Home Energy Audit Training – For The Best Of Green Jobs
A home energy audit? What's that? You may know now but not long ago few people knew what it was. The bottom line is this: A typical energy audit will identify an average energy saving of 30% of a building's energy use! And there are a number of energy audit training courses that teach you exactly how to do this. We stand at the threshold of a wave of green jobs. Green careers that no-one thought of, until the impacts of global warming and a sagging economy combined to open up new opportunities. The UK green jobs market grew by 50% in 2008! And it's not slowing. The USA government is throwing hundreds of millions of dollars a green jobs creation and tax incentives. So is Australia, Europe, China and others. Opportunities for rewarding work that is really needed. Good for people and the planet. Energy auditing is the first action that must be undertaken before deciding what alternative energies are applied to a home or commercial building. It's an exciting career with no shortage of work. Governments are falling over themselves to promote "Green Jobs" and provide renewable energy grants and incentives to stimulate energy-saving behavior. Energy audit training and energy audit certification, home and commercial can be a path to a rewarding, recession-proof job, or business. Think of a financial auditor. They check that what's entered in the books, on debit and credit sides is genuine and may recommend changes to adjust the books and get your balance right. Same with energy auditing really. Trained energy auditors check the current energy bills of their customers to compare with average local energy use. They want to know how many people use the dwelling and then go through your building, room by room, to identify where energy waste occurs. In other words: how much energy is being used, per person, for this building, where is the inefficiency and what can be done about it. You can make that highly complex but generally to identify where 80% of the wastage occurs a relatively simple approach is sufficient. Energy can be wasted in many areas, such as:
Some audits include the potential for renewable energy use, such as the position and angle of your roof for solar panels, wind speed and prevailing wind for wind energy. Of course you will pay more for such audits. But... it may well be worth it if you think you want to go that far. The certified energy auditor will then calculate the cost savings that can be made through recommendations for such measures as better insulation, switching incandescent light bulbs to CFL, and future replacement of wasteful appliances. 1)A walk-through-your-building-assessment to give you basic recommendations for conserving energy. 2)A detailed report showing greenhouse gas emissions with auditor's recommendations on how to save energy. Home energy audits expensive? Well, no really. You can get one done for around $100 – to $500 and upwards, depending on how complex a report you want. Some environmental agencies are even government funded to do them for free. We had one of those done. Main recommendations were for window/door/roof insulation, together with roof extraction fans (Whirlie Birds for Australians). We can now enjoy indoors even on 40C days, without an air conditioner(!!), whereas we were really struggling before, with it! Roof insulation is now 100% free through government subsidy, three Whirlie Birds at $25 each on special and some tape is all it took. Thank you energy auditor! Might still look at insulation film on the windows but it's optional. Saving energy and the Planet World-wide energy consumption is projected to increase by 44% between 2006-2030. The average US homeowner spends around $1,900 per year on energy. And this figure is rising rapidly through rising cost of fossil fuels and cost of emission-offset trading. Cost of housing may rise too as it has to meet increasing energy-efficiency standards. On the plus-side an energy-efficient building is generally more valuable than other buildings. Home weatherization is a high priority for US and Australian governments for its high potential of reducing energy use. Generous tax credits and direct grant incentives make this a booming area. Whereas most people are probably interested because of the cost savings to them, energy efficiency is one immediate step anyone can take to reduce global warming and pollution. Energy efficiency audits are a very practical first step in minimizing energy use and waste. It's an investment in survival. Home energy audits – A green jobs bonanza 
So, it's easy to see why home energy auditing is essential in a green economy and a cleaner world. Commercial energy auditing is just the same, except that it applies to larger buildings. Energy auditors usually charge a fee based on the surface area of a business building. Energy audit opportunities are many. For men and women. You could train as one yourself, and work independently, or for others. Or start a business by hiring trained energy auditors to work for you. Or if you're a trades person, a builder, or in real estate, energy auditing can be a very useful extra skill, as energy-efficiency standards have a growing impact on energy costs and building values. In essence, all you really need is the knowledge, a pen, paper and calculator! Home energy audit certification If you want to become capable of doing a home energy audit, or commercial energy audit, it helps if you obtain a qualification. In the US, there is currently little regulation of this industry but proper certification gives you confidence and credibility. Look for one with a good profile in all 50 States of the US, and choose the home energy audit training you need. Certification Courses
RESNET and BPI courses are currently accepted as industry standards but are more costly than a course run by the Energy Audit Institute's Training & Certification (EAI), or Denby Energy for example. Both are very good value for the knowledge you need in the 21st century's fast-growing business of saving energy! However, Mike Denby's course includes marketing and business start up essentials. Second, his programs have support behind them – Mike himself – to answer actual auditing and start up questions. He is an accredited energy auditor. Third, his personal accreditations are LEED AP and Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and has an environmental degree. Mike also runs face-to-face courses. Denby Energy is an approved US Green Building Council (USGBC) Education Provider. You can read more about that here.
The Institute's and Denby Energy's courses claim they enable a graduate to apply 80% of what a RESNET/BPI consultant would do in a home energy audit but without need for expensive equipment like infra-red viewers, blower doors or duct blasting. Consequently, an EAI or Denby consultant would take an hour for an average home's energy audit and recommend around 30% energy savings for around $100. A RESNET/BPI assessment could cost five times that amount, and take longer for not necessarily much of a greater energy saving. It's horses for courses. Not sure? Energy auditing is one of the most flexible green careers which allows you to work your own hours, in a job that helps others, from home. But perhaps you're not yet sure whether home energy audit training is for you. If so, then Green Career Central is worth consulting. You're alive at the dawning of a global green career boom and many choices are open to you. Do you know what they are? What green niche suits you best? Where are the green jobs? Let them help you set your goals, draw up a plan and get going.
Energy audit training in Australia, UK, India, Europe and elsewhere Home and business energy auditing is not new. It's been around since the 1970's. But with a new public awareness of the need to conserve energy, training courses are being offered in many localities. You will find a local energy audit training course in your country by doing a Google search.  Custom Search  How To Make Gardening Your Business Compensation Disclosure: Site owner receives compensation for some or all products on this site.
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