In addition to saving residents energy and money, home energy efficiency creates jobs in local communities. In 2010 alone, energy efficiency accounted for more than 830,000 jobs nationwide. North Carolina’s home and building energy efficiency sector includes more than 50,000 full-time employees around the state. The industry is growing rapidly with no slow-down on the horizon.  Want to join it? If so, visit the North Carolina Building Performance Association’s website for information on careers and jobs in the industry. NCBPA is the state’s only trade association for the industry and is responsible for creating jobs in the industry and placing talent in valuable positions with companies around the state. Interested in becoming a Home Energy Rater?  Click here to visit the website for RESNET, the national trade organization for Home Energy Raters. Interested in becoming an Energy Auditor or Home Performance Contractor?  Click here to visit the website for the Building Performance Institute, the national certification organization for building performance. What other jobs are available?  Lots!  Here’s a listing of just some of the many jobs in North Carolina’s home energy efficiency industry. Home Energy Rater Energy Auditor Energy Manager Lighting Systems Efficiency Specialist Mechanical Systems/ Appliance Efficiency Specialist HVAC installation and maintenance Insulation Installer Weatherization Specialist Duct Sealing and Repair Specialist Crawlspace Specialist Energy Modeling Technician Architect/Designer Home Builder Energy Engineer Project Manager Jobs with the trades are in high demand in North Carolina and across the country.  Watch this short video on the value of an education that you won’t receive at a four-year college or university. Degree programs available at North Carolina’s universities and colleges include: AB...

Financial rebates and other types of incentives are excellent offerings by utilities, product manufacturers, nonprofit programs, local governments and others to lower the costs needed to participate in home energy improvement projects in North Carolina’s homes and buildings. Looking for federal rebate and incentive programs?  ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder: click here to find rebates from the ENERGY STAR program on appliances, homes and more. IRS.gov: did you know that improving your home’s energy efficiency offers tax incentives? Looking for North Carolina rebate and incentive programs? A great place to start is with your utility company!  Most NC utilities have programs that incent homeowners and renters to lower their energy usage to help reduce the utility’s peak energy demand requirements. PSNC Energy: click here to see what rebates and incentives are offered. Duke Energy Progress: click here to see the many energy savings programs offered to customers. Duke Energy: click here to see the many energy efficiency programs offered to Duke Energy customers. Electric Cooperatives: visit www.TogetherWeSave.com for helpful information and then contact your electric cooperative to see what rebates and incentives they offer.  Or, visit the DISRE website below to search for your cooperative. Municipal-Owned Electric Utilities: visit the DSIRE website listed below to find programs with your local utility. More information can be found at the NC State Cooperative Extension’s Energy Conservation Program website for a listing of many programs available across the state. Looking for the latest information on available rebates and incentives?  Click on the website below for a state-by-state database of available rebate and incentive programs for both energy efficiency and renewable energy.  The website, named...

Here you will find answers to common questions surrounding clean and renewable energy in North Carolina. Don’t see your question? Please email or call us with your question and we’ll be happy to provide an answer and list it on this website for others to see! What are the differences between energy efficiency, clean energy and renewable energy?   Energy efficiency is a measurement for the rate at which energy is used. In homes and buildings, residents and office workers should want to lower their energy usage to save on utility bills and can do so by making their home or building more energy efficient, which means lowering the amount at which the home or building uses energy on a daily, monthly or annual basis. Clean energy is known as the various ways in which energy can be produced and supplied in clean manners. Clean energy includes solar energy, thermal energy, wind energy and other forms of energy generation that use none or very little natural resources like oil, coal and natural gas. Renewable energy is known as energy produced from renewable resources, such as solar energy from the sun, wind energy and hydropower that uses water to produce energy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are both considered parts of clean energy. What about fossil fuels? Currently, fossil fuels provide around 66 percent of the world’s electrical power, and 95 percent of the world’s total energy demands (heating, transport, electricity generation, etc.).  These power plants burn the fossil fuels to make our electricity and in that process greenhouse gas is made, including carbon dioxide and methane. To some, clean energy...