Distributors and supplier members attending the Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Southwest Regional Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in June were briefed on positive economic trends affecting the HVACR industry and learned about the challenges of age diversity in the workforce.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently shared analysis based on its 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) data that reports on the increasing home size and energy use across the country.
Upon occasion, I have been wrong about things, and when that occurs, I am quick to point out what that really means: I thought I was wrong about something but actually turned out to be right.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) recently released the 2011 edition of its Canadian Housing Observer — a comprehensive annual overview of the latest housing conditions and trends across Canada.
In a contracting unitary market, it’s worth taking a closer look at ductless, with its double-digit annual growth rates for the past two years and 12 percent annual growth rate for the past five years.
Mixed signals make it difficult to determine what to expect over the next year, although most manufacturers echo Gary Clark, senior vice president of marketing, Goodman Global Group Inc., who stated, “Overall, we see 2012 being very similar to 2011.”
The economy has been tough for many HVAC contractors over the last few years, and the signals are mixed as to whether things will get better in 2012. On the positive side, construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between December 2010 and December 2011. On the other hand, only 302,000 new homes were sold in 2011, which is 6.2 percent below the 2010 figure.
Last year ended on a disappointing note for many, including distributors. On the bright side, distributors in all U.S. regions ended 2011 in positive territory and also reported higher inventory levels than the same time in 2010. What’s ahead for 2012?
Despite lingering economic blight, a gridlocked political climate, and mild winter temperatures, Paul Stalknecht, president and CEO of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), is beaming with optimism.
