Five Years at the National Home Performance Conference: What NHPC 2026 Told Us About the Future of Our Industry

By Yuna Shu, Founder & CEO, HomeWise AI

April 17, 2026

This year marked my fifth National Home Performance Conference — and HomeWise AI's first year exhibiting with a booth in Columbus, Ohio. Over four days at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, thousands of professionals gathered to celebrate 40 years of the home performance movement. What I saw reinforced something I've believed since day one: this industry is resilient, mission-driven, and just getting started.

An Industry That Keeps Moving Forward

If you've attended NHPC over multiple years, you know the rhythm. Some years are defined by optimism. Others by uncertainty. This year felt like both — and that's what made it powerful.

The home performance and energy efficiency industry has faced real challenges in recent years: shifting federal priorities, supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and the constant push-and-pull of policy changes. And yet, walking the conference floor in Columbus, the energy was unmistakable. Contractors, nonprofit leaders, utility program administrators, policymakers, trainers, and community organizations showed up in full force — not because it was easy, but because they believe in this work.

That kind of persistence matters. When the external environment doesn't favor what you're building, and you keep showing up anyway, that's mission. That's conviction. And it was everywhere at NHPC 2026.

The Ecosystem Is Getting Stronger

One of the most encouraging trends I've noticed over my five years attending NHPC is the growing strength of the broader ecosystem that makes home performance work. This year was no exception.

Utilities and program administrators continue to refine and expand their incentive programs, making it easier for homeowners to invest in energy-efficient upgrades. The New Jersey Whole Home Energy Efficiency Program, for example, now offers up to $7,500 in rebate incentives and $25,000 in zero-interest financing for qualifying improvements.

Policymakers at every level — federal, state, and local — are working to keep the path forward for electrification and efficiency. The advocacy work happening behind the scenes is often invisible to the public, but it is what makes programs possible and keeps funding flowing.

Nonprofits and community organizations are playing an increasingly central role, from workforce training to environmental justice to community outreach. These organizations ensure that the benefits of energy efficiency reach the communities that need them most — not just the homeowners who can afford to pay upfront.

Trainers and educators are building the next generation of home performance professionals. With continuing education credits available from BPI, RESNET, InterNACHI, NARI, NATE, and BSI at the conference itself, NHPC remains one of the best places for professionals to sharpen their skills.

This ecosystem — utilities, policymakers, nonprofits, trainers, and contractors working together — is what separates the home performance industry from other sectors. No single player can drive this transition alone. It takes all of us.

Breaking News: DOE Confirms Plans to Release Billions in Funds to States

Perhaps the most exciting development to come out of conference week was the announcement on April 16 that the U.S. Department of Energy has confirmed plans to release billions of dollars in home energy rebate funds to states.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the House Appropriations Committee on April 15 that Home Energy Rebate dollars would be released in a matter of weeks. The combined funding for the HOMES (Home Efficiency Rebates) and HEEHR (High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates) programs totals approximately $8.8 billion nationwide.

As Kara Saul-Rinaldi, Chief Policy Officer of the Building Performance Association, stated: "We applaud Secretary Wright for pledging to release the pivotal Home Energy Rebates to help Americans upgrade their homes and save on their energy bills. The HOMES and HEEHR rebates represent critically needed funds to help homeowners invest in insulation and high-efficiency systems."

For everyone in this industry — contractors, program administrators, utilities, workforce trainers — this is the signal many have been waiting for. As of now, 23 states have live programs, and that number is set to grow rapidly as additional federal tranches are released.

For New Jersey specifically, the state has been allocated over $185 million in federal home energy rebate funding across the HOMES, HEEHR, and TREC (Training for Residential Energy Contractors) programs. This represents a major opportunity for contractors, homeowners, and the broader workforce development ecosystem in the state.

HomeWise AI: Advocating for HOME Upgrades in New Jersey

HomeWise AI was proud to be one of only three New Jersey companies to sign the grassroots advocacy letter supporting the HOME upgrade program — adding our voice to the national effort urging the release of these critical rebate funds.

This wasn't a checkbox exercise for us. We signed because we see firsthand what these programs mean for the contractors we serve. Rebate programs like HOMES and HEEHR don't just benefit homeowners — they create demand for contractor services, fund workforce training, support utility program goals, and strengthen the entire home performance value chain.

When the policy environment gets uncertain, it's easy to step back and wait. We chose to step forward. We believe that companies in our industry have a responsibility to advocate for the programs and policies that make this work possible — not just benefit from them.

Building Science Remains the Foundation

Amid all the policy discussions and business strategy sessions, the heart of NHPC remains building science. The technical sessions — on envelope improvements, ventilation strategies, heat pump installations, indoor air quality, and whole-home performance — are what make this conference unique in the industry.

Building science is the foundation that everything else rests on. You can have the best rebate programs, the most advanced technology, and the most aggressive growth strategy — but if the house isn't built or retrofitted correctly, none of it matters. That belief is baked into everything we do at HomeWise AI. Our latest product, Luna AI, was designed around the real workflows of home performance contractors: rebate document checklists, technician photo capture, homeowner communication portals, and filing prep sheets that map directly to program requirements.

We don't just help contractors run their businesses. We help them do better work — because building science demands it.

What's Ahead

Leaving Columbus, I'm more optimistic about this industry than I've been in years. The IRA rebate programs are gaining real momentum. The workforce is growing. The nonprofit and community organizations are stronger than ever. Utilities are expanding their program offerings. And the contractors — the people who actually show up at homes and do the work — continue to be some of the most dedicated professionals I've ever encountered.

HomeWise AI exists because we believe small contractors deserve the same operational support and growth infrastructure that large enterprises take for granted. We are energy nerds, and we are proud of it. We believe in building science, in energy efficiency, and in every person and organization dedicated to making homes better.

To everyone who stopped by our booth in Columbus — thank you. To the Building Performance Association and the organizers who have kept this conference running for 40 years — thank you. And to the entire home performance community — utilities, policymakers, trainers, nonprofits, and contractors alike — we're just getting started.

HomeWise AI is the AI-powered back office and growth engine for home service contractors. Based in New Jersey, the company provides fractional operations management, strategic growth consulting, and Luna CRM — a platform built specifically for the home performance industry. Learn more at www.homewiseai.org.

Sources & Further Reading:

• 2026 National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show — Building Performance Association
• DOE Confirms Plans to Release Home Energy Rebate Funds — Building Performance Association
• Grassroots Advocacy Letter for HOME Upgrades (PDF) — Building Performance Association
• New Jersey Receives Over $185M in Energy Efficiency Grants — NJ Board of Public Utilities
• 2026 US Home Energy Rebates Rollout: State-by-State Guide — Intelligent Living
• IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs Overview — U.S. Department of Energy

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