John Sedine, president of Engineered Heating & Cooling, has been named the incoming 2010 chairman of the board of directors for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). Sedine, a successful Michigan-based contractor, has long been a prominent figure within the HVAC industry.

It’s all going down in Tampa, March 7-9. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s (ACCA) Annual Conference & Indoor Air Expo will provide opportunities to reconnect with industry peers, freshen up on new challenges, news, and issues going on in the HVACR sector, as well as continue on educational and personal/professional development paths.

With the ACCA 2010 Conference & Indoor Air Expo just around the corner, Paul Stalknecht, president and CEO of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), spoke with The NEWS regarding some of the issues and concerns that the HVACR industry faces at the dawn of 2010, and expounds on how ACCA is addressing these concerns.

In regard to conventional HVACR systems using either energy from fossil fuels, such as natural gas, or utilizing the energy from the ambient air surrounding a building, geothermal technology uses energy from the ground to ultimately condition the space.

The NEWS approached several manufacturers of dual-fuel HVAC equipment with some questions about this burgeoning technology, such as functionality, challenges, and obstacles in implementing it, and what it means, overall, to the future of the HVAC industry at large.

Numerous studies link newly diagnosed ailments such as pulmonary disease, as well as old enemies like asthma and allergies, to the effects of poor ventilation and exposure to unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists IAQ as one of the top-five modern day environmental health concerns.

In regard to the various types of duct systems and the evolving technologies impacting these materials, providing acoustical and thermal control, as well as anti-microbial protection in duct systems are essential considerations for establishing healthy, sustainable building interiors.

The worlds of HVAC contractors and duct cleaning services perhaps need not be as disparate as they once were. Due to developments with duct cleaning equipment and technologies being more readily accessible, practical and appealing, HVAC contractors making the foray into this realm are enjoying success.

There are key objectives of an aftermarket parts and service business that are necessary in order to become and remain successful, especially in trying economic conditions. According to the Source 1 division of York/Johnson Controls, these include unwavering availability; outstanding product breadth; and, last but not least, competitive pricing.

In service industries such as HVACR, customer satisfaction is one of the cornerstones of any reputable outfit. By placing an emphasis on customer service - both on the parts/supplies business as well as contractor repair/installation efforts - mutually rewarding professional relationships can be forged and profit margins widened.