The widespread acceptance of Standard 62.2 means that all HVAC contractors need to become familiar with its guidelines. That is especially the case for those looking to tap into the lucrative green market, as most building programs touting energy efficiency require mechanical ventilation based on the standard.
Proper ventilation is necessary to ensure that pollutants in a home do not accumulate to levels that can cause health and comfort problems for occupants. One of the best ways to lower the concentration of indoor air pollutants is to increase the amount of outdoor air coming into the home through mechanical ventilation.
IAQ problems have been an important issue ever since EPA reported, “The air in our homes can be even more polluted than outdoor air.” Contractors certainly took that statistic to heart and began looking for ways to provide IAQ solutions for homeowners who were suffering from humidity problems, allergies, and dust.
There’s a reason why Fort Collins was named one of the best places to live in the country - its location at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains make it visually stunning and also allows for some terrific recreational activities. It’s also where Poudre Valley Air, the West Region’s winner of The NEWS’ Best Contractor To Work For contest, conducts business.
Nine companies have been named as the winners of the eighth annual AHR Expo Innovation Awards. All nine companies will be recognized at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. in the New Product Technology Theater A at the show. In addition, one will be selected as the overall winner of the 2010 AHR Expo Product of the Year Award.
A splashy opening celebration at Chase Field kicked off the 8th annual Greenbuild conference and expo hosted in Phoenix by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The ceremony featured a keynote address by former Vice President and noted environmental advocate Al Gore.
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.