FULL TIME COURSE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CONSTRUCTION STUDIES

We are presently accepting expressions of intrest in a proposal for a full time course combining renweable energy and energy efficient construction.

The proposed course module will offer an advanced level 5 FETAC certificate in year 1, in Renewable Energy and Construction.

The course will run from September to May and will be 9 to 5 for 5 days per week. We are proposing to run a highly pratically based offering with an emphasis on ‘learning by doing’ with modules involving building small scale renewable solutions and hands on working with green building materials.

The minimum entry level will be leaving certificate but the course is open to applications from a wide audience from school leavers to thoses returning to education.

• Course components will entail:
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Green Building
• Thermal Insulation Installer
• Health and Safety
• Wood Fabrication
• Communications
• Work Experience
• CAD

If you or a family member are interested in this course, please fill out our questionaire:

Glas Learing is located at the beautiful Kingsriver community near Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny

For those interested in finding out more about our courses or enrolling for our upcoming programme, we are holding an open day on Friday April 20th from 1pm to 7.30pm

We will have information on each of the course offerings and some of the tutors will be available to answer questions.

For directions to the centre plase visit the contacts page.

Certification

Certificate of attendance

Learner Profile

This course is designed for a broad audience. It is a practical, hands-on course where the participants will learn to build a wind turbine from start to finish, participating in every stage of the process. The course should appeal to those with an interest in learning more about renewable energy, specifically wind energy and how to provide energy for the home or farm. Ideal for people from the farming sector, general public or professional trades people who wish to learn first-hand from people who have been involved with renewable energy for years. The machine we will build is based on Hugh Piggots design. Please note that only one turbine is built as part of the course and remains on site.

Trainers

Eirbyte Renewable Energy tutors – Jimmy Dowds and Miriam Sheerin, have lived off-grid for many years and have been involved with the design and installation of renewable energy systems (wind and PV) for 10years now. They have been teaching Build Your Own Wind Turbine courses for five years.

No. of Class Days

5 Days

Purpose/Overall Learning

The course participants will learn many skills and also the theory involved in a domestic wind turbine. A domestic wind turbine will be built from scratch on the course. We will discuss various mounting systems, inverters and control systems, off-grid and grid-connected systems. At each stage of the process the participants will gain hands-on experience.

Process

Metal cutting and welding, frame building,coil winding, soldering, mould-making, resins.
Choosing wood for blades, marking each stage of blade production, carving and shaping blades using hand tools, assembly of turbine, blade balancing.

Practical/Site Activities

All of the above as well as erecting the turbine on mast on-site.

Assessed work

N/A

Course Fee

€450
Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €200 for employed people.
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Dates

Monday to Friday: May 28th to June 1st

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

This course is fully booked but we are taking names for a second course, please contect us on the number above.

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Certification

Certificate of attendance

Learner Profile

This course is designed for a broad audience. Its content should appeal to those with an interest in  learning more about the sector from both a personal and professional perspective. Ideal for people from the farming sector, general public, or professional trades people who wish to learn first-hand from people involved in both the production and the supplyof the fuel and personnel operating and maintaining the equipment.

Trainer/Co-Oridnator

Colm Byrne

No. of Class Days

4 x ½ day sessions classroom. 2 x ½ day field trip/technology demonstration

Purpose/overall learning

Biomass is a broad term that encompasses all organic material. Energy from biomass (bio-energy) is reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and contributing to job creation and alternative income sources in rural communities. The purpose of this course is to show learners first hand, what is happening on the ground in this region. Learn from a selection of guest speakers who have been involved in growing crops, supplying fuel and installing equipment. Visit sites where equipment is installed and working, and hear from users first-hand about their experiences with biomass.

Subjects

• Biomass definitions and terminology.

• Introduction to Energy content in fuels and cost comparisons.

• Wood as a fuel, Logs, wood chip, wood pellets.

• Waste organic material and Anaerobic Digestion

• Fuel crops: Willow, Miscanthus, Forestry

• Equipment for heat and/or electricity production.

Practical/Site Activities

The course will be 50% classroom based and 50% site visitsSite visits will include: Biogas plant, wood chip district heating system, wood pellet plant. Farm visit to willow and miscanthus plantations. Other site visits can be arranged based on participants preferences.

Assessed work

N/A

Course Fee

€300

Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €150 for employed people
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Start Date

June 14th

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

Booking Form

Book your place today

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Certification/ FETAC code

FETAC Level 5 Module 1827

Learner Profile

This course is designed to give an overview of energy use in the home and how to manage it. It is ideal for trades people or individuals wishing to get involved in the home energy upgrade sector and those that wish to understand the issues around fuel poverty and energy consumption.

Trainer

Colm Byrne

No. of Class Days

3

Purpose/Overall Learning

Subjects

• Fuel Poverty
• Energy terminology and units, Fuel cost comparison and energy sources.
• Energy Monitoring measurement and consumption.
• Heating controls and circuits.
• SEAI funding and requirements for the smarter homes programme

Practical/Site Activities

Each candidate will be required to demonstrate a working knowledge of heating zone control by working on a demonstration system.

Assessed work

Skills demonstration                  (40%)                                                                                                                                                                                    Assignment                                     (40%)                                                                                                                                                                                              Written exam                                  (20%)

Course Fee

€350

Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €150 for employed people
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Dates

To be confirmed

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

Booking Form

Book your place today

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Certification

Certificate of attendance

Learner Profile

This course is suitable for those wishing to understand the options for  rain water harvesting from basic rain butt installation to common Proprietary systems currently on the Irish market. It is suitable for those considering options for their own home, farm or for those considering a career in the sector.

Trainer

Eamonn McSweeney

No. of Class Days

3

Purpose/Overall Learning

The public perception is that water is free and abundant , yet supplying fresh water has a considerable financial, environmental and energy cost. Increasingly we have experienced water shortages and water quality problems which has created a market and interest in this sector. Imminent Water metering and charges now make investment in suitable systems worth considering.

The learner will get an appreciation of water as a valuable resource and how rainwater harvesting can offset domestic water requirements.  The learner explores how to assess the potential yield and understand the options, systems and equipment necessary.

Course Content

• INTRODUCTION – Rainwater harvesting – context & history
• RAINFALL – Characteristics – hydrology – stormwater generation
• WATER USAGE – End uses – rates of consumption
• MANUFACTURER’S PRESENTATION – Emphasis Health and Safety considerations
• RAINFALL CALCULATIONS – Impermeability factors – flow estimates –tank sizing
• PRACTICAL WORKSHOP; Installing a Basic system; Rainwater Butt on site
• WATER QUALITY – Standards – health considerations
• FILTRATION & TREATMENT – Principles – systems available
• INTRODUCTION to BS 8515:2009 – British Standard -Code of Practice for Rainwater Harvesting
• MANUFACTURER’S PRESENTATION – Emphasis on Health & Safety
• BS 8515:2009 – ct’d.
• SITE ASSESSMENT – Domestic – Commercial – options
• MANUFACTURER’S PRESENTATION – Emphasis on filter systems and system maintenance
• CASE STUDY – comparison of proprietary systems
• INSTALLATION – Practical considerations
• REVIEW & Q&A session

Practical/Site Activities

Class room and workshop practical’s, Manufacturers presentation

Assessed work

Written report on case study

Course Fee

€450
Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €200 for employed people
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Start Date

May 23rd

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

Booking Form

Book your place today

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Certification/ FETAC code

Non Accredited – Certificate of Attendance

Learner Profile

This is a practical hands-on course in basic solutions to make a home more energy efficient.This course is aimed at trades people (either currently unemployed or employed) wishing to gain new skills or enhance existing ones. Also suitable for those considering self employment, homeowners wishing to upgrade their own homes or those considering entry/ further study in energy related areas.

Trainer(s)

Gary Dalton

No. of Class Days

5

Purpose/overall learning

At Glas Learning we aim to provide practical, relevant training to meet both learner and market needs. There is an increasing market for tailored retro fit solutions where someone can advise and organize various home upgrade tasks from insulation to draught proofing. The reduction in SEAI grants and requirements for whole house solutions has created a potential niche for small/ one person, customer centered solutions.

Subjects

• Introduction to Home Energy Improvement sector, market drivers and trends.

• Energy conservation & Building science simplified.

• Space heating simplified.

• Energy assessment: evaluating existing buildings, survey techniques.

• Retro-fit options –solutions; quantities, cost, installation detail.

• Indentifying and creating potential work.

• Practical Skills development and product demonstrations.

Practical/Site Activities

The site workshop provides hands on experience of various insulation and retro-fit products. A case study and site visit offers real life examples of retro-fit solutions and how to cost and present options to a potential customer.

Assessed work

Written report 100% Produce an Energy Appraisal  Report for an actual house

Course Fee

€550

Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €200 for employed people
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Dates

June 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th.

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

Booking Form

Book your place today

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Certification/ FETAC code

C20273

Learner Profile

This course is suitable to those wishing to gain the skills and related knowledge to enable them to install insulation to manufacturer’s specifications and to comply with current regulations and codes of practice. While fetac certification is primarily focused on Loft insulation and draught proofing, the course gives an understanding of the principals of insulation, thermal performance, product types and their effective and safe installation. The specific requirements to become a grant approved contractor for loft, internal, external and pumped cavity insulation are covered, providing the learner with valuable information on their ability to enter this competitive market.

Trainers

Gary Dalton, Martin Mulligan

No. of Class Days

4

Purpose/Overall Learning

At Glas learning, we place an emphasis on providing effective training that allows the learner to meet the needs of the industry.

This course provides the learner with an extensive insight into insulation, the need and benefits, understanding of insulation products , their performance and installation. The learner will be able to assess and recommend options that meet current regulations and codes of practice. It covers standard fiberglass as well as emerging green solutions such as cellulose, hemp and sheep’s wool . It covers the ventilation and draught proofing/ pipe lagging requirements as well as safety requirements for installers and homeowners. The learner will receive product briefs and certification requirements for common exterior wall insulation solutions.

The learner will demonstrate learning outcomes using appropriate tools and materials in our practical workshop.

Course Content

• Overview of Thermal Insulation; Materials, Function, Properties, applications, economics and current market

• Basics of heat loss, thermal conductivity and u values

• Site assessment ; new and existing houses

• Ventilation and condensation Requirements

• Draught proofing

• Pipe insulation

• Loft insulation ; The use of man-made and ecological/ natural materials
  - Preparation of equipment and tools for installation
  - Preparation of materials and work area for installation
  - Installation of specific thermal insulation
  - Post-installation operations

• Installation Quality standards, codes of practice.

• Safety, efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace

• Consumer confidence and customer relations

Practical/Site Activities

We provide all tools, materials and test rig on site for teaching and assessment.

Assessed work

Skills Demonstration 80%
Examination 20%

Course Fee

€650
Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €250 for employed people
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Dates

May 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

Booking Form

Book your place today

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Certification/ FETAC code

FETAC Levl 5 Certificate: C20273

Learner Profile

This course is suitable to those wishing to understand the impact of conventional building materials and techniques both on energy and the environment and what green building alternatives can offer. We are currently living with the consequences of profit driven housing development, a process that has excluded the ordinary person from many of the choices needed to achieve affordable, healthy and environmentally sustainable living spaces

Trainers

Gary Dalton, Richie Murphy

No. of Class Days

5

Purpose/Overall Learning

At Glas learning, we want to provide students with a grounded insight into green building principles, materials and techniques. The course covers traditional green building systems such as strawbale, Cob, Clay plaster , rammed earth and cordwood. Students get to practice these techniques and appreiate their role in allowing us to engage in the building process ourselves. By drawing on the experiences of green builders in Ireland and the U.K ,learners gain valuable knowledge of some of the successes and barriers to either building yourself or specifying green alternatives.

Often these systems have been the realm of self-builders , wishing to provide themselves with low cost housing/space solutions.

The students explore developments in timber frame coupled with natural insulation and certified ecological building systems that allow green buildings to compete with conventional building systems such as cavity block.  The pros and cons of Poroton block, Lime hemp, aerated block and biocomposite materials are explored.

The learners practices the key elements of design from material selection, site /location, building system selection to energy requirements.

Course Content

• Green Building in Perspective.

• The Elements of a Green House.

• Choosing Materials.

• Designing for Energy Efficiency.

• Different Approaches to Meeting Housing Need.

• Design principals and practice.

• Health and Safety.

• Practical Eco-Building.

• Case studies.

Practical/Site Activities

The Kings River building demonstrates many features needed to achieve a low impact, green building from self build timber construction, use of site, sustainable materials to renewable energy and waste. The class have access to our green building workshop. We provide a guided field trip to local green buildings and conventional buildings to critically evaluate their pros and cons.

Assessed work

Project 50%; evaluation of a green building
Assignment 25% ; Report of green building element /technique/material
Assignment 25% ; Report on conventional estate and recommendations.

Course Fee

€550
Funded places for Kilkenny residents: €30 for jobseekers, €60 for students, €200 for employed people
Funding may also be available for non Kilkenny residents, please contact our office to discuss.

Course Dates

New dates announced: June 18th,19th,20th, 26th and 27th

Enquiries / Booking

Please Tel. call 056-7730005 or Fill in the Enquiry Form

Booking Form

Book your place today

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