Climate Careers®

Climate Careers® offers young leaders the opportunity to gain paid, hands-on work experience while taking climate action

As an Energy Specialist, you’ll spend the summer helping residents save energy, water, and money through Green House Calls. You’ll take part in workshops, network, and gain a true feel for environmentally conscious work, culminating in a paid externship placement with one of our partners.

 

Made possible with support from the Bay Area Regional Energy Network and Central California Rural Regional Energy Network.

Apply to join Climate Careers today!

FAQ

To be an Energy Assistant, you must be:

 

  • Resident in one of the following Bay Area or Central California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Merced, Madera, Napa, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Sonoma, or Tulare
  • Between 15 and 24 years old
  • Committed to working and learning four days a week in a supportive environment

It’s easy!

 

Visit the link indicated on the job description. Descriptions for all open positions can be found on our jobs page. 

Tell me more about externship outcomes

2024 Climate Careers extern Hector discusses the personal and career impacts of his time with QuitCarbon

Is your organization interested in hosting an extern?

We’d love to connect! Reach out directly at climatecareersprogram@risingsunopp.org.

 

You can also bring Climate Careers to your community. Drop us a note at events@risingsunopp.org to invite our team to your event! 

Calling all Climate Careers alumni!

Rising Sun provides professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities for Bay Area and Central California Climate Careers program alumni. Stay connected through events, a monthly newsletter, 1:1 mentoring, exclusive career resources, and job placement support!

Check out our career and job resources

Rising Sun provides professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities for Bay Area and Central California Climate Careers program alumni. Stay connected through events, a monthly newsletter, 1:1 mentoring, exclusive career resources, and job placement support!

Check out our career and job resources

I was applying to 80–100 jobs over the past year and nobody wanted to hire me [with] no experience. Rising Sun made me feel like I mattered. Every day, I was going home to tell my mom how happy I was about this job and what it does for me. After this, I’m confident about myself, my communication skills, and my job skills.

Mia Biscar

2025 Climate Careers Alum

I find that helping people is very enjoyable and being able to make small changes within our community meant a lot. Whenever I go around northern San Mateo County, I’ll be able to say, “Hey, I’ve been to that house before. I helped them and I remember the time they smiled.” It just makes you feel good, and it makes you feel like you have a purpose.

Landon Kan Huy

2024 Climate Careers Alum

Some people didn’t understand the bigger picture behind Climate Careers, and when you tell someone about climate change that’s a huge umbrella that warrants more questions. I didn’t mind sitting down with people and telling them more, small steps they could take—and sometimes, they share the information with others.

David Wilson

2022 Climate Careers Alum and Rising Sun Electrification Extern; 2022 Opportunity Build Graduate