The front page of this week’s issue carries an interesting, and actually, ground-breaking story. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have taken important steps toward the merger of these two powerful industry organizations.
HVAC contractors are well-known as people who like to start their days early. Therefore, it should not come as much of a surprise that the people who typically open up the counters where contractors gather for coffee and sunrise will-call orders, are also early risers. Those attending the Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) 2007 Annual Fall Conference, probably felt right at home as the first executive meeting began promptly at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning.
A battle to override federal efficiency standards for HVAC appliances is being waged on Capitol Hill - and, you guessed it, California is once again leading the charge. In addition, almost 14 states have indicated a desire to supersede federal requirements.
One adage you’ll hear from some salespeople is that “he who speaks first loses.” A friend and sales consultant, Drew Cameron, tells me there shouldn’t be any losers. I agree, but talking too much is definitely a detriment to success - and to getting any rest on a plane.
The
leadership of Johnstone Supply brought the 26th annual Johnstone Supply
Member’s Meeting to the southern shore of Lake Michigan, and fair weather
provided ample opportunity for the charting of new waters in and around the
Windy City.
The fifth fuel, as it is referred to in environmental circles, is energy efficiency. Oil and gas dependency is old school. Who wants to be at the mercy of the Middle East, Russia, or Hugo Chavez? A single bomb dropped on Iran will make $100/barrel oil look cheap - so says my chief energy advisor, who must remain anonymous lest he start charging me for stock tips.
Maybe the concept of tying energy efficiency to taking cars off of the roads isn’t working very well. We are just too attached to our horseless carriages. Here is a horse of a different color. The color is green.
As the HVAC world becomes ever-more enveloped in the green wave, it seems that the focus of many companies is on environmental concerns. No problem with that. However, what about refrigerants? The HCFC changeover that begins in 2010 has actually already begun.
The irrational exuberance of some salespeople amazes me. In an effort to regurgitate every factoid about their product, in an effort to manipulate responses with questions, in an effort to get the sale at any cost, they forget one very important point. Listen to the customer.
