As the HVAC industry gears up for the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) next week, another annual trade show worth mentioning has come and gone — the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Why mention CES? There are two reasons — Nest and relevance.

These comments are about homeowners who buy their HVAC units online, then want contractors to install it.

When it comes to encouraging high school students to pursue post-secondary studies in vocational programs such as HVACR, the fall guys for failure to do so are usually the high school counselors. Well, it just might be the blame rests not with the counselors but with those who are telling the counselors what to push and promote.

This letter is in response to Kimberly Schwartz’s editorial “Don’t Let That Talent Slip Away,” Nov. 21.

It has been my pleasure to write an occasional column for The NEWS for the last seven years. With upcoming changes to our staff responsibilities, those musings will be less frequent. Oh, you will still see a few errant missives from my keyboard, but I’ll mostly be tending to the type of duties admirably handled by Publisher John Conrad during the last 10 years.

These comments are on whether a/c distributors should have a certification that shows they’re only selling to certified contractors.

It’s the end of another year. Is it just me or does it seem that the years seem to be going by more quickly? As the year comes to an end, besides celebrating Christmas and the other holidays, we should be putting in some time planning for 2012.

This letter is in response to Kimberly Schwartz’s editorial “Don’t Let That Talent Slip Away,” Nov. 21.

As the holiday season and New Year approach, The NEWS wishes you good times. Really, we do. So, for the next couple of weeks, please have a few donuts and don’t worry about payroll, paying the bills, paying the piper, or even paying attention. 2012 promises to be a good year in the HVACR industry.

These comments are on how sales of HVAC equipment on the Internet affects the industry.

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