Recently we have seen an influx in the demand for energy auditors. These are the people that can go into a business or personal residence and take a look at how efficiently energy is being burned and consumed. They then make recommendations on how to better use energy and how to conserve energy, thereby decreasing the expense on the company or the individual.
Education and Experience Requirements
For anyone who is interested in becoming an energy auditor, there are certain educational requirements as well as experience requirements. What educational and experience requirements you will need will depend on the agency or company you are going to be working for. Some businesses may accept an undergraduate engineer with a four year degree, whereas others will require a graduate degree. In other cases, further degrees in business management in addition to a graduate degree will be necessary.
As stated there is also the experience factor, which is usually an assessment of your practical experience. This is normally a requirement to become an energy auditor. To obtain this experience you will need to work for about 3 years in an adjunct role to an already established energy auditor. This is really to your benefit, we know that academia can only teach you so much, getting experience is going to allow you to learn the day to day activities of your position and how the real world operations of your career are handled. Typically the less education you have the more experience you are going to need to rack up.
If a prospective employee is lacking experience, they could possibly be permitted to take an exam for provisional certification and employment as an alternative, which could allow them to bypass the experience requirements. Be this as it may, it never hurts to have a bit of experience in the field. Having a decent amount of prior experience under one’s belt may substitute for any lacking educational requirements, and vice versa.
Must Have Skills
There are certain skills that every energy auditor needs to posses. These skills include but are not limited to:
- Ability to explain difficult notions in simpler terms (so that clients can easily understand them)
- Fairly decent amount of computer skills
- A personable demeanor (so as to create trusting relationships with clients)
- Ability to operate audit related machinery
- Problem solving and analytical skills
There are some essential functions that an energy auditor will have to perform. You will need to be able to identify need and perform advanced air flow diagnostics. Perform analysis on actual historical energy usage. Evaluate system performance by providing detailed energy information on heating, water heating, weatherization, appliances, lighting, and plug load systems. Prepare and presents evaluation results report. Educate customers in Company energy efficiency programs and the current regional energy picture as a means to motivate change in purchase and behavior choices.
You will also need to be able to communicate complicated concepts in a manner easily understandable by customers. Install energy efficiency measures such as duct mastic, compact fluorescent light bulbs and low flow showerheads. Foster a personal relationship between the company you work for and its customers given need the created by increased visibility of the company’s responsibility in the region. Be knowledgeable of company policies, issues and positions; including politically sensitive matters.
As you can see, these functions require more then just an academic education. This is why experience is as essential as schooling.
What Can You Expect to Make
Currently the average salary of an energy auditor in the United States can range from $75,000 - $84,000. Your salary will vary based on where you live and what type of agency you work for.
Job Outlook
The job of an energy auditor will continue to grow. As our society pushes to become more ''green'' and conserve the resources we have as well as look for better energy suppliers. Usually the demand for an energy auditor decrease when the weather is warmer as opposed to when the seasons change and it starts to get cooler. However the job of energy auditor will never go away.
Summary
Energy auditors are in high demand thanks to the changing weather and fluctuation in oil prices. As companies and individuals strive to find ways to use energy more efficiently so that they decrease cost, more and more of them are looking to the energy auditor.
Becoming an energy auditor takes more then just a degree. You will need to get out and work along side an established auditor. The amount of experience you will need will depend on the company that you work for.
In today’s society especially, energy auditors play a vital role in conserving energy. If you are interested in energy auditing and would like a career in which you are not only assisting people in making wise energy decisions, but also in conserving our country’s energy, then becoming an energy auditor may be the perfect career for you!
