It will come as no surprise that a lot of the new products at the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo), Orlando, Jan. 25–27, addressed some aspect of energy efficiency or alternative energy. In the vernacular of the day, some would simply call that being green.

Having recently returned from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), I noticed three things: new products, old products, and people who talked funny.

Having been both booth peddler and booth-stroller, I love the AHR Expo. Some of my best memories of this industry seem to have occurred in late January while ambling along the aisles. Perhaps you feel the same. Invariably, one instance always stands out, and usually it is an occasion of the too much information (TMI) variety.

This poor role model for New Year’s resolutions did however wonder on New Year’s Day what this industry might do differently in 2010. From residential, light and heavy commercial, to industrial and institutional business practices in the HVACR world, there must be a lot of resolutions floating around offices this month.

Amos Snow III, the president and chief executive officer of Bois D’Arc International, took the company in a new direction about eight years ago, after purchasing the company from his father. Bois D’Arc has grown from just 85 customers to more than 850 customers in that time, as it transitioned from a sales company to a sales and manufacturing organization.

January 1, 2010 saw the first day of enactment of the final rules regarding HCFC-22 equipment installation and servicing. No huge surprises resulted, but after almost a full year of uncertainty, it is nice to know that the sky will not actually fall in the New Year.

Nearly 18 months ago, an opinion rendered here generated a noticeable amount of attention - “Who’s in Your Fave Five?” took a verse out of the T-Mobile commercials, to create a list of people I would most like to have on my advisory team. Closing out another year, why not think back to the people that may have most influenced our lives, our decisions, our successes?

The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America released an analysis of the federal stimulus program’s initial impact on construction hiring and spending practices. AGC’s Stephen E. Sandherr said, “The stimulus is clearly working, it just isn’t working fast enough for many construction workers in many communities.”

The Big Easy never rests, and the HVAC industry is alive and well. For two days, members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) ignored talk of a business downturn and instead focused on a brighter day. What better place than the French Quarter to relax and concentrate on good times?

The Boland Trane Co. will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010. As the company celebrates, so too will Vern Hruska, the company’s first service technician. Aside from the fact that the 88-year-old Hruska plans to be there, what makes him so special? Very likely, party planners will have to pull him off a jobsite when the party begins.