Finding His Fuel: The Conference That Sparked a Clean Energy Division

Just two years ago, the Building Performance Association (BPA)’s regional conference changed John Lopez’s life.

At the time, Lopez was working as an energy auditor, stuck in a role that felt smaller than his ambition. He believed deeply in the mission—helping homeowners access funding, improve comfort, reduce energy use—but belief alone wasn’t enough. Every attempt to grow the program, test new ideas, or simply do more audits was met with resistance.

“I just wanted to do the work,” he recalls. “I wanted to give people a chance to qualify, to get access to the funding that’s there for them. But I kept hearing, ‘No.’”

The frustration built quickly. Lopez had previously completed 500 audits in a single year in the private sector. In his role at the not-for-profit company, he was capped at around 40 annually. Resources were available, but unused. His ideas were consistently shut down.

So he made a change.

Lopez began exploring new opportunities and eventually connected with Luzon Environmental Services. Founded by Harold Halprin in 1975, originally as Luzon Oil Company, the business started by reprocessing waste oil so that it could be used as a viable heating fuel. In the early ‘90s, due to evolving nature of the company’s business, Luzon Oil Company began doing business as Luzon Environmental Services.

The 50-year-old company rooted in traditional fuel services, selling tanks and supplying gas stations, wasn’t an obvious fit for someone passionate about home performance. But Lopez saw potential.

“The only way I’ll come on board,” he told now-owner Robert Halprin, “is if I can build something…if I can bring ideas.” Halprin agreed. What followed is the kind of pivot that’s becoming increasingly relevant across New York: transforming legacy businesses into players in the clean energy transition.

Lopez started by assessing what the company already had—equipment, crews, infrastructure—and then asked a simple question: What if we added energy auditing? Within five months, he had built the foundation of a new division.

From Oil Tanks to Heat Pumps

Leveraging New York State incentives and programs, Lopez connected Luzon Environmental Services with heat pump contractors who needed oil tank removals to complete their installations. That one move created immediate demand and steady work. Then he expanded again.

He aligned with additional contractors, tapped into available rebates, and began generating revenue streams that hadn’t existed before. At first, even basic equipment was out of reach. So Lopez got creative, securing tools through vendor relationships and setting up accounts to get what the team needed. But he didn’t stop at partnerships. He knew the long-term play was building internal capability, so he recruited from within.

Enter the Building Performance Institute (BPI)’s Building Science Principles (BSP) Certificate of Knowledge. Eight existing Luzon Environmental Services employees signed up for BSP training. And all 8 passed.

Shortly after, the first team member completed Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) Certification. And just like that, the company was performing energy audits and developing a pipeline of skilled professionals.

Building a Team and a Mission

What started as a one-person push became a growing operation. Lopez began training others, bringing in funding, and laying the groundwork for team members to advance even further.

“Our goal is bigger than just us,” he says. “We want to create opportunity for people to grow, to build careers, even to start their own companies.”

That mindset has already paid off. Lopez recently stepped into a new role, Vice President of Business Development, where he’ll continue to lead and expand the division he built. “This company may have started in oil but they believe in a transition,” says Lopez.

While he’s rightfully proud of where his work has gotten him, it isn’t the new title he was after. “I was miserable before,” he says. “Not because I didn’t believe in the work, but because I couldn’t do it the way I knew it needed to be done.” Now, he can.

Why This Matters for Contractors Right Now

Lopez’s story reflects a broader shift happening across New York. Oil-based companies are diversifying. Demand for audits, electrification, and insulation is accelerating. State-based programs exist, but they require people who know how to navigate them. And, like the rest of the country, trained, certified, and skilled professionals are in short supply.

And, perhaps most importantly, there is still enormous, untapped potential. “I want to insulate the entire state,” Lopez says. “That might sound big, but it’s achievable if we build the right teams.”

He’s focused not just on growth, but on doing the work right. Lopez wants to use public funding responsibly, deliver measurable results, and maintain integrity in a space where shortcuts can be tempting.

“There are people out there cutting corners,” he says. “That will never be me.”

The Conference That Sparked Success

Lopez traces much of this success back to one key moment: attending BPA’s Clean Energy for Homes Conference in Saratoga Springs in 2024. That’s where he connected with industry leaders, learned how to access resources, and saw what was possible beyond his current role.

“It opened the door,” he says. “It showed me a path.” For contractors in the area, that path is still wide open.

Today, Lopez isn’t slowing down. He’s looking beyond New York toward neighboring states and expanded services. His model is working and his mindset is simple: “This work has to happen. So, why not us?”

If you’re a contractor who’s felt stuck, had ideas that never got traction, or if you know there’s more opportunity but don’t know how to get there yet, this is your moment. Because sometimes, the difference between frustration and momentum is just one room, one conversation, one conference.

And two years from now, your story could be the one inspiring someone else.

Register for the 2026 Clean Energy for Homes Conference & Trade Show taking place May 28-29, 2026 in Saratoga Springs, NY here.