Although the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its final rule establishing regional standards for air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces last October, the fight is not over yet. Through the legal advocacy group Cause of Action, the Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) has filed a petition to intervene through the United States Court of Appeals against the DOE.

Now I realize that people are reading this article in late January and those resolutions that you proclaimed so loudly three weeks ago are barely a faint memory. But this is also a good time to come up with some New Year’s resolutions for your business.

Is it really a lack of qualified workers -- or of qualified companies?

So do you want the good news or the bad news first? Because there was both in the presentation economist Alan Beaulieu gave to the Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) members at the recent HARDI Conference in Hawaii.

There was a lot of excitement from both speakers and attendees at the 2011 Daikin AC Sales Meeting, “Daikin on the Move.” A total of 91 guests from 37 companies learned what Daikin has accomplished, and its goals going forward.

In a time of dwindling attendance to many national live events, The NEWS' latest webinar series shunned that trend.

 

 If you love your employer, or maybe if you just want to get brownie points, nominate your company in the 2011 Best Contractor to Work For contest. 

Contractors point at high school guidance counselors, ill-informed parents, and the lack of positive industry PR as obstacles they face in hiring top-notch talent. Instead of complaining about things you really have no control over, contractors need to roll up their sleeves and overcome those obstacles.

As any good HVAC contractor knows, it is a lot easier to blow a reputation than it is to build one up. Charlie Sheen is a good reminder that you better be doing a stellar job from the start and just improve from there.

Perhaps we have beaten our readers over the head with this over the last eight months, but we are celebrating our 85th year in publication in 2011 and are quite proud.