Over 80 companies have signed a petition in support of the Mass Save redesign proposal from the Efficiency First Massachusetts Chapter.

The proposal seeks to  expand rate-payer choices and allow greater contractor participation, based on a free market model that will drive job growth and innovation.

View the proposal and find out more here.

Efficiency First chapters all around the country are working locally to advance the industry. See how you can get involved at www.efficiencyfirst.org/chapters.

Efficiency First chapters are working at the local and state level to promote Home Performance industry growth and provide direct value for Efficiency First member companies.

Here’s what some of our local and state chapters have been working on (view the complete list of Efficiency First chapters to find one near you or learn about starting one: www.efficiencyfirst.org/chapters).

California:

• Energy Upgrade California programs are starting to roll out. Efficiency First is monitoring programs to make sure they launch effectively.
• PACE — Wrote a letter to the California Energy Commission with recommendations for other uses for funding previously dedicated to PACE
• HERSII — Advocating for a HERSII system that incorporates certifications like BPI and does not impose unnecessary requirements.

North Bay Chapter: Coordinating a letter campaign to support PACE legislation including recruiting partners such as the local builders exchange, chambers of commerce, and other business groups; Identifying solutions for barriers to market transformation such as incentive/bridge financing and training for software.

Los Angeles Chapter: Helping to plan the ACI regional conference in January 2011; Working with local program coordinators in preparation for the Energy Upgrade California program

San Francisco Bay Area Chapter: Submitted feedback regarding contractor requirements proposed for Santa Clara County’s planned residential retrofit programs.

San Diego Chapter: Working with the Efficiency First National Real Estate Council to pilot a “Building a Local Green Network” program; Advocating to oppose Prop 23; Working with SDG&E to make the Energy Upgrade California program successful.

Sacramento Chapter: First chapter meeting set for September 15.

Maine:

• Rallying support for Home Star and thanking Senator Snowe for her co-sponsorship.

Massachusetts:

• Submitted a proposal to redesign the Mass Save program, to open the program up to the private Home Performance market.
• Gathered support from 80+companies in support of the proposal.
• Finalizing details for Home Star meetings with Senators Brown’s and Kerry’s offices.

New York:

• Wrote a letter to NYSERDA outlining Efficiency First’s response to Green Jobs Green New York proposed program, with New York Efficiency First members signed on in support.

New Jersey:

• Drafting industry recommendations for potential changes to the New Jersey Energy Master Plan that would impact New Jersey’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.

Maryland:

• Coordinating involvement in a local MD Clean Energy Summit.
• Working on a shared platform to approach utility programs to improve.

Michigan:

• Developed partnership with Michigan SAVES, a new financing program in it’s pilot faze.
• Began work with local programs to ensure they rollout effectively and promote industry growth.

Oregon:

• Working with local program entities to ensure Clean Energy Works program success.

Vermont:

• Communicating with local program regarding software selection, and working to ensure that local programs align with potential incentives at Home Star.

Virginia:

• Chapter launch event at the Governor’s Energy Summit in October.

Washington:

• Working with programs, especially Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light, on successful program implementation.
• Promoting Home Star Readiness and BPI Accreditation, by working with multiple organizations and state government agencies.
• Advocate for the business and customer needs in discussions related to workforce development and labor rules.

For more information on Efficiency First chapters, check out http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/chapters.

August 30, 2010

Getting Gold Star Ready: Roadmap to Accreditation with Building Performance Institute for Rocky Mountain Region Home Improvement Contractors

When: Tuesday, August 31, 2010; 10:00 a.m. (Mountain)

Who: This is a regional presentation especially for Rocky Mountain Region area home performance contractors, but open to anyone nationwide.

Hosted by Building Performance Institute with Electric & Gas Industries Association and Efficiency First.

Register for this web-based seminar to learn how your home improvement company can become a BPI GOLD STAR Accredited Contracting Company.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Skills and Insights You Will Gain:

• Learn about the federal and state programs requiring BPI Certification or Accreditation to access top-dollar rebate and incentive programs
• Understand what Building Performance Institute is, what it does, and why it is the only approved accreditation provider for GOLD STAR
• Discover from two successful home performance training organizations how accreditation has grown their companies
• Learn details of the accreditation application process

Who should attend? This web-based session is designed to be attended jointly by owners, senior management, accountant/bookkeeper staff, and other key employees with companies focused on Home Performance and other residential and small commercial remodeling, replacement and contracting services. Plan to bring together all the key vplayers in your company around one computer screen and a speaker phone for one registration fee.

Can’t participate at this date/time? No problem, register anyway, participate live with those from your organization who can make it, and you will receive a video/audio recording link afterward to view and share with others in your organization.

Register for the webinar now.

August 26, 2010

For More Information: Contact Jared Asch 415-728-9775

Washington, DC —

Today Efficiency First, founded 18 months ago, is proud to announce we are 1,005 members strong. The association is composed of the Home Performance Workforce including contractors, energy auditors, training providers and nonprofit entities and other companies who have come together to create new business opportunities by retrofitting America’s homes.

Residential efficiency improvements create American jobs, deliver improved homeowner comfort and increase property values while decreasing our dependence on foreign oil and reducing building-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Upon hearing the news, Efficiency First Chairman Greg Thomas said “I would like to thank all of the members who have participated in our ten working groups, stepped up to form 20 state and local chapters tackling issues in the community and all of those who have voiced their support for HOME STAR.”

The industry is composed of small businesses in all 50 states. The 1,000 member is Lynn Benander, of Co-Op Power, in Greenfield, MA.  Co-Op Power is a full-service energy efficiency and renewable energy cooperative. Co-Op Power has 15 employees.

Efficiency First represents other small businesses; such as Michael Tanesky in Fort Wayne, IN whose company Tanesky Construction employees four people.  Michael has been in residential construction for two decades, promoting greener living and energy efficiency. His commitment is strong as Michael paid his own travel to join us in Washington, DC to let his senators know that HOME STAR will impact the local economy.

Efficiency First member Berenice Lopez from Home Energy Life Performance Group, Inc. in Portland, OR – a founding member from a company of four people – has helped create an Oregon Chapter composed of 33 members that is working both in the city of Portland and in the Capitol of Salem.

ABOUT US

Efficiency First is a national nonprofit trade association that unites the Home Performance workforce, building product manufacturers and related businesses and organizations in the escalating fight against global warming and rising energy costs. Efficiency First represents its members in public policy discussions at the state and national levels, to promote the benefits of efficiency retrofitting and to help our industry grow to meet unprecedented demand for quality residential energy improvements.

Congratulations to the three new Efficiency First Board Members

Efficiency First has 17 national board members, learn more about them and the staff please visit us visit us at www.efficiencyfirst.org/contact

Vice President Biden Releases Report on Recovery Act Impact on Innovation

August 24, 2010

Vice President Joe Biden today unveiled a new report, “The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy through Innovation,” which finds that the Recovery Act’s $100 billion investment in innovation is not only transforming the economy and creating new jobs, but helping accelerate significant advances in science and technology that cut costs for consumers, save lives and help keep America competitive in the 21^st century economy. The report can be viewed in full at theWhite House Web site.

Full story

Efficiency First’s Best Practice Working Group

Monthly Digest – August 2010

What our nine Best Practice working groups have been working on:

• Business Models

1. Developing two white papers
   1. i.      In-home protocol on how to up-sell
   2. ii.      Guidelines for effective business practices – How to run a business 201/301

• Finance and Incentives

1. Submitted PACE memo for state’s reallocating PACE funds – write alternatives for PACE
2. Developing a second finance and incentives webinar 
3. Respond to FHFA’s move to increase energy efficiency loan rates
4. Track national PACE legislation, pending legal challenges, and FHFA negotiations

• Labor and Industry

1. Creating synopses of stakeholder processes of energy efficiency retrofit programs nationwide
2. Developing definition list of program design terms

• Low-Income Weatherization

1. First call in two weeks – join the committee

• Manufacturers Council

1. First call earlier this month; creating liaisons between manufacturers and local and state chapters

• Marketing

1. Finalizing tri-fold brochure to be distributed to contractors in order to help them sell whole-house retrofits
2. Ongoing efforts to create greater presence on Wikipedia

• Multi-Family Homes

1. Developing white paper recommendations on multi-family home retrofits

• Real Estate

1. Submitted response to DOE’s Labeling RFI
2. Created position paper on home labeling
3. Working in conjunction with Finance and Incentives group on webinar
4. Developing green MLS document and real estate retrofit network
5. Work with local chapters to develop a connection to local real estate professionals to build political alliances and business referals

• Software and Technology

1. Finalizing software standards matrix XML
2. Developing a list of software out in the market and provide description of each

• Workforce Development

1. Developing workforce development roadshow workshops – deliver the workforce presentation that has been completed to have an EF member panel present locally
2. Future plans for workforce development white paper
3. Job search database – a Monster.com for home performance

We are working hard to develop our two new working groups – Low Income Weatherization and Multi-Family Homes – if you would like to join these groups or any of the nine working groups that we support, we’d love to have you on board.

For more information on Efficiency First’s Best Practice working groups, check out http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/take-action/best-practices/.

If you’d like to contribute, in one of our working groups, send an e-mail to info {at} efficiencyfirst.org

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, who represents Iowa’s first Congressional District, spent some time last week talking to his constituents about the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act now pending in Congress. In a public appearance at a Lowe’s home improvement store in Dubuque, Braley told supporters that the bill would allow homeowners to “make informed choices that are going to sve them money, save energy costs and put people to work with American-made goods.”

“We think this is the ideal time as we get headed into fall, for people to start thinking about energy-efficiency decisions,” Braley added. “Stores are doing a lot to make consumers aware of how they can find the best deal.”

Read more about Braley’s support of HOME STAR at www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=292700

Have you ever tried to look up home performance terms Online? Efficiency First’s Best Practice Committee on marketing is working to define these terms and post them on Wikipedia.

Our Marketing Team is also working to create a tri-fold and standard Web language for contractors & auditors to use for customers. The goal, one piece to simply explain whole house retrofit – helping you close the deal.

For more information on the marketing team and other projects contact us at intern [at] efficiencyfirst.org

Do you know Efficiency First has several working groups to serve the needs of our members. These groups are composed of contractors, auditors, trainers, program managers and others just like you – experts in each area.

http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/take-action/best-practices/

• Finance & Incentives
• Marketing
• Workforce Development
• Business Models and Contractor Tools
• Software & Technology
• Multi-Family Homes
• Low Income Weatherization
• Labor and Industry
• Real Estate & Labeling

If you would like to join any of these committees or learn more about their work E-mail us at internpolicy [at] efficiencyfirst.org