The reasons for low availability of quality trained professionals is multifaceted and is strongly linked to the lack of demand for quality trained professionals. While there are government regulations and utility programs, they are ever changing, and the requirements are not adequately enforced. For consumers, there is no obvious way to differentiate low quality contractors from true professional contractors and price is too often the determining factor. On the contractor side, there can be a lack of understanding as to what quality product and installation looks like in BC's specific environmental conditions and in the context of whole home performance. It is difficult for employers to attract quality people to the residential renovation sector, and they are hesitant to invest in training because retention is also an issue.

While regulations are needed to ensure quality and comprehensive work to protect the consumer, contractors are often not consulted adequately when new codes, regulation, policies, and bylaws are developed which can lead to unintended consequences to the regulation. Regulations are in constant flux and change everywhere. Even professional contractors have difficulty keeping up, and sometimes come across to their clients as uninformed. The time and cost of compliance with regulations results in some contractors not complying in order to minimize costs and move their projects ahead. Contractors who fully comply can face delays and added costs that are avoided by others. There is no systematic approach to getting and using industry input and keeping the industry up to date on developments and changes. When regulations are often not effectively communicated, consistently applied, or enforced, work is driven to the underground economy to the detriment of consumers, the industry, and society as a whole.

There are few markers to differentiate professional contractors from low-quality, low-cost companies whose work and behaviour reflects poorly on the entire industry, and makes the sale of quality projects and installations difficult. Rebate and incentive programs have typically equally incentivized poor and high- quality installations and may, in some cases, have unintentionally increased the number of inferior quality installations. It is difficult for consumers to find and select quality contractors to do home performance work with the result that contractor selection is often primarily based on price, not value.

Whole home residential renovations with a focus on energy reduction, comfort, and safety are relatively new to the market. Many manufacturers, suppliers, and installers don't understand what home performance is or the value that it can provide. There are many organizations that supply information, training, and resources; however, there is no BC or Canadian authority or industry organization for home performance in residential renovation.

Quality people who see a career in residential renovation are hard to find. The rise of groups not traditionally involved in trades work in BC is a changing dynamic within the industry, and the ability to reach, communicate, train, and certify this growing segment requires planning and strategy. Employers may also be reluctant to invest in training as there is little value ascribed to professional credentials, and some are concerned that well-trained employees may leave and join competitors or start their own businesses.