There is a unique community development program underway in Phoenix that is bringing together manufacturers, architects, engineers, general contractors, sub-contractors, and the community to erect LEED platinum designed school structures built entirely by volunteers.

The K-12 school market in 2012 has received a failing grade from a group of mechanical contractors who specialize in this market segment, and their observations are backed up by a comprehensive report that indicates this segment of the commercial building market has declined 50 percent from pre-recession levels.

A collection of honorees have been named in The NEWS’ 2012 ninth annual Dealer Design Awards program. Each gold, silver, and bronze winning product is featured in the pages of this issue and will be added to the pages of HVACR history as Dealer Design winners.

Small businesses come and go, that’s a given. All sectors of the business community, including the HVAC contracting trade, are affected. That creates a lot of turmoil — or opportunity — for small business owners who see a chance to grab a bigger share of the market as competitors fold their tents.

Dealing with layoffs in tough economic times can be challenging. Layoffs can’t necessarily be based on seniority, as persons skilled in one aspect of the business can’t easily be shifted to an area out of their expertise. Added to that are the emotional ties that so many company owners in HVACR have with their employees.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) arrived at the Disney Resorts in Orlando recently for some networking, education, and fun. The high-energy, four-day convention began with a look back at the last 12 months for the MCAA and all it has accomplished.

Contractors across the nation are finding that although the HVAC industry has experienced change in the recent economic crisis, its need for skilled labor and certified technicians has not been completely abated by the influx of displaced workers from the economic downturn. Other trade industries have noticed this problem, too.

The NEWS interviewed three contractors from around the country who are involved in high-performance building projects to find out more about their experiences.

The LED10W-1X2LT rechargeable, portable, and adjustable LED light tower produces 1,600 lumens and is capable of running for 20 hours on a single charge. The weather- and abuse-resistant tower package includes two aluminum-bodied and IP68-rated LED light heads producing 800 lumens each.

The economy has been tough for many HVAC contractors over the last few years, and the signals are mixed as to whether things will get better in 2012. On the positive side, construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between December 2010 and December 2011. On the other hand, only 302,000 new homes were sold in 2011, which is 6.2 percent below the 2010 figure.