Efficiency First California

10/16/2026

Tired of walking away from jobs because a standard unitary heat pump water heater just won't fit?

Tight mechanical closets, indoor sound constraints, and awkward single-family layouts can make all-in-one HPWH units a tough sell. That’s where split-system heat pump water heaters come in. Mastering them will open up a whole new category of billable work for your shop.

Join the Advanced Water Heating Initiative and regional trade partners on Tuesday, October 27 for Power Up Your Skills: Split Heat Pump Water Heater Training & Fair, a live event part of Heat Pump Water Heater week!

What your installation crew and techs will walk away with:

-Monobloc vs. Refrigerant-Split Systems: Clear line-set rules, charging considerations, and system mechanics.

-Sizing & Load Calculations: How to properly match split HPWH output to residential hot water demand without over-complicating electrical loads.

-Vendor Trade Fair Access: Direct access to leading HPWH manufacturers. Ask technical questions, inspect equipment up close, and build key distributor relationships.

This event will equip plumbers, electricians, and HVAC installers to solve complex home retrofits with confidence.

👉 Register your team for the Split HPWH Training & Fair. Registration link in the comments

10/14/2026

The emergency water heater replacement playbook in California has an expiration date.

Traditionally, when a water heater floods a garage, the contractor’s move is fast and predictable: grab a like-for-like gas tank from the supply house, install it, and get the customer hot water before dinner.

As zero-emission standards roll out, those shelves won't stock gas units for long. But for an emergency call, selling an electric replacement that requires a dedicated 240V pull, an electrician, or a panel upgrade is often a dealbreaker.

That is why 120V plug-in heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are becoming a critical tool for California mechanical, plumbing, and electrification contractors.

Next Wednesday, join Efficiency First California for a focused discussion with the product leaders driving this tech:

Lacy Estes-Hill | Senior Manager, Category Lead for Heat Pumps at Rheem Manufacturing
Roch Naleway | Market Development Manager – Utilities at A. O. Smith

We will cover:
-The reality of using 120V heat pump water heaters for emergency WH swaps: amperage, recovery rates, and shared circuits
-How to avoid electrical bottleneck delays on urgent no-hot-water service calls
-How 120V HPWHs perform in the field

Bring your tough technical and installation questions to our live Q&A!

Event Details:
Date: Next Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Format: Live via Zoom
Registration: Link in comments

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: EFCA October Webinar - Gas Water Heater Down? The 120V Heat Pump Option. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

10/09/2026

California skilled trades contractors: Heat Pump Water Heater Week is coming October 26–29, 2026! This is a great opportunity to learn more about the tech from manufacturers and other contractors.

California's gas-to-electric transition is driving customer demand, updating energy codes, and reshaping water heating. HPWH Week equips HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and retrofit teams with the technical edge to lead this shift.

Here is what is on the schedule for the week:

Monday, Oct 26 | Commercial Day: Central HPWH architectures, HPWH financing, and new products for commercial applications.

Tuesday, Oct 27 | Residential Day: Single-family retrofit strategies, overcoming 120V vs. 240V installation hurdles, and avoiding unnecessary panel upgrades.

Wednesday, Oct 28 | In-Person Hands-On Trainings & Fairs: HPWH installation demonstration, DIY heat pumps, equity focused HPWH programs, and connectivity in HPWHs

Thursday, Oct 29 | Heat Pump Water Heater Day: The flagship celebration featuring industry keynotes, distributors perspective, and water heating awards.

The transition to electric water heating is moving fast. Help your crew and business get ahead of this shift.

👉Full schedule linked in the comments

10/09/2026

Check out these events happening today and tomorrow!

10/07/2026

Happy Energy Efficiency Day!

Policy creates the roadmap for California’s clean energy future, but it’s our state’s skilled tradespeople who actually build it.

We’ve been celebrating the pros doing the dirty, precise, and vital work in the field to make energy efficiency a reality in homes and businesses across California.

Today, Efficiency First California Executive Director, Charles Cormany shares a special EE Day message on why supporting our contractor community is the single most important step in achieving statewide decarbonization.

To all the technicians, installers, and skilled trades contractors out there making energy efficiency happen every single day: thank you. 🙌

10/06/2026

Real energy efficiency isn't calculated from behind a desk. It’s measured in attics, crawl spaces, and precise system commissioning. 🛠️

Tomorrow is Energy Efficiency Day! To wrap up our contractor spotlights, we’re celebrating the trade pros at Villquin Air Services LLC, who ensure clean energy tech performs at its absolute peak.

Here are two of Villquin’s senior technicians dialing in a new, high-efficiency Fujitsu heat pump system. Villquin doesn't rely on quick visual estimates or oversized equipment swaps. They perform detailed, hands-on diagnostics in attics and crawl spaces to size equipment accurately and design new ductwork that eliminates airflow restrictions.

Pairing top-tier heat pump technology with rigorous installation standards ensures California homeowners get the maximum energy savings and comfort they were promised.

Thank you to the Villquin Air Services team for setting the bar high for quality craftsmanship and for being an EFCA member! 🙌

Tune in tomorrow for a special message from EFCA’s Executive Director, Charles Cormany.

What installation practice does your team rely on to guarantee system efficiency? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

10/05/2026

Duct losses alone can waste up to 30% of an HVAC system’s energy. The solution? Bringing high-efficiency technology directly to the space. ⚡

As we continue our countdown to Energy Efficiency Day on Wednesday, October 7th, we’re highlighting the contractors delivering smart energy solutions across California.

Today’s spot: Efficiency First CA member Jonas Energy Solutions in Lower Lake, CA.

Pictured here are technicians Daniel and Jack installing a Mitsubishi City Multi System for a local business. By replacing old, inefficient ducted units with a modern ductless VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system, they’re providing precise, zone-by-zone comfort while eliminating thermal losses from leaky ductwork.

It takes skilled tradespeople like Daniel, Jack, and the Jonas Energy Solutions team to turn ambitious clean energy goals into quiet, reliable comfort for California businesses. Thank you for setting the standard!

Know a contractor doing outstanding electrification or efficiency work? Tag them in the comments below! 👇

10/02/2026

Energy efficiency policy is written in offices, but it’s delivered on job sites by skilled hands. 🛠️

In the lead-up to Energy Efficiency Day next Wednesday, October 7th, we’re shining a spotlight on the contractors making real efficiency happen across California.

First up: Efficiency First California member American Energy Partners.

Here’s CEO Robert Finn with an HVAC unit his team upgraded with a fan modulation system. By dynamically adjusting airflow based on real-time room occupancy rather than running full blast, these retrofits drastically cut energy waste while keeping building comfort high.

Without forward-thinking contractors like American Energy Partners, California’s energy goals would just be ideas on paper. Thank you for leading the way!

Know a contractor doing great work in the field? Give them a shoutout in the comments below! 👇

10/01/2026

Our October training calendar is officially live with low-to-no-cost sessions designed to keep California trade contractors profitable and ahead of the electrification curve!

October Highlights for Small Business Contractors:

🏠 Building Science Basics: Air Sealing and Insulating for Electrification Projects (PG&E - Oct 6). Prep the envelope before sizing heat pumps!

🥪 IN-PERSON Network & Learn: Napa Contractor Training & Lunch: Electrification and HPWHs (BayREN, MCE, Electrify My Home - Oct 9). Free training, free lunch, and local equipment vendors!

🚨 High-Value Ops Session: HPWH Emergency Replacement Solutions (EFCA - Oct 21). Learn how new tech can help streamline emergency HPWH swaps.

🛠️ Hybrid Event & Trade Fair: Split System HPWH Training & Trade Fair (AWHI & NBI - Oct 27). Master split-systems for tight mechanical rooms and connect with manufacturers (In Person & Online).

Check out the full list of trainings on the events calendar on our website.

09/30/2026

🚨 BIG WIN FOR CA CONTRACTORS: Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed SB 222, the Heat Pump Access Act, into law!

If you’ve ever had a retrofitting project stalled in local permitting limbo or wrestled with wildly inconsistent fees from one city to the next, this legislation directly tackles those operational bottlenecks.

How SB 222 impacts California’s skilled trades:
-Faster Job Turnarounds: Mandates automated, streamlined permitting for standard residential heat pump installations so crews can get on site and wrap up jobs faster.
-Standardized, Transparent Fees: Prevents surprise municipal administrative fees and caps excessive permitting costs across local jurisdictions.
-Unified Permitting: Establishes a single permit type covering both heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters (HPWH).
-Fewer HOA Roadblocks: Places strict limits on unreasonable HOA documentation, aesthetic demands, and approval delays that stall sales.

By cutting municipal red tape and lowering soft costs, SB 222 helps HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, and energy efficiency contractors keep momentum high and scale residential electrification across California.

A massive shoutout to bill author Senator Scott Wiener and the dedicated coalition that championed this bill: Building Decarbonization Coalition, SPUR, and the Bay Area Air District!

How much time does your team usually lose to permitting delays? Let us know in the comments! 👇