| By :
Martin Hofschroer
More construction workers may be required to take green energy courses after the government announced a microgeneration strategy. Climate Change Minister Greg Barker launched a consultation on a microgeneration strategy, which will encourage households and businesses to take advantage of green technologies. The consultation will aim to educate consumers about the benefits of energy efficient technologies such as air, ground and water source heat pumps, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal water heating and biomass boilers. There will also be an effort to ensure that plumbers and electricians have the necessary skills to be able to install the appliances to the highest standards. The government predicts that an increasing number of construction workers will have to enrol on green energy courses in order to meet the expected rise in demand, which will create more jobs in the industry in Britain. There will also be more trials of technologies new to the UK so construction workers will have to keep their skill set up to date so that they can keep pace with the evolving nature of energy efficient appliances. Greg Barker said: "I want to see more homes, communities and businesses generating their own energy. We can literally bring power back to the people. "I want to work with industry to overcome the challenges it is facing. Together we will create a marketplace for jobs and prosperity alongside products and advice which people trust." The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) has welcomed the microgeneration strategy as it has reported an increase in the number of its members taking green energy courses. Electricians with green energy knowledge are expected to experience more trade as soon as the Feed In Tariffs (FITs) become better established and more consumers use the scheme. Emma McCarthy, NICEIC's chief operating officer, said that electricians with the skills to install energy efficient products will gain from the revenue generating opportunities on offer. She said: "Microgeneration will help to develop a sustainable society while reducing carbon emissions, and I would urge all electrical contractors to get involved with this exciting and potentially profitable sector." FITS for small-scale electricity generators, like solar panels or micro wind turbines, came into effect on April 1st this year. The government announced that it will repeal the 1976 Local Government Act by the end of the year in order to allow local councils to sell electricity produced from microgeneration technologies to the national grid.
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