ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced the extension of its HVAC Business Partners Program, which provides training and support to HVAC contractors to use advanced diagnostic tools as part of national standards for quality maintenance of rooftop units.

NYSERDA said the inspection and maintenance of rooftop air conditioners outlined in these standards not only improve the performance and energy efficiency of rooftop units, but also identify procedures to provide healthy air quality and comfortable temperatures. A rooftop unit that has been properly maintained can save businesses up to 30 percent of their air conditioning costs, depending on the condition of the unit, said the organization.

“The extension of the HVAC Business Partners Program provides a valuable competitive opportunity for HVAC firms that adopt and promote national standards to increase energy savings and comfort at their clients’ facilities,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA. “Quality maintenance reduces emergency calls, increases equipment efficiency, and addresses tenant comfort, all strong selling points for their service.”

The HVAC Business Partners Program was established in October 2010 and supported 30 partners in performing more than 150 quality maintenance projects in 2011. NYSERDA said the program is part of its strategy to educate and support companies in the building trades so they can provide quality service options that make commercial and industrial facilities more energy efficient.

The program’s HVAC service firms agree to adopt and apply ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180, Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems, as part of their business model. Business partners are eligible to receive incentives from NYSERDA for each maintenance service they perform following Standard 180. Program partners who service customers in the Upstate region receive $250 for units sized from 4-14.5 tons and $400 for units sized 15-40 tons. The incentives for Downstate (ConEd) customers are $350 for units sized 4-14.5 tons and $550 for units sized from 15-40 tons.

All HVAC contractors who work with and primarily serve New York State customers are eligible for the HVAC Business Partners Program. Criteria for contractors interested in becoming program Business Partners include active professional trade association membership, five technicians or more, proven management dedication to customer service, and proficiency in energy efficiency design, installation, and maintenance.

For more information on NYSERDA’s HVAC Business Partners Program, visit http://nyserda.ny.gov/hvac-business-partners. For HVAC contractors interested in becoming a NYSERDA Business Partner, call 866-904-8027 or email HVACpartners@nyserda.org. For information on registering for training, visit http://nyserda.ny.gov/hvac-training.

Publication date: 03/26/2012