Energy Consultant

Energy consultants provide advice and recommendations to multiple businesses and companies pertaining especially to cutting a corporations costs by becoming more energy efficient. Energy consultants analyze a client's utility and electrical bills to track patterns in energy usage. In addition, consultants also help corporations devise the most energy efficient means by which to reduce their energy bills and improve their energy consumption. Specifically, consultants research and implement cost saving strategies and partner with private, government, and nongovernmental organizations to further reduce a corporations environmental footprint and design and initiate programs that maximize a companys ability to successfully integrate sustainable materials, products and processes into the business. This may include recommendations to modify their production facilities, adjust their office heating practices, or amending their equipment usage policies among many others. The ultimate goals for an energy consultant are to create a cost saving strategies, increase public relations, and promote environmental stewardship for a particular corporation or client. Energy consultants can expect 40-45 hour work weeks and their work load can vary depending on the amount of projects their firm is involved with at any given time. Related environmental topics to energy consulting include sustainable planning, renewable energy, environmental health, environmental policy, mechanical engineering, and environmental engineering and planning.
Field Job Title Technical Consulting Services Energy Consultant PhD Masters Bachelors Required in: Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Toxicology, Environmental Policy States Associate Trade School Other

Education Not required Location International

Common but not required in, Conservation, Sustainable Development, or Environment and Resources Regional

Population Density

Employers

Energy Analysis and Policy certification while pursuing Masters Top Schools

Yes Salary Range Working Conditions Marketable Skills $50,0001 $60,000

All of US Hours Varies with workload, 40 more than 40

Midwest, East and West Coasts, California Benefits (401k), Health Insurance, Excellent

Suburban, Urban Atmosphere

Government, Private

U of Georgia Columbia University Arizona State

Travel, Office, Field Work, Collaborative, Individual

Responsibilities
1 www.bls.gov

Analytical and problem-solving abilities, excellent written and verbal communications skills, assertiveness and motivation, strong attention to detail. Research and implement cost saving strategies and partner with private, government, and non-governmental organizations to further reduce a corporations environmental footprint and design and initiate programs that maximize a companys ability to successfully integrate sustainable materials, products and processes into the business.

A Day in the Life

Energy consultants typically work alone while analyzing patterns in a clients energy usage but will frequently collaborate with upper level executives and decision makers on a day-to-day basis. Consultants will have extensive interactions with many corporation departments including communications, finance, human resources, operations, marketing, sales, and transportation. Consulting is usually done on-site at a clients facilities while analysis is performed in an office setting. Frequent travel will be necessary to and from various client locations and an energy consultant can expect 40 50 hour work weeks depending on the amount of projects they wish to undertake. Similarly, self employed consultants can set their own workload and hours.

Projected Career Outlook

Current demand for energy consultants is high. Large businesses are seeking ways to cut costs and take on a green approach to operation to increase notoriety and undertake the booming eco-friendly market. Energy consulting falls within the technical consulting industry which is projected to be one of the fastest growing industries over the next decade. However, because of the number of people looking to work in this industry, competition for jobs is expected to be keen. Between 2006 and 2016, wage and salary employment in the technical consulting services industry is

expected to grow by 78%, much faster than the 11% growth projected for all industries, ranking the industry as the fastest growing industry in the economy. All areas of consulting should experience strong growth. As of 2006 energy consulting made up only 7.9%of the employment and establishments in the management, scientific, and technical consulting industry and as such, growth is undoubtedly expected (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Education and Preparation

Clients usually hire consulting firms or individual consultants on the basis of their expertise of their staffs and knowledge. Knowledge of environmental laws, policies, tariffs, etc. is extremely necessary. The biggest consulting firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton generally prefer to hire candidates with a Bachelor of Science degree in any of the following including Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Toxicology, Environmental Policy and most positions also require extensive on-the-job training or related experience. Advancement opportunities are best for workers with higher levels of education especially those with a Masters Degree in Conservation, Sustainable Development, or Environment and Resources. Additionally, two to three years of experience is desired in performing technical energy analysis, completing environmental projects, working in community outreach and/or brand marketing, along with additional experience in the public and/or private sectors. Aside from a solid educational background, energy consultants must also possess proven analytical and problem-solving abilities, excellent written and verbal communications skills, experience in environmental policies, assertiveness and motivation, strong attention to detail, and a willingness to work long hours if necessary. Many consultants undergo training to learn these and related skills, such as project management and relationship seminars. Consultants must also possess high standards of work as most firms and clients will contact references and former clients to make sure that the quality of their work was of the highest standard. Finally, energy consultants should exhibit outstanding organizational skills and the ability to effectively multi-task many projects at any particular time.

Employers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the vast majority of establishments in the energy consulting industry are fairly small, employing fewer than five workers. Self-employed consultants operate many of these small firms. Despite the prevalence of small firms and self-employed workers, large firms tend to dominate the industry. A few of the larger firms include Booz Allen Hamilton, PFC Energy, Cambridge Energy Research Associates, and United Nations Environment Program. Approximately 58 percent of jobs are found in establishments with 20 or more employees, and some of the largest firms in the industry employ several thousand people. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Related Environmental Careers

There are numerous environmental careers closely related to energy consultants including a Pollution Prevention and Control Officer, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Health and Safety Officer, Environmental Policy Analyst, Environmental Compliance Officer, Environmental Risk Management Specialist, and a Sustainable Design Consultant. As with any career path, similar positions might overlap and interaction and congruence among the positions will likely take place.

Further Information
Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, Peter Block, 1999 Profiting from Clean Energy, Richard W. Asplund, 2008 Step-by-Step Guide to Sustainability Planning, Darcy Hitchcock, 2008 Strategies for the Green Economy, Joel Makower, 2008 The Necessary Revolution , Peter M. Senge, 2008 http://www.sustaindesign.net - Sustainable Design Consulting http://www.sustainability.com/news-media - SustainAbility News http://www.unep.org - United Nations Environment Program http://www.wbcsd.org - World Business Council for Sustainable Development Researched and Authored by Josh Zastrow