduced and also meant that there was less chance of damage to the house or building itself. Another radical development in the production or more efficient solar panels was the introduction of thin-film solar panels.

The thin filmed solar panels allow for the production of solar panels that take up a lot less room, weigh much less and work more efficiently than the older, large, bulky and heavy solar panels from the days of old. Thin-film solar technology is being aided with the introduction of newer and more efficient photovoltaic cells or collectors that actually increase the efficiency of solar panels noticeably for the better. In fact, these new types of photovoltaic receptors are so sensitive and so capable that they have virtually transformed the world of solar power all on their own. While that may sound like an exaggeration, a look at the statistics will show exactly why the use of these is directly responsible for much more efficient solar panels.

Older solar panels were only capable of absorbing a limited amount of sunlight due to the restrictions of the older photovoltaic receptors but the new solar collectors are proprietary cylindrical shaped photovoltaic collectors that are much more potent and effective. The new photovoltaic receptors used in the more efficient solar panels collect sunlight from a full three hundred and sixty degree radius meaning that if the sun is heating these solar panels, they are generating electrical current. So efficient are they that not only can they collect sunlight from any angle but they can even generate electrical current from sunlight that is diffused (like when you have dirty solar panels) and even sunlight that is reflected on to the solar panels from a different location. This was unheard of in the past so the use of these cylindrical photovoltaic collectors is in truth, directly responsible for a new generation of more efficient solar panels.

Already the need for qualified workers in the field of solar energy exceeds the numbers that have acquired the necessary solar energy credentials. Government, private industry, and educational institutions are well aware of the shortfall and the expected future increase in demand. Programs in colleges, trade schools, and even introductory programs that expose younger audiences to the possibility of employment in the solar industry are receiving funding and media coverage. While industry, government, and the general public desperately need a larger workforce trained in solar technology, those that have solar power credentials from renewable energy schools can expect guaranteed jobs and secure financial incomes.

There are currently a variety of solar training programs available. Some are targeted at the working student who cannot afford to take time away from work. Those programs offer weekend and evening courses, and some even offer the classroom portions online. Virtually all solar school programs concerned with installation of solar systems have a large portion of the program dedicated to hands-on training. These programs are especially crucial to training carpenters and electricians in how to use their existing skills for the purpose of advancing renewable energy.

Another encouraging aspect of the training available for those interested in pursuing careers in clean renewable energy is that the new programs are open to a greater variety of students. In the past, studies and job training in environmental science were available only to people holding academic credentials. Generally these courses were part of science and engineering departments at large well-funded universities. But today’s solar school can be a small operation with no affiliation with an academic university. A person who has absolutely no academic credentials, such as a construction laborer with no college but an intense interest in solar energy, can gain a solar energy credential and look forward to a more secure job.

Generally when we first think of jobs involving solar energy we think only of the jobs that pertain to the installation of the solar systems in homes and businesses. Certainly that is a large part, if not the largest part, of the jobs available, but it is important to remember that there will also be jobs in the development of new products and systems as well as in the marketing of such systems. Just like other product industries spawn mini industries in a supporting role, solar energy will need an array of people involved in everything from design and invention to sales. For this reason when we think of studying at a solar school we need to remember that the schools will be varied. Some will be small trade schools with the sole purpose of offering a solar panel installation certificate, while other schools will be located in large universities where portions of the engineering or business departments are devoted to training students in various roles concerning solar technology.

According to many experts the need for qualified personnel and the need for solar schools will continue to increase. For those new to the workforce or those that want to compliment their existing skills a certification in solar technology may be the best way to spend money on education and get an immediate return on the investment.

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

Want to get into residential solar panel installation?  Get solar energy training!  Watch this video and where you could be!

Boots on the Roof, one of the best solar/wind training providers in the San Francisco bay area, is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar PV and Wind Energy training boot camp.  Students can get certified as solar PV installers. The training program includes hands-on labs, classroom activities focusing on solar electric system design, safety regulations, installation and extra business topics related to photovoltaic.  To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.

This is the kind of job most people imagine when they think about a career in renewable energy.  Solar Laboratory Technicians are the scientists working in research & development laboratories for renewable power companies.  They constantly research and invent new and better technologies to generate and utilize green energy sources.

Specifically, Solar Laboratory Technicians pioneer new ways to improve and diversify ways of gathering sunlight, turning it into electricity, storing it, and utilizing that energy.  Similar research & development laboratory positions exist, however, in other areas of the renewable energy economy.  Green power companies involved in wind power, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, and biomass gases all need research scientists and technology architects.  And this isn’t even mentioning the many other new alternative energy technologies that are currently being explored, but have yet to become well-known household terms.

Obviously, being a Solar Laboratory Technician requires a large amount of detailed knowledge of solar electronics.  The most common and well-known type of solar power systems are photovoltaic solar arrays  that convert sunlight into electricity.  The development of solar cells that can generate more electricity, automatic tracking systems to follow the movement of the sun to optimize the efficiency of solar arrays, and batteries that can store more electricity for longer periods of time are all things that Solar Laboratory Technicians research, build, and test.

There are many other types of non-electric solar power, however, that a Solar Laboratory Technician should be familiar with.  An example is thermal solar cells, which convert sunlight into heat.  Other areas include passive solar systems, an area of research that seeks to optimize variables such as location, weather, architecture, windows, and insulation to heat or cool a building by either absorbing or reflecting sunlight.  Finally, another form of solar energy utilizes focusing lenses and mirrors to concentrate sunlight and thermal energy.  Applications of this technology include warming homes, heating water, and even boiling water for electricity-producing steam turbines.

Requirements for Becoming a Solar Laboratory Technician

Obviously, Solar Laboratory Technicians must possess a greater knowledge of solar power systems that solar panel installer-roofer or maintenance technician.  In fact, Solar Laboratory Technicians require some of highest education and most thorough training of all careers in the green energy economy.  Solar Laboratory Technicians need to understand applied and theoretical science, as well was the design, development, engineering, construction, and testing of electronics, particularly electrical power systems.

Solar Laboratory Technicians should also have practical experience using scientific equipment, tools, and instrumentation.  Advanced mathematics, including calculus and statistical methods and applications, will most likely be a prerequisite.  The ability to read, interpret, analyze, and compile scientific data, charts, and graphs is also necessary.

To become a Solar Laboratory Technician, you would need at least a Bachelor’s degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, or material science.  A Graduate degree in any of there fields would be better.  Some companies might also accept an Associate’s degree if combined with at least two or more years of work experience in this field.

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

Watch President Obama’s speech on Jobs and Clean Energy.  See why it’s important to get solar energy training now.

Boots on the Roof, one of the best solar/wind training providers in the San Francisco bay area, is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar PV and Wind Energy training boot camp.  Students can get certified as solar PV installers. The training program includes hands-on labs, classroom activities focusing on solar electric system design, safety regulations, installation and extra business topics related to photovoltaic.  To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.

What Is a Solar Installer-Roofer?

Solar Installer-Roofers are the people who install solar panels and solar cells in the roofs of residential and commercial buildings.  Currently, trained, qualified Solar Roofers are hard to come by these days, even in our quickly growing “green” economy.  Why?  Because a Solar Roofer must not only possess the trade skills and construction experience of a roofer, but must also be a competent solar electrician.

Solar Roofs

There are basically two different types of solar roofing jobs being done today: retrofitting and integrated.  Retrofitting is installing a solar panel on an existing roof.  Integrating is incorporating solar cells and panels into a new roof being built.

Solar electrician skills are less important for retrofitting solar roofing.  This is a relatively easy job.  It basically consists of mounting one or more solar panels on an existing roof, and feeding the wiring though the roof to the battery banks.  A regular roofer could do this, and leave the wiring to an electrician.

Retrofitted solar roofs, however, have many drawbacks.  Solar panels are bulky, more exposed to the elements of wind, rain, and snow, and many consider them to be an eyesore that drags down property values.  Consequently, integrated solar roofing has become increasingly popular.  The solar panels are actually built into the roof, the sides more or less flush with the rest of the roof.  Such solar panels are less exposed to harsh weather and more aesthetically pleasing.  It’s still obvious, however, that you have solar panels on your roof.

To compensate for this problem, solar cell manufactures have started producing “solar shingles.”  These are specialized roofing shingles that have photovoltaic solar cells built into them, but otherwise appear to be the same shape, size, and color as regular asphalt shingles.  Solar shingles can provide an entire building roof that is essentially one big solar panel, but (from a distance, at least) looks like any other roof.  Although solar shingle roofs are increasingly popular, they have also increased the demand for Solar Installer-Roofers.

Unlike solar panels in which all the solar cells are already wired together, solar shingles must be wired together into a solar array as they are applied to the roof.  Furthermore, the solar shingles need to be installed and wired together before the rest of the roof is installed with regular shingles, so that the wires from the solar shingles can be run along the ridge cap of the roof, where they are hidden from sight and protected from harsh weather.

Requirements for Becoming a Solar Installer-Roofer

Solar Installer-Roofers are usually made rather than found.  Unfortunately, few people today possess both roofing trade skills and solar electronics training.  Therefore, solar roofing companies either hire roofers and train them to be solar electricians or hire solar electricians and train them to install roofs.

If you are already a roofer, enter a two-year program in electrical engineering at a community college or vocational school.  Another option is an electrician apprenticeship trade program.  Either way, this should give you the electrical knowledge and experience necessary to qualify for a Solar Installer-Roofer position.  For there, your employer should train you on the specifics of their methods and equipment.

On the other hand, if you are already have an Associates or Bachelors in electrical engineering, or are a certified electrician, you’ll need to train to become a roofer as well.  Vocational schools should at least offer a few classes in this construction skill, and some might even offer full programs.  Another route is to enter a roofing apprenticeship trade program.

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

Solar roof tiles are one of the most recent innovations. Instead of choosing solar panel systems, solar roof tiles have a double advantage: they bring the same functionality in capturing solar radiation and they can be integrated discreetly in the design of the house. Solar panels can sometimes look bulky, but with the new variety of solar roof tiles, this small inconvenience was finally addressed.

Today, people who want to invest in clean, green solar energy can incorporate solar roof tiles into their home’s design. If you live in areas with a hot climate, such as the ones in south California, it will be super-easy to take advantage of solar roof tiles. Moreover, your house will not look very different from the rest of the houses in the area, because solar roof tiles look just like clay tiles, but they bring so much more when it comes to functionality.

• Solar roof tiles can generate up to 850 kilowatt-hours per year.
• If you wonder about how many solar roof tiles you need per square foot, we will give you a hint: generally, 30 tiles will cover 100 square feet of roof surface.
• Solar roof tiles are also available as solar power shingles. There is no difference between the two types and they both use thin solar film technology.

Solar panel tiles are kind of new on the market, so don’t expect to find them on the local producers. Our advice is to browse the Internet and find few companies that produce solar roof tiles. Make an order, and then enjoy lower electricity bills!

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.