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While the United States economy as a whole has been slow to rebound out of the recession that started in 2008, one area has experienced amazing growth – the Green Job market. Thousands of “green jobs” are being created every month in a wide range of areas. One of the biggest being Energy Auditors who have been around sine the 1970’s but have increased in popularity due to several key factors – primarily the unprecedented amount of government incentives and rebates for energy efficiency improvements.

Never before in history has the government been so focused or spent so much on the environment and energy efficiency. The idea of having a “Green” career is no longer just something Hippies dream about in their VW Vans, the time is now and people are acting and so can you.

Why Energy Auditors Are In High Demand

The primary reason for growth is simple – during a recession home owners and business owners are looking for ways to save money. One of the places they look first is their monthly expenses. Home owners and business owners are getting energy audits in record numbers while at the same time cities like Austin, Texas are now requiring energy audits be conducted on all homes being re-sold.

The Role and Responsibilities of an Energy Auditor

An energy auditor inspects a building, process or system to analyze how energy is being used. He or she carries out a thorough inspection of the building and checks the efficiency of various energy consuming appliances. This includes tracking the energy losses due to heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems (HVAC). After conducting the inspection and studying the results, it is the responsibility of the energy auditor to make recommendations for upgrades and modifications which can help in conservation of energy. The duties and responsibilities of an energy auditor can be summarized as follows:

• Detailed Building Inspection – an energy auditor is required to carry out the inspection of energy consuming and energy losing areas of a building or structure. This process is done through the process of a visual inspection and diagnostic evaluations to ensure that those areas are working efficiently so that energy conservation is maximized.
• Calculate Energy Usage and Potential Energy Savings – energy auditors have to look for potential ways through which energy can be conserved. In order to do this, they must be able to calculate the current energy usage of items that draw power including the HVAC system, appliances, lighting, etc. Once the amount of power usage is calculated, they must then be able to calculate potential energy savings of upgrades.
• Determine Upgrade Options Including Payback Schedule – energy auditors are entrusted to estimate the costs associated with upgrading the energy appliances and come up with a projection for various replacement costs. An example would be to determine the payback schedule of an HVAC system upgrade for a home owner. This information helps the home owner realize not only the monthly savings of the upgrade, but also the number of years it will take to recover the costs of upgrading.
• Provide Incentive and Rebate Information – energy auditors are also responsible for providing tax incentive and rebates (including city electric company and gas company rebates) to home owners as part of their overall findings. This information will help the home owner determine the actual payback schedule of doing an energy improvement or upgrade. For example, if the city electric company and gas company provide a $1,000 rebate for doing a full HVAC replacement, this will offset the total amount of time to payback the HVAC upgrade and provide real-world data to help the home owner or business owner make the appropriate decisions.
• Recommend Alternative Energy Sources – energy auditors are often asked to recommend alternative sources of energy, like solar and wind energy so that non-renewable sources of energy are conserved. As an energy auditor, you will need to be able to provide this information along with any tax incentives and rebates applicable for the doing the retrofit or upgrade.
• Report Energy Waste and Saving Opportunities – energy auditors provide their clients with an energy audit report that details the findings of the audit, energy saving opportunities, along with tax incentives and rebates. There is not a standard audit report, so auditors reporting will vary. Energy auditor working with business owners or organizations may also be responsible for preparing an annual activity plan to help the organization cut down on its energy costs.

How to Become an Energy Auditor

The requirements for becoming an energy auditor largely depend on whether you are working independently or with an organization. Organizations usually require a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a graduate degree with specialization in engineering. Some organizations may also require an additional Master’s degree or experience in business management.

As energy auditing isn’t a standardized profession, there are no set rules about the qualifications to become an energy auditor. This has presented an opportunity to many aspiring candidates as they can start their careers as individual energy auditors by completing certain certification programs. The industry leading and standards setting organizations and institutions in energy auditor certification are listed below.

Energy Audit Training and Certification Providers

There are only a handful of recognized training and certification companies in today’s marketplace. Two legacy training companies stand above the rest due to their connection to the government and Energy Star – they are RESNET and BPI. These legacy training companies provide what is referred to “advanced” or “diagnostic” training.

• The Building Performance Institute (BPI)
• The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET)
• U.S. Green Building Council (LEED)
• Energy Efficiency Institute (EEI)
• The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)

Legacy training programs for RESNET and BPI cost around $1,000 and take around 1 year to fully complete (including apprenticeship time with RESNET). They also request their energy auditors purchase a “kit” that includes a blower door, duct blaster, thermal imaging camera, and manometer for around $10K (up to $30K depending on the level of audit to be completed). As an energy auditor certified by one of these companies, you will be asked to perform “diagnostic” energy audits for your clients that take 4-6 hours to complete and cost your clients an average of $400 – $600 per audit.

While legacy training programs are phenomenal, not everyone can afford to spend $10K to $15K for training, certification, and equipment in order to get started. In addition, this is a very large amount of money to spend on a career change that you may or may not even enjoy or be able to make doing.

BPI and RESNET auditor’s conduct “diagnostic home energy audits.” Another important factor that you must consider is that not every home needs a “diagnostic” energy audit and more importantly, not everyone can afford to spend $400 – $600 on a “diagnostic” energy audit right now. Fixed income and low income housing clients in particular will be unable to afford this type of audit but may be open to a low-cost option that will educate them on energy efficiency while helping them get their tax incentives, rebates, and loans to upgrade their homes.

Alternatives to Legacy Energy Audit Training Programs

When it comes to learning and getting certified in Home Energy Auditing, you really have 1 choice to make. Your choice is whether to take a $1,000 to $2,000 training and certification course from BPI or RESNET and buy $10K in equipment, or to start out with a certification in energy efficiency instead.

To help you in your decision making process, you should understand that EVERY home energy audit training course will teach you how to identify the common energy wasting areas of a residence as well as more in-depth energy conservation techniques including calculating energy usage and energy loss to enable you to provide your clients with the maximum in energy savings insight.

Where BPI and RESNET courses differ in in their training on equipment such as blower doors, and infrared camera’s – all of which you are required to use in your home energy audit as a certified BPI or RESNET auditor at a cost of over $10,000.

Alternative #1 – Start With an Non-Diagnostic Certification Before You Pay Thousands on RESNET or BPI

There is finally a fresh new approach to energy auditing training and certification programs. This breakthrough comes from the Energy Audit Institute who have revolutionized the industry with their home-study training programs. Now there is no longer a need to take time off from your busy schedule to attend a week long course, you can now do it all online from the comfort of home in your spare time. Much like online college courses have helped millions attain their degree, the Energy Audit Institute is forging a new path in an industry that has been slow to grow or change since the 1970′s.

The education you acquire from the Energy Audit Institute is primarily the same as that gained in legacy training programs with one major exception – diagnostic equipment training.

According to Energy Audit Institute owner Jeff Cairnes,

“the diagnostic training was intentionally left out of the training curriculum due to the simple fact that equipment providers such as FLIR (manufacturer’s of infrared cameras) provide free training as part of the purchase price of the equipment. We strongly believe it is in the student’s best interest to get their training directly from the equipment manufacturer and believe student’s should not pay twice for a feature they are already purchasing from the equipment manufacturer.”

He went on to say that

“as a graduate, you will be able to provide low-cost energy audits to million’s of American’s that are either classified as low income or are on a budget due to economic strain. These clients need serious help to save money during this challenging time and are largely ignored by diagnostic auditors in large part because they cannot afford a $500 audit.”

And the most intriguing thing he stated was

“many of our graduates are providers of energy saving items such as windows, HVAC systems, and alternative energy solutions. They provide free energy efficiency audits to potential clients as a way of educating the home owners on area’s of the home that are wasting energy as well as the low-cost solutions they can offer them. And when you look at the overall goal of every energy auditor, it is to reduce America’s energy consumption – and I believe that our new approach is not only working toward that goal, but also filling in void’s left by the legacy energy auditor groups.”

What is amazing about this revolutionary training is that home energy audits conducted by graduates of the Energy Audit Institute will still find approximately 80% of what the more expensive “diagnostic” audit finds. In addition, the average time to complete an energy audit using the methods taught at the Energy Audit Institute is only around 1-2 hours (compared to 4-6 for a diagnostic audit) at an average cost of $100 per audit (compared to $400-$600 for a diagnostic audit).

Alternative #2 – Start in Commercial Energy Auditing and Add Residential After You Start Making Money

One sector that has been almost completely ignored by energy auditors is commercial or the business owner. That is due largely in part by the fact that BPI and RESNET energy auditors are only certified to conduct residential audits.

Just like home owners, business owners are also struggling to stay afloat during this down economy. Now more than ever, they are seeking ways to lower their overhead costs, specifically the amount they spend on electricity and natural gas. In fact, there are over 5 million small businesses in the United States along that could benefit from an energy audit in conjunction with installing energy saving fixtures and appliances.

Once again the Energy Audit Institute has recognized this glaring issue and addressed it by creating a Commercial Energy Auditor course. Just like the Home Energy Auditor program they offer, the Commercial program is a home-study course that can be taken completely online from the comfort of your home without taking time off to attend a week long training course.

Considering the shear number of small business owners in need of an energy audit and the limited amount of Certified Commercial Energy Auditors to complete them, this sector is by far the most prime for auditors to make money in. Additionally, compared to home energy audits – the amount auditors earn per commercial or business audit is significantly higher.

Again, we asked the owner of the Energy Audit Institute about this revolutionary new program and this is what he had to say: “our Commercial Energy Course is the flagship of our company. More and more residential energy auditors are now taking the course in order to diversify their service offerings. We still have a long ways to go before business owners turn out their office lights at night, but with the army of energy professionals we are putting into the field, we are hopeful we will change the energy waste dynamic that has run rampant in the United States for far too long.”

Recommended Path For Everyone Interested in Making Money Saving Energy

What makes the Energy Audit Institute unique is their home based training approach. Unlike other training programs, the Energy Audit Institute allows you to learn at your own pace. There is no need to travel to a training facility, dedicate a block of time for online training, or change your current schedule in any way. You will receive all the same Dept of Energy standard energy audit training you would in a classroom but at a substantial savings! The total amount of study time for most of our graduates is about 12-18 hours. Then the online certification exam takes an additional 1-2 hours to complete. So in as little as 2 weeks studying part-time from home you can be a fully certified energy auditing with your own business.

Home Energy Audit Training & Certification

Commercial Energy Audit Training & Certification

Conclusion: Now Is The Perfect Time To Become an Energy Auditor and Start Your Own Energy Business

If you’re considering a career change into the new “Green Jobs” market – now is a great time to get started. It is now possible for you to have a very lucrative business that will make money saving energy. You will help home owners and or business owners understand where their buildings are wasting energy and they can then have them upgraded and updated while saving themselves thousands in the process.

What makes a career in energy auditing so great is that it is truly a win-win-win scenario. You get to earn a generous income while serving in your community to reduce energy consumption and waste while at the same time helping your neighbors and local business owners save money as well. There just aren’t that many careers that are flourishing right now, so do yourself a favor and check out the revolutionary training programs available to you and take the first step to owning and operating your own energy reducing business.