Rising energy costs are driving New Hampshire residents to take action. Requests for home energy audits are increasing, as are installations of energy-saving technology such as heat pumps and solar panels.

These solutions are great investments, assuming the experts providing the services have the skills to properly advise you and complete the work. The region is lucky to have experienced, knowledgeable energy-related professionals, but we will need more to meet the increased demand for services. In a 2023 survey commissioned by NHSaves, 92% of New Hampshire companies that attempted to hire for an energy efficiency job reported difficulty in doing so. That’s an opportunity for those considering a new career or for contractors looking to expand their business.

My recent experience getting quotes for installing a heat pump system in my home illustrated this need for me. Designs and estimates vary more than I expected, so I looked into why that might be. One factor that stood out to me was the available talent pool for heat pump installers and designers. Demand for heat pumps is rising, so more heat pump contractors are trying to establish themselves. This spreads the pool of experienced installers and designers thin.

Established heat pump contractors with good reputations and a solid team can charge a premium for their work, which is fair. You are paying for their experience, skill, and guarantees. Contractors new to the businesses tend to compete on price, which might mean pitching a more-conservative design. That’s fine, too, assuming the contractor is clear about their approach and the equipment they recommend is properly sized to deliver the benefit you’re looking for.

Both new and established contractors compete for a limited talent pool. In fact, the person who evaluated my home for one contractor changed jobs shortly after.

Energy-related skills can help a wide range of building professionals advance their careers, from architects to appraisers to building operations managers. For this article, I’ll focus on jobs in four areas: energy auditing, weatherization, heat pump design and installation and solar design and installation.

These are some of the most in-demand roles. Where available, I’ve included pay rates for the region courtesy of Career Explorer and Green Buildings Career Map.

What is an energy auditor?

An energy auditor inspects buildings for energy efficiency. This includes assessing insulation, HVAC systems, lighting, appliances, and the building itself for leaks to find areas for improvement. Auditors also use data from electric bills and occupants’ energy usage patterns.

Tools of the trade include specialized software, thermal imaging cameras and blower door test equipment. Auditors should be comfortable doing math and analysis, and they should be good communicators who can explain their findings to building owners.

Starting hourly pay for an energy auditor is about $21. The middle range is $37 per hour and can go as high as $67 per hour depending on experience and certifications.

What is a weatherization expert?

A weatherization expert or technician is the person who fixes many of the issues identified in an energy audit. This includes bringing insulation up to snuff, installing smart thermostats and repairing or replacing energy-efficient materials. The job can be physically demanding as it could require working in crawl spaces, attics or other tight places.

Starting hourly pay for a weatherization technician is about $12. The middle range is about $18 per hour and goes as high as $30 per hour.

What is a heat pump system design engineer?

A heat pump system design engineer makes load calculations for the optimal heat pump design for a given building. This person determines the size needed for the heat pump and ideal locations of the piping system and each system unit. In the case of so-called “mini splits,” heat pump units that look somewhat like window air conditioning units installed in walls. A heat pump design engineer should have knowledge of engineering mathematics and a basic understanding of how HVAC systems work. This person will also use software tools that help estimate system loads.

Starting annual salary for a heat pump design engineer is about $60,000 and can rise to $140,000 depending on experience and certifications.

What is a heat pump system installer?

Many heat pump system installers work for traditional HVAC contractors and have an HVAC background. They start with the basic skills for installing and maintaining traditional heating and cooling systems, and then they add training specific to heat pumps. Some heat pump installers might qualify as design engineers.

Pay for a heat pump installer can vary depending on factors such as experience, number of certifications and size of the business that employs them. A scan of job listings in New England shows advertised rates ranging from $20 to $70 per hour.

What is a solar system designer?

A solar designer first assesses the viability of installing solar panels at a given location and then designs the optimal layout. This includes where to place the panels – roof or ground mount – positioning panels for optimal exposure to the sun and estimating proper output capacity. The solar designer also needs good communication skills to learn what the customer expects from a project and explain why their recommendations will meet those expectations.

Annual salaries for solar system designers range from $82,000 to $122,000 per year, depending on experience and certifications.

What is a solar panel installer?

A solar panel installer is the person who does the labor of installing the solar system on a building or on the ground, typically everything but the electrical work. This can be a physically demanding job that requires some lifting and work in tight places. You also can’t be afraid of heights, as installers often work on roofs. Installers need a basic understanding of how solar systems work and what’s needed to meet code requirements.

A scan of solar installer job listings in New England shows advertised hourly rates starting at $22 and going to as much as $40 depending on experience.

Local resources

Several training courses that focus on building energy efficiency have run locally, with more planned. Courses held at the MAXT Makerspace in Peterborough that recently ended include an introduction to cold climate heat pumps and a building analyst professional certification.

A weatherization course will take place at MAXT from June 4 to 6. It will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and cover weatherization basics, air sealing fundamentals and retrofit insulation fundamentals. The course costs $1,250, but students might be eligible for a full refund if they begin their careers in the Monadnock region. Use this link for more information: lrcc.edu/programs/workforce-trainings/industry-energy.

The courses held at MAXT are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. They are supported by the Lakes Region Community College and are available to anyone in the Monadnock region.

Tuition reimbursements are also available through NHSaves.

“While federal policies may shift, New Hampshire's workforce development strategy in the energy efficiency sector remains strong and continues to be a cornerstone of our approach,” says Kate Peters, director of residential energy efficiency at Eversource and spokesperson for the NHSaves utility partners. “Our workforce development initiatives through the NHSaves utility partners will continue to train and upskill workers and create career pathways for New Hampshire residents.”

Michael Nadeau is a member of the Peterborough Renewable Energy Project.