Efficiency First California

06/16/2026

Are you still running your contracting business on "rules of thumb," or are you built for the electrification boom? ⚡

Check out the highlight video to see the massive takeaways from our May webinar, Business Tools to Streamline Your Tech's Work with Russ King from Kwik Model 3D and Brian Feenie from measureQuick:

-Ditch Oversizing: "Bigger is better" is a myth that causes more comfort complaints; modern tools like iPad LiDAR scanning get sizing right the first time.

-Fix the 77% Error Rate: 77% of new HVAC installs have improper charging, but real-time diagnostics give techs the data they need to get it right.

-Drop Callbacks to 2%: Contractors using data-driven diagnostics slash their callback rates from the industry average of 20-30% down to just 2%.

To scale efficiently and protect your bottom line, your business model needs to evolve. Join us tomorrow evening for our next webinar: Streamline your business: business models.📈

We’ll be joined by 1888heatpumpsofficial and The Heat Pump Store, who will be discussing their unique business approaches to our rapidly changing industry. Ready to modernize your business model for maximum profitability?

🗓️ This Wednesday
⏰ 5-6pm PST

EFCA members can catch the full May webinar on our website right now!

06/15/2026

Our Executive Director, Charles Cormany, attended the 2026 CEC/ Power Research Institute (EPRI) Electrification Summit in Sacramento last week, and the energy was electric! ⚡ (Pun absolutely intended.)

From legendary home performance veterans and major utilities to tech giants like Amazon pushing for zero net energy, the consensus is clear: The world is watching how California addresses decarbonization. In fact, California Energy Commission Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister mentioned his department fields international calls about how we're pulling this off.

The real secret? It’s the incredible community and the hardworking contractors on the ground making it happen every day. 💪

It was inspirational to reconnect with so many familiar faces, and we received some encouraging feedback on our efforts! We’ll be discussing much of what was presented at the event in the coming months through our blog, newsletter, advocacy update and webinars.

It was a joy to connect with folks from Association for Energy Affordability, GoGreen Financing, MCE and more.

👇 We want to hear from you. What should we cover first? Are you more interested in the latest updates on grid and panel capacity, or the new breakthrough tech behind battery-integrated appliances? Drop a comment below and tell us what you want to see most!

06/12/2026

Attention Contra Costa & Solano County Contractors! 🛠️⚡️

Bay Area Regional Energy Network’s HPWH training series continues! If you missed the East Bay training last month, your next opportunity to get ahead of the 2027 Zero NOx rules is happening in Concord.

Navigating the transition to electrification while running a busy crew isn’t easy. But you don’t have to figure it out on the fly. Join BayREN and us at the Local 342 training facility for a no-cost, hands-on Heat Pump Water Heater forum and workshop.

THE DETAILS:
🗓️ Tuesday, June 30th
⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 342 Training Center (935 Detroit Ave, Concord, CA)

Stop by our table to say hi and learn more about the rule changes and how we can support you!

Don’t wait until the late 2026 rush to adapt your business model. Secure your spot and prepare your workforce today!

06/11/2026

Scaling a clean energy contracting business in California right now can feel a bit like building the plane while flying it. ✈️🛠️

With the massive push toward electrification, managing job capacity, paperwork, and the operational friction without losing your mind (or your margins) is a big hurdle for many contractors.

Gabe Lieb, our Director of Strategy, breaks down some practical tips to help your day-to-day operations run smoother. Because at the end of the day, a faster path from sales to a completed job means happier customers and a healthier bottom line. 📈

💬 Let’s talk shop: What is the single biggest operational bottleneck your business is trying to solve right now? Is it navigating rebate paperwork, scheduling, or something else entirely?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—let's swap some strategies! 👇

06/10/2026

Ready to take your HVAC, insulation, or home performance business to the next level? ⚡

Running a contracting business in California means adapting fast to the electrification wave.

Next Wednesday, June 17th from 5:00 – 6:00 PM, we're hosting a free webinar designed to help you do just that: Streamline Your Business: Business Models.

We’re sitting down with the leaders from 1888heatpumpsofficial and The Heat Pump Store to hear directly about how they built, grew, and managed their businesses.

Don't miss this opportunity to pick up fresh, actionable ideas from contractors who are doing the work every day.

What are some other topics you'd like to see in future webinars?

Registration link in the comments 👇

06/04/2026

There is a lot of talk right now about heat pumps in California. We spoke with Mike Perry from PACE Supply about how he sees the industry shifting from a supplier's perspective.

Mike shares some helpful insights into how fast the runway is shrinking for traditional gas appliances.
Here are the facts:

✅ The tech works: Heat pumps are proven. Hooking customers up for success just means asking the right questions upfront and setting realistic expectations.
✅ The shift is happening now: New construction is already seeing a total shift toward heat pumps, and proactive contractors are already ahead of the curve.
✅ January 2027 is the deadline: Next year, gas water heaters that fail will need to be replaced with a Zero NOx emission option (meaning a heat pump water heater).

As Mike puts it: "Now's the time to figure it out or we may find ourselves without a job."

Partners like PACE Supply are stepping up with education and training to help your crew adapt, but the industry has to move fast. Head over to their website to check out their training schedules. We don’t want to see you caught off guard!

💬 We want to hear from the boots on the ground: Contractors, how is your team preparing for the January 2027 gas phase-out? Are you already installing HPWHs, or are you still running into roadblocks?

06/03/2026

🚨 Bay Area Contractors: The Zero NOx rule changes are coming. Are you ready?

Last week, we were at the Bay Area Regional Energy Network Contractor Heat Pump Water Heater Training and Forum to get the latest scoop for our members.

Here’s what went down:
👉 The Policy: Ted Tiffany from the Building Decarbonization Coalition broke down the upcoming Zero NOx rules.
👉 The Sales Pitch: Keith O'Hara from Eco Performance Builders shared how to sell HPWH jobs without dropping your prices (hint: quality installs win every time).
👉 The Gear: LG HVAC Solutions USA and Eco-Logical Heat Pumps showed off their units and shared the ideal install scenarios.

🗣️ The Big Question: Several contractors asked about what electrical work plumbers can actually do under their licenses for these installs. The organizers are currently pushing the CSLB for a definitive answer. Stay tuned.

Missed out? Don’t sweat it. The next training session is already lined up.
📅 Save the Date: June 30th
📍 Where: Concord (UA Local 342 Plumbers and Steamfitters Training Center)

See you at the next one in Concord?

06/01/2026

Hey California contractors, the June training lineup is locked in! 🗓️

Whether you need to get your team up to speed on the new ECC registry, dial in your air distribution, or talk business strategy, we’ve got a mix of virtual and in-person sessions hosted by leading industry experts.

Standout session: Don't miss the in-person HPWH Contractor Training and Forum at the end of the month in Concord! 🛠️💧

Most of these workshops are low-to-no cost, courtesy of our utility and regional partners.

Check out the full June calendar and sign up today: 👉 https://buff.ly/ooyVaEX

Know a local sub or tech who needs to see this? Tag them below! 👇

05/29/2026

Running a crew is a full-time job. Keeping up with the latest tech, training, and sales tactics shouldn't have to be. 🛠️

This May, we focused on giving EFCA members the practical, real-world tools to make the daily grind a lot smoother. Here is a quick look at what we rolled out this month:
📱 Field Tech Software: A breakdown of super helpful digital tools designed to make your techs' lives easier on the job site.
🎓 Free Training: Access to free contractor training opportunities for heat pump water heater (HPWH) installations.
📈 Local Momentum: Increased heat pump water heater incentives around the Bay Area
⚡ The Sales Hurdle: Expert perspective from our Executive Director, Charles Cormany, on how to handle that notoriously challenging "panel upgrade conversation" with your clients.

EFCA is a trade organization designed to help contractors. We bridge the gap between big-picture clean energy shifts and your boots-on-the-ground reality.

👉 See what membership looks like: https://buff.ly/mInDiOW (or drop us a line at [email protected])

💬 Let’s talk: What is the biggest bottleneck or challenge your contracting business is running into these days? Let us know in the comments below. We use your feedback to build our next round of resources!

become a member All members qualify for discounts on equipment, digital marketing services, industry conferences, modeling software, and more. Members can contact us directly to get a valid discount code. Our website is an information resource intended to help guide you. It has training materials, a...

05/28/2026

No contractor should have to navigate the clean energy transition alone. 🤝⚡️

Meet Jason Scheurer, owner of BEST Techs Contracting Design Build Remodel Inc. and an EFCA Board Member. Jason has spent 35 years mastering the craft of home performance, but the industry is changing fast.

At Efficiency First California, we are here to ensure contractors have the wind at their backs as they move toward electrification. Here is how we support our community:

🛠️ Expert Guidance: Access a network of seasoned pros who have already solved the tricky building science puzzles.

📈 Business Tools: Resources designed to help you communicate the value of performance upgrades to your customers.

🤝 High-Value Connections: We bridge the gap between contractors, policy-makers, and industry partners.

⚖️ Advocacy: We fight for the programs and incentives that make home performance jobs viable and profitable.

Jason is leading by example, proving that when you lead with science, results and business follow.

Check out his website to learn more about his business: https://besttechscontracting.com/

🛠️ No contractor is an island. Who is the mentor or peer who helped you understand the ropes when you first got into the business? Tag them in the comments to give them a shoutout! 👇

👉 Watch the full video and learn how to join the EFCA movement today!
https://youtu.be/45lU137YIIc?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=jscontractorspotlightvid