Even though he’s a nightshift police officer, father of three teenagers, and doting husband, Sgt. Peter Pappas found time to act as his own land developer and general contractor for his nicely-appointed, yet low-impact home. In 2004, he purchased some property beside a 75-acre, spring-fed lake and selected a lot for his new home.

The Road to Success Lennox dealer meetings are part business seminar and part pep rally by design, said Jay Gidick, vice president of merchandising and national accounts. “We’re trying to make these meetings entertaining for dealers, and we think it’s working.”

Those looking to escape to sunnier destinations this winter might be wise to check out the 2011 Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating (AHR) Expo in Las Vegas. A primary focus will be solar energy, with numerous new solar products on display, more than a dozen seminars focused on solar topics, as well as demonstrations of solar technology.

There have been two approaches to capturing the sun’s energy: photovoltaics, to turn sunlight into electricity, or solar thermal systems, to concentrate the sun’s heat to boil water to turn a turbine, or use it directly for hot water or heating. But there’s another approach that was sidelined because nobody found a way to harness it in a practical, economical way.

When Tim McTavish set out to remodel his home, his plans included increased square footage for the living space, radiant floor heating throughout the entire structure, snow melting for exterior surfaces, and an in-ground swimming pool. McTavish was looking for exceptional means by which to heat and cool his newly updated residence.

No matter how state-of-the-art the heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment is, more than likely it is running on coal-generated power. So, what is being done to offset coal-generated power with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind? And can those sources create enough power to run HVACR equipment?

Ingersoll-Rand plc has awarded $150,000 to Purdue University to sponsor its team’s bid in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2011. The company said the underwriting of Purdue’s entry illustrates the contribution that solar energy and state-of the-art technology bring in creating environmentally responsible residential homes.

The solar panels on the roofs of buildings and homes aren’t just providing power; they are also helping to cool the building or house as well, according to a team of researchers led by Jan Kleissl.

The theme of the 22nd annual North American Energy Efficiency Forum was “Energy Efficiency: The Smart Path to Energy Security and Economic Growth” and speakers addressed the importance of pursuing energy efficiency and alternative energy sources not only to reduce energy costs but also enhance national security.

The SV series commercial pump station includes everything needed for a commercial solar thermal installation, says the company.