Finding energy Conservation contractors

Thanks to the Web the process of identifying a contractor who can address home energy needs is relatively easy.  An excellent site is the U.S. Department of Energy site for Energy Star.  They have a special Energy Star Partner site which has a search utility which allows you to search by state for contractors in your area who support the Energy Star program including doing professional energy audits.  Another option you might want to check out is the Web site for your current electric utility.  Many of them now provide information on doing energy audits and can provide listing of people in your area who will conduct them. 

If you are looking to have your insulation upgraded professionally a good resource is the Web site for the Insulation Contractors Association of America at www.insulate.org.  The site has a section where you can do a search by state for certified insulation contractors in your area. 

If you are looking for help with upgrading your heating or air conditioning the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association site has a search site which can help you to locate a contractor within your area. 

 There are several places where you can locate professional energy auditing services. Your state or local government energy or weatherization office may help you identify a local company or organization that performs audits. They may also have information on how to do your own audit. Your electric or gas utility may conduct residential energy audits or recommend local auditors. Also check your telephone directory under headings beginning with the word "Energy" for companies that perform residential energy audits. See the Learn More section on the right side of the page (or below if you've printed it out) for more auditor resources. Before contracting with an energy auditing company, you should take the following steps: Get several references, and contact them all. Ask if they were satisfied with the work. Call the Better Business Bureau and ask about any complaints against the company. Make sure the energy auditor uses a calibrated blower door. Make sure they do thermographic inspections or contract another company to conduct one.

Another great place to find solar contractors is www.nabcep.org. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives that includes representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certificants, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades. NABCEP's mission is to support, and work with, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholder to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs. The NABCEP web site provides a state-by-state listing of solar contractors who are certified by NABCEP.  The certifications include specific certifications for installing solar photovoltaic systems and for solar thermal installation.

Another option for finding contractors is to use both the paper or Web-based yellow pages.  For many areas or for older phone books there is sometimes no listing category for "Solar Energy" so you may have to try listings such as "Electric Contractors" or "Heating Contractors". 

When selecting a solar contractor here are some key things to look for:

1.  General Experience - How many years experience does the company have in installing renewable solar energy systems.  Solar is a growing area and many contractors have limited track records.
2. Local Experience - Has the contractor done solar homes in your local area.  The closer the better. See if any of those home might allow you to talk to the owner.
3. Licensing - Is the contractor licensed in your county and are they familiar with state and local building regulations that impact solar installations.
4. Certifications - Does the contractor have any specific manufacturer or industry certifications.
5. References - References are invaluable, particularly if they reflect local work that is similar to what you plan to do.  Don't rely just on written references because too often these might be from family or friends.  Get references you can call and then don't be shy about calling. That is often the best way to get the real scoop on a contractor.
6. Knowledge of Incentives - Most states and some local governments provide a number of financial incentives for solar systems. These can make a huge difference in the cost of your solar energy system.  Find out if the contractor you are considering is familiar with these incentives.  Moreover, find out if they will apply for the financial incentives for you as part of their package.
7. Warranties - The best contractors warranty their work.  When comparing bidders look to see who provides the strongest warranty. Check the fine print!