Mechanical Engineering Jobs And Their Green Future

More businesses and organisations have now realised their responsibility for minimising the impact of their activities on the environment. This provides a great opportunity for those in mechanical engineering jobs to utilise their expertise and help reducing the carbon footprints of their companies.

Jobs in mechanical engineering involve the application of principles of physics for the analysis, design, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical systems. Within the building services industry, those in mechanical engineering jobs are in charge of operating and maintaining plant and equipment and ensuring that they function efficiently. With buildings accounting for approximately 50 percent of all carbon emissions, it is critical that these professionals keep themselves updated with various new and improved energy conservation systems for buildings.

Those who are training for or already hold mechanical engineering jobs may also contribute to the development of new energy-saving methods for construction. In particular, their knowledge in designing and implementing electrical systems is required for safe and energy-sustaining operation of buildings. In terms of energy supply, those in mechanical engineering jobs should always be consulted in the process of procuring utility services. Experienced mechanical engineers are able to properly evaluate the strengths of different services and help producing carbon savings by up to 40 percent.

Thanks to their proficient training, those with jobs in mechanical engineering are aware of the importance of introducing additional systems for data collation and recording. Such investment enables businesses and organisations to verify their utility bills against actual consumption, so that previously unnoticed problems such as water leaks and excessive usage may be quickly identified. These additional systems also allow those in mechanical engineering jobs to highlight areas of potential saving, with subsequent steps to improve the control of plant and equipment.

Mechanical engineers can further help businesses and organisations optimise the usage of their building services. An important aspect of jobs in mechanical engineering is to raise the energy awareness of both employers and employees through training and campaigns. By constantly monitoring and setting new targets for efficient energy usage, a company can save up to 18 percent in its carbon emissions.

Finally, those in mechanical engineering jobs are the best advocates for projects that allow companies to improve efficiency, energy usage, carbon emissions, or a combination of these. Experienced mechanical engineers are able to select and install combined heat and power units or other cogeneration or trigeneration equipment, recommend sustainable fuels, or simply replace old or ineffective plant and equipment with energy efficient ones. The result is savings in both consumption and emissions.

A green future lies ahead of those who are training for or already hold jobs in mechanical engineering. Whether it is to operate and maintain plant and equipment, to manage and upgrade building services, to reduce carbon footprints, or to invest on facilities and systems that enhance sustainability, those in mechanical engineering jobs are the experts upon which businesses and organisations can rely in their attempt to minimise the impact of their activities on the environment.

Training For Jobs In Building

Winners of the Building Controls Industry Awards were announced in May 2008. Organised by the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) and the Building Services and Environmental Engineer (BSEE) magazine, the awards are designed to recognise truly outstanding accomplishments in the following areas -- technical innovation, engineering excellence, energy saving, service and achievement, training, sales growth, customer care, and employee motivation.

This year, the Judges’ Special Award focused on recognising a commitment to training for jobs in building. Sponsored by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), the award celebrates the achievements of companies in their support for high-quality training. Only with practical and comprehensive training can the industry continuously generate a broad range of experts who can handle their building jobs professionally.

Trend Control Systems was acknowledged by the judges as having contributed considerably to the recruitment and training of apprentices for building services jobs. The company’s all encompassing “Attitude Apprenticeship Scheme” provides young apprentices with qualifications and product training in order to prepare them for a successful career in building jobs. These skilled engineers also gain plenty of hands-on experience as they find employment from the company’s various partners in the building services industry.

In 2007, 47 apprentices were trained under the scheme and subsequently employed by the company and its partners. Assisted by BCIA, the company established a new National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) that is specific to the building services industry and meets the needs of the skilled engineers. Better still, in order to further benefit the whole industry, the company had committed itself to recruiting and screening potential candidates for all kinds of jobs in building. Hundreds of applicants were tested for their literacy, mathematical ability and commitment before attending a formal assessment day, when each of the company’s partners was given a chance to interview and choose appropriate candidates for suitable building jobs.

In 2008, a total of 77 apprentices graduated from the scheme. This result demonstrates the company’s achievement in meeting the needs of the building services industry by providing a means to train the right people for the right jobs in building. “I think that the scheme has had a benefit to the industry as a whole. In the past it has been common practice for other companies to poach apprentices as soon as they have finished their training. Now we are seeing more of a move towards a provision of training throughout the industry and we have been approached by a number of companies who would like to replicate the scheme within their own organisation,” explained Jon Cooper, customer and international sales support director for Trend.

By winning the aforementioned Judges’ Special Award, the company has proved that its long-term efforts in providing and promoting training for building jobs have been worthwhile. In order for the industry to continue growing and to manage the demands of the future, it is important that more companies move towards implementing similar schemes to help attracting young people to train for building services jobs.