Heating Up

Making Time

2011-07-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

I think it's safe to say that most working professionals, whether it be in the HVACR industry or nearly any other trade/craft, are strapped for time. In this day and age, if you're a full-time employee, the odds are high that a 40-hour work week is something often dreamed of, but rarely (if at all) realized. I'm sure more than a few feel blessed to be busy. Indeed, one of the comments I heard from the auditor charged with reviewing our readership and Publisher's Statement for the RSES Journal half-joked with me this morning during a phone call that "in this economy, juggling a lot of responsibilities is a good thing right?"

I have to say though, that in regard to that statement, I agree - but also disagree. That's because while being busy certainly is a good thing, being TOO busy is not. It affords opportunities for things to slip through the cracks or miss chances to capitalize on a project, program or idea. I've been able to catch up with several industry colleagues because I finally started utilizing my Twitter account - something I haven't done in several months. And I can't tell you how many times I scold myself at night for not updating this blog sooner.

So what can we do to try and stem the tide of heavier workloads, longer hours and more time on the job - especially for those who are out on rooftops or overheated office spaces trying to work on equipment during these warm summer months? I don't purport to have all of the answers, but I have a few ideas that have worked for me, and thought I'd share them with you:

Make a prioritized list at the start of each day, naming five projects, jobs, meetings, calls - whatever - that you have to get accomplished that day. It's amazing how often I've gotten to 5 p.m. (or later) and said to myself "How did I forget to get THAT done today!"

Set boundaries. By this I mean give yourself limits on how many phone calls, e-mails, texts you're going to take each hour. In this era of constant contact and information overload, it's easy to become overwhelmed just trying to keep up with what everyone is telling you. Again, this must be done with a grain of salt - if your supervisor is calling you right after you've put on all of your PPE for a job, you may still want to take that call. Still, having that mental wall can help you focus on projects and allow you to complete the tasks you need to get done.

Know your limits. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has put many out of work - and put many more under the strain of needing to do more with less. Everyone wants to take pride in their work and do the best they can (at least one would hope so), but we also each have a breaking point. Crossing that threshold will not benefit you, your company or your customer. If you're getting to that point on a regular basis, you need to schedule a time to talk to your supervisor or colleagues and figure out a way to better accomplish the tasks at hand. If you don't, you run the risk of potentially causing a risk of injury to yourself or a coworker, putting a customer in harm's way, or potentially driving that customer to seek another service provider if the work done is poor or inconsistent.

Make time to recover. All of us need SOME time for ourselves. That "downtime" is what allows you to recharge your batteries, refocus and enjoy exactly why you do what you do. The adage of "work to live, not live to work," is one that I think is an excellent way to look at this point. Granted, for some of us, "loving what you do means not working a day in your life" is also a moniker we live by. But it's critical to make time for yourself, family and friends. Failing to do so will eventually lead to resentment of the job and increased pressure on the time you do have available.

I say this because while I have a very full workload covering an industry I've gotten to enjoy and respect a great deal, I'm beyond excited to be the best man in a friend's wedding taking place this weekend. Living life to the fullest means working hard and being proud of the results. But it also means living a little too.

Regulation - With Moderation?

2011-06-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, there has been a marked increase in the amount of regulatory involvement by state and federal agencies as it relates to the HVACR industry. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. Certainly too much regulation can hamper productivity and potentially thwart business growth - but in our trade, one of the long-standing knocks has been the LACK of equality in terms of regulation. By that, I mean that the lack of national standards or guidelines has resulted in a pathwork quilt of regulations that varies from state to state - and in some states, from county to county or even city to city. And that's something that in the long-term, could seriously stunt and hamper the growth of our industry.

There is no question that the current administration is looking for more ways to promote energy-efficiency and create "green" jobs concurrently. With heating/cooling systems serving as the single largest user of energy in our homes and businesses, the focus over the past few years has been to push initiatives that will makes this equipment more efficient. It also explains why initiatives such as the $1,500 Energy Star tax break and other incentives have been cornerstones of these programs. There certainly is some correlation to the fact that homeowners can receive a rebate good for 30% of the total cost - with no upper limit - on the installation of a geothermal heat pump and the significant growth that sector is seeing right now. And the new Energy Star requirements for furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners certainly will present new opportunities - and potential headaches - for HVACR contractors and technicians in North America.

But at the end of the day, the training and education that HVACR professionals receive will dictate just HOW efficient these systems are. As more than one OEM executive has shared with me, "we can design equipment to be 20-SEER-plus efficient...but if the installer doesn't put the equipment in properly, or if the ductwork isn't properly installed, that efficiency is never going to be realized."

That brings me to my point. Too much regulation is harmful, and can decimate an industry (just ask railroad executives who were around in the 1970s how good things were for them then before deregulation under the Staggers Rail Act helped them level the playing the field with trucks driving over federally subsidized highways). But not enough regulation can open the door to inefficiency, poor workmanship, disgruntled customers and put a black eye on an entire trade.

In March, the Iowa Department of Public Health's Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board announced that it found RSES' Certificate Member Specialist (CMS) and Certificate Member (CM) designations acceptable for satisfying the state's educational training requirement to obtain its Service Technician HVAC Specialty License. Certainly from RSES' perspective, it's exciting to see a state body value the training and education needed to pass a CMS or CM exam, and allow it to serve as a means of qualifying licenses for HVACR professionals.

But my question is, why does Iowa require this degree of education and training, but if you live across the Mississippi River in Illinois, all an individual must do is pass an EPA 608 test to handle refrigerant - and that person is now somehow qualified to work on any piece of HVACR equipment in the state? THAT is the larger issue that regulation must look to address. RSES is working closely with partners such as NATE, HARDI, ASHRAE, ACCA, PHCC, NEBB and other organizations to raise awareness to the fact that while equipment may be extremely efficient, it still takes well-trained people to install that equipment properly and allow it to operate in the manner in which it was designed.

Too much regulation has the same effect as a micromanaging boss - it makes us nervous, uncomfortable and unsure as to just how we are supposed to operate on our own. But too little regulation leaves much to be determined by individuals who may or may not be qualified to make decisions that can seriously impact the efficiency, air quality and even health of people everywhere. A little regulation, with a touch of moderation, might go a long way to having every state be a little more like Iowa.

The Runner and the HVACR Professional

2011-06-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

For the record, I'm a runner. I didn't always used to be. In fact, when I was playing football and basketball, I looked at running not as a sport, but as something to be loathed. Despised. Hated. It was punishment for us because we lost by a certain score, didn't beat someone out on a play, etc. I think there is a part of my feet that will forever be permanently worn into the floorboards of the old indoor track upstairs at Loyola University of Chicago's Alumni Gym (that place was a sweatbox in the summer...that's why we always ran and played unofficial pickup games there).

Between the heat and the running, it was brutal. It was miserable. It certainly kicked my behind on more than a few occasions. But as I look back in hindsight, it also made me better. And almost ironically, now I love to run in the heat. I am not a huge fan of going outside when it's 45 degrees here in Chicago and trying to put in 10 miles. But if it's 90 and climbing, get me out by the lake and let me see if I can do 15+.

So just what does this have to do with HVACR in any remote manner? Like my loathing for running, many professionals I've met and spoken with would prefer to pass on attending seminars, training courses or workshops. This is perhaps because a.) they aren't working, and if their company isn't paying them while they train, it's valuable free time (which many of us don't have much of to begin with) they have to surrender; or b.) they would rather spend that time in the field staying on top of service calls and not getting behind. This is ESPECIALLY true during the busy summer months.

But when I was putting together an article on training and testing for the June 2011 RSES Journal, I took note of an interesting comment I heard from an HVACR professional who also serves as an instructor at a community college in southeastern Virginia. He noted that the HVACR industry was constantly changing, and "how can we ask our customers and students to never stop training if we are not willing to do so?"

As an example, tomorrow (June 4) RSES and its Central New York Chapter are teaming with Danfoss to put on a Natural Refrigerants Seminar. The program, which will have a focus on carbon dioxide, has attracted registrants from Missouri to Arkansas, and all points in between. We are hearing more and more about companies and industries exploring expanded use of C02, butane, ammonia, and other "natural" refrigerants. While these materials have always been used in the heat-transfer cycle, it appears the onus to put them into more widespread use is growing. And though it is true that these refrigerants must be handled very carefully (not that others shouldn't, but the toxicity/flammability issues with these are tremendous), they certainly aren't going away.

That hasn't been lost on the attendees going to tomorrow's seminar. It certainly hasn't been lost on the individuals that have been coming to training seminars held at RSES Headquarters in Des Plaines, IL (as well as at other locations around the country); and other organizations such as Emerson, Honeywell and Carrier have seen full-room turnouts at educational sessions they've held. What does this mean? It means that despite all the pain and suffering, industry professionals recognize the benefits of training. It makes them more employable. It makes their jobs easier. It makes them better. And it has them coming back time and time again.

The motto of "practice makes perfect" is true in many areas of life, from training for a marathon to preparing for a marathon day of service calls in 100-degree heat. But knowing that the training and continuing education helps make those calls a little shorter or a little easier is exactly why it is imperative HVACR service professionals never stop learning. And if you see that guy running by the side of the road waving at your service truck, feel free to wave back. I'll be glad to get home and step inside a cool room after I feel and enjoy the heat during that run.

OSHA, GHS and HVACR - How The Acronyms May Affect You

2011-05-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

Last week, OSHA Administrator Dr. David Michaels announced during an address to the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo that the regulatory body will issue the globally harmonized system for classification and labeling of chemicals (GHS) in August 2011. For those of you wondering just what the GHS is, you are not alone. Many individuals in the HVACR trade who don't deal with international shipments, etc., may ask why there needs to be any change to the current material safety data sheets that everyone has gotten so familiar with.

Unfortunately, the current OSHA hazard communication standard used in the United States is not consistent internationally. This can be incredibly burdensome for folks involved in international trade. The goal is to have a set of standards that are universally recognized and easy to use. Numerous countries, including the European Union, have already adopted the GHS, with varying implementation schedules. Here in the U.S., OSHA has been exploring this possibility since 2006, and has had various periods of comments, discussion and other meetings to determine the proper course of action. For more on OSHA's take as to why this should be implemented, click here.

This will impact those in the HVACR trade in a variety of ways. Under the new rule, employers will need to learn the new chemical classification criteria, replace chemical labels, use new Safety Data Sheets (SDS) instead of existing MSDSs, and train all employees in the new hazard communication system as it relates to the various chemicals, refrigerants and other products used in the industry. HCS also requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import. The rule also requires they prepare labels and MSDSs in an MSDS management system to convey any hazards and associated protective measures to downstream customers, a.k.a., users of the chemicals - in the case of our trade, HVACR service technicians, contractors, and facilities and maintenance managers.

In addition, all employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have a hazard communication program, including:

Labels on containers;
Information and training on changes between MSDSs and SDSs; and
Training for employees.

This means that HVACR service contractors storing refrigerants and other chemicals will have to relabel their canisters and other related containers, etc. They also will be required to educate all employees about those materials, what they contain, etc., or possibly subject to rulings for OSHA violations. Make sure to stay on top of these developments, and contact your local OSHA office to make sure your facility is in compliance.

Why HVACR Pros Need a "Social Network"

2011-04-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

In my last blog (which I readily admit was posted far too long ago), I discussed social media and why sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are becoming increasingly important to today's HVACR professionals. The ability to network with others in your profession electronically offers tremendous opportunities if done properly, not only giving you access to more information and knowledge, but potentially introducing you to new job options or facets of the trade you are unfamiliar with.

But building these networks electronically also benefits you in another way - it can make it that much easier to develop a personal relationship if/when you happen to meet your peers at an industry conference, seminar, trade show, RSES Chapter meeting, or even your local watering hole. I know first-hand that benefit - when I first joined RSES as the then Editor-in-Chief of RSES Journal, I had little background in the HVACR trade. And while I had worked on numerous trade publications involved in industrial applications, this industry was very new to me.

But in establishing relationships with people on LinkedIn, Zoom and other social sites, I rapidly became exposed to the knowledge of those who do HVACR everyday. Even more importantly, as I "met" them online, I also got to find out where they would be at industry events. That allowed me to also meet them in person, and when I did, a solid rapport had already been established.

Those types of relationships have been invaluable. For me personally, they have helped me better understand our industry, where it is headed, the technologies being developed to improve it, and the need for improved training and education to help those involved in it. Professionally, it has allowed me to meet some tremendous indviduals who I can call on for advice, information and even to author a feature (this was recently the case when I called on a friend and industry colleague to author a feature for us on mechanical subcooling in an upcoming issue. Keep your eyes peeled for the July issue of RSES Journal for this interesting article).

Your social network can encompass a wide range of professionals in your craft and friends. Hopefully, like me, you'll find that those individuals are often one and the same.

Are You Connected?

2011-03-30T14:31:00.001-07:00

It seems as though everyone and everything is talking about how "Social Media" is revolutionizing the business world. From news articles to consultants and "gurus," it seems as though everyone on the planet is talking about how this new electronic method of constant contact can create revenue streams that would make John Rockefeller envious. But just HOW does social media equate into profitability for today's business owner. For an HVACR contractor seeking more customers or a service technician looking to improve his standing within his organization, do Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter really offer enough of an upside to explore the possibilities?

The answer, in no uncertain terms, is yes. The key is understanding how these platforms work, how they can benefit indviduals in the trade, and the importance of managing them once you have something started.

Facebook and Twitter offer the ability to constantly provide updates to "followers" on things your business is doing. That means that an HVACR contractor can promote specials, unique programs, or content that can add value to those followers with regular posts and updates. The key is to make those updates a.)relevant; b.)interesting; and c.)timely. Sending out a link to a site that can give homeowners information on how to lower air-conditioning bills in early November isn't going to garner a lot of interest if that business is in New England. But put out an update about how rising oil prices may impact indviduals purchasing fuel oil for their homes, and that same post in that same area carries a LOT of cache.

If you are a technician with a Facebook page, posting information about your job, links that are useful to other technicians, discussing smart phone apps, etc., are all great ways to both utilize social media and connect with other professionals in the field. LinkedIn can provide a useful platform to connect with other technicans in a wide variety of forums and service topic areas. It also gives you a viable option to place updated information about your experience, expertise and training.

Don't look at these portals as simply personal highlight pages or a way to pass the time between jobs. Turning them into interesting, professionaly focused windows to your HVACR world can make social media a truly profitable doorway.

Fighting Fear

2011-02-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

Having returned from the 2011 ASHRAE Annual Conference and AHR Expo in Las Vegas (and digging out from 2+ feet of snow upon my return to Chicago!), and taking a bit of time to reflect on this year's events, there is little doubt in my mind that the industry as a whole is much more optimistic than it was a year ago. Manufacturers are excited about what appears to be small but steady growth, suppliers are excited about renewed interest from both OEM's and distributors, and contractors and technicians finally seem to feel as though jobs are coming back their way.

But with all this optimism also comes some deeply rooted concerns. And chief among them is a topic that could slow any recovery in the HVACR marketplace to a crawl - refrigerant availability. Now it's logical to argue that this couldn't possibly be a reason for worry. But unfortunately, it's a very real possibility. Last year, in fact, there were several weeks when R-410A was in short supply. In fact, it was easier to get R-22 than it was R-410A. Other refrigerants also were difficult to acquire. And the reason is simple: the components necessary to make these refrigerant blends are becoming scarcer. Countries such as China that supply some of the raw materials used in refrigerant manufacturing are keeping increasing amounts for their own use. And there is no sign that that trend is going to change. Heightened tensions in places such as Egypt and the elsewhere in the Middle East certainly won't help bring the cost of those raw materials DOWN.

So what is the best way to fight this fear? In simple terms, BE EDUCATED. Talk to your refrigerant suppliers directly and honestly. Find out what they are hearing from others on the street, their counterparts in other areas of the country, etc. At this year's show, I had several frank discussions with folks from Airgas, DuPont and Arkema. I can assure you that these companies and their representatives want nothing more than to make sure the proper information is relayed to you, the working HVACR professional.

Fear doesn't help anyone. It erodes confidence, and sometimes causes individuals to make rash or improper decisions. It most certainly drives us to be more cautious, sometimes to our own detriment. I'm not saying that to fight that fear we all need to go out tomorrow and fly in the face of rationality by doing something outlandish or that could threaten your business (so no, don't go and buy 10 pallets of R-410A now). But striking a balance and fighting fear with proper information and education just might help make 2011 your best year yet. We're all hoping it is.

Regionalization, part deux

2011-01-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Well folks, it appears that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency is at it again. Presently, the EPA is receiving comments from throughout the industry regarding the EPA Energy Star Program Requirements Product Specification for Furnaces Eligibility Criteria 3.0: Draft 2.

In this draft numerous items are covered, including the proposal of regional standards for residential furnaces. Included in that draft is the proposal that ENERGY STAR qualification would be determined by intended distribution and sales. As part of that program, the EPA would divide the U.S. and Canada up into three regions (Canada; U.S. North; and U.S. South, respectively). According to the draft proposed, equipment sold in each of those regions would have to meet specific criteria for that region in order to receive the ENERGY STAR rating.

For example, under the current draft proposal, a gas furnace in the U.S. North region (Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming) would have to have an AFUE of ≥92%; AECR (kWh) is yet to be determined; and air leakage (Qleak) of 2%. Conversely, that same furnace in the U.S. South region (Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) would have to have an AFUE of ≥90% (the other specs would be the same). In Canada, the AFUE required would be ≥94%. Oil furnaces in both the U.S. and Canada would require an AFUE of ≥85%.

And if that wasn't confusing enough, the EPA draft also states that "to earn the ENERGY STAR, models offered in multiple configurations (i.e., upflow, downflow, horizontal, lowboy) shall meet the regional ENERGY STAR levels presented [as listed in the previous paragraph] for all configurations they are offered in. For example, if a model is intended to be sold in the U.S. North region and is offered in upflow, downflow, and horizontal configurations, then the model shall meet the U.S. North region ENERGY STAR levels as tested in all three configurations. Manufacturers cannot claim that a model meets ENERGY STAR U.S. North when installed in the downflow configuration only. Similarly, a model cannot be qualified across two different regions depending on configuration. For example, if sold in Canada all configurations shall meet the Canadian requirements [as listed in the previous paragraph] to bear the ENERGY STAR. Models may qualify for labeling in every region for which all offered configurations meet the requirements of that region. For instance, models qualified for labeling in Canada may also be labeled everywhere in the U.S."

Got that?

If you answered no, you're not the only one. And the production nightmare for manufacturers hasn't been lost on them. Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), the American Gas Association (AGA) and others have all submitted comments to the EPA stating that the idea of regional standards is a bad one. Jonathan Melchi, HARDI Manager of Government Affairs (and one of the contributors to RSES Journal's monthly Capitol Climate column), noted in his letter to the EPA's Abigail Daken: "If a consumer in Northern Kentucky purchased an ENERGY STAR qualifying furnace in Kentucky and subsequently moves five miles into Ohio and purchases the same product; are they to believe that same model somehow became less efficient in their new residence?"

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out over the next few months. The EPA originally hoped to have a standard in place by Sept. 1, 2011. Given the amount of feedback, and the fact that a whole new version of the draft was written up, that timetable seems unlikely. But one thing is for sure...more standards are on the way. Those in the industry need to pay attention, let their voices be heard when they can, and make sure those they elect understand their needs and concerns. After all, elections are only 22 months away...

Wishing Happy Holidays and an Even Better 2011 to Everyone

2010-12-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

In my last blog, I started talking about how social media - and the mechanisms by which that social media is delivered - are becoming more and more prevalent in the world of HVACR. I have gotten some interesting responses when I asked about how HVACR professionals were using those devices, apps and social media tools on LinkedIn, and my next entry is going to discuss that in a bit more detail (I was a bit surprised at what I heard back!).

But for now, I simply want to wish everyone out there a happy, safe and joyus holiday season. I'm Catholic, so I'll go ahead and say Merry Christmas, but no matter what religion you practice or tradition(s) you follow, I hope that you are able to enjoy the spirit of the season with friends and family. And that as we look forward toward 2011, we find it to be even better than the past 12 months have been. Until next year, all the best to you!

'Tis the season...to watch an ad on your phone?

2010-12-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

I am the first to admit that I've been less than regular in my blogging. Part of that stems from the fact that the end of the calendar year is the busiest time for advertisers to review budgets, build programs, etc. And for RSES, it's a time when we have our annual conference and the usual year-end rush to get projects finished that always seem to be "almost done."
In the vein of that advertising theme though, I want to discuss something with the HVACR community that you may or may not find interesting. In fact, for some of you, reading this blog might be as close as you get to the world of "social networking." But from magazines and online news feeds to blogs and e-mail blasts, everyone seems to keep talking about the push for "digital media advertising." That's right, just when you thought it was safe to use your smartphone to be more productive, those advertising geniuses are figuring out ways to get an ad literally in the palm of your hand.
In fact, most media experts and pundits predict that within the next five years, the amount of money that companies spend on traditional print media will be surpassed by what they drop in the digital world. And while that may seem to make perfect sense for those trying to reach teenagers shopping at a mall or the soccer mom out picking up groceries, it could prove problematic for the HVACR contractor or service professional.
Why you ask?
Simple...you use your phone to work. To get to the next site. To get information about a particular system, furnace, air handler, you name it. So now in addition to knowing how to use all of those cool apps that you've added to your iPhone that help you identify the proper refrigerant needed for a system changeout, you may have to figure out how to navigate through a myriad of ads designed to sell you everything from R-22 to WD-40.
Now I'm not saying that digital media and digital advertising is bad. FAR from it. In fact, online advertising and programs are a great way for HVACR OEMs, suppliers and organizations to distribute things such as white papers, industry standards, service updates and more. They can help deliver useful things like discounts on products at supply houses, or updates on training opportunities or webinars that a particular contractor may have an interest in. But the risk, as most of us know too well, is being OVERWHELMED by useless info - and therefore eliminating the benefits that good, quality USEFUL content can provide.
That means more than ever, end users (that would be you, my fellow HVACR professionals) need to be cognizant of just what types of applications they put on their so-called "smart" devices. Because adding too many of those "helpful" applications could well cause you to miss out on just what you need.
Stay tuned for more on this...I promise the next few blogs will continue to discuss this issue and share some ideas on how to manage that information. And that it won't take another month for you to read about it!

Raising Awareness (For Rebates, That Is)

2010-10-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

With the November 2 elections right around the corner, I first would like to encourage anyone out there who happens to be reading (or hopefully following) my blog to vote. It's the simplest, most basic right we have. It's a right that many have fought and died for. And it's a small thing that we can do as Americans that can have a huge impact on both our own individual futures, as well as the collective good of our nation.

Much has been written about the 25(C) tax credits that are about to expire at the end of this year. These credits certainly have been beneficial to the HVACR industry, and while we would always like to see more consumer confidence and commitment, no one can deny the fact that these rebates have helped our industry sell more products to homeowners and businesses. I encourage you to take a look at the Capitol Climate columns in the October and November RSES Journal, where HARDI vice president Talbot Gee discusses some of the issues swirling around in Washington, D.C. as it relates to this topic (HARDI's Wholesale Observations blog, authored by Gee, is also a great place to turn). The October RSES Journal Elements e-Newsletter also will offer some insight into this area.

But I also think its equally important that those out there in our industry stay on top of what is happening locally and regionally. For example, in Florida, the Florida ENERGYSTAR Residential HVAC Rebate Program is designed to drive homeowners to both replace antiquated, outdated equipment AND make sure the ductwork moving air throughout the home has minimal amounts of leakage.

This is a GREAT idea, and a program that I hope more states adopt. Why, you might ask? Well, because it requires the contractor servicing the home to make sure that instead of just slapping a new A/C unit on the pad outside and walking out the door, they make sure that the SYSTEM provides the level of efficiency the unit is capable of generating. This program, which runs from Aug. 30, 2010 until Dec. 31, 2010 (or until the $15 million in available funding is exhausted), has multiple requirements. These include:
• Purchasing a new central air conditioner, air-source heat pump or geothermal heat pump in Florida that meets the Federal Energy Tax Credits standards.
• Homeowners must also hire either a Florida Class 1 rater; a State of Florida-licensed mechanical contractor; or a recognized TAB agent to perform a duct test on their home to document that the home has no more than 15% leakage to the outside.

Finally, to apply for the rebate, the homeowner must have that duct system tested and verified; send a copy of the HVAC system price and payment receipt; a copy of the mechanical building permit, with the home address identified; a copy of the summary of the ACCA Manual J program used to properly size the HVAC system; and a copy of the air distribution system test report completed verifying no leakage above 15%.

It seems like a lot of work for $1,500. But then again, the contractor can sell that homeowner not only on the money they will get back now, but the fact that heating and cooling accounts for nearly 50% of the average home's energy use. If you can cut that in half, or even two-thirds, how much money is the homeowner saving in the long-term?

And that, sadly, brings me back to 25(C). We know that these tax incentives help drive business and are adding sales to our trade. But just as important - if not even more so - is the fact that by installing this kind of energy-efficient equipment, we're saving energy, keeping power in the grid and allowing ourselves the opportunity to build for the future. Isn't that what we put our elected officials in office to help us do in the first place?

Long-term Benefits From a Long-term Approach

2010-10-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

In a couple of days, the culmination of several months of hard work comes to a head for me when I run the 2010 Chicago Marathon. The race, conveniently enough, also happens to fall on my birthday. Which also happens to be 10.10.10 (yes, there are a lot of ironies all coming to a confluence here).

I've run numerous races, and more than a dozen half-marathons. But for whatever reason, I could never bring myself to sign up for a full 26.2 miles of running bliss (or hell, depending on how I feel when it's all said and done). Perhaps it was the sheer distance itself. As a former basketball player, running to me was punishment. You ran because you screwed up, not because you liked it. Or maybe it was the knowledge that I would have to put a lot of time and effort - commitment - into preparing to do it. But mostly, I think, it was that uncertainty bred contempt. I KNEW how to prepare and run for 13.1-mile races. I KNEW what I had to do to finish and feel like a human being the next day.

But given that this race was on my birthday, the fact that all the 10's came together and that running a marathon in something that's on my "bucket list," I signed up for it. Back in April. And the preparation began. I ran races in May and June, and no matter where my travels took me as I talked to folks in the HVACR industry, I'd find time to get a run in. Some of them were amazing. Some of them weren't quite so fun (they have a LOT of hills in Baltimore Maryland folks). But the goal was always the same - prepare for when 10.10.10 arrives.

So what does this rambling column REMOTELY have to do with you and the HVACR marketplace? It's simple. Are you doing things in your business, or servicing customers in a manner that follows the same pattern everyday? Have you set a goal for yourself to look at new options, like geothermal or solar solutions? Have you taken classes or looked into seminars on improving airflow to maximize system efficiency? How about integrating building automation or wireless devices into your customers' indoor-comfort solutions?

For years, the biggest hurdle I had to overcome wasn't the actual Marathon itself - it was the preparation and training that I had to embark on before the race that I was afraid of. In the world of HVACR, I've heard many techs and contractors say "I'd like to get more into (solar, geothermal, wind, add your own alternative energy option here), but I don't have the time to get familiar with some of the equipment." So rather than invest that time in something that they have uncertainty towards, they go with what they know. I'd like to personally challenge any of you reading this to jumpstart that thinking by looking at new options, technologies and choices. Don't be afraid of the education or time that you have to invest to understand these new comfort solutions. Because once you learn them, the actual jobs themselves (as we all know from our familiarity with current systems) become much easier.

All of these things are grabbing a bigger and bigger share of the HVACR marketplace. The November 2010 issue of the RSES Journal will feature an article on zoning, and also discuss how zoning and controls can maximize the efficiency of a geothermal installation. If you are a service technician, are you capable of installing or servicing such a system? Contractors...are you able to take on such a job if a homeowner or light-commercial building owner wanted to put this type of system in?

Looking long-term is something that we often talk about in our lives. How are we going to retire? How are we going to pay for our kids' college? How (unfortunately sometimes) are we going to be able to provide for our parents' care as they age? We have financial planners and bankers that all want to tell us how they can help us reach those goals. But when it comes to your career and those goals for advancement, the biggest planner is YOU. Take a minute to visit the RSES.org website and look at some of the upcoming seminars and conferences taking place. Visit NATE's website at www.natex.org and see where tests and programs are being offered. And talk to your local supply houses and suppliers to find out if there are industry-provided educational opportunities or training coming to your area.

The short-term option of coming home after a long day of work servicing customers and relaxing on the couch has a lot of appeal. Sometimes, it even is the necessary and right thing to do. But make sure you weigh that short-term thinking with some long-term planning. Take time to learn something new about the trade, get familiar with new technology, or get certified in a new area. The long-term benefits you'll receive will far outlast that hour of sleep you got on the couch after dinner. And it certainly beats blisters and shin splints.

Where Do We Go From Here??

2010-09-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

Growing up, like a lot of kids, I watched cartoons. And every Saturday morning, along with Johnny Qwest and Superman, I loved Bugs Bunny. There was something about him that was very endearing to me. And often, as we know all too well (especially when Elmer Fudd was around), he made the wrong turn at Albuquerque. Still, no matter what, he eventually found his way onto the right path, avoided becoming someone's rabbit stew, and life was fine.

In the world of HVACR, at least in the United States, we are standing at a "virtual" Albuquerque if you will. The tax credits that have enabled Americans to save $1,500 on more energy-efficient equipment are about to expire, and there is no word on whether those benefits will find their way into an extension before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. And if those credits go away, there is no telling what might happen to an industry that, while seeing some growth, certainly is not seeing sales gains that one would term as overwhelming.

Other tax credits and benefits remain, to be sure. The $1,500 geothermal tax credit is still in place through 2016, and there is much talk about other programs at state and even local levels that could help boost sales for contractors and industry professionals. But the reality is that many in our industry are just now beginning to see the profitability of specifying geothermal, solar and other alternative products as part of the customer's comfort solution. By and large, most still work in the world of packaged units and systems (and a growing number of ductless mini-splits, I might add).

So what does it mean when the clock strikes 12 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2011? No one, at this point, really seems to know. I was at the Comfortech 2010 HVACR conference/trade show the past two days, and the overwhelming word from those I spoke with was just that: "We don't know what is going to happen." That's a scary premise when the leaders of our industry have just as much of an idea about those tax incentives as those servicing equipment on the street do. But that doesn't mean we still can't do something about it.

HARDI has recently launched a new website, www.savehvacjobs.com, that is focused on helping HVACR professionals voice their opinions to elected officials about the need to retain these tax credits and continue to bolster a recovering - albeit slowly - economy and industry. Visitors can go to the site and grab a form letter or use one as the basis for their own; search and find the elected officials from their area, as well as those involved in committee's that have some involvement in the issue; and then send that letter to those that need to see it. I encourage all of you out there to get involved and voice your opinion on this issue to our elected officials. It's a simple, easy way to make your feelings know - and your voice heard. In all honesty, no task you do this year may be more important.

As I write this, I'm in Philadelphia getting ready to meet with some industry partners tomorrow. Driving in today, I saw the statue of William Penn, the signs to get to Independence Hall and huge ships from the U.S. Navy being repaired in the Navy Yards. All of these are visible signs of why we still live in the greatest nation on Earth. And we do so because we have the ability to elect our own officials, tell them what issues are important to us, and implore them to do what's best for us, our families and our communities. Take five minutes of your time to make a world of difference for your career, your friends' livelihoods and our industry.

Labor of Love

2010-09-09T14:40:00.001-07:00

Labor Day is always one of those bittersweet holidays for me. On the one hand, it's wonderful to get an extra day away from the office, spend time with friends and family, and hopefully enjoy an extra plate of chicken and red-skin potato salad. On the other hand, there is the part of me that has some angst over the fact that when I walk back in to work, I'll only have four days to get five (plus) days worth of work done. Isn't Labor Day supposed to be a celebration of the worker?

The unfortunate truth is that many folks out there in the working world DON'T like what they do. It's a paycheck. It's a job they took "short-term" and five or ten years later, they are still doing it. And in this turbulent economy, more than a few of my friends have commented to me that their "just happy to have a job and a paycheck right now." And all I can say when I hear that is "I'm sorry. That's really sad."

Don't get me wrong. There are times when I wake up and just wish I could hit the snooze button for, oh, another two DAYS. But on most days, the opportunity to learn and share new things, work with others to develop unique content and programs that help industry profesionals out there in the world of HVACR, and come up with creative ideas that help keep RSES out there as the leading training organization in our trade makes things interesting-and fun.

Look, no one dreams about climbing that 20-foot ladder for the 15th time on a 90-degree day to figure out why a rooftop unit keeps shutting off. And I'm sure that more than a few of you could tell me where to stick it after you share with me a story about working out on ventilator or heat pump when snow and sleet are coming down into your eyes from angles you never thought possible. But I'd also wager that you do enjoy seeing a mother of two thank you for figuring out how to safely and quickly get her furnace back on so that her kids are comfortable. Or feel the honesty behind the handshake of the local grocer who appreciates how you've been able to save him from losing $8,000 worth of merchandise because his compressor died.

When those things happen, it's not a laborious day at all. It's a day that all of us out here can thank HVACR service professionals for the hard work they put in from sunrise to sunset - and oftentimes, much later than that.

The Merits of Taking Time…and Pride

2010-08-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

As I write this, I am on a flight with my National Sales Manager to visit industry partners and RSES Journal/RSES Journal Elements advertisers around the Southeast U.S. As is usually the case when I head out, my travels took me through Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 1. For those who might be unaware, this terminal serves as United Airlines domestic hub at ORD (I know…it’s bad when I know airports by their designation letters), and since I generally receive pretty good service and timely arrivals when I fly with them, I try to use United when I can (note to HVACR contractors out there…good service and reasonable prices will earn you customer loyalty and repeat business).
It goes without saying then that I know the ins and outs of this terminal pretty well. And as I walked toward my gate with a few minutes to spare, I stopped next to a shoeshine stand in the B gate area. My father, who spent a career in foodservice sales/customer service, always tells me you can tell a great deal about a man by the way they shake your hand and the way their shoes look. It’s advice I heed everyday. So naturally, I wanted to get the shoes a clean bill of health before I spent three days on the road going in and out of offices from Atlanta to Charlotte.
I waited patiently as the attendant worked on a businessman’s boots, checking my Blackberry to make sure I wasn’t reading the time incorrectly or had the wrong gate for my flight. Then the attendant asked if I was in line for a shine (I would think that somewhat obvious, but I digress), and when I told him yes, he replied: “Well, after this guy, I’m going on break. I don’t know what to tell you.” He then put his head down and proceeded to continue doing an average-at-best job on Joe Public’s brown boots.
Slightly stunned and a little disheartened by both his matter-of-factness and unwillingness to even point me somewhere else, I turned around and started heading toward the underground walkway toward the C gates—where I also knew a shoeshine-box area was located. This move required me to double back and head out of my way considerably, something that was playing through my mind as I made the trek.
Still, when I arrived, there was an attendant standing there, and he quickly told me to grab a seat when I asked him if I could get a shine. He folded my slacks up several times away from my shoes and told me his name was “Junior.” I introduced myself, and then he proceeded to begin polishing my black loafers.
For the next 15 minutes, I sat there utterly amazed. He worked diligently and feverishly all at once, cleaning each seam and stitch until it seemed like the tops of my shoes were reflecting the sun. Most shines that I have gotten are no more than five minutes long, and when you’re done, you think you could have done better if you had the time to work on them. This time, however, this guy seemed to put everything into his work. It was almost as if they were his shoes he was polishing. My national sales director was texting me that our flight was starting to board—yet I couldn’t say a word and ask him to stop.
When he was done, I thanked him and he quickly said “My pleasure sir. That’ll be six bucks.” He didn’t try to hustle me, ask for anything extra or even make a comment about the work he had performed. So I gave him a twenty-dollar bill and asked him for change. As he handed me back the $14, I quickly pushed the ten-dollar note back in his hand. He looked at me somewhat perplexed, and I simply told him “I have a plane to catch, but I have to tell you that I get my shoes shined whenever I’m out on the road. And I’ve never seen someone take pride in their work like that.”
He smiled, nodded and replied: “Thank you very much John. I appreciate that a lot. It’s just too bad more people don’t put that effort in to what they do. It’s what I do…I should do it the best that I can every time.”
I personally can’t think of a truer statement than that. So the next time you’re on a service call, remember that the customer is the one counting on you to do the job right. To help them solve their problem. To be the person that they can count on. You’ve made a decision to make HVACR service, installation and troubleshooting your profession. That’s something you should be proud of every day. And like the ancient Chinese proverb sums up so simply and succinctly, “Work does not define a person. How one performs one’s work does.”

Socially Awkward...or Advantageous?

2010-08-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

The debate over the benefits of social media as it pertains to marketing have been well documented. Personally, at least on the consumer level, using sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to help drive traffic to your website or promote products/goods/services seems like a no-brainer to me. But when it comes to industries and trades such as HVACR, what type of relevancy does this media really have?
As it turns out, it may have a lot. Let's face it. People are on Facebook. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. And call me crazy, but I'm guessing that most of those people have a furnace, heat pump, air conditioner or mini-split. Last time I checked, corporate entities such as Whole Foods, Hyatt and the W Hotels all had pages that were offering potential customers tidbits, useful recipes/travel tips and discounts. So the opportunity to develop a connection is there. The question is, how do you do it?
Social media requires engagement. It requires updates (I know, because I've been bad about blogging over the last month...sorry!). And most importantly, it requires genuineness (see, as a Publisher, I can create words too!). If the information you are sharing with others doesn't come across as real, or helpful, it's going to be perceived that way. People (your potential customers) are going to walk away...and they ain't coming back.
At RSES, we are using a combination of approaches to try and build up a fan base on our Facebook page, while also using Twitter and LinkedIn to update followers on press releases, new information and products that we have, etc. We're also promoting certain educational or training products to our fans, offering them unique discounts via those mediums. It's not over-the-top savings, but enough to whet the appetite, and also keep them talking with us.
We're also looking at ways to grow our audience via electronic means. For example, as we expand our subscriber list to our magazine, we're looking at how we can tell those readers about the benefits of following us "socially." Getting those folks to sign up for e-mail alerts and updates is a simple way to do that.
In your business, some or all of these options may work. And you don't need to spend a ton of time on doing it. You just need to do it everyday. A friend of mine who operates an online furniture site (and is making some nice money doing it) commented to me at dinner on Sunday that he wished he would have integrated Facebook into his marketing program two years ago. "It doesn't take a lot of work to offer a special, or ask other sister sites to friend you. And that expands your network and allows you to get more clicks, generate more traffic and get more sales."

Sounds like the goal of all our businesses, right?

Educational Food for Thought

2010-07-02T12:40:00.001-07:00

With Independence Day (for those of us here in the U.S.) right around the corner, our thoughts quite often turn to friends, family, backyard barbecue's and ballgames. And for those of you out there following along or affiliated with the HVACR trade, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.
But a couple of recent stories that I've read got me to thinking about the role of education, training and today's HVACR service professional. Namely, that you 1.) should always make sure that the training and knowledge you are receiving come from recognized, established sources; and 2.) the training you receive is truly preparing you for career advancement and enhancement.
On the front page of the June 22, 2010 edition of the Chicago Tribune, an article detailed the plight of Denise Parnell, a 20-year-old single mother who had spent some $13,000 - including more than $8,500 in federal loans - to become a certified nursing assistant. But instead of preparing to take Illinois' certified nursing assistant exam, she learned that the program at the for-profit school she attended didn't have approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health. That meant no exam, no opportunity to get certified or to get a job in the field. Oh, and by the way...she still owes the $13 grand. To read the full story, click here.
Earlier in June, the U.S. Department of Education proposed new regulations that would require for-profit colleges to share key statistics such as job-placement rates, graduates' debt load versus income, and more. That has happened in part because of growing criticism and calls for tigher regulations at such schools, which some say look to take advantage of low-income students.
Meanwhile, those who are getting training and education in such programs might not be equipped to even get a job when they finish the program. In the July 1, 2010 New York Times, one Cleveland, OH-area manufacturer shared its plight with readers in an article titled "Factory jobs return, but skilled workers scarce." The article stated that "supervisors at Ben Venue Laboratories, a contract drug maker for pharmaceutical companies, have reviewed 3,600 job applications this year and found only 47 people to hire at $13 to $15 an hour, or about $31,000 a year.
The going rate for entry-level manufacturing workers in the area, according to Cleveland State University, is $10 to $12 an hour, but more skilled workers earn $15 to $20 an hour.
All candidates at Ben Venue must pass a basic skills test showing they can read and understand math at a ninth-grade level. A significant portion of recent applicants failed, and the company has been disappointed by the quality of graduates from local training programs. It is now struggling to fill 100 positions."
What does this all mean? Right now, simply put, opportunities are out there. In the HVACR industry, openings for refrigeration specialists, service technicians and controls experts are on job boards everywhere. But it is critical that those looking to the field as a career option do their homework; research and find accredited, well-respected institutions to help them learn; and work with respected educational organizations such as RSES and NATE to ensure they are indeed getting what they paid for.

To "Lead" or not to "Lead"

2010-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

As the title for this blog states, that really is the question. Or rather, the question becomes how the EPA, federal legislators and contractors nationwide can agree to a consensus on the best way to move forward with a lead-paint removal/restoration policy. In the upcoming issue of the RSES Journal, I penned a column about how the flooding in Tennessee has had not just a dramatic effect on home- and business owners, but on contractors trying to repair the damage Mother Nature has wrought.
Originally, the EPA had passed its regulations stating that contractors had to be certified to work on pre-1978-built buildings if they were residences, schools or day-care facilities. But with so few contractors licensed...and so few groups available to provide the proper training, the EPA has changed its tune. Sort of.
On June 18, the EPA issued a memorandum extending the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule deadline for renovators to enroll in training classes to September 30, 2010. In addition, it has extended the deadline for contractors to complete training to December 31, 2010. EPA also has agreed to work to provide additional trainers in areas of need. An article from the Greensboro (NC) News-Record offers some basic information here.
That raises the larger question of how the EPA, government officials and contractors/developers/technicians/laborers will be able to work together on the proposed lead-paint rules for commercial buildings. Oklahoma's Republican Senator James Inhofe has asked EPA to extend the period for public comment on those rules. Inhofe has stated that the additional period is necessary because of the wide scope of individuals that such a regulation could impact. Inhofe wrote to Stephen Owens, Assistant EPA administrator in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, that "previous lead-paint programs have focused on high-need subpopulations, such as pregnant women and children, and residential buildings. Public and commercial buildings will present an array of different issues."
What the next steps will be is anyone's guess. But one thing is certain: HVACR professionals should keep their eyes peeled and their ears open. Because as soon as one action gets pushed forward, it appears that another one is right on its heels.

Measuring Success

2010-06-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Unfortunately, with people being creatures of habit, we often find ourselves falling into familiar patterns. We do the same thing because we've always done it that way. When it comes to work, perhaps the person who mentored you "showed you the ropes," and you took those reins and just kept going the same way.
But that familiarity also can serve as a breeding ground for complacency. It allows us to feel comfortable, rather than challenge our conventional thoughts and actions to see if there might be a better way of doing things. I say this because now, here in 2010, the status quo is anything but...status quo.
I am presently on the road visiting with several HVACR manufacturers and component suppliers in Missouri. The conversations I've had have been interesting, lively and, most importantly, discussed how change is good. The shakeup of the economy over the past two years has been very difficult. It's forced companies to get leaner, make due with what they have and get more done with less. But it's also provided opportunities for them to challenge conventional wisdom and look at how they can get better results. As one c-level executive told me frankly, "We thought we were doing a lot better than we really were. Now we're focusing on measuring just how our messages, the information about our products, is getting out to people so that we can move the needle. We want to make sure that when a contractor is making a buying decision about a product, we're in consideration. And we need to be able to track that."
At RSES, we're doing much of the same thing. We're changing our processes, looking for faster ways to get new products brought to market, and seeking out opportunities with industry partners to develop content that can benefit the industry at large, and RSES Members in particular. It's not easy. There is pain involved. But the long-term benefits are there to be had.
On the contractor and technician level, I'm curious what steps toward change you're making? Are you taking time out to get yourself or your firm lead-paint certified (see my last blog for more about that) so that you can legally provide services to owners of older homes (as an FYI, any non-certified contractor performing work that disturbs lead-based paint on a home prior to 1978 that exceeds the space requirements of the rulling faces a $37,500 per day PER INFRACTION fine)? Are you attending seminars or programs to help you understand the plethora of energy-efficient products that continue to roll out into the marketplace?
The status quo may seem very comfortable. It may be putting revenue in your pocket and allow you to go about your daily routine. But if you continue to do the same thing while others challenge and move forward, then you're not maintaining at all. You're falling behind.

The High Cost of NOT Being Certified

2010-05-27T09:49:00.001-07:00

In this month's RSES Journal Elements e-Newsletter, one of the stories discusses the serious flooding that has affected the middle-Tennessee area, especially Nashville, TN. The Cumberland River inundated portions of the city, and the devastation that has occured is going to take years of recovery - and a price tag that is expected to easily exceed $1 billion.
Unfortunately, to add insult to injury, many of those affected by the flooding will find it harder than ever to get their HVACR systems back up and running. That's because on April 22, 2010, the EPA passed a new requirement mandating that any contractor (and YES, that means all you HVACR folks out there) conducting a renovation or repair project that disturbs lead-based paint in a home, child-care facility or school that was built before 1978 MUST be certified and proceed according to specific rules to prevent lead contamination (the rule does specify that the area disturbed must be greater than 6 sq ft in a room, or 20 sq ft on the exterior).
Parts of the Opryland Hotel were literally under 10 feet of water, so I think it's safe to say that many buildings and homes are going to meet the criteria that requires certified professionals to perform repairs. The problem? There simply aren't enough certified individuals and companies available to do the work. In fact, by estimates in Tennessee, the state only has roughly 2,700 lead-certified contractors. That has led legislators to reach out to the Federal Government and seek extensions on a 35-day "grace" period - which the EPA just approved on May 25 - that allows non-certified individuals to perform work on pre-1978-construction homes and businesses affected by the flooding.
I have been talking via e-mail with one RSES Member who lives in the Nashville area, and he has shared that he spoke with a friend who retired from the Nashville Water Department. Apparently, what is happening right now is that they are fast-tracking residential inspections - just taking pictures - and showing the inspector. They (the contractor) is allowed to cover it up (fix the flood damage), but with the understanding that if the inspector comes back and wants it ripped out, they (the contractors) have to comply.
This is a sticky situation for all parties. If I'm a homeowner and my residence is flooded, I have no air conditioning and I need a new system installed, am I going to be happy about having that pulled out after the fact because the installation wasn't done by a lead-certified professional? If I'm the contractor who IS certified and does a good job, and I lose out on work to non-qualified "low-ball" bids as people rush to get their homes and businesses cool as summer approaches, what is the incentive for me to get certified in the first place?
I don't have an easy answer, or even a suggestion on it. But I welcome your thoughts. E-mail me at jiwanski@rses.org and let me know what you think. And if you are an individual down in that area, and have something to share, I'd love to hear it.

Never a "Down Time" for Learning

2010-05-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

I attended an RSES state association event over the weekend, the RSES Michigan State Assn.'s semi-annual meeting. The program, which was held at the Bavarian Inn hotel in Frankenmuth, MI, saw nearly 50 HVACR service professionals gather to hear four-hour presentations on refrigerant alternatives (presented by Garth Dennison, CMS) and ECMs (in a presentation given by Nick Reggi, CMS).

Michigan, perhaps even more than other manufacturing-dependent states, has been hit very hard by the economic downturn of the past two years. I spoke with several individuals who talked about the cutbacks going on, and even scarier, the fact that the eroding tax base (as a result of population migration out of the state in search for work elsewhere) is starting to mean a cut in services for schools, municipalities, etc. "Do more with less" is becoming a way of life for many in the public sector there.

But despite these difficulties, it was encouraging to see so many people still attend this event. They wanted to find out about the latest energy-efficient technologies. People were encouraged by the fact that some new projects, at least in the light-commercial sector, were starting to help buoy the economic instability. There is a long way to go, but the optimism was palatable.

In that light, I found it even more interesting when Judy Zehnder, who is the fourth generation of her family to run the Bavarian Inn, addressed our group personally at our lunch. She shared some intersting information about the history of the hotel, and her family's philosophy for "doing it the right way, the first time, all the time."

Perhaps most interesting in light of her discussion with us was the disclosure she made regarding the hotel's HVACR system. Unlike most all chain hotels, the Bavarian Inn has moved all of its heat pump units, which supply comfort to some four floors of hotel rooms spread over a huge space, to a fifth floor addition. The hotel, in essence, created a whole floor WITHOUT rooms just to provide the proper mechanical ventilation, space, etc. for the equipment. I was justifiably impressed (and I'm working on the RSES Journal having a chance to cover that story in an upcoming issue.

After she spoke, I talked with Judy for a bit about the hotel, the decision to add the separate floor and what that has done for the facility. As she stated simply, "If you are in this business to sell quickly, that (adding the mechanical room floor) was the worst thing you could do. But we believe in the long-term, and this will provide us benefits and payback for decades."

There are customers out there like that, and there are technicians and contractors who can service those individuals. By promoting education and training, even in slow economic times, those parties still can find ways to meet. And I even learned something in the process.

Build a Championship (HVACR) Team

2010-04-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Watching the highlights from last evening's stunning NHL playoff upset that saw the Montreal Candadiens defeat the Washington Capitals, I heard an interesting comment from ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose. "The Capitals were built for the regular season. They had the league's best record locked up since February. They haven't played a meaninful game since January." When asked why that mattered against the Canadiens, he responded succinctly. "They've had to play 10 meaningful games just to get IN the playoffs. They're battle-tested. They were willing to go in, scrap, work hard, win the one-on-one battles. And that's why they won the series."

I started thinking about this in the context of many of the HVACR service contractors and technicians that I've had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with over the past 2 1/2 years as Editor-in-Chief/Publisher/Director of Publishing with RSES. To me, many of you out there epitomize the hard work and effort that Montreal exhibited in winning that series. Your company might not be the biggest. You might be going up against competition that is well established, or has deeper pockets to put toward marketing and promotion. You may be a relative newbie to the trade working your way up the ladder by putting in long days, dealing with callback issues that leave you more angry than anything else.

So that means that you go out and win those one-on-one battles. I've heard (and seen) the guys out there who are attending HVACR seminars and educational programs on weekends or evenings in the midst of a 70-hour week. I've talked with industry executives who are amazed at the resiliency of those in this field and the work they put in. And I'm excited about the prospects for the future as I get inquiries from contractors and techs interested in solar, geothermal, wind and even water-related technologies that can improve efficiency - and help them continue to build their career.

So for those contractors out there who think their on top of the heap, don't ease up. There are a lot of guys out there doing things the right way, training themselves and their employees to get ready for the next century of new technology. And if you're looking for a quality person to join your team, make sure you ask how committed that individual is to the trade, training and education. Because that also will give you a very good indication of just how committed they are to themselves - and ultimately, how committed they'll be to you.

Now I have one more reason that I love playoff hockey: inspiration.

Your Second Season

2010-04-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

As a native of Detroit, MI, hockey has always been a sport I’ve followed (we’re somewhat passionate about our Red Wings). And having followed the Chicago Bulls since I was a 12-year-old, seeing them rise to dominate the sport of basketball in the late ’90s was fantastic to watch (as for witnessing their current plight and general lack of long-term planning, I’ll leave that for my occasional rants on Facebook).

But the great thing about both sports, at least to me, is the playoffs. Both are played in the winter, but determine their champion in June. The long grind of the regular season turns into an impassioned eight weeks of epic battles and memorable matchups.

As I write this, I’m returning to Chicago from a two-day trip to visit with several HVACR suppliers, service providers and manufacturers. While traveling for business certainly is not as much fun when you’re trying to get to Houston, Dallas and points in between to see six organizations in a 48-hour span is as, say, going to Key West, FL, it does have its moments. Those highlights—much like those critical plays during playoff time—are what help keep you moving forward and drive on toward higher, loftier goals.

On the last visit of my trip, I had the opportunity to sit and chat with several folks with Pure Chem Separation, L.P. down in Rhome, TX. We talked about reclamation, what was I hearing on the street about the demand for R-22, how many RSES Journal readers did I think were taking the time to properly reclaim used refrigerant, and a myriad of other topics. It was interesting. It was intriguing.

In our conversation, we talked extensively about refrigerant reclamation and the separation of mixed refrigerants (these guys are experts in that arena). We discussed marketing opportunities, their business model and how they were growing their company. (And with a program targeting contractors, they are. Big time. To find out more about that, click here.)

And as I got ready to head out with the hope that I wouldn’t miss my flight out of DFW (I didn’t…thank God!), they took five minutes to show off their facility. They have a lot of pride in their business and they wanted to share that with me. It was refreshing to see someone so upbeat about the opportunities that the down (but…gulp…hopefully recovering) economy had presented them. At the very end of that tour, they showed where they were building a whole new warehouse for them to store product. Indeed, they were planning for growth and expansion. That wasn’t intriguing—that was exciting.

For the principals at Pure Chem, their second season is on the horizon. They are planning for the future, looking ahead with the expectation to take home their own championship of sorts: growth. Their operation runs 24 hours a day. They’ve added four sales reps and plan to bring two more on board. They are exploring more and more ways to get the word out about their contractor-focused refrigerant buy-back program. And they only see more opportunities out there.

To win titles, it takes discipline, talent, patience and perseverance. It’s a challenging task that many attempt, but few are able to achieve. Personally, seeing companies like Pure Chem take on the obstacles and find ways to overcome them are exactly why I believe in the future of our industry and those who want to see it succeed.

Now, as for those playoffs, Game 1 of the Wings-Coyotes series just went final, and Phoenix is up 1 game to none...anyone want to bet against my Red Wings???

What Can Green Can Do For You?

2010-03-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

It seems as though every day, there is some new "eco-friendly," "good-for-the-environment," "green" product or service on the market. In fact, I'd argue that in the HVACR industry, we're seeing about one every hour! But at the end of the day, these green "innovations" are only valuable if :
a.) your customers want this type of unit/service/technology; and
b.) you have personnel capable of properly installing and servicing this equipment.

The need for qualified, well-trained industry pros helping provide energy-efficient indoor comfort is nothing new. I attended FRACCA's 2010 Educational Conference down in Orlando, FL, last weekend, and over and over, the topic of quality installation was addressed. HARDI vice president Talbot Gee (who has a pretty good blog that you may want to check out here) was the event's keynote speaker, and in his talk he shared with contractors just how important quality installation is going to be to any future tax incentives and breaks our industry might see.

That point is one I couldn't agree more with. The much-discussed HOMESTAR program - "Cash for Caulkers" if you will - is a topic that the industry is watching closely. Yet many feel that the only way that any incentives or breaks will be extended to the home-improvement/construction sectors (at least in the HVACR department) is going to be results-based. That means that contractors and technicians are going to have to perform initial performance tests, install and improve upon the building and its air-movement systems, and then test the building again. The amount of improvement will then determine how much of a rebate the contractor will be entitled to (and the savings that they can in turn pass along to the homeowner).

Again, much of this is still in discussion stages, and NOTHING has been set in stone, but this is a model that is being looked at more and more. Stay tuned to see what is coming down the pike next. The odds are, it won't take long for it to get here.

Connectivity Connundrums

2010-03-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

In today's fast-paced world, it seems that we have new indviduals coming in and out of our lives more often than a Holiday Inn. That may well be due to the fact that in this day and age, we are perhaps more interconnected than ever before.
Think about that for a minute. Or perhaps, think back to your last vacation (I know...for some of us out there, it might be tough to recall). We're you REALLY taking a break from the day-to-day 8-6 work schedule? Or did you still finding yourself answering phone calls on your cell phone? Responding to work e-mails in the hotel? Replying to text messages or service requests on your Blackberry? No matter where we are or what we're doing, work always seems to be nearby. Getting "off the grid" has never been more difficult.
In my Heating Up column in the March 2010 issue of the RSES Journal, I discussed how in this fragmented world of digital media, YouTube, blogs, Webinars and, of course, print (no, it is NOT dead!), it's more difficult than ever as a publisher to figure out exactly how people want to receive information. That's because not only is it hard to discover how people are willing to accept content, but it is even HARDER to figure out how they share it with others.
The social-media landscape has forever transformed how information is reported and shared. Ten years ago, before the world of YouTube and Facebook, and when there was no mobile video or instantly accesible Web content on a handheld device, we called someone when we heard news we wanted to share. We perhaps logged on with a dial-up connection to send an e-mail via America Online to one of our friends about some article we read.
Now, information is posted instantaneously. We can find out the latest news, product information, etc., with the scroll of a track ball on our PDA. This is both a blessing...and a curse.
It's terrific because there are so many applications in the world of mobile media and information that the HVACR industry can take advantage of. Instaneous updates from job sites. The opportunity to take photos of a system and upload them immediately to engineers or designers thousands of miles away. Downloadable system specifications or equipment information that can help technicians troubleshoot a unit in the field (how cool is that!).
But we also run the risk of being too connected. We have to know when it's time for us to "unplug" and take time for ourselves. Our families. Our friends. Our mental self-preservation. It's exactly why when I go for a long run, the Blackberry is no where near my person (though I do have an iPod to help pass the miles!).
And some of my best editorial ideas and concepts have come when I'm on the road, away from the calls, e-mails and text messages. Maybe I need to go off the grid more often?!

Not Just Hot Air

2010-03-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

The green movement has been a pillar of the HVACR industry for decades. Within our organization (RSES-the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society), the running joke here is that we were "green" before it became the "in" thing to do.

And that's more important than ever, because the reality is that a building's heating and cooling needs account for the largest expenditure (in most cases) of energy. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that 43% of home energy use goes toward space heating and cooling. Energy audits and other proactive energy saving tips are all things that service professionals should share with customers. A great place to start is the DOE's Energy Savers page, where technicians and contractors can get statistics; offer advice to homeowners about how to conduct an energy audit (or get them thinking about having a professional conduct one for them!); and get helpful links and other energy-efficient tips.

But that energy that we're trying to save has to come from somewhere. And the sad reality is, the U.S. is not in a mad dash to build more coal-fired powerplants to generate our seeming insatiable need for electricity. Existing oil-fired plants are being converted to coal - or have been decommissioned and taken offline completely. Nuclear energy is always a dicey topic, whether it involves finding a potential location for a facility or the fallout (no pun intended) from the public about the storage or transportation of spent nuclear fuel.

That is perhaps why other "alternative" energy programs, such as geothermal and wind-power, are moving more toward the forefront. For example, South Dakota continues to invest in wind energy, and as this article notes, the state is now the third largest supplier of wind-generated energy in the U.S. Programs like this not only provide the U.S. with excellent alternatives to reliance on foreign oil, but also provide a platform to develop new green technologies right here at home.

What does this mean for the average HVACR professional? In simple terms, it helps them sell and install more energy-efficient products and services. Because if the cost of energy can be curtailed AND you can sell a homeowner on high-SEER, high-efficiency equipment, everyone wins. Especially that antiquated power grid of ours...but I'll save that for another blog...

Perception is Reality

2010-02-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

We all know that perception is, in actuality, NOT reality. But it is a BIG part of it (I'm going with the old adage that reality is about 90% perception to most people). The fact is, what people see is often what they believe. While we'd all like to think that Joe Consumer is doing all the due dilligence and background work on a purchase, a product review, etc., the reality is...you get my point.
I say this because now, more than ever, people are bombarded by information in every direction. They get e-mails, text messages, updates on Webinars, phone calls (remember those?!), etc. Determining just WHAT is fact from fiction can often be difficult. After all, I've heard more than a few people tell me that they "read something somewhere, so it must be true." As a Publisher and a journalist, those are scary words indeed.
My point in all this? Simply this - how are you differentiating yourself in the market? If you are an HVACR contractor, what makes you stand out from the crowd? Is it your service? The quality of installation or repair? The direct interaction with the customer? For technicians, how are you distancing yourself from your peers and making yourself more valuable? Are you attending training classes? Seminars? Telling your boss about new products or programs that could attract business?
Making a few small strides in any of these areas could make a big difference in the end - to the customer, your employees or your boss. That's the reality in this day and age.

Install or Service...That is the Question

2010-02-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

While at the AHR Expo in Orlando, FL, late last month, I had the opportunity to meet with numerous equipment manufacturers, suppliers, industry organizations and even a technician or two. I always look forward to these meetings because they:
a.) give me the chance to find out what new products are coming on the market;
b.) allow me to seek out potential content contributors for articles, case studies, programs and seminars; and
c.) let me talk frankly about the marketplace, where things are going, and hear firsthand from those in the industry about what excites or concerns them.

The focus on energy efficiency and sustainability continue to be the biggest drivers in the market, and will remain so in the foreseeable future. Companies continue to seek out opportunities to showcase their products and promote them as "green," and are looking for as many ways as they can to present them to end-users in that manner.

But another interesting side note that came up with many folks, from refrigerant manufacturers to equipment wholesalers and associations, was the interest in just what consumers were doing in the residential market. Were they specifying new systems that would require the use of HFCs, or were they continuing to fix their existing systems - and continue using HCFCs in the process? Over and over, I heard this question asked. And interestingly, when I posed it back to others in the trade, many were unsure how to respond. While many seemed to feel that consumers were keeping money in their pocket (and therefore looking to fix their existing systems), no one could say for sure if that was the case...or if they felt that way, they couldn't say how long it would last.

I'm curious to hear from others out there what their take is on this. What are your customers saying? Are they saying anything at all? And how are you presenting new equipment options to them? Send me an e-mail to jiwanski@rses.org and let me know your thoughts. I'm not the only one who wants to know...

A Look From Afar

2010-01-21T15:18:00.000-08:00

Typically, the content and topics covered in here in Heating Up touch on all things HVACR. They may delve toward green building, the HCFC refrigerant phaseout or even why climate-change legislation is important for the average technician to stay on top of (and believe me, it is).

But the dramatic images and the sheer magnitude of what has happened in the aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Haiti has given me pause to think about what matters most. I'm guessing that for a lot of you out there, it's done the same. Haiti truly is a third-world country located not that far from the southern tip of Florida (incidentally, the same place I'll be next week for the AHR Expo). From corruption and dictators to an almost constant string of natural disasters, this island nation has been beset by some of the most difficult conditions on Earth.

And yet you hear stories of perseverence and hope, of people surviving and trying to make sense of it all (as if THAT is even possible). And amidst those ghastly images of bodies being removed by heavy equipment (certainly one of the most chilling "60 Minutes" episodes I've ever seen), you hear about children hopeful when they see U.S. troops helping to dispense food, or doctors seeing a woman smile when they can help their child.

And at the end of the day, it is those small things, those little triumphs, that all of us can relate to because they make us all human. Take a moment to think about what those little successes are for you, and share them with your friends, family and colleagues. Then take a minute (if you haven't already) to text "Haiti" to 90999 on your mobile phone. You'll donate $10 to the American Red Cross to help in the relief effort - and instead of looking from afar, you'll be helping neighbors in your own backyard.

New Year, New Regulations, Same Focus on Green

2010-01-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

With 2010 finally here, the HVACR industry is perhaps breathing a collective sigh of relief. After the difficult economic conditions of 2009, many in the industry are looking forward to a better start to this decade. In addition, the final rules approved by the EPA regarding HCFC allocation and equipment at least have clarified to a degree just what direction the industry is headed.

But just where ARE we headed here as we start the second decade of the 21st Century? We all know about the "green" revolution, to the point where it's discussion might well be nauseating. But the trend is not only going to continue, but grow as job creation and earning potential continues to boost the green sector. In fact, a recent article in the Chicago Tribune pointed out just how job titles such as "national director of sustainability" and "sustainability officer" are finding their way into a growing number of companies. Check out what columnist Tiffany Hsu wrote about in her feature "Climate ripe for green execs."

Well, the individuals finding their way into those roles don't necessarily know everything they need to about sustainabilty. And they certainly don't know everything they need to about HVACR systems. So the question becomes, who can tell them about it? Well, qualified HVACR service professionals who are trained on the latest equipment and energy-efficiency techniques are in high demand. The next time you're out on a service call and you see an office building installing a green roof or adding solar panels, find out just what they are doing to reduce their costs on the most expensive component of almost any building - it's heating and cooling costs.

Have a thought on this or an idea on how to reach more of these kinds of green execs? E-mail me at jiwanski@rses.org and let me know.

What if Service Manuals and Information WEREN'T Available?

2009-12-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

There exists a lot of correlation when it comes to automotive mechanics and HVACR service professionals. Both troubleshoot and determine the root cause of a wide range of different problems; both must be able to understand everything from basic mechanics and chemistry to advanced techniques that require unique mechanical and intellectual aptitudes; and both groups must have the talent and knack for repairing everything from individual minor components to complete system replacements. But in addition to these similarities, another commonality exists. It's the kinship of service/repair/customer satisfaction. In other words, both of these hardworking livelihoods must not only make sure that the job is properly done, but that it is done professionally and to the end user's liking. Not always an easy task, but a key component of the equation nonetheless.

So why talk about this here and now? Presently, a bill sitting before Congress - the Right to Repair Act - is being debated about just how much information automakers must give out to private auto shop owners about how to repair today's increasingly complex vehicles. RSES Past International President Al Smith, CMS, forwarded on to me an interesting article talking about how some shops are beginning to turn away work because they simply don't have the equipment or the information available about today's increasingly complex vehicles out on the road to properly service them. You can read about just how this is impacting some shops by reading the article here.

How does this relate to the world of HVACR? Well, at the present time, it doesn't. But that doesn't mean that it CAN'T...imagine what would happen if precedents are set and equipment manufacturers elected to start sharing only certain information with their dealer network. Or with distributors/wholesalers who met specific criteria or, gulp, sales quotas. Now I am NOT saying this will ever happen. There are NO indicators that it ever would. But in the words of one automaker's representative in the aforementioned article, "they want the recipe for Coke." If the automakers get their way and this information is prevented from getting to the everyday repair man who owns a shop or works for one, what will keep this from spilling over to other industries. Interesting food for thought during this holiday week.

Cash for...Caulkers?

2009-12-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Following the successful (at least in Washington and most automakers' eyes) "Cash for Clunkers" rebate program conducted last year, President Obama and others in Washington are eyeing a new market in 2010 - your home. The President has repeatedly noted a proposal that would allow tax credits and other incentives for homeowners who make their homes more energy-efficient. Proponents of this proposed program - which would be known as Homestar but has taken on the "Cash for Caulkers" moniker as well - note that it will help to generate new jobs in the hard-hit construction sector, and also serve as an incentive for those firms to become more familiar with green jobs.

Obama was recently at a Home Depot to promote the program, which would provide up to $23 billion to incent homeowners to reduce energy waste through things such as replacing leaky windows and doors, adding more-efficient furnaces and fuel-pumps, using solar, geothermal and wind energy as fuel sources, etc. The challenge, however, will be getting BOTH contractors/service techs and homeowners on the same page. A concern that some are already raising is how the incentives will be paid out, if contractors will have to eat up-front costs and then receive funds after the upgrades have been made, and just how the effectiveness of the program will be judged. Many HVACR and plumbing/mechanical firms have been hard hit by the economic downturn, so suggesting that they may have to put even more investment up front in terms of products to offer customers in order to reap the rewards long-term may be a tough pill for some to swallow.

It's anyone's guess what will happen, but it certainly is a program that the HVACR industry, as well as the construction, plumbing and mechanical trades, need to keep an eye on. Especially since those in the Administration continue to face criticism about the slow flow of stimulus money down to everyday business owners and others.

The Silent Killer

2009-12-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

With the announcement that the EPA Administrator has signed off on the HCFC Allocation and Pre-charged appliance rules (see the blog from HARDI Vice President/Legislative guru Talbot Gee here, or visit the EPA Web site here to see the published rules), I thought I might weigh in on that topic as well.

But a story I saw on the news last evening was one that I couldn't shake from my head. In Charlotte, NC, 10 people from an apartment complex were hospitalized as a result of carbon monoxide poisioning. According to Charlotte Fire Department spokesman Rob Brisley, there were dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in multiple apartment units. The CO came from a faulty heater in one of the units and eventually spread to three other apartments.

We often hear during the winter about these stories, many times as a result of individuals following dangerous practices to heat their dwellings with unsafe heating devices, either due to difficult economic conditions or their lack of knowledge regarding the emission of CO.

However, in this case, it seems apparent that the problem arose because the equipment in the complex had a defect(s) - highlighting EXACTLY why it is so important for building owners and HVACR service professionals to use caution, regularly inspect equipment, and repair or replace equipment when the situation deems it necessary.

According to the Carbon Monoxide Safety Association, carbon monoxide posioning kills hundreds each year, and tens of thousands more are hospitalized as a result of its effects. A simple thing such as performing a combustion check, using a CO detection meter or performing a closer inspection of a heat exchanger can truly be the difference between life and death. As an industry, let's continue to promote awareness and take the extra steps necessary that could save the life of a friend, colleague, family member - or even yourself.

Giving Thanks

2009-12-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone. We've stuffed ourselves with turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and all of the other goodies; and for many, the Black Friday shopping day was a chance to fight the crowds and try to work some of it off.

But with December here and the year heading to a close, where are we at right now (we being the collective HVACR industry)? I would hazard a guess that few industry veterans have seen a time when so much is going on at so many levels throughout the trade. From the legislative discussions on the Hill regarding climate change and cap-and-trade; associations and groups promoting new energy-efficiency guidelines, regulations and proposals; and continuing pressure from different groups to explore new refrigerant solutions, incent home/businessowners to reduce energy use and promote the use of alternative energy sources, does anyone REALLY know what the future holds?

The quick and simple answer is no. But if one digs a little deeper, their certainly are signs of what is to come. And for that reason, I want to take a moment to give thanks. Thanks because those of us who are in this business/industry/career are going to continue to see dynamic change and growth, and have the opportunity to really change the way HVACR business is both seen and conducted in the next decade.

The Obama administration has made energy policy a key component of its strategy, both to grow jobs (yes, the old "Green Jobs mantra") and also position itself as an administration who worked to make "change" possible. What that change is remains any one's guess, but with the bills currently being debated and hammered out, there is no question that it will be a central issue in the 2010 legislative sessions of Congress.

So for a moment, take a step back and give thanks. We in this industry have a chance to be a dramatic force, to positively impact the work and world environment for future generations on a vast scale. It won't be easy. As we've already seen, there will be a lot of disagreements on the way. But at the end of the day, I'm hopeful (and hopefully not naive) that those changes will be for the better.

Opening the lid on cap and trade

2009-11-20T07:14:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of interest brewing right now in Washington on the issue of climate-change and energy-efficiency legislation. While health-care reform seems to have the nation's eye and ear on every nightly news program, the HVACR industry is staring at the possibility of some dramatic shifts in how it will have to do business - and if an HFC phasedown becomes a reality, find a whole new way to provide comfort for businesses and homeowners.

Various committees are working on pieces of legislation that people, at least from the Democratic side of the aisle, hope will come together next year in a version that will pass both houses of Congress and receive Presidential approval.

When it comes to "cap and trade," much uncertainty remains, though the committee presently working on that portion of the bill has language that will set a base of production/consumption allowances based on HCFC and HFC useage statistics from 04-06. Those allowances would then be "auctioned" off at a growing rate over the next 20 or more years.

The problem with this may be twofold though. One, if Congress realizes that money can be made from these auctions, the Treasury Department and related finance committees could become even more involved in the process - potentially slowing any legislative moves down.

Secondly, the cap and trade program proposal allows a so-called "secondary pool" of allowances. This would allow different groups - including, potentially, those who would have no use for HFC products (speculators, if you will) - to purchase those allowances. Presently, no language exists to force those purchasers to use the allowances for their intent. This certainly could change, but it bears watching.

Just another day in Washington, D.C. for the HVACR trade. Those halcyon days when legislative oversight was hard to find...those, my friends, are long gone.

The Drive to Move NATE

2009-11-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

For many out there in the realm of the HVACR industry, the acronym of NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is synonymous with the trade. And what's even more exciting is that while NATE certainly has made a push to promote itself to consumers via a customer-focused Web site (featuring more information on why NATE-certified technicians are who you want to call to service your equipment, where you can find a NATE-certified firm, etc.), the organization is looking at more ways to engage the industry as a whole to promote the role of training and certification - something that is long overdue.

RSES has long held to the belief that while some in the industry put an emphasis on their training and development because they know it's the right thing to do - and will help them grow their businesses and provide better service to customers - many others do not. Putting more focus on training, development and...gulp...the requirement of certification in the industry is something that will in the long-run benefit the HVACR industry as a whole.

NATE is introducing a group of Industry Councils, comprising groups that include manufacturers, distributors, teachers and contractors, with the hope that these groups will be able to help push the organization to further the development and growth of technician training and education. RSES is helping to lead this charge, and will be looking for technicians to weigh in with their ideas to the Technician's Council. Different Member groups will be meeting during various industry events and conferences, and the Technician Council will meet via conference call and informal meetings several times before RSES hosts its annual conference in Tuscon, AZ, next year - where the Technician Council will host a meeting.

The notion that we don't need certification in this industry is lost on me. I'm not saying that we need to have every element of the industry regulated or watched by five different committee's. However, it also is apparent that a PROPERLY REGULATED and CERTIFIED HVACR industry will benefit all parties...consumers, contractors and, most importantly, technicians.

Market up...employment down...your earnings??

2009-10-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

As the title states, that modus operandi seems to be the rule of thumb right now. So while your 401(k) - or at least what's left of it - is rebounding nicely now, it's unfortunately happening because companies are realizing profits while revenues are sliding. And that can only happen when costs are dropping lower than those aforementioned revenues. To accomplish that trick (and not have former accountants working on the payroll who are using math formulas that no one has ever heard of), you generally have to reduce services and/or employees. Rick Newman has some interesting and very good insight into these current trends on one of his recent money-management articles on U.S. News & World Report.

What does this mean for today's HVACR service professional? Well, I don't have to tell you that the market is considerably tougher today than it was a few years ago. Convincing a homeowner to put in a high-efficiency heat pump or a building owner to replace their current system with a new ductless mini-split setup is no easy sell these days. But there still are opportunities out there. And from the people I've been talking to in the trade, there is revenue to be had - if you and your company can be nimble on your feet to grab it.

Get online. If you (or your boss' company) don't have a presence on the Web, get one. Consumers are using the Internet more than ever to review purchase options, gather information and make intelligent buys. This is increasingly apparent when they are purchasing "big ticket" items such as HD televisions, appliances and - yes - heating and air-conditioning equipment. If you don't have a presence on the Web and your competitor does, who is getting more visibility?
Offer options. Money is tight. We all know this. But if you give your customers' choices on how they can pay (credit, installment payments, options based on tax rebates earned), and supply options on what kind of work should vs. could be performed, you can increase your bottom line.
Know the rebates. There are a myriad of tax rebates and incentives out there for consumers to purchase more energy-efficient systems. In addition to Federal programs, most states - and even some municipalities and utility companies - have additional dollars available to hand back to consumers if they upgrade or make changes. Do you know what programs are available in your service area? Can you or your technicians communicate these effectively to you customers? Doing so could mean the difference between making a sale or upgrading a customer, or walking away with nothing at all. To find out more about what programs are available for customers in your area, check out the Energy Star rebate information page. There is a lot of useful information to be had there.

Got a service idea or way to help take the question marks from behind your earnings? I'd love to hear them! Feel free to leave a comment, or send me an e-mail over at the RSES Journal. The more we can share in this forum, the more we all can work to make more positive things happen in 2010.

Customer honesty...or else

2009-10-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

For today's small business owner (which would include many of those contractors out there in the HVACR world), it's tough sledding right now. While we've heard over and over about how the recession is ending, the stock market is recovering, etc., the reality is that the market recovery on Wall Street isn't helping those on Main Street find new customers. The overwhelming perception right now is that consumers continue to hunker down, save and conserve. Businesses, too, are finding that while there is work out there, things certainly are the same way they were in the free-spending, no-limit-to-credit days of 2007 (Chicago Tribune columnist Greg Burns has some great thoughts on this in one of his recent columns.)

All the more reason why it is so vital to RETAIN your customer base. We've all heard how easy it is to lose a customer, as well as how great repeat customers are to your word-of-mouth advertising base (still one of the best ways to promote your business!). But just as important, from a business perspective, is honesty and integrity with your customers. Because once you lose your credibility with them, you aren't getting it back.

This brings me to the point of my random diatribe here today. The last two months, I've received some obscenely high electric bills from ComEd. For those of you not fortunate enough to live in Chicago and privy to monopoly that ComEd has on its customers, they supply us with energy. And in my rehabbed condo building, the access to read those ComEd meters is in the basement, which unfortunately remains locked. So when they come to read the meter, they need someone to open it. This, in and of itself, is not a problem.

The problem arises when I called today to find out that the reason for my high bills is that ComEd ESTIMATES owner usage when they can't access the building (I'm still trying to figure out how they got the numbers they did for estimates, when my previous bills were so low, but that's a topic for a whole different day). Unfortunately, no one from ComEd has contacted me or explained that to me. And to say that I was irate when I opened my bill would be an understatement. Especially when I called someone last month, and the answer I got then from customer service was "You must have had your air-conditioner on a lot. That explains the high usage rate."

So what does all this mean? Simply put, be honest and upfront with your customers. If you are going to have to perform work that is going to exceed an estimate, or reach beyond the scope of what was originally proposed, explain why. The customer might not like hearing the TOTAL, but they will appreciate your honesty and why you are reviewing it with them. And instead of having an upset customer who is ready to jump ship and head to another contractor, you may have just added someone one who will not only specify that high-SEER unit, but also sign on for the three-year service agreement you've offered.

Now as for ComEd......

A Change in Climate

2009-10-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today, for those of you who are unaware (and I'm sure many are...heck, I was until I heard about this a couple days ago!), is Blog Action Day. Around the world, 1,000's of my fellow journalists, literary hacks - and those who just want to share an opinion - are doing so on one particular topic: climate change.

This certainly is an area that the HVACR arena is very, VERY familar with. The Montreal Protocol, Clean Air Act and other pieces of legislation impact the way our industry does business everyday. The focus on reducing ODP-causing refrigerants is the driving force behind the elimination of HCFCs (hydrochlorfluorocarbons) from HVACR equipment. This will begin in earnest in 2010 when new HVACR equipment can no longer be shipped with an HCFC in the unit. After Jan. 1, equipment manufacturers will have to use hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) such as R-410A or other alternative refrigerants. R-410A is poised right now to serve as the dominant replacement. We've been talking a lot about it on the pages of the RSES Journal and even put up a microsite to discuss the topic and share information with the industry on our Web site. Feel free to click here to find out more about it.

That phaseout of HCFCs - namely the refrigerant R-22, which has been an industry stalwart for decades - has drawn opinions from throughout the industry. And since the U.S. EPA still hasn't formulated final rules for how the implemenation of the phaseout will continue, there is a lot of apprhension and uncertainty in the industry. For more on the EPA's overview of the situation and the proposed rules, just click here.

These rules will certainly impact the legislation and debates going on in Washington, D.C. right now. And almost any bill relating to energy efficiency is sure to see some elements of refrigerant-regulation/taxation/cap-and-trade come in to play. The question will be how much of each of these elements will find their way into any bill that goes before the President.

Again, this is why it is so important to stay on top of these issues. Read relevant publications that are offering information and insight into what is going on. And most importantly, SHARE YOUR OPINIONS WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. They can't know how you feel if you don't tell them. We live in the greatest country on Earth, and a big reason for that is because people's opinions do matter. Make sure you make yours count and be heard!

The World of Regulation

2009-10-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

Many of us out there are familiar with regulation. Indeed, we encounter it daily, whether that's in the form of sales tax, parking tickets, or figuring out why even though we didn't turn our gas stove on for an entire month, there still are "usage fees" and "subsidy taxes" on our bill that we end up paying.

Still, in the realm of HVACR, we've been pretty blessed. The regulatory gods out there have for the most part, until the last few years, left us alone. Apparently, they figured they were missing out on something, because they've awoken with a vengence now.

Regionalized efficiency standards are something that we have been dealing with in our industry for the last few years. Some cities have even tried to place particular standards in place, Albuquerque, NM, being the most pronounced about it lately. Now there is a new agreement in place, signed by some of the leading manufacturers of HVACR equipment and organizations such as AHRI and other energy-efficiency promoting organizations, designed to establish regionalized efficiency standards for central air conditioners and gas furnaces. Several organizations that have signed this agreement have offered information on it, including the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. The goal is to make sure that the most efficient equipment is installed in each region. In theory it makes a lot of sense. You'd think that contractors and installers would already be making sure that such steps were taking place.

Unfortunately, however, that isn't always the case. Other organizations such as ACCA and HARDI have released statements stating they couldn't sign the agreement. They needed to get more input from members, and were concerned about what all this regulation could mean in the future. HARDI did note in its statement that it felt the organizations involved did have the best interest of the industry at heart. I'd have to agree with this. Unfortunately, as is often the case when it comes to legislation, agreements and regulatory issues, everyone has different opinions of what is best. It's that whole agreement thing that makes it tough.

No one is sure what this agreement will mean for future developments. And as we all know, regulations and stipulations usually take time to get sorted out (we're STILL waiting on the EPA's final decision regarding its proposed rules...I know manufacturers are thrilled about this). But one thing IS certain. Everyone in the industry must keep a watchful eye on what is going on out there, both in Washington, D.C., and their own backyard. At this rate, what might be legal when you get up in the morning and get in your truck might get you fined before you head home at the end of the day.

Getting Started

2009-10-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

I've made forays into the world of blogging or, as my dad will sometimes say, "telling everyone else in the world what I'm doing all the time." That isn't the point of this endeavor though. Instead, I'd like to take the time to start sharing with you news from RSES (that would be the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society for those of you not familar with the world of HVACR), as well as some of the new things that we have on tap for its flagship publication, the RSES Journal (which I happen to be Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of).

In the next few months, we're going to be introducing a lot of new changes to our Web site, launching an electronic newsletter, and seeking out other ways to connect with our Membership and readers of the magazine. In addition, we're also looking to interact more directly with the HVACR community at large. I'm hoping that some of our new programs spark interest, intrigue and hopefully some commentary from throughout the trade.

In the meantime, I'm planning on updating this a couple times a week. Right now we're in the midst of pushing out our November issue and planning for the RSES 2009 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, taking place Oct. 27-31. The conference theme, "Lean & Green," is focused on green technology and ways that contractors/technicians can work to save customers money (while hopefully adding some to their pockets as well!). I hope that some of you out there can join us!

In the meantime, keep checking back for updates on what's new in the HVACR world...in this constantly changing and increasingly regulated environment, there is something new almost every day.

Cheers!