Quality HVAC Program Offers Benefits for Both Homeowners and Contractors

A new program, launched last fall in California, offers exciting new incentive opportunities for HVAC contractors as well as long-term benefits for homeowners. The program, Quality HVAC, is a multi-tiered incentive program for contractors dedicated to providing quality installation, maintenance, and advancing energy-efficient technologies in the residential HVAC industry.

Aligned with other HVAC-focused efforts such as the Switch is On and TECH Clean California, Quality HVAC focuses on assisting contractors to develop skills in communicating with prospective customers about energy-efficient technologies as well as enhancing their installation and maintenance skills. It does this by providing financial incentives at either Tier I or Tier II levels for specific activities, including Quality Bid, Quality Installation, Quality Maintenance, or Quality Maintenance Call. Step-by-step standards and focused training is included to provide guidance for enrolled contractors. Interested firms can enroll by completing an online application, onboarding training and tier-specific technical training.

While contractors are the immediate beneficiaries of this program, homeowners will ultimately benefit as well. As more energy-efficient HVAC systems enter the marketplace, homeowners need and rely on trusted sources of information and service about these new technologies. Through this program, eligible homeowners interested in upgrading their heating and cooling systems can rely on highly trained contractors to not only install a more efficient HVAC system but help guide them to the best technology choice.

Funded by IOU ratepayers, the program will run through 2026 with annual not-to-exceed budgets that, once exhausted, will be renewed in the following calendar year. While eligible contractors can come from any jurisdiction statewide, eligible customers must receive gas or electric services from Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, or SoCalGas.

The Quality HVAC Program is partnering with numerous organizations statewide and offers opportunities to local jurisdictions and other stakeholders committed to HVAC and heat pump market transformation for workforce education and training and more. For more information, email or visit QualityHVAC.frontierenergy.com.

Reach Codes Team Participates at National Codes Conference

The National Codes Conference, held in Sacramento May 6-8, 2024 featured a discussion session exploring lessons learned from California's 50-year history of enabling robust code authority at the state, regional and local levels.

The panelists included Misti Bruceri, coordinator for the Statewide Reach Codes Program, Jill Marver, PG&E lead for Energy Code Ace, Jordan Garbayo, Co-Director for the Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN), with Will Vicent, Manager of the Building Standards Branch, Efficiency Division, California Energy Commission, moderating.

Based on many years of working with local governments to develop and implement codes, the panelists shared their experiences with a focus on lessons learned and best practices.

The panelists acknowledged the importance of engaging with stakeholders throughout the entire code supply chain, including local jurisdiction planning and sustainability staff, building owners and operators, developers, contractors, residents, business owners and building inspectors. "This helps ensure the development of equitable and enforceable standards," noted Bruceri.

Another common theme sounded by the panelists was the importance of outreach and education. In fact, much of California's success in implementing effective building standards has been its ability to educate the workforce tasked with installing code-compliant technologies. The highly successful Energy Code Ace training programs and resources have contributed significantly to this. Additionally, regional organizations such as the RENs are providing robust programs that offer topics tailored to the specific needs of the regions they represent.

Highlighted Resources

Energy Code Ace

Statewide Reach Codes Program

Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)

Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN)

Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN)