Programmable thermostats were the hot control item at the 2009 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo). Occupancy sensors and easy-to-read displays made the top of the new and improved features list.

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) said “aloha” to Maui recently for its 65th annual convention. According to the association, more than 1,400 people attended enjoying meals, concerts, recreation, products, and educational and business sessions.

Are you ready to step into the efficiency market with confidence and a whole-system approach? Or, are you riding the financial green bandwagon as you continue to install higher efficiency units without addressing the issues of refrigerant disposal, ductwork sealing, proper maintenance, programmable thermostat education, etc.?

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI’s) first annual meeting is scheduled to kick off this Sunday in the coastal foothills of Carlsbad, Calif., at the La Costa Resort and Spa. Just outside of San Diego, AHRI and its members will mark this historical meeting with not only a range of activities, but also a host of meetings to inform members and allow them time to form new strategies for the coming year.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) passed the U.S. House of Representatives and within hours was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Providing for the $700 billion governmental bailout of several failing bank assets, the new law also contained extensions to both current and expired HVAC tax incentives.

In the midst of the changing business atmosphere, Michael Marks, co-founder of Indian River Consulting Group, offered some different suggestions for distributors to consider during the Risk and Opportunity in 2009: A Conversation With Mike Marks Webinar presented by Modern Distribution Management (MDM).

Technology trends in HVAC distributorships often center on the backroom - bar coding, radio frequency identification (RFID), portable scanning guns, software, etc. However, there is a growing demand on the horizon for increased customer-facing technology, and Tom Craig is planning ahead.

In an effort to provide their customers optimal pricing, distributors are evaluating and streamlining their daily practices. Considering the housing market, materials pricing, new technology, the tightening credit market, and refrigerant issues, two members of The NEWS’ distributor panel share their opinions and strategies.

Returning home from duty, veterans face a new battle once their time of service has passed - finding a new career. To assist these men and women, Don Dwyer Sr., founder of The Dwyer Group, created the VetFran program. Run by the International Franchise Association (IFA), the program was initiated in 1994 after the first Gulf War ended.

Good news is on the horizon as newly released industry numbers from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) show multiple increases in factory shipments. According to AHRI, the combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for July are up 6.2 percent as compared with July of last year.