October 11, 2023

Green Energy & Electrical Innovation: A Dynamic Duo

You can’t turn on the news, tune into social media, or pick up a paper without seeing coverage about the merits of sustainability or warnings about the dangers of fossil fuels. Such headlines are only going to increase.

Green Energy 101

Green energy is energy produced from sources, such as water, sun, and wind, in a way that causes no harm to the environment. Unlike other power sources, coal, for instance, green energy sources can be constantly, quickly replenished. Plus, green energy does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, as is the case with fossil fuels, and it also reduces some types of air pollution. 

Sources and Benefits 

You’re probably already familiar with some green energy sources – wind turbines, river dams, solar panels, to name a few.

Common forms include: 

  • Solar: captures sunlight to produce electricity to heat buildings and water, cook, and light our rooms.
  • Wind: harnesses the power of airflow via turbines to generate electricity.
  • Hydro: utilizes water flow from rivers, streams, and dams (think Hoover Dam – Vegas, baby!), converting it to electricity.
  • Geothermal: taps into the thermal energy just under the earth’s crust (think hot springs).
  • Biomass: converts wood waste and combustible organic agriculture waste to energy.
  • Biofuels: transform organic materials to fuel, such as ethanol.

The environmental and economic benefits of green energy are as plentiful as its sources. 

  • It is renewable. Unlike coal, which takes thousands of years to regenerate, it is not finite.
  • It is clean, with less, or none, of the greenhouse gases and pollutants associated with conventional fossil fuels.
  • It is often produced locally, which means no dependency on foreign governments.
  • It generates more than power; it also generates jobs.

 

Electricians and Green Energy

Electrical professionals already play a key role in the green energy movement, and this role will continue to develop in scope and frequency in the near future. Through the use of smart systems and technologies, electricians significantly contribute to energy efficiency. They:  

  • Help make buildings more efficient with smart meters, energy monitoring systems, and programmable thermostats; 
  • Set up solar panels and wind turbines;
  • Promote energy-efficient lighting, such as LED;
  • Install solar water heaters and cooling systems and biomass-fueled boilers that direct heat from geothermal systems. 

 

Job opportunities are plentiful. In fact, according to WorkingNation.com, the supply of electricians cannot keep up with the demand for green energy projects. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included a provision that incentivizes shifts to green energy. Within the first six months after its passage, 100,000 green jobs were created. 

As we progress toward greener power solutions, innovations like electric vehicles and their powering stations will join recent ones.

Seasoned electricians can continue their career advancement by adding specializations in green energy to their tool belt (pun intended). And those just embarking on their electrical careers can specialize in green energy knowing their future will include a wealth of interesting, innovative, and non-stop work within the sustainable energy space. 

Propel your career with Building Omaha. Applications are always open for established electricians and our apprenticeship program accepts applications year-round. So, don’t wait to start the future you want. Apply today! 

 

Building Omaha is a winning partnership between the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Building Omaha: A partnership that powers our city.