The High Performance Edge Podcast

What does high performance look like in solar? Sun Light & Power has been working out that answer since 1976, evolving from solar thermal to PV to storage, with each shift driven by a commitment to complete, well-designed energy solutions.In this episode of The High Performance Edge, Peter Troast sits down with Chris Mink, Sales & Marketing Manager at Sun Light & Power, to talk about what it takes to build a solar company designed to last. With California's latest changes to net metering and the federal solar tax credit gone, that resilience is being tested. They discuss the financing innovations keeping residential solar moving, including SLP's recent addition of PPAs, how the residential customer mindset is evolving, and what being an ESOP means to a business when conditions get tough.Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn Sun Light & Power NHPC Registration

The National Home Performance Conference is the largest gathering of building science professionals and high performance contractors in the country.In this episode of The High Performance Edge, host Peter Troast shares a preview of this year’s event, which will be held April 13-16 in Columbus, Ohio. Peter has helped lead the development of the conference's business track sessions for the last several years.You’ll hear directly from a dozen of this year’s presenters, across many of the conference's diverse tracks, about the sessions they’ll be delivering and what makes the conference such a valuable event for the industry. Topics include contractor marketing, humidity control, HVAC design calculations, healthy homes, dense-pack wall insulation, AI tools, contractor sales strategies, and more.There's still time to register and attend NHPC '26! Listen to the episode for a special discount code on registration fees. Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedInNHPC Registration Discount Code: nhpc-ecNikki Krueger, AprilAire & Santa-Fe Dehumidifiers Denny Duchene, Snug Home Chris Hughes, The Energy ConservatoryClint Shireman, KnaufKen Allison, IDI Distributors Kevin Kennedy, Environmental Health Scientist Dan Perunko, Balance Point Home Performance Dr. Allison Bailes, Energy Vanguard Jeremy Begley, HVAC 2 Home Performance Furman Haynes, WorkHero Hal Smith, Halco

Most high-performance contractors know measureQuick as a commissioning and diagnostic tool. But its impact goes far beyond reducing callbacks.In this episode of The High Performance Edge, Peter Troast sits down with Joe Medosch, measureQuick’s Client Success Manager, to explore how the platform is also a powerful homeowner communication and differentiation tool.They discuss how the measureQuick Vitals Report translates technical rigor into clear, homeowner-friendly scores and metrics that build trust and make quality visible. The conversation also covers how leading contractors use measureQuick to stand apart from commodity competitors, support ACCA QI certification, and reinforce company-wide standards by streaming diagnostics back to the office.If high performance depends on data, this episode shows how to turn that data into something homeowners understand and value.Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle websiteEnergy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedInJoe Medosch, Director of Training at measureQuick LinkedInmeasureQuick

For years, Energy Circle and Amply have talked with high-performance contractors who do exceptional work but struggle to clearly communicate that value through their websites.In this special co-hosted episode of The High Performance Edge and The Heat Pump Podcast, Energy Circle founder and CEO Peter Troast joins Amply co-founder Ed Smith to walk through a new contractor website prototype they collaboratively built to address the problem.This free learning tool shows it’s possible to translate complex building science and high-performance processes into language homeowners understand and value, and to do so in a way that drives action. Peter and Ed break down the site page by page, explaining how its messaging, structure, and functionality work together to differentiate high-performance work, build trust, and turn expertise into qualified leadsIf you’re a high-performance contractor, this prototype and podcast conversation is both an invaluable resource and a practical opportunity to rethink how your site communicates value, attracts the right clients, and supports real business growth.Episode Links:Watch on YouTubeListen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyEnergy Circle websiteEnergy Circle LinkedInPeter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedInEd Smith, Amply Co-founder and Co-CEO LinkedIn Amply Website Amply & Energy Circle Demo Site

For years, some have argued that ultra high-performance contracting only works as a small, boutique model. Keith O’Hara and Eco Performance Builders prove otherwise.In this episode, Energy Circle CEO and founder Peter Troast talks with Keith about how he built a nearly $9 million high-performance contracting business by focusing exclusively on comprehensive projects, combining envelope upgrades, ductwork, and heat pumps into a single, performance-driven scope of work. Keith explains why measurable results matter and how an obsession with quality fueled word-of-mouth growth. He also details what sets his operations apart: rigorous SOPs, ambitious performance targets, internal training, career ladders for technicians, and the role peer groups played in benchmarking and accelerating his growth.If you believe high performance should lead to stronger homes and a stronger business, this episode offers a clear, real-world blueprint.Episode Links: Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle Website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn Keith O'Hara LinkedInEco Performance BuildersForum on Measured Home Performance

If there’s proof that treating the house as a system isn’t just good building science, but a powerful business strategy, Halco Home Solutions is it.In this episode, Energy Circle founder and CEO Peter Troast sits down with Hal Smith, founder of Halco, one of the largest and most successful true high-performance contracting companies in the country. Over four decades, Halco has grown from a traditional HVAC company into a full whole-home organization offering HVAC and heat pumps, insulation and air sealing, solar and electric, plumbing, basement waterproofing, indoor air quality, and much more.Hal shares the candid story behind that evolution: why he moved beyond equipment-first thinking, how diagnostics became central to sales and trust, what it really takes to add services sustainably, and why “customers for life” has guided every major decision. The conversation also explores maintenance agreements, compensation, new diagnostic tools, and how Halco has remained independent, and values-driven, in an increasingly private-equity-dominated market.This episode is packed with practical insight for contractors at any stage who believe high performance should lead to stronger homes and stronger businesses.Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTube Energy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedInHalco

Adding HVAC can feel like the natural next step for a building-envelope-first business, but knowing when to make the move, how to do it well, and what pitfalls to avoid is anything but simple.In this contractor roundtable episode, host Peter Troast is joined by Matt Hargrove of Total Home Performance (Maryland) and Kevin Brenner of Healthy Home Energy (New York), two high-performance contractors who spent years focused on audits, insulation, and crawl spaces before bringing heat pumps and HVAC services in-house.They speak candidly about what finally pushed HVAC from “someday” to “now,” the realities of subcontractors versus in-house crews, the challenges of hiring from the traditional HVAC world, and what happens when high-performance standards collide with a commodity heat pump market. The conversation also digs into training, culture, compensation, commissioning standards, service agreements, and why patience (and humility) matter more than most contractors expect. Episode Links: Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle websiteEnergy Circle LinkedInPeter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedInMatt HargroveTotal Home PerformanceKevin BrennerHealthy Home Energy & Consulting

We’re back for an annual end-of-year tradition! For our last podcast episode of the year, join host Peter Troast, CEO and founder of Energy Circle, as he looks back at 2025 and ahead to 2026. He’ll discuss what the Energy Circle team is thinking about to help high performance contractors stand out in their markets and grow their businesses in the coming year, including:The economic landscape for home servicesHomeowner sentiment about home improvementsHow AI is changing the way homeowners find contractors (and the way contractors run their businesses)The state-of-the-state for incentivesGetting customers to recognize the difference between high performance contractors and everyone elseEpisode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle websiteEnergy Circle LinkedInPeter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn

This episode of The High Performance Edge honors the memory of Dan Wildenhaus, a longtime trainer, former contractor, and one of the most gifted educators in the high performance world. Dan had an extraordinary gift for making complex building science feel clear, practical, and doable, especially for contractors and techs newer to the idea of the high performance approach. His energy, humor, and generosity left a mark on everyone who learned from him.Before his unexpected recent passing, Energy Circle CEO and Founder Peter Troast recorded a webinar with Dan on new tools for specifying and sizing heat pumps. This tribute features select clips from that session, along with additional audio shared by close friends. Our thanks to Joe Medosch for helping us assemble this episode.We share this in appreciation of Dan’s clarity, his passion for doing things the right way, and his lasting impact on our industry.Episode Links: Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Spotify Watch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder, LinkedIn

For many heat pump contractors, the biggest question is how to consistently win jobs without racing to the bottom on price. The answer is building a business that stands out for the right reasons and is set up for long-term success.For the fifth episode of the High Performance Edge,we are sharing a conversation Energy Circle CEO Peter Troast and Amply co-founder Ed Smith had about what truly separates sustainable, trusted heat pump businesses from the pack. Ed explains Amply’s unique framework for understanding contractor business models and why many companies find themselves stuck in the middle, trying to be everything to everyone.You’ll learn what defines the most successful heat pump contractors today, as well as concrete steps any contractor can take to get out of the middle and grow a stronger, more resilient business.Episode Links:Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeAmply Energy websiteEd Smith, Amply Energy co-founder LinkedInEnergy Circle websiteEnergy Circle LinkedInPeter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedInAmply Blog: Stop Competing on Price, Start Winning on Trust: The Heat Pump Business Model Matrix

What happens when one of the solar industry’s most important incentives disappears? In this episode of The High Performance Edge Podcast, Energy Circle CEO Peter Troast is joined by Abby Yolda, Director of Solar and Digital Marketing Strategy at Energy Circle, to unpack how solar companies are preparing for a world without the federal tax credit. They discuss what this policy shift means for contractors, how messaging and positioning will need to evolve, and what opportunities still exist as the industry adapts to a new normal.Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn

Private equity ownership is changing the game for service contractors nationwide. Bigger players bring more marketing dollars, but that doesn’t mean they tell a better story. In this episode, Energy Circle CEO Peter Troast explores how local, independent contractors are differentiating themselves in an increasingly corporate landscape. From emphasizing community ties and accountability to highlighting authentic, personalized service, you’ll hear real examples of how small companies are turning their local identity into a competitive edge.Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn

Even the best home performance solutions can fall flat if your customers are hesitant, overwhelmed, or skeptical. The biggest obstacle to closing the deal? Fear—of high costs, confusing processes, or making the wrong decision.On the inaugural episode of The High Performance Edge Podcast, Energy Circle CEO Peter Troast and special guest Denny Duchene of Safe Haven for a practical look at the mental roadblocks that prevent homeowners from moving forward. They’ll discuss a simple, proven framework for spotting client anxieties early and shaping your messaging to build trust, lower resistance, and close more jobs.Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a $10 billion market—but most homeowners aren’t even thinking about it when they call a contractor. That’s a missed opportunity. In this episode of The High Performance Edge Podcast, Energy Circle CEO Peter Troast talks with Brynn Cooksey, owner of Air Doctors and HVAC U, about how his team makes IAQ a natural part of every home visit. Brynn shares his “Test In, Fix, Test Out” approach, the tools they rely on, and the ways they position filtration and ventilation as essential to real home comfort. Learn how focusing on IAQ can deepen customer trust and turn routine leads into high-value jobs.Episode Links: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTubeEnergy Circle website Energy Circle LinkedIn Peter Troast, Energy Circle CEO and Founder LinkedIn Brynn Cooksey, LinkedIn Air Doctors website