How did your contracting business fare in the ups and downs of 2021? We’ve heard many stories from contractors throughout the solar, HVAC, and home performance industries regarding how they have handled this past year, and what they are planning for 2022.
In our last webinar of 2021, CEO Peter Troast talked to three trailblazing contractors and business owners about how they were able to “ride the wave” of increased homeowner interest in their services, build up their workforces to tackle long waitlists and scheduling queues, and hire new talent amidst The Great Resignation.
TL;DW (Too Long, Didn’t Watch) — Three Key Takeaways
This panel webinar was an illuminating discussion about the future of our industries. If you don’t have time to watch it through, check out these key points to take away from the hour-long discussion:
Demand for home performance services has grown, and contractors that had their digital marketing in place are feeling “shot out of a cannon” when it comes to incoming leads.
While heat pumps have remained in steady demand in some areas thanks to rebates and incentives, the electrification movement is increasing awareness and demand for heat pumps in areas that are newer to the technology.
Contractors are combating recruiting problems by going above and beyond, hiring full-time recruiters, and developing internal training courses to find success when hiring candidates that have little to no experience in the trade.
The Panelists
Kevin Brenner - Healthy Home Energy & Consulting
Kevin Brenner is the president and founder of Healthy Home Energy & Consulting (HHEC) in Westchester County, New York. He has earned certifications from the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), the Building Performance Institute (BPI), and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Healthy Home has been recognized with New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) awards for Outstanding Performance and Exceptional Service by a contractor.
Matthew Hargrove - Total Home Performance
Matthew Hargrove is the president of Total Home Performance located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The initial concept of Total Home Performance was to offer just an energy audit, but it quickly grew into a full-service home performance company. THP now employs 48 people and acts as a general contractor and is an industry leader in its region, winning multiple awards for quality workmanship, most KwH saved on jobs, and total production within various market rates and low-income energy efficiency and healthy home programs, servicing both single-family and multi-family dwellings.
Keith O’Hara - Eco Performance Builders
Keith O’Hara is the president and owner of Eco Performance Builders, a home performance retrofit company located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Keith is a licensed general, HVAC, and insulation contractor specializing in mechanical design and installation, insulation systems, zero net energy building, and home performance.
“How was your 2021, and what are your attitudes toward 2022?”
“What do you think contributed to your 2021 successes?”
“Give us an overview of the heat pump demand in your service area”
“Recruiting: where are you finding success?”
“How are you going about training your new hires to get them up to speed?”