HPBA Pacific

08/25/2026

Before the Busy Season Begins: Is Your Team Ready?

As cooler weather approaches, hearth businesses are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year. Now is the ideal time to make sure technicians, sales professionals and support staff have the knowledge and training they need before schedules fill up.

Preparation may look different for every employee. For a newer technician, it could mean working toward an NFI certification. An experienced technician may need to review current installation practices or complete CEUs for an upcoming renewal. Showroom and sales professionals can strengthen their product knowledge through the Hearth Design Specialist certification, while office staff can benefit from training focused on customer service, communication and safety.

A few questions to consider:
· Are any employee certifications approaching expiration?
· Does your team have the required Technical, Safety, Health & Liability and Elective CEUs?
· Are newer employees on a clear path toward certification?
· Could your sales team benefit from Hearth Design Specialist training?
· Are there knowledge gaps that should be addressed before the busy season?

NFI’s certifications, review courses and HE@RTH Online Training provide flexible ways to prepare your entire team. With hundreds of courses available online, employees can complete training when it works best for their schedules.

Investing in training now can help reduce mistakes, improve customer confidence and ensure your team is ready when business picks up. Don’t wait until the first cold snap—make education and certification part of your busy-season preparation.

Start preparing today at

NFI promotes safety, understanding, and responsibility in all facets of hearth, patio and barbecue products through professional training and consumer education.

08/21/2026

The August issue of The Fire Time Magazine launched—and it's packed with articles to help you get ready for the burn season!

ISSUE 066 August 2026 ▼ WHAT’S INSIDE ▼ FEATURES 1 Seeds Are Slow Tim Reed AUDIO ARTICLE 2 Automate, Delegate, Do: A Framework for Discernment in the Age of AI Matt Bradley AUDIO ARTICLE 3 Th…

08/19/2026

USDA: Wood pellet exports top 946,522 metric tons in June

The U.S. exported 946,522.4 metric tons of wood pellets in June up nearly 8% when compared to May and up nearly 28% when compared to June 2025, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Aug. 4.

Read article here:

The U.S. exported 946,522.4 metric tons of wood pellets in June up nearly 8% when compared to May and up nearly 28% when compared to June 2025, according t

08/18/2026

$700M microgrid bill has state energy office, electrical manufacturer support

The bill would make microgrids and distributed energy resources eligible for state energy program grants and establish state-run grid resilience programs.

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The bill would make microgrids and distributed energy resources eligible for state energy program grants and establish state-run grid resilience programs.

08/15/2026

Investing in outdoor living: 5 of the biggest backyard trends of 2026

Homeowners are transforming their backyards into destinations for gathering, unwinding and enjoying the outdoors, with personal enjoyment taking priority over resale considerations for many renovation projects.

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Investing in outdoor living: 5 of the biggest backyard trends of 2026 Homeowners are transforming their backyards into destinations for gathering, unwinding and enjoying the outdoors, with personal enjoyment taking priority over resale considerations for many renovation projects. According to the 20...

08/14/2026

Chairman Lee Introduces Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced the Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026, legislation to reform the Department of Energy’s Appliance Standards Program.

DOE sets energy conservation standards for roughly 60 household and commercial products under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). However, Congress has not updated EPCA since 2007, when it expanded many of the efficiency requirements for covered products.

In recent years, manufacturers have raised concerns that DOE’s efficiency requirements have raised appliance costs and yielded minimal savings for consumers.

Chairman Lee Introduces Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026 August 6, 2026 WASHINGTON — Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced the Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026, legislation to reform the Department of Energy’s Appl...

07/27/2026

Investing in People: How NFI Certification Helps Retain Your Most Valuable Asset

For fireplace company owners and managers, one challenge continues to stand out: finding and retaining qualified technicians.

Many companies can relate to the frustration of hiring a promising employee, investing months in training, only to see that the individual leaves for another opportunity. At the same time, customers expect knowledgeable technicians who can confidently install, service, and troubleshoot increasingly sophisticated hearth products.

In today's competitive labor market, retaining skilled employees requires more than competitive wages. It requires investing in their professional growth and demonstrating that a career in the hearth industry offers long-term opportunities for advancement.

That's where National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certification can make a meaningful difference.

Shop NFI offers significant discounts to HPBA Members as well as non-members that are CSIA or NFI certified. If your company is a HPBA member, please contact your regional HPBA affiliate for your coupon code. If you are a non-member that is CSIA or NFI certified, please contact the CSIA or NFI offic...

07/24/2026

Bringing Training and Certification to the Nez Perce Community

The National Fireplace Institute® (NFI) is proud to support the important work taking place through the Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority CPRG Residential Energy Program's large-scale woodstove changeout program. This initiative focuses on improving home heating safety, efficiency, and air quality by replacing older woodstoves and investing in professional workforce training within the community.

As part of the program, NFI worked closely with the Nez Perce team to provide both classroom education and hands-on field training for installers participating in the project.

Rick Vahos traveled to Nez Perce first to conduct in-person Woodburning and Core Knowledge training sessions. These classes provided installers with foundational knowledge in hearth safety, venting systems, installation standards, and best practices necessary for professional certification and safe installation work.

Following the classroom training, Rich Sedgwick returned to the community to lead the hands-on portion of the program. Rich worked directly alongside the installation team in the field, supervising stove changeouts in five Tribal elder homes and helping installers apply their training in real-world situations. This hands-on experience allowed participants to build confidence while reinforcing proper installation techniques and safety standards.

This project is part of a much larger grant-funded initiative with an ambitious goal: replacing 350 woodstoves throughout the community while ensuring that installers involved in the program achieve NFI certification.

Programs like this demonstrate the value of combining education, certification, and community investment. By training local installers to nationally recognized standards, the Nez Perce Tribe is building long-term expertise within the community while helping ensure safer, cleaner, and more efficient home heating systems for years to come.

NFI is honored to be part of this impactful program and looks forward to continuing to support the success of the Nez Perce installation team as the project moves forward.

07/23/2026

The July issue of The Fire Time Magazine launched, and it's packed with articles to grow your business this invest season!

ISSUE 065 July 2026 ▼ WHAT’S INSIDE ▼ FEATURES 1 Be Solvers, Not Sellers: How to Beat Big Box in the Age of AI By Matt Bradley AUDIO ARTICLE 2 How to Train a New Salesperson to Succeed Before…