In this Issue

• Introducing Pat Colburn, CBPCA Assistant Program Manager
• Sign up for Professional Membership benefits
• Check out the new CBPCA website
• Contractor Profiles: Dave Robinson
• Update on CBPCA Home Performance Programs in California
• Liability Insurance for CBPCA Contractors
• CBPCA Training Dates
• CBPCA Mailbag
  

Introducing Pat Colburn, CBPCA Assistant Program Manager

As our roster of trained contractors increases, so does our need to stay in touch with everyone. Thus, we have hired Pat Colburn, a real estate agent, an EcoBroker® and a Build It Green Certified Green Building Professional to help us with outreach and program administration. In the near term, Pat will be contacting each of our members for ideas for improving member benefits, and determining how many home performance jobs have been completed by our contractors.

Pat will be sending a Contractor Jobs Questionnaire to our contractors over the next few days. Please be sure to fill this out and return it as soon as possible. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and our utility sponsors require this information to continue their support of our Home Performance program and of CBPCA. Pat will give you a call next week to follow up.

We hope you will join us in welcoming Pat when she gives your office a call! <return to top

Sign up for your Professional Membership benefits

We have worked hard to offer additional benefits and support for CBPCA's Northern and Southern California members, and are proud to announce a new CBPCA membership structure that delivers these benefits.

The new "CBPCA Professional Membership" category provides enhanced support to members who are serious about building a business in whole-house energy efficiency testing and/or retrofit contracting.   We have listed below the expanded list of benefits that come with Professional Membership.   For those who are not ready to become a Professional Member, we will keep you informed of our activities and hope that you will become a Professional Member in the future.

Please call if you want to become a Professional Member.   For those of you who wish to remain an Associate Member, no action is required.  You will remain on our email distribution list and will continue to receive periodic announcements, newsletters, and updates from CBPCA.

CBPCA Membership Benefits and Requirements (read more...)

Contractor Profiles: Dave Robinson

Dave Robinson of Renaissance Inc., a home improvement contractor in Fresno, knew that his customers could reduce their energy use and save money by participating in the Green Home Energy Upgrade program, but even he was surprised by the savings from one particular project.

“The unusual part was how great the savings were compared to how little work we did to achieve the savings,” said Dave. “I think there is a niche of homes that fit this category that may be worth studying for a specific marketing approach. I’d be interested to hear if others have had similar experiences with this type of project.” (Read more...)

Update on CBPCA Home Performance Programs in California

The major California utilities are moving quickly to accelerate our “Green Home Energy Upgrade” home performance programs. Here’s a rundown of the latest news. It’s still not quite final but very close!
Southern California: Edison is working with us to extend and expand our current program through 2011. Starting in January, the new program will have some big incentives for your customers, with minimal paperwork, and also some nice new incentive payments, more marketing, and more field support for the CBPCA contractor. Those incentives will require test-in/test-out data and utility bills, but it will sure be worth the trouble! This is a huge step forward for home performance contractors in the Southland.
(More…)

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Check out the new CBPCA website

The new and improved CBPCA contractors website is full of information for CBPCA members and the general public. Professional Members also have a new password-protected section with access to logos and brochures, contractor job report templates, home performance protocols, an online data reporting system (coming soon), and much more.

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Liability Insurance for CBPCA Contractors

Although most home performance contractors nationwide seem to be relying only on conventional General Liability insurance (in part because there are so few disputes in home performance projects), some have been concerned about the exclusions of such policies—including design, engineering, or specification work such as an architect or engineer might do. To some, that sounds pretty close to home performance assessments and recommendations.

Bob talked with the insurance carrier for the national RESNET professional liability group policy and may have found a way for concerned HP contractors to use that low-cost policy.

First, the RESNET carrier confirmed that the policy applies even if a covered rater is doing home performance assessments. Second, if a contractor has an employee with a HERS Rater certification and RESNET membership, the employer can be covered as an Additional Insured for any home assessments that employee does. Third, your regular General Liability policy (which by the way you MUST have for CBPCA and Home Performance with Energy Star) will still cover you for workmanship and product liabilities—so between those two policies you should be amply insured if you feel you need both kinds of coverage.

We can’t advise on that decision because although General Liability carriers seem to usually cover claims even if the contractor did an assessment and “specified” the work done, we can’t be sure that would always be the case. But this is encouraging for contractors who have been looking for Professional Liability coverage.

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The CBPCA Mailbag

Dear Harry,

I just had a quick question. As you may or may not know, Robert (Renu) has asked that I do all the Home Performance Testing for Renu. This takes a lot off his plate and he doesn't have to "manage" these prospects until they become "real" jobs.

My question is this: Do people ever contact the CBPCA just for consulting or advice? I can understand why you would pass to Robert (Renu) leads for people who mention they would like work done, but what about the others? I, for one, haven't given up on the whole Home Performance thing. I just don't want employees (did that for thirty years) nor inventory. I love the testing and the consulting and would appreciate any leads like this that you see pass through the CBPCA. I'm sure there are others who would also appreciate a bone tossed their way every now and then.

Thank you.
Kevin Beck

Dear Kevin,
We get dozens of calls a week for consulting, advice or requests for referrals. As you know one of the benefits of becoming a Professional CBPCA Member includes receiving referrals from homeowners and other contractors. We will be sure to encourage other members to use your testing services

Dear Members: As a trade organization, our job is to help you succeed in your business.
Click here to see the benefits of Professional CBPCA Membership.

Thanks, Harry

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