• The consumer demand for home performance upgrades is low and inconsistent.

• Consumers don't fully understand what is required for a quality job and don't appreciate the value of improving home performance. Consumers often make their decisions around cosmetic or functional upgrades, with little thought to improving energy efficiency, envelope upgrades, or building science issues. Educating them regarding efficiency options, needed performance improvements, the need to comply with regulations, potential for hazardous materials, and basic building science at this point is extremely challenging.

• It is difficult for consumers to find and select quality contractors to do home performance work. There is no industry organization representing home performance contractors.

• Contractors are unaware of the benefits and/or do not promote them to homeowners. The current approach to residential energy use reduction is based on individual measures, not a whole home approach, which results in surface level energy savings.

• Too often consumers select a contractor based on low cost rather than value and quality. Consumers face conflicts between their wants, needs, and available budget. Many do not understand that cost-effective home performance upgrades can actually improve the affordability due to lower operating costs.

• Utilities and Governments, including local governments, have targets for energy efficiency and GHG reduction. However, the organizations are governed differently and have different accountabilities.