Archeological evidence confirms that humans used geothermal resources more than 10,000 years ago. Today, engineers have created technologies that allow facilities to search miles below the earth’s surface to seek out geothermal energy.
One such development is the Mammoth Pacific geothermal facilities located in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains.
When the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) first started its Weatherization Assistance Program, which is administered by the individual states, it consisted of “lots of caulk and not much else,” said Duane Griffus. Today, the program is much more than that.
Hvacr manufacturers are preparing for the possibility of future price increases on their products. This increase can be directly attributed to the current economic climate in the steel industry.
It seems hvac contractors are still a little unsure how much of a margin of error to allow themselves when they bid on geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pump projects, according to Steven Bauman, a project consultant for New Jersey electric utilities.
The problem of “cold blow” from heat pumps, and their costly winter operation in northern climates, may have been solved with one new product offering this year.
The telephone is starting to ring again. And, in this weather-dependent business, you’ve started getting more work. Now is the time to do the things to even out seasonality and get ready for the times when the telephone isn’t ringing again.
The big push is on to replace R-22 unitary air conditioners and heat pumps, and it looks like the industry has really and truly decided that R-410A systems are “it.” This article offers an overview of some of the issues related to R-22 and -410A in the field: operating pressure differences, oil characteristics, and temperature glide.
Mike Callahan, a familiar face to many people in the hvacr trade, was the keynote speaker at the Annual Convention of the Michigan Chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (MIACCA).
The potential for energy conservation and resulting cash savings continues to fuel the growing popularity of variable-frequency drives (vfd’s) in hvac installations. Realizing that potential, however, has often proven elusive, due to the inherent dependency for success on proper placement of the pressure feedback transmitter in the air- or water-distribution system.
Charlie Elliot needed some marketing advice for his Sault Ste. Marie, MI, hvacr business. The president of the Michigan ACCA Chapter asked the marketing department at a local television station to develop a plan.