Strategy
The HPSC’s work is guided by the Strategic Plan below. The plan was developed in collaboration with the HPSC’s Industry Advisory Committee and Sector Councils, as well as the Board of Directors. It is a living document, updated annually to reflect updates and changes to strategic priorities.
Codes, By-Laws, Permits & Regulations
Advocacy
Respond to opportunities to advocate for governments to make and enforce better standards, bylaws, regulations, and permitting processes and facilitate industry input where needed. Consider proactive lobbying activities as appropriate.
Updates
We supported industry engagement with the Province of B.C. on amendments to the Skills Trade BC Act Regulation, which came into effect in August 2025. We also advocated for CleanBC to align their new Heat Pump Rebates for Electric Multi-Unit Residential Buildings program terms and conditions with an interim best practices guide for consistency and clarity across the industry.
Advocacy
Actively engage in the alterations code consultation process, facilitating feedback from industry and Sector Councils.
Updates
Hosted a presentation by Efficiency Canada at our annual Contractor Forum in April 2025; they discussed the process for the alterations code update and how industry can get involved.
CONSUMER EDUCATION & MARKETING
Advocacy
Actively advocate for the wider adoption of Home Energy Labelling/Rating Systems and accompanying homeowner and stakeholder awareness.
Updates
Worked with the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors and the British Columbia Real Estate Association to provide industry feedback into the development of the BC Home Energy Planner. The tool is now live and the HPSC is co-hosting a webinar to help industry understand and promote the tool.
Advocacy
Actively advocate for consumer-facing stakeholders to educate homeowners on the importance of a retrofitting with a house-as-a-system approach and hiring an HPCN member.
Updates
Hosted a concierge retrofit service panel at our annual Contractor Forum in April 2025 to inform contractors on homeowner-facing resources. The HPSC partnered with the Building Decarbonization Alliance to promote the HPCN on a new homeowner heat pump resource. We also advocated for refunding of the Canada Greener Homes Program.
Action
Continue to develop, refine, and promote both the HPCN homeowner search tool and homeowner-facing information about the search tool and hiring an HPCN contractor.
Updates
We are working on updates to the HPCN homeowner search tool which will go live in 2026. The HPSC also partnered with the Building Decarbonization Alliance to promote the HPCN on a new homeowner heat pump resource.
Industry Support & Workforce Development
Advocacy
Actively advocate for increased funding, support, and subsidies for skills and workforce development.
Updates
Training subsidies are now available for Energy Advisors and General Retrofit HPCN members for the first time in BC, thanks to funding we secured with the provincial government. We also secured additional training subsidies for heat pump installers completing the new BCIT Heat Pump Microcredential. Additionally, we participated in the CleanBC review, providing formal feedback on the importance of continued training subsidies for industry.
Action
Research and explore workforce attraction in BC with a specific focus on entry level, young, under represented, and out-of-province workers.
Updates
We acquired a UBC Scholar to conduct initial research on workforce attraction. The report can be viewed here. The HPSC will consult advisory groups on next steps.
Action
Actively coordinate next steps, actions, and options for a residential HVAC trade or certification in BC as per the new HVAC Roadmap.
Updates
Supported industry engagement with the Province of B.C. on amendments to the Skills Trade BC Act Regulation, which came into effect in August 2025. We secured funding for implementation items in the Roadmap including mobile labs for the new BCIT Heat Pump Microcredential and the development of an HVAC Solutions Council. We will continue to work with the HVAC Sector Council and industry partners to advance these next steps.
Action
Develop a definition of a home performance contractor and continue to promote the HPSC’s brand and mandate to industry stakeholders.
Updates
We arranged for our Retrofitting with a House-as-a-System Approach course – a requirement for the HPCN – to be delivered in person to 5 different locations across the Lower Mainland and northern and rural BC.
Action
Develop an indigenous and justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity (JEDI) engagement roadmap for the HPSC.
Updates
We are developing an indigenous and justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity (JEDI) engagement roadmap for the HPSC.
Action
Explore working with additional retrofit sectors e.g. plumbers (hot water tanks, air-to-water heat pumps), solar PV, electricians.
Updates
We have launched a new Solar & Battery sector in the HPCN. We will work with BC Hydro and industry leaders to seek funding for the development of a Solar & Battery Sector Council to continue engagement with this sector. We also secured subsidies for TECA’s Air-to-Water Heat Pump course which will be available to HPCN members in 2026.
CONTRACTOR NETWORK (HPCN) OPERATIONS
Advocacy
Actively work with program partners to inform and enhance site visits and explore opportunities to improve the HPCN contractor management protocol through information sharing and/or the HPCN developing their own site visits.
Updates
We continue to collaborate closely with program partners to further improve Contractor Management and information-sharing. Through ongoing operations and working with real cases, we identified and closed gaps in our current protocols this year. We continue conversations on improving site visits and exploring the potential for the HPCN to manage our own site visits if the need were to arise.
Advocacy
Actively advocate for additional and future rebate programs to include the HPCN as a mandatory requirement and to incentivize house-as-a-system retrofits through measures that reduce costs for homeowners and/or contractors, collaborating with industry on program design.
Updates
Several rebate programs were updated this year and a new program launched, Heat Pump Rebates for Electric Multi-Unit Residential Buildings; we successfully advocated for these programs to require, or continue requiring, the HPCN as an eligibility requirement. The launch of the new Solar & Battery sector is also an example of another rebate program now requiring participants to hire an HPCN member.
Action
Promote the HPCN to contractors and regional stakeholders.
Updates
This year, we hosted our annual Contractor Forum on Vancouver Island, the first time we’ve held it outside of the Lower Mainland. Plans are underway to host the 2026 forum in Kamloops. We continue to promote the HPCN through monthly social media ads, attending in-person and virtual events throughout the province, and dispersing flyers to contractors through our allies. We also host quarterly meetings with central and northern allies to support HPCN promotion.
Action
Onboard contractors to the HPCN, especially from rural and northern areas, and increase the number of trained installers per company.
Updates
Capacity in the HPCN continues to increase and we will continue to prioritize increasing capacity in rural and northern regions of BC. This year we attended more events in northern and central BC. We also host quarterly meetings with central and northern allies to support HPCN promotion. The HPSC is working on solutions to increase the number of trained installers per company. The updated HPCN portal coming in early 2026 will support this mission.
Action
Implement advanced training for Window and Door installers.
Updates
The Window and Door Installer Microcredential has been developed and is now offered by Okanagan College. We received funding to support Okanagan College to expand the microcredential’s hands-on component to other locations in BC. We will continue working with the Window and Door Sector Council to integrate the microcredential into the HPCN once it is accessible throughout the province.
Action
Execute contractor management: administer rolling spot and prompted checks as part of the ongoing contractor management process.
Updates
Since the beginning of 2026, we completed 3 Manual Checks and investigated 10 Prompted Checks. We Paused 10 contractors and reinstated 11, and Suspended 0 contractors and reinstated 1 (Note: these include contractors who were paused or suspended in 2024 and reinstated in 2025). These terms are defined in our Contractor Management Protocols.
The updated HPCN portal coming in 2026 will support the HPSC’s ability to increase contractor management efforts.
Action
Work with industry stakeholders to develop and launch a training pathway for Energy Advisors and General Retrofit contractors and open the HPCN to these sectors.
Updates
We launched the Energy Advisor and General Retrofit sectors for the HPCN in June 2025 as a pilot project funded by the Province of B.C.. Training subsidies are available for participants until May 2026 and we are actively promoting the new sectors. We are also working with CleanBC to transition the Program Qualified Energy Advisors for existing homes to the HPCN by January 28, 2026.
Action
Review and update HPCN training. Integrate into available micro-credential programs.
Updates
We facilitated updates to the Heat Pump Best Practices guide and the development of an interim best practices guide for heat pump installations in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings. Both guides will be available in fall 2025. We will continue working with the Window and Door Sector Council to integrate the new Okanagan microcredential, and the HVAC Sector Council to integrate the new BCIT Heat Pump Microcredential, into the HPCN once they are accessible throughout the province.