LAKELAND, Fla. - A new name, new logo, new building, and a new challenge. About 30 sales reps from Canada, Australia, and the United States came not only to get an advance peak at the new manufacturing facility in Lakeland, Fla., but also to get jazzed up about some other changes at the former ECR Technologies.

“ECR Technologies served us well, but EarthLinked Technologies (ETI) boldly claims our pioneering status as innovator of the most efficient means of delivering renewable energy from the earth to slash energy costs, displace fossil fuel firing, and reduce emissions,” said Joe Parsons, new vice president at ETI.

There are those who might argue some of Parsons’ claims, but none were to be found at the national sales meeting. Attendees were excited just to be able to get together with their peers who share a passion for Direct Geoexchange. With the additional excitement of a new building, a new name, a new company logo, and the announcement of a new Website, the stars and planets couldn’t have been in any better alignment for the sales reps that distribute EarthLinked product and provide sales support to HVAC contractors.

Direct Geoexchange is a unique application, which uses common refrigerant flowing through copper lines that are buried in the earth. Other geothermal applications use varieties of plastic pipe with a different heat exchange fluid such as glycol or water.

The meeting offered technical and strategic presentations for the sales reps as they collectively prepare for 2008 and what is expected to be a continually changing market dynamic. By many accounts, that dynamic hinges on the green movement.

Brett Guarrero, ETI sales consultant, was one of several presenters during the two-day program. Guarrero discussed green building practices and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED-DESIGNED BUILDING

The construction of the company’s new building is designed for LEED certification and specifically for ETI’s expanding needs; it was completed in late February. EarthLinked® heat pumps are a major part of the energy-saving design. The company felt that using its own products for much of the design was not only energy efficient but would help with attainment of LEED points.

About 44 percent of the points for certification can come from the mechanical and IAQ systems. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building pro- ject is environmentally responsible, profitable, and a healthy place to live and work.

Guarrero discussed the little-known aspects of green and sustainable design that can greatly benefit building owners, if only they knew about them. Meeting attendees were educated in the nuances of green building practices and prepared to take this knowledge back to their local markets where it is hoped that more contractors view Direct Geoexchange technology as an avenue to provide LEED design.

For more information, visit www.earthlinked.com.

Publication Date: 03/17/2008