We’ve had a snowy winter here in Michigan. We just got dumped with 8 inches recently, and we are always expecting more. But I haven’t minded at all because my new car has four-wheel drive.

Many contractors are asking what happened to Home Star, the proposed legislation that would have extended rebates to homeowners who invested in energy efficiency upgrades for their homes. While the bill was a hot topic for much of 2010, it ultimately failed to pass in the Senate, and has not been reintroduced in Congress so far in 2011.

At the AHR Expo last week, I attended a break-out session on how HVAC contractors can become “OSHA champions” within their companies. The presenter was Sharon McGee, a Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO).

In North Carolina, contractor Greg Crumpton likes to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. His company, AirTight, is based in Charlotte, and serves commercial, industrial, and mission critical customers within a 100-mile radius.

As more and more consumers are purchasing smartphones and tablets for both business and personal use, more software applications are being developed specifically for these devices. One company that has decided to focus solely on designing mobile applications for the HVAC industry is Carmel Software Corp.

An Android phone, Gmail, and 500-plus followers on Twitter. That doesn’t sound like the typical description of an HVAC contractor, but it sums up Rob Benefiel in a nutshell. In an earlier era, Benefiel, owner of Certified Comfort Heating and Cooling, would not have been able to start and run his business the way he does today.

It may be hard to believe, but Apple launched its iPad less than a year ago. Since then, its popularity has soared. As the iPad has taken the world by storm, it has also made its way into the HVAC industry. Read this article to learn how a contractor and a distributor are pioneering the use of the iPad as a key tool in their businesses.

At Cool Check Air Conditioning Ltd., The NEWS' Best Contractor to Work For in Canada, there’s a definite feeling of family. With a total of 15 employees, this Toronto-area commercial contractor is able to nurture both its employees and its customers.

It’s a new year, and there’s a crowd of newly sworn-in representatives and senators working on Capitol Hill. What Congress does this year will probably have an impact on HVAC businesses, so the industry will keep close tabs on the legislators. A focus on the national deficit and how to cut spending is expected to factor into many legislative actions this year.

These days, the political pundits are all saying that the new scene in Washington, D.C., will be a constant tug o’ war. Everyone anticipates a battle between the newly elected, Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate and Obama administration.