About This Career

Performs a variety of activities to weatherize homes and make them more energy efficient. Duties include repairing windows, insulating ducts, and performing heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) work. May perform energy audits and advise clients on energy conservation measures.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Maintenance/Operations pathway.

A person in this career:

• Tests combustible appliances, such as gas appliances.
• Determines amount of air leakage in buildings, using a blower door machine.
• Installs and seals air ducts, combustion air openings, or ventilation openings to improve heating and cooling efficiency.
• Tests and diagnoses air flow systems, using furnace efficiency analysis equipment.
• Inspects buildings to identify required weatherization measures, including repair work, modification, or replacement.
• Recommends weatherization techniques to clients in accordance with needs and applicable energy regulations, codes, policies, or statutes.
• Applies insulation materials, such as loose, blanket, board, and foam insulation to attics, crawl spaces, basements, or walls.
• Makes minor repairs using basic hand or power tools and materials, such as glass, lumber, and drywall.
• Contacts residents or building owners to schedule appointments.
• Prepares and applies weather-stripping, glazing, caulking, or door sweeps to reduce energy losses.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Requires getting into awkward positions
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of special protective items such as a breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suit, or radiation protection
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Weekend work