
Residential Energy Auditors conduct onsite energy audits and assessments and perform energy modeling to determine the current and desired energy performance, safety, and durability of single family buildings.
A Residential Energy Auditor is a specialized consultant who helps assess and improve the energy efficiency of residential buildings—in essence, a building inspector who focuses on energy efficiency measures. They provide homeowners with specific and actionable recommendations to improve the home's level of energy efficiency, increase comfort, support health and safety, and create cost-savings on utility bills. Residential Energy Auditors also assess a site for additional health and safety concerns including, but not limited to moisture, mold, and asbestos.
Residential Energy Auditors begin by visiting a home and conducting a visual inspection. They talk with homeowners and discuss their comfort level in the home as well as how much they spend on their utility bills. Residential Energy Auditors perform tests such as blower-door tests to locate air leaks and determine how much energy a home might be losing through the building envelope. Energy Auditors also use digital thermometers, air velocity monitors, light meters, and other tools to help them analyze energy use in the home. After the visual inspection and on-site tests are complete, Residential Energy Auditors prepare a report that includes the inspection and test results as well as recommended energy efficiency upgrades and improvements and possible financial incentives. The audit report includes potential cost savings calculations for particular upgrades and might compare minor versus major upgrades, for instance adding weather stripping to single pane windows compared to replacing windows completely with dual-pane glass. Energy Auditors must provide cost-savings to justify the expense of energy efficiency upgrades.
Education is a key component of a Residential Energy Auditors job as a customer's level of awareness varies when it comes to the factors that impact their home's energy use. Energy Auditors have the ability to motivate customers to reduce energy usage, increase sustainability, and invest in energy efficiency upgrades.
Advancement Routes
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▸ Quality Control Inspector
Additional experience and industry certification is typically needed for this advancement.. -
▸ Certified Home Energy Rater/Assessor/Home Inspector
Additional experience and industry certification is typically needed for this advancement.. -
▸ Real Estate Appraiser (with green building expertise)
Certification and licensing is most likely needed to advance here.. -
▸ Real Estate Agent (with green building expertise)
State licensing is required for this advancement.. -
▸ Multifamily Energy Auditor
Additional experience and industry certification is typically needed for this advancement.. -
▸ Commercial Energy Auditor
Additional experience and industry certification is typically needed for this advancement.. -
▸ Commercial Lighting Auditor
This move requires a bachelor’s degree and/or significant lighting design experience.. -
▸ Building Performance Diagnostician
In-depth knowledge in building and sustainable design, and green construction is typically required.. -
▸ Residential Building Code Official (with green building expertise)
Additional building system experience and certification would support this move.. -
▸ Energy Manager
A bachelor's degree in engineering or related field and knowledge of building design is required.. -
▸ Building Science Instructor
Strong knowledge of building systems, certification, leadership and management skills are needed.. -
▸ Energy Efficiency Program Director
This advancement typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a related fieldand more experience.. -
▸ Building / Home Performance Contractor
In-depth knowledge in building and sustainable design, and green construction is typically required.. -
▸ Junior Architect
This move requires an architectural degree to advance.. -
▸ Junior Engineer
This move requires an engineering degree to advance..