These days, essentially everybody wants their building to be more efficient. But there are still barriers to achieving high efficiency and constructing a high-performance building.

There are many obstacles contractors face when working on these types of projects, including everything from educating owners to following through on building operation.

For a company that’s been in business 118 years, making upgrades isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. That’s why Butch Welsch, president of Welsch Heating & Cooling Co., St. Louis, always makes sure to stick to one key principle despite the rapidly changing times we live in: First impressions are everything.

Shipments of HVAC equipment increased marginally in 2012, reported the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). 

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is forecasting that single-family starts will grow 22 percent in 2013 and that single-family construction will grow another 30 percent in 2014.

Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) recently announced that while HVACR average distributor sales declined 1.8 percent in December 2012, they increased 5.6 percent for the year. 

When mechanical engineers, installers, architects, and building owners have the rare luxury of designing a new facility specifically to meet or exceed energy efficiency and indoor comfort needs, big dreams become a reality. 

Lead-by-example government initiatives also have the power to shift the HVACR market toward more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly products for homes and buildings nationwide.

Only by using more advanced cooking and chilling technology can you ensure that your potato salad is fresh, delicious, and offers optimum shelf life, without the use of unappealing preservatives.