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industry-specific education

This page contains a list of educational resources for contractors. There is a wide variety of industry-specific educational offerings available, including webinars and on-demand classes. You may even earn CUEs as well. We suggest you check this resource page regularly as we continue to add more content.

For a complete list of upcoming Industry webinars, conferences, workshops, and trade shows, please go to our Events Calendar.

To request your relevant event be added to our Events Calendar, please contact:  membership@efficiencyfirstca.org

Highlighted EFCA Partners’ Events

Eneref Institute – Heat Pump Summit

For more info and to register

Please note that EFCA Executive Director, Charles Cormany is one of the featured speakers.
Our Clean Energy Connection Directory is a Bronze Level Event Sponsor.

ACEEE: Energy Efficiency as a Resource

For more info and to register

TECH Clean California’s Hybrid Water Heater Quick Start Training Program

TECH Clean CA Logo

Complete the ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater training and receive a FREE HPWH of your choice that you install for someone in your company!

Participation Rules:

  • Contractor must be enrolled in TECH
  • Take one TECH & ESMAC HPWH Education Training
  • Contractor must be licensed for water heaters, have a plumbing department
  • Contractor must be in a targeted region and/or in a DAC census tract
  • TECH will pay the cost of the water heater from the distributor/manufacturer
  • Contractor must choose a HPWH partner and be trained on the product
  • Contractors must understand sizing, use of TMV, location considerations (including electrical needs) and CTA-2045 ports before placing order w/ TECH
  • Units are expected to be installed for employee sales & installation leads only
  • Once the contractor has been trained, they can pick up their units and install
  • Installation details will be uploaded into Iris via Excel spreadsheet

If you are a TECH enrolled contractor you could obtain a free HPWH; please contact your account representative for more info.

Building Performance Association Annual National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show

Each year, this BPA event brings together contractors, weatherization professionals, trainers, program administrators, energy auditors, and others working in residential energy efficiency for the latest developments and education in the industry.

EFCA Members are usually entitled to a discount on admission. Please check back here for more information, early next year as we get closer to the BPA event date.

News to Use

Is Your Company Eligible for up to $26,000 per Employee From an Employee Retention Credit?

Tax graphic

The catch?

It’s complicated and time-consuming, so be careful who you hire to help you.

The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit designed for businesses who continued paying employees while shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic or had significant declines in gross receipts.

To be eligible, employers must have:

1. Sustained a full or partial suspension of operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel, or group meetings due to COVID-19 during 2020 or the first three quarters of 2021.

2. Experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021.

How much time is left to file a claim?
Businesses have until 2024, and in some instances, 2025, to do a look back on their payroll during the pandemic and retroactively claim the credit by filing an amended tax return / form 941-X.

Be smart. Use caution.
Consult a reputable, qualified tax pro about eligibility; be aware that there are many opportunistic, sometimes unscrupulous companies offering ERC services. You are responsible for the info on your tax returns. Please carefully read this important ERC alert from the IRS.

Go to IRS.gov and search for Employee Retention Credit to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to claim the ERC.

Disclaimer: This article provides an overview of tax credits for businesses. It does not constitute professional tax advice or other professional financial guidance and may be subject to change. It should not be used as the only source of information when making tax decisions, or when executing other binding agreements.

Educational Resources

Calendar of Classes and Workshops

Southern California Edison

WxLIVE with Chris Dorsi, Fridays 8a Pacific

Montana State Weatherization Center

Build with Matt Risinger

Build with Matt Risinger, Youtube Channel

Pro Trade Craft Video Archive

Pro Trade Craft, Youtube Channel

Building Science Videos

Construction Instruction, Building Science Archives

Building Science Seminars and Training

Building Science Corporation

BPI Certification and HP education

Saturn Resource Management, Online training with CEUs

Community Housing Partners

Community Housing Partners, BPI and HP education

HERS, EPA and Building Dept. trainings

CalCERTS, Contractor and Rater Training

Building Performance Training Center

Building Performance Association, Training & Career Hub

Building Performance Journal

Building Performance Association, Digital Monthly Magazine

Events, Courses, Conferences

Find upcoming events, courses, and conferences on our Events Calendar