2018 IHACI Trade Show- What You Missed
Recently, I attended the 39th annual Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries (IHACI) trade show in Pasadena, California, in the hopes of learning about some exciting new products and maybe a couple new technologies for the heating and cooling industries (HVACR). It’s been about four years since I was actively involved as a contractor/installer,…
Read MoreHome Performance In California Is Changing
Home performance hasn’t changed much over the past 30 years. Recently though, a few big things have started to change in the world of energy. Contractors need to be aware of what’s happening and why, in order to prepare, adapt, and take advantage of new opportunities.
Read MoreQuality Work Is Worth The Effort
A few rotten apples The world is full of contractor horror stories. Over the years, contractors have lost customer trust, often for good reason. Simple mistakes like forgetting to re-install a water heater vent after a roof replacement could have drastic consequences if the exhaust fumes, and potentially carbon monoxide, were to re-enter the building.…
Read MoreWhat You Missed At The ZNE Retreat
It’s amazing how many energy efficiency conferences and workshops have surfaced recently. The Redwood Energy Zero Net Energy Retreat, which takes place twice a year, is one of the best conferences. Our Executive Director Charley Cormany, with help from EFCA’s Board Member Debra Little give their perspective of the conference for this month’s blog.
Read MoreOn-The-Job Experience: Why Electrification Is Better And Cheaper
Sean Armstrong is the Managing Principal of Redwood Energy, one of the nation’s leading ZNE design firms and an Efficiency First California board member. His argument for electrification is based on his extensive experience in multifamily housing. The conventional wisdom is that when it comes to home heating, gas is cheap. So why is the…
Read MoreTEDx HPC Conference 2018
This year, the Home Performance Coalition hosted it’s first annual TEDx event at its national conference in Philadelphia. The room was packed, the BYOB was flowing and the energy was lively.
Read MoreThe Real Heroes Of Home Performance
When you become a business owner you quickly learn the true cost and value of employees. Good ones are hard to find, especially in tight labor markets where there are more jobs than bodies. California is experiencing a significant labor shortage in the trades right now.
Read MoreThe Best Energy Source For Our Future
When it comes to energy, society is at a crossroads. Our existing supplies are heavily based on fossil fuels, a limited and dirty solution. There are alternatives to the current system, but we need to be realistic about both the technical challenges and opposition of entrenched interests to this necessary change. What are our options?
Read MoreWhen Good Incentives Go Bad
It’s a common practice to try to encourage or change behavior with incentives. What happens when you encourage the wrong behavior?
Read MoreAdvocacy Update: The State of California
We’re taking a departure from the goings on at the state capital and will instead focus on some events that are occurring across the state of California. The landscape for energy efficiency incentive programs in California is changing. Late last year, a program in Southern California announced a funding cap for the year 2018. The…
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