Power Linemen – America’s Unsung Heroes

We owe our freedom to the brave soldiers who have defended us through the years since this country was born, but we owe our comfort and convenience to the heroes few people even think about.

Those are the highly skilled power linemen (and women) who build and maintain the power systems that make it possible for me to share this thought with you today – via the Internet. Without their hard work and dedication all those conveniences we take for granted would be useless.

Not only would we not be able to communicate electronically, there’d be no TV, no dishwasher, and no elevator to take us to the 100th floor of a high-rise. We may admire Abe Lincoln for reading and studying by candle-light, but I think we’re all happy that we don’t have to do it ourselves!

Unless you know a lineman well, you might not think about the reason why your lights might pop back on at 2:30 a.m. after a storm-induced power outage. It’s because those crews are out there, working through the night to bring “power back to the people.” They don’t go home at 5 p.m. – they keep working round the clock until the job is finished, and it doesn’t matter if the sun is scorching or their helmets are coated with ice in sub-zero temperatures.

But still, few think of them as heroes. At least they didn’t until January 23 when Journeyman Lineman Victor Vana of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative successfully rescued two Texas Army National Guard Paratroopers.

The paratroopers had been blown off course and had landed in two separate trees – each hanging 30 to 40 feet off the ground. Vana, who was driving a bucket truck when he got the call, was able to bring them down. Although all linemen are trained in emergency rescue methods, Vana said this was the first time in 16 years as a lineman that he’d had to use that training.

For his actions in this rescue, Vana received an award and recognition from the Bastrop Fire Department. Fire Chief Henry Perry said that this was only the 3rd or 4th time in 15 years that such an award had been given.

ABBE is the Awarding Body for the Built Environment. It is the specialized body, which takes care of the awarding in this sector. The qualifications given by it are standardized ones and they hold large market value in both non-domestic and domestic energy assessment. ABBE has given accreditation to this training company.

The vocational qualifications provided are at levels 3 and 4. They are updated and latest in the content. These are meant for the professionals and also the others who are keen about the taking up the profession of energy assessment. The company helps in taking care of the energy efficiency assessments on the buildings in line with Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

The companies in this field give out exceptional quality training, which is directly reflected in the portfolio standard of their average candidate. This has brought in the direct claims status to the training company. This status is important because it helps them grant the certification to their candidates internally. Obviously this brings down the amount of time any given candidate will have to invest on the procedures and formalities. The lesser time he invests on the formalities of courses of certification the more he will have to help his career blossom during the same time.

There are various courses offered by various companies for various requirements of the industry. They are as follows:

1. Domestic Energy Assessor

2. Non Domestic Energy Assessor

3. Display Energy Assessor Training

4. Air Conditioner Assessor Training Course

5. G-ISBEM Software Training

Domestic Energy Assessor: This is a diploma course of 3 days, which is made available to you at 1195.00 GBP. This is inclusive of the HIP information pack. This is the 3rd level diploma which helps you gear up for the exciting and all new career in energy assessment. The training is taught by qualified and experienced trainers who bring out the training in most effective and coordinated manner, which makes you, have an edge over candidates from anywhere else.

Non-Domestic Energy Assessor: This is a diploma course of 4 days and gives you training of level 3 and level 4. The course is available at 1595.00 GBP. The need for this kind of specific course in the direction has taken its roots after the implementation of articles 7 and 10 in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Display Energy Assessor Training: This course of duration one day has been made available at 995 GBP for duration of 1 day and at 1645 GBP. The training is meant for those who are interested in producing DEC’s and Advisory Reports.

Air Conditioner Assessor Training Course: The new law suggests that, on change in the person in control of air-conditioning system, the inspection report will not be handed over to the new person. Rather he is expected to get the system inspected within 3 months of his joining as the person in control. Considering this the new course has been started in this dimension, which accredits you as the level-3 assessor of air conditioning system.

G-ISBEM Software Training: This software is available to one and all irrespective of whether or not he is qualified.

History has reported that the progress made by mankind in the 20th century was faster than the last three centuries combined. The car, nuclear missiles and robots were invented, giving the impression that the man had reached the pinnacle of success. It is true that man has been at the center stage of the science revolution giving rise to various new inventions, to make life easier. However, what we often forget is that price at which we have achieved the progress; our forests are dwindling and species of animals and birds are getting extinct like they never did before. Deforestation is at a rampant stage, and before we know it most of the forests in the world would be cut down to pave way for farms and civilization. All in all, out entire ecosystem is in trouble.

The UK has taken the lead in putting an end to the speculation of global climate change, by acting against it. The government has taken many steps like the passing of the Carbon emission Reduction Act, which basically aims at reducing the emission of carbon in the environment. This is achieved by saving on gas and electricity by using clean technologies. The target set by the UK government consists reducing the carbon emission, over 40 years by 80%. Energy building using clean technology has the potential to contribute significantly to the problem. It is the onus of all the gas and electricity suppliers in the world to achieve the target, which will directly benefit the world.

The in built-in houses in the UK, release about 40% of emissions. The transmission of heat must be stopped and in order to do that, the heat content must be restricted. Some ways, in which the common man can save the planet is by using energy efficient appliances, avoiding the use of ‘room-freshner sprays’ and making use of proper ventilators. Some other good ways include using insulating materials, and using solar panels. The use of refrigerants, if avoided, can lead to a cleaner planet.

The new house owners are always provided guidelines on how to save on energy by the Building Management System (BMS). This type of system, has been, benevolently, made popular through online media and other media outlets like newspaper and television. The UK government wants to prove to the world that it can be as effective and earth-friendly as any other nation in the world. Skilled professionals from this sector are being absorbed very rapidly into many sectors.

The buildings that follow the carbon reduction targets or the energy performance schemes are issued Energy Performance Certificates. People, who have experience as home inspectors, are eligible to apply for the post o Domestic Energy Assessor. As the issuing of the Energy performance certificates are in separate categories, this field hold the qualities of high professionalism as prized. The ratings help the people understand the importance of the environment and what they can do to fulfill their bit for it. The grading ranges from A-G, with A being the worst and G, the best.

One needs to find a strong company to work with. All over the television and Internet, news databases are filling the airways and the web sites with a new approach to world devastation, forcing those who watch or read to gain curiosity about what he or she can do to stop the world from coming to an end. With the present looking so dismal (in regards to floods, famine, droughts and other natural disasters), one wonders what more can happen as things continue to get worse.

Reputed energy training companies make contributions to these with certifications that are provided by this company for the means of Energy Performance Assessment. Essentially, this means that with each granted certificate, we get closer to our mission.

Many companies and even institutions offer different course types, specializing in fields the market requires. One course is named, the Display Energy Certificates Training Course. This type of training is available to anyone interested in producing Advisory and DEC Reports. Not only is this one of the most exciting functions in energy assessment, it also provides equal opportunities for domestic and for non-domestic energy assessors. This program persuades any new applicant to the energy assessment field to follow the right path which is necessary for ABBE qualifications. This quality of training is negotiated.

The diploma received for ABBE is a level-three diploma, providing one-day classes. The Display Energy Certificates, which are also level-3 diplomas, cost approximately 995.00 GBP for a one-day course and 1645.00 GBP for the three-days courses. The one-day course is specific for non-domestic energy assessors. The three-day course provides the needs to new candidates.

The training course content is as follows:

The main reason that more people don’t invest in solar power is because of the solar power cost, but solar pool heaters have one of the quickest payback periods compared to other solar products. A solar pool heater can pay for itself in as little as one year and depending on the type of heater it can cost as little as $100, so the solar power cost is very negligible.

A solar pool heater is a great investment. It can make your pool much more enjoyable and extend the swimming season. These heaters are very durable, so they last a long time, up to 15 years. They are also very low maintenance. With the right design the only maintenance is draining the water from the system before winter.

Solar pool heaters can save a ton of money on heating costs and once the initial cost is paid for you get free hot water for your pool for years to come. The great thing about this free hot water is that it’s made without harming the environment. Solar pool heaters don’t produce any pollution, only hot water.

Most heaters consist of solar collectors, piping, valves, sensors, and a control unit. The basic way that this heater works is by pumping water through the solar collector then back into the pool. Automated systems have temperature sensors on the solar collector and in the pool, when the control unit senses the right temperature it opens a valve, which allows water to flow through the solar collector. Temperatures can be programmed into the control unit, so the solar collector operates at optimum efficiency.

Most of the heat that a pool loses is lost through the surface of the pool, so the amount of solar collectors that are needed to heat a pool depends on the surface area of the pool. So the more surface area that a pool has means that more solar collectors are needed to heat the pool.

One of the great things about these heaters is that they can be used anywhere the sun shines, even in cold climates. Since solar pool heaters pay for themselves so fast the solar power cost is very minimal.