U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 1

Green Jobs: Energy Auditors

Energy Auditors

Drew Liming

wasted. Unnecessary energy expenditures can be significant in large buildings or buildings that lack energy 

efficient technologies, such as proper insulation or 

fluorescent light bulbs. By identifying problem areas and 

proposing solutions, energy auditors can help building 

owners lower their energy bills. Over time, these savings 

more than make up for the cost of the energy audit. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not 

currently have employment or wage data specifically 

for energy auditors. However, BLS is in the process of 

collecting data to measure green jobs, including those 

jobs relevant to energy efficiency. Green jobs data are 

expected be available in late 2012. For more information 

on BLS green jobs initiatives, please see www.bls.gov/

green. 

Drew Liming is an economist in the Office of 

Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, 

BLS. Drew is available at (202) 691-5262 or liming.

drew@bls.gov.

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR ST

BLATSISTICS

February 2012 — Report 6

Heating or cooling a building to a comfortable 

temperature requires energy. Many buildings 

leak air to the outside environment, causing 

buildings to lose this energy. To compensate for the lost 

heat or air-conditioning, building systems produce excess heated or cooled air, which wastes more energy.

Energy auditors, also known as energy raters or 

energy consultants, help prevent this waste by inspecting buildings to find areas of air leakage and advising 

customers on how to fix and prevent leaks. In this way, 

energy auditors help consumers use fewer resources and 

save money. Some energy auditors work full time for 

utility companies that offer energy audits as a service to 

their customers. Others are self-employed and are hired 

directly by homeowners or commercial building owners 

to perform audits. Some conduct energy audits part time 

while maintaining another career.

By reducing energy waste, auditors lower overall 

energy consumption, which benefits the environment. 

Producing energy from coal or nuclear power has environmental costs and creates hazardous by-products. 

Even renewable sources of energy, such as wind or solar 

power, can require large, environmentally disruptive 

construction projects. By increasing energy efficiency, 

auditors help to lower demand for energy. 

Energy auditors also help building owners save 

money. Building owners pay the bill for any energy 

the building consumes, whether it’s used effectively or 

Standard and thermographic images of a house: the lighter colors 

(yellow, orange, and red) in the lower image show the house’s areas 

of greatest heat loss
Green Jobs: Energy Auditors

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2

Walk-through of an audit

Energy auditors conduct audits in homes and commercial buildings. Audits usually begin with a thorough 

review of the customer’s utility bills. The bills give 

auditors an idea of the customer’s typical energy use. 

Auditors then advise customers on how best to conserve 

energy and save money. 

Most of an energy audit is performed through on-site 

inspections. Energy auditors use a variety of tests and 

tools to perform inspections. They choose which tests 

and tools to use depending on the characteristics of the 

building being audited. 

One of the most common inspection tests is the 

blower-door test. To conduct the test, energy auditors 

close all of the building’s windows and open all interior 

doors. Fireplace dampers and most exterior doors are 

also closed. Only one exterior door is left open, and the 

auditors install a large fan in the door frame. The rest 

of the doorway surrounding the fan is sealed off with a 

material impermeable to air. When the fan is turned on, 

it blows air out of the building, lowering the internal 

air pressure. This change causes the air pressure in the 

building to be lower than it is outside. Air flows from 

high pressures to low pressures, and unbalancing the 

pressure between the interior and exterior of the building 

makes leaks significantly more noticeable. Auditors can 

use this imbalance to find leaks, where the outside air 

flows into the low-pressured building.

When conducting a blower-door test, energy auditors frequently find leaks using smoke pens, which 

emit small puffs of smoke to show air movement. If 

the smoke pen is held near a leak, its smoke will visibly react to the air flowing in or out. Smoke pens are 

frequently used to search for leaks in unexpected places, 

such as light fixture casings, that most building owners 

would not suspect to be a source of a leak. 

To spot leaks, energy auditors conduct thermographic inspections. They examine the building’s exterior and 

interior walls with infrared cameras, which allow auditors to “see” temperatures. Through the lens of an infrared camera, warmer temperatures appear as lighter colors 

and cooler temperatures appear as darker colors, making 

it easy for energy auditors to spot changes in temperature caused by leaks. Thermographic inspections are 

frequently conducted simultaneously with blower-door 

tests to maximize air flow. Old windows are a frequent 

source of leaks, and, after conducting a thermographic 

scan, auditors might recommend that clients purchase 

new windows with double-paned glass to mitigate heat 

energy loss.

Poor insulation is also a common culprit of energy 

loss. Insulation can be made from many different materials, and some materials are more insulating than others. 

Insulation’s effectiveness is evaluated with a number 

called an R-value, and materials with greater insulating 

capabilities have a higher R-value. In some cases, auditors might suggest that clients install insulation with a 

higher R-value to reduce energy loss. 

Even if the insulation in a building has a high Rvalue, the insulation might still be a source of energy 

loss. Insulation that is poorly installed, eroded, or pulling 

away from pipes or walls does little to prevent energy 

from escaping. When conducting inspections, energy 

auditors check many places where insulation might be 

compromised, such as attics, basements, and around 

pipes. 

Some energy auditors are knowledgeable about 

heating and ventilation systems. When conducting 

inspections, these auditors usually check the heat pump, 

furnace, air filter, air conditioners, and other building 

Energy auditor conducting blower-door test
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 3

Green Jobs: Energy Auditors

systems to ensure that they are working properly. If 

auditors find an inefficient or older model, they might 

provide building owners with advice on purchasing a 

new one.

After they’ve completed their inspection, energy 

auditors provide building owners with detailed reports of 

the tests and their results. Auditors then walk through a 

building with the owners, pointing out areas with leaks 

or deficient insulation. Energy auditors also give building 

owners general advice on the best ways to lower their 

energy consumption.

Credentials

There are no nationwide education or training requirements for energy auditors, but some states require 

prospective auditors to take courses or earn certification. 

Even when it is not required, however, certification can 

improve an auditor’s chance of getting a job. Certification is available through organizations such as the 

Building Performance Institute, the Residential Energy 

Services Network, and the Association of Energy Engineers. Some local technical and community colleges also 

offer courses in energy auditing. 

Courses in energy auditing vary among programs, 

but schools usually offer classes that include demonstrations of common building inspection techniques, such 

as the blower-door test and thermographic inspections. 

Students might practice these skills in mock inspections, 

receive instruction in energy management principles, and 

learn basic construction and insulation techniques. 

Important qualities

Energy auditors should have an interest in environmental and conservation issues. They also should be skillful 

communicators, because much of their time is spent 

working directly with clients. When they are not conducting inspections, some energy auditors work with 

members of their local community to increase awareness 

of energy issues. These auditors might offer simple clinics in energy efficiency or share tips to decrease energy 

waste. 

Energy auditors must be physically active. They may 

spend much of the day on their feet, and their inspections 

may require them to fit in tight spaces, such as attics and 

crawl spaces, and work on their hands and knees. 

Self-employed energy auditors should know basic 

business and marketing practices in order to run their 

own companies. 

Conclusion

By increasing a building’s energy efficiency, energy 

auditors can create a cleaner environment and help customers save money. As long as they are able to produce 

financial savings for their clients, energy auditors should 

find continued demand for their skills. As more home 

and building owners recognize the benefits of energy 

audits, the number of auditors will likely grow. The 

lack of education and training requirements to become 

an energy auditor provides an excellent opportunity for 

workers without a college degree. 

Energy auditor checking insulation around pipes

(Photo courtesy of United Cooperative Services)