Collage of researchers doing experiments, viewing laptop, LBNL building

For Job Seekers

How to find opportunities in energy and environmental careers.

First, read our "What is Energy Efficiency?" page, especially, "Who Does Energy Efficiency?" You'll discover that people in many different occupations can have some type of involvement working toward a more energy-efficient world.

Job Listings in Research and Development, and Higher Education

The links on this page jump to a variety of energy-related employers. They include institutions doing research in energy such as the Department of Energy's National Laboratories, and universties, as well as private sector companies in energy-related services, such as consulting firms and utilities.

Jobs at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Job Listings :: For jobs in the Environmental Energy Technology Division, search for Environmental Energy Tech under the Division category.

Jobs in Energy Efficiency Research and Development

Research in energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, the smart grid, and related topics is expanding. We have listed just a few of the centers for this kind of research. Some of these centers are hiring.

Energy-Efficiency-Related Consulting Companies

Only a handful of companies working in energy efficiency are mentioned here. If your company has career openings in energy efficiency related occupations, contact us to add your website.

Federal, State, and Local Government

Most states have agencies or commissions that regulate energy utilities. We have listed only a sampling of them here. You can look up many of them by visiting the Utility Connection. To enter federal or state government service, often you are required to take a civil service exam.

Non-Profit Organizations

Other Job Websites

Buildings and Energy Industries

You can search for jobs related to energy efficiency in many of the commercial career websites-you just have to know what to look for.

Energy service companies help private companies, facilities, institutions and industrial facilities become more energy efficient by auditing their buildings, recommending efficiency improvements, and managing the implementation of those improvements.

Energy auditors provide audit services to a variety of clients, including homes and businesses, and suggest energy efficiency improvements.

Association of Energy Service Professionals (AESP) provides professional development programs, a network of energy practitioners, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and experience. Its members work in the energy services industry and represent electric and natural gas utilities, public benefits associations, regulatory and non-profit entities, vendors, manufacturers and consulting firms. AESP Career Center

On behalf of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE) has prepared a brief list of programs and services offered by organizations for improving the capabilities of individuals in the field of energy efficiency evaluation.

The National Association of Energy Service Companies is a national trade association which has been promoting the benefits of the widespread use of energy efficiency for years.

Find out more about what energy service companies do.

Jobs (lists jobs around the U.S.)

Northern California Area Resources R&D, Higher Education, State and Local Government

Electric Utilities

Utilities are increasingly offering energy efficiency programs, serving as the front line in the effort to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources.

Northern California utilities include:

Electric Utilities

Utilities are increasingly offering energy efficiency programs, serving as the front line in the effort to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources.

Northern California utilities include:

Training Programs

These programs are free and designed for adults facing barriers to employment.

  • The Oakland Green Jobs Corpsprovides long term, job-readiness training, ongoing support services, college credit and on-the-job training in solar, energy efficiency, and green construction.
  • Richmond Build offers a 10-week construction training program solar installation and energy efficiency for Richmond residents.
  • In partnership with Richmond Build, Solar Richmond provides trainees with 5 weeks of solar panel and solar thermal training to Richmond residents.
  • The Rising Sun Energy Center provides two energy efficiency training and employment programs; California Youth Energy Services (CYES) and Green Energy Training Services (GETS).

The following programs are fee based.

  • Boots on the Roof is the premier Wind and Solar Energy training provider in the United States, with the mission of training the next wave of renewable energy contractors, engineers, architects, sales professionals and business entrepreneurs.
  • At CleanEdison, their mission is to promote sustainability and green building practices by offering expert advice through their consulting services and best-in-class education to professionals serving the green building industry.
  • Everblue Training Institute is a national provider of LEED and Energy Efficiency education for the US Green Building Council and the Building Performance Institute.
  • The Green Business Institute provides technical and vocational courses for individuals and companies in green industries. While they cover a wide variety of classes, their specific emphasis is on the business training.
  • Sun Pirate Online Solar Training offers several solar energy courses that are IREC Accredited and NABCEP Approved.

Reports on Labor and Training Needs in Energy Efficiency

Recovery Through Retrofit
From the Council on Environmental Quality comes an October 2009 report addressing how retrofitting homes for energy efficiency can create jobs and stimulate the economy.

Clean Energy Economy
A June 2009 report from the Pew Charitable Trusts on the emerging clean energy economy the types of jobs it is creating.

Green Building Construction in California
This June 2009 report by Green Technology addresses green building construction in California, and its labor needs. It contains lots of links to employment resources.

Find out more about energy efficiency by reading about the work of some of these organizations.

This page does not cover jobs in renewable energy fields, which is also an important element of the green economy. Renewable energy deals with supplying power that is lean and sustainable. Energy efficiency addresses the process of reducing our energy needs-which takes place on the demand side of the energy economy.

Recent reports describe anticipated energy efficiency workforce and training needs, and which occupations are likely to a growth in demand. Here are links to some examples:

"The Gathering Storm" published by the National Academy of Sciences.

"In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy."

Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Job Creation in California By David Roland-Holst, UC Berkeley
"Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Job Creation in California" analyses the economic impact of the California Air Resources Board's policies to reduce fossil fuel generated energy demand. This study examines the economy-wide employment effects of the state's landmark efficiency policies over the last thirty-five years, and forecasts the economic effects of significantly more aggressive policies proposed to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
In the process of addressing climate change, the United States could net 4.5 million jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency fields by 2030, according to a new study. The report, "Estimating the Jobs Impact of Tackling Climate Change," was prepared for the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) by Management Information Services Inc.The report finds that an estimated 1.2 billion tons of annual carbon emissions could be eliminated by 2030 through renewable energy and energy efficiency alone, if the country makes a serious commitment to reversing climate change.

According to the report, about 57% of the reduction in carbon emissions would be from energy efficiency and 43% would be from renewable energy. Professions that would gain the most jobs include farming, construction, professional services, trucking, and metal fabrication, with job benefits spread across the entire country.