As part of Power Ahead Colorado, a program led by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to reduce the environmental impact of the region’s building sector, the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) launched the Colorado Contractor Hub—a free, centralized, digital workspace designed to "engage, educate and empower" current and prospective heat pump contractors to grow their businesses. 

The first such workspace created specifically for Colorado heat pump contractors, the Colorado Contractor Hub provides Colorado’s heat pump contracting community with the resources and services they need to overcome operational hurdles, generate new leads, and accelerate the adoption of heat pumps.

“Most programs are designed around an optimal customer experience, but we can no longer ignore the most important customer of all—the contractor responsible for installing and servicing electrification technologies,” said Clay McCombe, program manager for workforce & industry, Power Ahead Colorado (DRCOG). “The Colorado Contractor Hub is the result of years of listening to HVAC contractors and responding directly to their pain points around electrification programs and business models. It is a true one-stop shop that makes installing cold-climate heat pumps make business sense for Colorado’s rapidly growing electrification market.”

The Colorado Contractor Hub aims to help contractors grow their electrification and weatherization businesses with:

• Customer leads from Power Ahead Colorado;
• Trainings on best practices for heat pump installation, customer engagement and business development, and an application to get reimbursed for training costs;
• Information for navigating heat pump incentive programs, aggregating available rebates, and fulfilling government permitting requirements;
• A resource library with heat pump manufacturer training videos, program manuals and other valuable technical resources;
• A tools marketplace with third party tools that address common needs (e.g., permitting, design/sizing, rebates, etc.); and,
• An AI assistant that provides contractors assistance on incentives, codes, licensing, permitting and program inquiries.

Additionally, the Colorado Contractor Hub provides contractors with the opportunity to participate in the free Small Business Scaling Program, a multi-day training that provides a comprehensive introduction to energy-efficient building electrification, with a focus on HVAC and water heating systems.

The Colorado Contractor Hub also enables homeowners and businesses to search for qualified contractors in their area, request consultations, and source the expertise they need. To secure these leads, contractors use the Colorado Contractor Hub to develop detailed business profiles with logos, program badges, project galleries, service areas and offerings and special business considerations. 

“Contractors are the lifeblood of Colorado’s clean energy transition. Clean heating and cooling programs succeed when contractors succeed, and we are proud to help Colorado contractors take full advantage of these programs,” said Holly Harris, associate director of the Colorado Contractor Hub at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. “The Colorado Contractor Hub delivers contractors the resources they need to find new customers and provide customers with high-quality heat pump installation services that maximize their comfort while minimizing their costs.”

The Colorado Contractor Hub is open to any contractor working in the Power Ahead Colorado region who is interested in offering building electrification services, including HVAC, plumbing, weatherization, and general construction services. Contractors join the Colorado Contractor Hub by visiting coloradocontractorhub.org.