The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the only nationwide non-profit association for HVACR professionals, indoor environment, and building performance systems, has teamed up with Pearl Certification, a national provider of third-party certifications for high-performing homes, to present The Solar Forum — the nation’s first-ever event to specifically address the challenges and opportunities that HVAC contractors face from the rapid adoption of solar, storage, and connected home devices. The event takes place, Jan. 24-25, 2022 at the Crowne Plaza, Phoenix.

At The Solar Forum, HVAC contractors will learn strategies to expand into other home services like demand response systems, EV chargers, and home electrical upgrades. Contractors will also learn how homes with solar and batteries can impact the design and sales process and drive adoption of higher-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. New refrigerants and a push to electrify heating will lead to more system changeouts. Increased adoption of variable speed compressors, whole-house ventilation systems, and other IAQ products, along with smart thermostats and other new technologies, add to the complexity of HVAC work — even as designers and technicians are in short supply.

Sessions include the following:

• HVAC, Solar, and SMART Technologies
• Alternative Business Models for HVAC and Solar Contractors
• Are Your Clients Richer When You Leave Their Home?
• Are You Taking Advantage of Legislative Dollars that are Available to You for Renewable Energy?
• And more!

“For HVAC and solar contractors, past strategies for success can no longer predict future good fortune,” said Barton James, president and CEO of ACCA. “The quicker change occurs, the more likely the old ways of doing business will fail.”

“For contractors who want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s vital that they understand the intersection of efficient HVAC and solar. When it comes to generating leads and revenue from new lines of business, few opportunities are as rich as the convergence between these two home improvements.” added Cynthia Adams, CEO of Pearl Certification.

“Changing consumer preferences (and limited pocketbooks) will reward contractors who understand, communicate, and deliver lifetime value to their homeowner customers,” said Casey Murphy, vice president of customer solutions at Pearl Certification and The Solar Forum’s Education director. “Likewise, contractors who understand how homes create, distribute, and use energy will be best positioned to succeed in the future.”

Contractors will find inspiring educational sessions, innovative products and service providers, as well as opportunities to network with contractors who are engaging in HVAC and solar to varying degrees.

Together, Pearl and ACCA are leading the charge for elite contractors to futurize their businesses and create a powerful ripple effect in the industry and in the communities we serve — one home, one region, one state at a time.

Learn more and register for The Solar Forum 2022. Space is limited: www.acca.org/solarforum. 

For more information about ACCA, please contact Natalie D'Apolito, ACCA communications coordinator, at natalie.dapolito@acca.org or 703-824-8873.

For more information about Pearl Certification, contact Lindsay Bachman, communications director at lindsay.bachman@pearlcertification.com.