Providing customers with lists of pre-approved contractors is helpful, but offering a long list of contractors without differentiating their products and services can lead to inaction. Most homeowners do not know who to trust to improve their home. Programs can offer tips for hiring a contractor and a list of contractors that meet minimum criteria and distinguishing characteristics such as skills, credentials, location or service area, languages spoken, customer feedback, and information about work quality.
Some programs have publically listed information about the quality of contractors’ performance by drawing from customer feedback or quality assurance reviews. While this information can be helpful to consumers, it is important that programs discuss with contractors what information will be listed publically. In the case of quality assurance-related information, giving contractors the opportunity to improve their standing before the information is shared publically can go a long way in maintaining a good working relationship. This strategy can also be used to recognize and reward good contractor performance. If your program has energy advisors, they can also help homeowners select a contractor by providing an abbreviated list of contractors that are equipped to handle their specific project.
Learn more with the following resources:
Topical Resources
-
This guide assists with developing an implementation plan for a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. It covers key elements of the plan, including the scope and objectives of the program and the policies and procedures that will ensure its success, including co-marketing and brand guidelines (section 1), workforce development and contractor engagement (section 3), assessment and report requirements (section 4), installation specifications and test-out procedures (section 5), and quality assurance (section 6).
-
This article from the Federal Trade Commission provides information for consumers on how to find a good contractor for a home improvement project.
-
These tips from ENERGY STAR will help you find the right HVAC contractor, get quality and value from the contractor and your new equipment, and get a signed agreement on the work to be done.
-
This resource includes a list of the different types of contractors you may need to hire to improve your home. Under each type is a brief description of the service they provide and questions or suggestions for working with them.
-
This peer exchange call summary focused on using approved contractor lists and matching customers with contractors based on processes/criteria.
-
This white paper from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory describes the benefits and costs of energy advisors, and describes how residential energy efficiency programs have made use of them in their program design.
Examples
-
Energy Trust of Oregon’s contractor selection tips provide several considerations for choosing an energy efficiency contractor.
-
On Maryland's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR website, homeowners can review their contractor and experience. These customer reviews, along with contractors' accreditations and services, are published on the website as part of each contractor's information page. Users of the website can search for contractors and sort the results based on homeowner ratings and by geographical location.
-
This pamphlet from the California Contractors State License Board provides general advice for hiring a contractor and a construction project checklist.
-
The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors provides tips to hiring a contractor, warnings about inexperienced contractors, and information on contracting license requirements and how to verify a license certificate.
-
This Washington State Department of Labor & Industries provides a short list of considerations and tips when hiring a contractor or remodeler.
Tips for Success
Tools & Templates
-
On Efficiency Maine’s "Find a Residential Registered Vendor" locator on its website, customers can see the services each contractor offers, sort the list by distance from the homeowner, and differentiate contractors based on number of projects completed and customer satisfaction. All contractors are added to the list when they meet the program's requirements.
-
This tool from Focus on Energy connects Wisconsin residents and businesses with local home performance contractors that provide various energy efficiency services and offers a list of each contractor's skills.
-
This tool from Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) provides homeowners with a list of contractors, based on their location, to schedule an energy assessment or in-home consultation. It also provides a direct link to state license information.
-
This tool provides Southern California Edison (SCE) and Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) customers with a list of Energy Upgrade California participating contractors, home performance skills, license information, and the languages spoken by the contractors.
-
This tool helps customers in New York State find Home Performance with ENERGY STAR participating contractors based on their location.
Handbooks
-
See the step: Develop customer care resources. This step provides information about how to develop materials that give customers reliable, easy-to-access information about the program.
-
See the step: Determine contractor participation requirements. This step provides guidance on common contractor participation requirements including qualifications, business practices, and program procedures and quality standards.