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
Facilitated industry engagement and response to the provincial Highest Efficiency Equipment Standards Regulatory Consultation.
Advocacy
Actively engage in the alterations code consultation process, facilitating feedback from industry and Sector Councils.
Updates
The HPSC is engaging with Efficiency Canada and other partner organizations regarding updates and ongoing communications.
CONSUMER EDUCATION & MARKETING
Advocacy
Actively advocate for the wider adoption of Home Energy Labelling/Rating Systems and accompanying homeowner and stakeholder awareness.
Updates
The HPSC engaged Province of BC staff working on a Virtual Home Energy Rating System and held a showcase and discussion at the 2024 Contractor Forum. The HPSC will keep stakeholders updated on the next steps.
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
The HPSC team is actively collaborating with program partners to deliver regular feedback on consumer-facing content. Homeowner-focused concierge programs, such as Retrofit Assist and Home Navigator, continue to educate homeowners about HPCN contractors.
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
The HPSC updated the search tool in early 2024 to improve how homeowners search for their address and added language filters. Plans are underway to enhance the search tool further in 2025.
Industry Support & Workforce Development
Advocacy
Actively advocate for increased funding, support, and subsidies for skills and workforce development.
Updates
The HPSC continues to actively advocate for the availability and continuity of training subsidies. As of March 31, 2024, the Province of BC has topped-up HPCN training subsidies.
Action
Research and explore workforce attraction in BC with a specific focus on entry level, young, under represented, and out-of-province workers.
Updates
The HPSC acquired a UBC Scholar to conduct initial research on workforce attraction. It will be available for public reading soon.
Action
Actively coordinate next steps, actions, and options for a residential HVAC trade or certification in BC as per the new HVAC Roadmap.
Updates
The HPSC engaged stakeholders to develop an HVAC roadmap outlining credentialing options for residential retrofits in BC. The HPSC is awaiting further direction from the Province of BC regarding 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
The HPSC actively promotes home performance to industry through social media, e-newsletter, in-person events, and other marketing materials.
Action
Develop an indigenous and justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity (JEDI) engagement roadmap for the HPSC.
Updates
The HPSC has developed an indigenous and justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity (JEDI) engagement roadmap for the HPSC. It will be available for public reading soon.
Action
Explore working with additional retrofit sectors e.g. plumbers (hot water tanks, air-to-water heat pumps), solar PV, electricians.
Updates
Planned – future work.
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
The HPSC continues to collaborate closely with program partners to further improve contractor management and information-sharing. The contractor-facing overview was also updated in fall 2024.
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 major rebate programs from BC Hydro, Fortis BC, CleanBC, and Pacific Northern Gas require homeowners to hire an HPCN member to access the incentives. The HPSC continues to advocate for additional and new rebate programs to require homeowners to hire HPCN members.
Action
Promote the HPCN to contractors and regional stakeholders.
Updates
The HPSC promotes the HPCN through monthly social media ads, attending in-person and virtual events throughout the province, and dispersing flyers to contractors through our allies. The HPSC also hosts 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
The HPSC is developing a rural and northern outreach plan in 2025. Membership in these regions continues to grow, albeit slowly. The HPSC is working on solutions to increase the number of trained installers per company. The updated HPCN portal coming in 2025 will support this mission.
Action
Implement advanced training for Window and Door installers.
Updates
The microcredential program led by Okanagan College and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC is being piloted in early 2025. Once ready for mainstream participation, the HPSC will initiate the process for HPCN-integration under the guidance of the Window and Door Sector Council.
Action
Execute contractor management: administer rolling spot and prompted checks as part of the ongoing contractor management process.
Updates
Contractor management continues with a focus on prompted checks (i.e. customer complaints, site visit reports from program partners) with some manual checks taking place as well. The updated HPCN portal coming in 2025 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
The HPSC has received funding from the Sector Labour Market Partnership group of the Province of BC to pilot these sectors. Work is underway and the pilot sectors will launch in May 2025.
Action
Review and update HPCN training. Integrate into available micro-credential programs.
Updates
The HPSC has plans to update the HVAC Best Practices Guide in 2025. Okanagan College is working on a microcredential for the insulation sector. BCIT is working on a microcredential for the HVAC sector. The HPSC is collaborating with both groups to align the microcrendtials with HPCN training and plan for future integration with the HPCN training pathways.