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Energy Engineers

Also called: Energy Efficiency Engineer, Energy Manager, Distributed Generation Project Manager, Energy Engineer

What they do:
Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.
On the job, you would:
  • Identify energy savings opportunities and make recommendations to achieve more energy efficient operation.
  • Manage the development, design, or construction of energy conservation projects to ensure acceptability of budgets and time lines, conformance to federal and state laws, or adherence to approved specifications.
  • Conduct energy audits to evaluate energy use, costs, or conservation measures.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • product and service development
  • building and construction
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • accounting and economics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • reading work related information
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Abilities

Verbal
  • read and understand what is written
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • use rules to solve problems
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Architectural Energy Corporation ENFORMA Building Diagnostics
  • Autodesk ECOTECT
Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD software
  • Home Energy Efficient Design HEED
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$90,580
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

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See more details at O*NET OnLine about energy engineers.