Authored by Phil Dotree in Energy
Published on 12-11-2009
One of the hottest growing fields in the home industry is energy auditing. Many home buyers want to know the energy efficiency of a house before they buy it. In addition, there are a lot of homeowners that want to find some relief from high monthly electric, heating, and cooling bills. Energy auditors help to address these needs.
An energy auditor’s job is to go into a home and find out the efficiency of the house’s energy systems. They look for anywhere that heating and cooling is getting in and out of house. They also look at the electric lines and installation. An energy auditor is able to tell home buyers approximately where a house’s energy costs will be. They’re also able to advise homeowners on areas for improvement and how cost effective different energy conservation techniques might be.
In order to become an energy auditor, you will need to have some amount of experience in the field. This is usually expected–you won’t get many contracts without experience of some kind. You can get energy auditor experience by spending time job shadowing an energy auditor. Many auditors will be happy to show you the ropes. It’s worth having an extra hand around for them. You may be able to intern or work as an assistant with a local energy auditor for some time. Eventually, you’ll be ready to head out on your own contracts. Remember, though, that no energy auditor will give you the time of day without the right educational background.
For education, you’ll usually want a bachelor’s degree in engineering. This isn’t always essential. Sometimes, training at a technical school will be enough (or even a better choice). Your education should pertain to home, energy, architecture, engineering, and other related fields. If you’ve worked as an electrician or in a similar trade, that experience counts as solid education. You’ll probably have a fairly easy time learning to become an energy auditor.
Check into your state’s laws for energy auditing. Some will require you to get an official license. This license might either be through the state or through an official organization that the state has designated. You could face legal repercussions if you operate as an energy auditor without the correct licenses. You might end up getting sued by some of your past clients or face fines.
Occasionally, states require very specific training for energy auditors. If this is the case you may need to keep up your training on a year to year basis. Otherwise, you’ll fall out of good standing with the state. Read up on your own state’s laws and regulations. One good place to start is, again, with working energy auditors. They’ll be able to tell you what you need to do to audit legally in your state.
If you become an energy auditor, you’ll enjoy some great benefits. Your profession will be demand and you’ll be well paid. You’ll also perform a rewarding and helpful service. However, you will need to take the time to get the right education and follow the right guidelines.
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