Why Solar Professionals Should Care About Building Performance & Where to Start

Brian Hayden of HeatSpring sat down with Nancy Kaplan, Director of Workforce Development at the Building Performance Institute (BPI), at the 2026 NABCEP Conference in Milwaukee to talk about the intersection of solar and home performance. The conversation covered why it matters, how to get started, and which credentials are worth exploring.

Key Points

• A home’s energy efficiency directly affects how well a solar installation performs
• BPI’s Building Science Principles is the recommended first step for solar professionals new to building performance
• BPI offers a tiered credential pathway that lets you grow your skill set at your own pace
• Adding building performance services can become a secondary revenue stream for solar companies

The Solar-Building Performance Connection

Most residential solar professionals are focused on what goes on the roof, but what’s happening inside the walls matters too. It’s a knowledge and service gap worth closing.

That’s exactly what HeatSpring’s Brian Hayden and BPI’s Nancy Kaplan sat down to talk about.

BPI has been a leading credentialing body for home performance and energy auditing professionals for decades. Their work focuses on the retrofit construction side of buildings: insulation levels, airflow, carbon monoxide concerns, and making sure a home is running as efficiently as possible. At first glance, it might seem like a different world from solar, but it turns out, there is quite a bit of overlap. Solar professionals who understand it are better positioned to serve their customers and grow their businesses.

Why Solar Professionals Need to Know About Building Performance

Before a solar system can do its best work, the home it’s powering needs to be ready. Nancy explains why that preparation matters and what it means for solar installers and companies.

The First Step for Solar Companies Looking to Learn Building Performance

Where do you start? Nancy’s recommendation is to begin with BPI’s Building Science Principles. It’s a practical, accessible foundation for solar professionals who are curious about home performance, whether you want to add it as a service or simply understand how it connects to the work you’re already doing.

Building Science Principles is intentionally accessible. You do not need a background in HVAC or construction to work through it. For solar professionals, it fills in the vocabulary and conceptual framework that makes the rest of the BPI credential pathway much easier to navigate.

HeatSpring offers prep and training resources for the BPI Building Science Principles Certification. You can learn more here. 

Other BPI Credentials Worth Exploring

Building Science Principles is just the starting point. Nancy walks through the broader BPI credential pathway and which credentials make the most sense for solar professionals looking to grow.

Here is a quick overview of the BPI credential pathway Nancy describes:

BPI Building Science Principles – The foundational starting point. Covers terminology, how building systems interact, and core concepts of home performance.

BPI Certificates – Topic-specific credentials you can add based on your market and services. Some options include Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump Assessor (ccASHP) and Healthy Housing Principles (HHP).

BPI Building Analyst Technician – The first hands-on credential in the BPI pathway. Includes blower door testing, measurement interpretation, and practical field skills.

BPI Building Analyst Professional – The advanced tier for professionals who want to conduct comprehensive energy audits and provide full building performance assessments.

The tiered structure means you can move at your own pace and build credentials that make sense for your business.

Who Should Consider Adding Building Performance to Their Solar Business?

Not every solar company needs to go deep on building performance, but if you are regularly working in residential retrofit or looking for ways to differentiate your business, the BPI pathway is worth exploring. For many solar professionals, it is less a pivot than an add-on: a way to offer homeowners a more complete solution and create an additional revenue stream alongside the core solar business. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a construction or HVAC background to pursue BPI credentials?

No. BPI’s Building Science Principles is specifically designed to be accessible to people who are new to the field. It is a common starting point for solar professionals, real estate professionals, and others coming from adjacent industries.

Is there demand for building performance services in the solar market?

Yes and it is growing. As more homeowners move toward whole-home electrification, the overlap between solar, HVAC, insulation, and energy efficiency is increasing. Solar companies that understand building performance are better equipped to handle that complexity and to serve customers who want a single trusted advisor for their energy upgrades.

Can I take BPI prep courses online?

Yes. HeatSpring offers online, self-paced preparation for BPI credentials, so you can work through the material without leaving the field. You can learn more here.