Manufacturers who have incorporated communicating technology into their new residential heating and cooling products have seen a huge demand for these smart systems. Contractors benefit because the systems speed installation and troubleshooting. The increasing demand is the main reason why the ClimateTalk™ Alliance was formed earlier this year.

Central heating and cooling systems have been around for a long time, yet over the decades not much has changed in the way homeowners interact with their HVAC equipment. That is slowly changing as equipment manufacturers continue to introduce smarter, more sophisticated controls.

Commercial building owners and property managers have been able to remotely access their facilities over the Internet for many years. Now that same kind of remote control technology is coming to the residential market, as manufacturers are beginning to offer thermostats that can be accessed via the Internet.

Customer awareness of the industry transition to R-410A still seems to be on the low side, so contractors need to be prepared to spend time educating consumers about the new refrigerant. One estimate is that only 30 to 40 percent of the public knows about the phaseout of R-22.

Every day, dealers must discuss the phaseout of R-22 with customers. This can be a confusing topic for customers to comprehend, which is why manufacturers have provided dealers with all kinds of educational materials to help explain the phaseout of R-22 and the benefits of moving to R-410A.

Topp provides portable air conditioning and heating solutions from offices around the country. So it was a challenge in training the company’s many technicians in the use of R-410A. In 2008, the decision was made to bring all company technicians to the Philadelphia-area office for one- or two-day training sessions.

Not that long ago the good-better-best gas furnace options that were presented to homeowners often consisted of 90 percent, 92 percent, and 95 percent AFUE equipment, respectively. That’s all changed thanks to the federal tax credit that went into effect earlier this year.

The day Jan. 1, 2010 will bring many changes to the HVAC industry. As of that date, R-22 will no longer be available in new cooling systems manufactured in the United States or Canada, and our neighbors to the north will have a new national minimum energy performance standard for gas furnaces - a minimum fuel efficiency level of 90 percent AFUE.

Only 100 years ago, 90 percent of Americans burned wood to heat their homes. As fossil fuel use rose, the percentage of Americans using wood for fuel dropped, falling to as low as 1 percent by 1970, according to the DOE. Now that the green movement is taking hold, interest in biomass heating is resurfacing as a renewable energy alternative.

HVACR contractors and technicians are busy people who often find it difficult to attend training courses held during their hectic workdays. Though it’s important to make time for ongoing training during regular circumstances, it becomes even more crucial when a major change occurs in the industry - such as the current transition from R-22 to R-410A.