Resources for Contractors & Service Providers

Put Your Talents to Work Improving Buildings

The transition to high performing, all-electric buildings will result in a lot of jobs for engineers, contractors, building operators, consultants, and other service providers.

Use this hub to learn about changing policies, find technical support, and connect with possible clients.

Resources for Contractors & Service Providers

Contractor & Workforce Training

  • BayREN, the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, offers events, workshops, and trainings for jurisdictions, building departments, contractors, and others.

  • Efficiency First California, a nonprofit trade organization supporting California’s transition to clean, carbon-free energy, provides a list of educational resources for contractors.

  • Electrical Training Alliance, a national union-led collaboration to train electrical workers, offers a Learning Center with online and in-person training options.

  • Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) provides training and certification for eligible electricians to safely construct, install, and maintain electric vehicle chargers. EVITP also provides certification of electrical contractors that employ EVITP certified electricians (a requirement for state-funded charging station projects) and maintains a database of electrical contractors on their website.

  • Energy Code Ace is a one-stop shop for no-cost tools, training, and resources to help comply with California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code). The program is administered by utilities and funded by their customers.

  • PG&E’s Energy Center and Energy Education Center provide professional training, a tool-lending library, on-demand courses, and real-time access to industry experts at no cost.  

  • Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Job Training Directory connects workers to job training programs throughout California. To qualify, you must be enrolled in or have graduated from a 40-hour course within the last 12 months from an eligible job training program. SOMAH is administered by the California Public Utilities Commission.

  • The Switch Is On Training Hub provides trainings at low or no cost for contractors.

  • Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN), serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, provides live and on-demand trainings for free.

  • USGBC California’s Learning Center offers a variety of green building and sustainable development courses. Training specific to building performance policy in California is on the Hub’s training page.

    Implementation Guides

  • The Hub’s Strategic Performance and Building Decarbonization Guide provides practical strategies, case studies, and step-by-step guidance for improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and meeting state benchmarking requirements through building retrofits and system upgrades.

  • USGBC, ASHRAE, and NYSERDA developed their Guide to Strategic Decarbonization Planning, which integrates planning, budgeting, and implementation in order to enable deep reductions in operational greenhouse gas emissions.

  • The Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Solutions Center provides a collection of proven energy efficiency solutions, financing tools, technical resources, and case studies to help implement building improvements.

  • The William J. Worthen Foundation’s Building Decarbonization Practice Guide is a reference tool that architects, engineers, and contractors — as well as building owners, managers, and funders — can use to find practical, case study-based strategies for achieving zero carbon buildings. The guide covers everything from design and construction considerations to specific guidance for multifamily, commercial, and institutional buildings.