YOU NEED FREEG

I don't think an extra degree is going to help you much. Most of the pioneers in the field are self taught. Perhaps the most applicable degree would be a B.Sc. in engineering, but no matter what you take, it will only cover a very small part of a broad field. If you move beyond energy efficiency and into sustainability, then it gets very diverse. Bio-gas, radical changes in home design, solar collectors, wind generators, bio-diesel, local food production, community planning, cultural changes etc.

If you go to and look at "further reading" you will find a bunch of ESSN newsletters (free) that will teach you a lot. Read all the links. Some of them are real eye-openers and might give you some ideas. The World Bank paper on evaporative cooling for example is very interesting — perhaps you could correspond with the authors and find how they managed to get on that project.

If you really want to be an expert, start with your own house and turn it into a science experiment. Get a kWh meter and an IR thermometer and start measuring things, questioning things, and if you own the house, you can install a hydronics heating system, improve the insulation, experiment with solar collectors and many other things. In the process you will become very knowledgeable and very much aware of the issues.

The biggest problem is finding a job in a sector that isn't profitable. This will change when fuel prices soar again, but that doesn't help you now. If you imagine yourself working for the World Bank or some other NGO, then check their website to see what they are looking for. I am sure that a Masters or PhD would help you get in — but I am not sure the debt is worth it nor the politics. Perhaps you can promote yourself and write articles and create a stellar resume. Maybe you can create your own business and be a leader.

Hope it works out because it has the potential to be a career that you could enjoy and one that is needed.