Contractor Success Stories

There are many advantages to expanding a business beyond selling products to offering comprehensive solutions to customers' problems. The following case studies highlight how home improvement contractors from various fields adopted a whole-house approach to offer customers solutions to their comfort and energy problems.

HVAC Contractors

AirRite Air Conditioning (22KB). Larry Taylor, President of AirRite Air Conditioning in Ft. Worth, TX, has guided his HVAC company towards home performance contracting. Adding services and gaining the customers trust has led to increased revenues and profit margins.

Strand Brothers, Inc (239KB). Chris Strand of Strand Brothers, Inc. was an early champion of the whole-house approach to energy efficiency in Austin, TX and considers it to be the best way to “take care of the customer.”

Insulation & Air Sealing Contractors

Cambria Glass & Insulation (21KB). Barry Ritko, Sr., President of Cambria Glass & Insulation in Johnstown, PA, offers services a cut above those of typical insulation contractors by addressing the cause of problems, rather than simply adding insulation.

CanAm Building Envelope Specialists, Inc. (39KB). Tony Woods, President of CanAm Building Envelope Specialists, Inc., supports a network contractors and industry trades working to improve the performance of home envelopes by providing air sealing services, education, and training.

Home Energy Raters

Home Energy Partners (19KB). Isaac Savage, President of Home Energy Partners in Asheville, NC, expanded his rating business to include older homes, which soon led him to begin offering comprehensive home improvement services to address energy and comfort problems identified in the home evaluation.

Weatherization Organizations

Energy Coordinating Agency & Smart Energy Solutions (23KB). Liz Robinson, Executive Director of the Energy Coordinating Agency in Philadelphia, PA, launched a for-profit side of their weatherization organization that not only hit the ground running, but has also helped strengthen the skills and services of the non-profit.

Comfort Company (24KB). Vic Aleshire, owner of the Comfort Company in Washington OH, expanded his low-income weatherization business to meet the demand for home comfort and efficiency from middle- and high-income households.