Blogs

Earlier this year, the Building Performance Association (BPA) introduced four new task forces to its efforts. They are: Workforce Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Healthy Buildings, and Market Development. While the mission of each task force is different, they all work toward the overarching goal of healthy, comfortable homes for everybody. On the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, task force chair Darnell Johnson says, “This is an important matter not only for BPA, but across many societal landscapes. As we witness increased diverse participation in the home performance industry, it is critical to ensure that our policies ...

Year round, we at the Building Performance Association (BPA) work hard on behalf of professionals in contracting services, weatherization, product manufacturing and distribution, program administration, building science, and nonprofits. We do this through our national and regional events and trade shows, our policy work at local, state, and national levels, and our dedication to communication through BPA Connections, newsletters, and the eJournal. Giving back to our community, our industry, and our supporters is built into our fabric as a 501(c)6 association. But we couldn’t do all of these things without the support of our members and partner organizations. ...

by Macie Melendez Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, and it’s often a time when people reflect on the past. For me, Thanksgiving brings back memories of my grandma. She was very kind-hearted but also the type of woman that wouldn’t let a good joke go. The very first time I cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving, I was in my late 20s, living in a studio apartment in San Francisco. I insisted on hosting and invited my immediate family and my grandparents over. As an unseasoned chef, I forgot to take the giblets out of the turkey before cooking it—we discovered them as we were cutting the bird to serve it. My grandma found this hilarious, and she never ...

by Macie Melendez Brian McFadden is the president of Guardian Home Energy , or as his business card says, he’s a Comfort Advisor and Home Energy Specialist. Guardian Home Energy specializes in energy assessments and insulation in Orange County, San Diego, and Riverside counties. McFadden recently moved to Denver, Colorado and is working to expand his business there, too. McFadden came to energy efficiency from another, related avenue. He started in insulation in the early 2000s, then took at job in the mortgage market during the boom in 2005. His focus has consistently been in sales, although for a few industries, such as timeshares and health insurance. ...

In early November, Maine's governor, Janet Mills urged families to take advantage of roughly $100 million in federal funds available in Maine to weatherize homes or cover heating costs. In a press event, Governor Mills promoted her administration's decision to earmark $25 million in federal stimulus funds to home weatherization. Efficiency Maine, the local organization that will be distributing the grants, estimates the money will help 3,500 low- to moderate-income households weatherize their homes. Additionally, Maine has received nearly $70 million to provide heating assistance to low-income households at a time when pandemic-related supply issues are driving ...

Earlier this week, 10 Connecticut residents were celebrated for their dedication to the energy efficiency industry, which they showed by completing a 12-week training program complete with a paid work experience program. These residents are the first group of 10 who participated in Efficiency For All (EFA)’s workforce training program, which totals 12 weeks and includes 6 weeks of classroom and hands-on training, and 6 weeks of a paid work experience internship program. EFA’s workforce training program is supported by the state of Connecticut with the goal of developing the energy efficiency workforce. Our nation is facing a shortage of skilled workers to ...