ACHR News
search
Ask ACHR NEWS AI
cart
facebook twitter instagram linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHR News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • New HVAC Products
    • Featured Products
    • Manufacturer Reports
    • HVAC Data
    • Legislation
    • ACHR NEWS Centennial
  • RESIDENTIAL
    • Air Conditioners
    • Furnaces
    • Residential Heat Pumps
    • Ductless
    • Residential IAQ
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Components & Accessories
  • COMMERCIAL
    • Air Handlers
    • Rooftop Units
    • Chillers and Cooling Towers
    • Commercial Heat Pumps
    • Boilers and Hydronics
    • VRF/Ductless
    • Commercial IAQ
  • REFRIGERATION
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Leak Management
  • CONTRACTOR PRO
    • Geothermal
    • Homeowner Study
    • VRF and VRV Ductless
    • Unitary Trends
  • EDUCATION
    • Training and Education
    • Business Management
    • Service and Maintenance
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research >
      • HVAC Brand Awareness Report
      • VRV, VRF, VRVZ Report
      • Unitary Trends Report
      • Water Heat Professionals Report
    • Webinars
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProducts Info
    • White Papers
  • EVENTS
    • HVAC Contractor Forum
    • Industry Events and Webinars
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • AHR Expo 2025 Videos
    • Podcasts >
      • ACHR News Podcast
      • HARDI Podcasts
      • AHR Expo Podcasts
      • ACCA Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Quizzes
    • eBooks
    • HVAC Talkback
  • HVAC GROUP
    • ACHR NEWS >
      • Current Issue
      • Digital Edition
      • Subscribe
    • Distribution Trends
    • SNIPS NEWS >
      • Join SNIPS NEWS
    • Engineered Systems News >
      • Join ES News
    • HVACR Directory
    • Contests
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • My Account
Newsline

Thomas speaks at RPA show, brings down the 'Old House'

July 1, 2000
CHICAGO — One thousand radiant heating enthusiasts attended the Radiant Panel Association’s (RPA’s) annual Radiant Heating Conference and Trade Show held here. Everything from committee meetings to the presentation by Steve Thomas of This Old House was well attended.

More than 200 signed up for the “Radiant Basics” course taught this year by Mark Eatherton, who walked the group through a full day of everything from elementary radiant concepts to sophisticated control strategies. Eatherton brought to the course his perspective as an experienced contractor.

At a reception around the “System Showcase” pavilion, the finalists’ projects for this competition could be viewed on video screens as well as photo books.

Seminars and sessions included a 4-hr program by Ellen Rohr on “Where did the money go?” Rohr guided attendees through the mysteries of small business finance.

Sessions on air elimination, electric basics, boilers, snow melting, and controls were also provided. There were also panel discussions on such subjects as hybrid systems and emerging technologies.

Thomas of This Old House spoke to a packed house. He surprised the group with a look into his past, which includes a combination of woodworking with a passion for the sea.

He was first mate on a 100-ft wooden schooner in Greece, worked as a marine carpenter in Antibes, France, and sailed a 43-ft wooden sloop from England to San Francisco via the Caribbean, Marquesas, and Hawaii. He financed it all by restoring old homes.

Thomas also gave some insight into what goes on behind the scenes at This Old House.

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

The trade show floor offered 90 exhibitors displaying products covering every facet of radiant heating.

And John Siegenthaler presented a 4-hr preview of the RPA’s “Advanced Controls” course, which is under development.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • HVAC-enrollment

    The Trades Are Back: HVACR Programs See Nearly 30% Enrollment Spike

    A new wave of future technicians is entering the pipeline.  
    News
    By: Matt Jachman
  • 2025 Top 40 Under 40

    2025 Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals List

    The 11th annual Top 40 Under 40 list highlights those...
    HVAC Light Commercial Market
    By: Hannah Belloli-Oster
  • LG Ductless Mini-Split Systems

    The 9 Types of Heat Pumps

    As the U.S. moves toward electrification, heat pumps are...
    News
    By: Joanna R. Turpin
Subscription Center
  • Create an Account
  • Start a Subscription
  • Manage My Account
  • Sign Up for Newsletters
  • Visit Customer Service
  • Update Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to The News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The News or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Piggy Bank
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Energy Prices, Inflation, and HVAC: What Today’s Homeowners Care About

  • Refrigerated Food
    Sponsored bySolstice Advanced Materials

    R-455A Refrigeration: A Cold Storage Solution for the Future

  • Airex Rooftop Units
    Sponsored byAirex Manufacturing Inc

    Consolidating Roof Penetrations: A Growing Trend in Multifamily HVAC Design

Popular Stories

HVAC-Price-Increase-graphic

HVAC Price Increase List: June 2026

Trump-Section-232.jpg

Trump Reduces Section 232 Tariffs on HVAC Equipment to 15%

Refrigerants-and-gauge.jpg

HVAC Industry Warns of Counterfeit Refrigerants Entering U.S. Supply Chain

Heat-pump-cutaway.jpg

PFAS Rules and A2L Building Codes Continue to Evolve

Midea-training.jpg

HVAC Workforce Crisis Expands Beyond Technicians to Instructor Shortages

View The ACHR NEWS
Centennial Anniversary Timeline

The ACHR News Timeline Chart
Submit a Letter
Submit a letter to our editors.

Events

November 6, 2025

Next-Gen Data Center Cooling: HVAC Innovation and Real-World Solutions

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

June 17, 2026

Decarbonization Without Disruption

This webinar will explore practical HVAC decarbonization strategies that minimize disruption while maximizing long-term performance and ROI.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Summer Staff

Are you fully staffed for the summer season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

See More Products
Decarbonization Without Disruption - Free Webinar - 6/17/2026

Related Articles

  • This Old House's Trethewey Addresses Conference

    See More
  • Duct Sealing Technology Featured on PBS’s This Old House

    See More
  • Lochinvar to Appear on ‘This Old House’ in Cambridge House Episode

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Bob's House.jpg

    Bob's House

  • The ACHR News - February 16, 2026

    ACHR NEWS February 16, 2026, Issue

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Old World Industries

    Old World Industries offers PEAK® Thermal Charge®, a line of glycol-based Heat Transfer Fluids used in data centers, HVAC systems, stationary engines and more.
  • Thomas J. Finnegan Co.

    Thomas J. Finnegan represents many companies in the HVAC/R industry, selling to affiliated wholesalers and OEMs in ten states.
  • SupplyHouse.com

    SupplyHouse.com is the leading online plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies distributor in the USA. Headquartered in Melville, NY, we have fulfillment centers across the country to ensure fast shipping from coast to coast.
×

Sign Up. Stay Informed.

The #1 trusted source for the HVACR industry since 1926

SUBSCRIBE
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Letter
    • Directories
    • Store
  • ACCOUNT CENTER
    • Create an Account
    • Start a Subscription
    • Manage My Account
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Visit Customer Service
    • Update Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing