The home contracting industries that Pearl serves — solar, HVAC, and home performance — have had mixed experiences over the past few months. Many members of the Pearl network report that they’re as busy as ever. But overall statistics suggest the industry is facing serious challenges: hundreds of thousands of HVAC and solar jobs have disappeared since March 2020.
In light of these developments, Pearl is diligently working with the nation’s leading energy and climate policy expert, Kara Saul-Rinaldi, president and CEO of AnnDyl Policy Group.
Last week a bipartisan group of Federal legislators introduced the HOPE for HOMES Act of 2020, a bill to provide support for residential contractors who specialize in making homes more energy efficient. The legislation would provide rebates to homeowners to make qualified energy-efficiency improvements. It would also provide funds to enable businesses to enroll their workers in online courses that enhance skills related to energy efficiency — including how to document a home’s efficiency using Pearl’s certification system.
“Pearl strongly supports the new HOPE for HOMES legislation,” said Robin LeBaron, co-founder, president and COO of Pearl Certification. “It’s a common sense way to support contracting firms that are committed to doing high-quality work that truly improves the efficiency of U.S. homes — and to help jump-start state economies that have been battered by months of lock-downs.”
Pearl Certification changes the game for home value, making it visible today and decades from now. Studies have proven that when home value is visible, the value of energy efficiency also becomes visible, allowing homeowners to maximize the return on their investments in efficiency.
We see this proposal legislation as a national win-win – good for contracting businesses, for homeowners, for the economy, and for the environment. Please join us by calling on Congress to support the HOPE for HOMES Act of 2020.
