The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will be offering seven education tracks during its 43rd Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo, taking place from Feb. 15-17. These tracks include Business Fundamentals; Residential Contracting; Commercial Contracting; Technical Excellence; Contracting Leadership; Refrigeration; and Quality Assurance.

In 2010, the 25C tax credits were a popular sales tool in the HVAC industry, used to entice homeowners to purchase high-efficiency HVAC systems in exchange for a $1,500 tax credit. However, these residential tax credits were reduced to $500 at the end of 2010, leading many in the industry to wonder if a drop-off in new equipment sales would be inevitable in 2011.

Contractors attending this year’s Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) conference had a lot of burning issues on their minds concerning the HVAC industry. Thanks to the much-anticipated CEO Forum that is held at the conference every year, attendees had the opportunity to ask manufacturing leaders about those issues that directly affect their livelihoods.

For many employers, running credit checks on job applicants is a regular part of the hiring process. But employers also need to be very careful when they use background credit checks for job applicants. They must weigh their need to know with a person’s right to privacy.

Prices for construction materials increased in January 2011 by 0.9 percent, and have risen by 4.9 percent from January 2010, according to the February 16 Producer Price Index. Iron and steel prices rose 4.7 percent in January and are up 16.4 percent between January 2010 and January 2011.

The resolution of the standoff in a Wisconsin state-employee union contract “negotiation” has all union locals and contractors paying close attention throughout the country. All have been wondering what the ramifications will be for them. We asked a sheet metal union executive and a unionized HVAC contractor a few questions to compare their points of view.

Service Experts announced that it is helping consumers save energy by offering a new program, allowing them to upgrade old, inefficient heating and air conditioning systems for as low as $99 per month. With this program, homeowners can purchase a new Lennox® high-efficiency system to replace their older HVAC equipment.

The economic conditions of the last few years have been tough for HVAC contractors. While some economic indicators point to a modest recovery underway, contractors may need a little more convincing, as evidenced by the Contractor Comfort Index (CCI), which decreased in the months of December and January before rising a bit in February.

In North Carolina, contractor Greg Crumpton likes to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. His company, AirTight, is based in Charlotte, and serves commercial, industrial, and mission critical customers within a 100-mile radius.

This country’s recent economic problems have caused strains on most small business owner’s cash flows, making it harder than ever to cover one’s overhead. The result is that many self-employed people are facing lawsuits from creditors, vendors, and suppliers, more so than from unhappy customers.