Energy engineers design, test, and install new energy designs and systems. They look for ways to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency.

Energy engineers may specialize in one of several areas:

• Air conditioning
• Electrical systems
• Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Green buildings
• Lighting
• Air quality
• Energy procurement

Sometimes energy engineers write energy management plans for large energy systems or buildings. They may also oversee an energy conservation project. Other engineers focus on smaller buildings and homes.

Construction

Energy engineers work on new construction projects and help to remodel older buildings so they become more energy efficient. They work on projects during both the design and the construction phase. Energy engineers identify ways to save energy and make recommendations to homeowners, builders, and architects.

Energy engineers follow budgets and timelines. They review drawings and layouts. They make sure that each project conforms to federal and state laws. Energy engineers often visit construction and building sites to do inspections.

Energy audits

Energy engineers also conduct energy audits on buildings or large energy systems such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units. They look for ways to save energy and cut energy costs. Sometimes they recommend or design a new system and other times they figure out how to make an existing system work more efficiently.