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There’s no question home-performance contracting is on the rise, and with it, manufacturers are focused on designing and developing tools to help contractors perform in this growing sector.

When the comfort equipment stops working, it’s time to call the heating and cooling guy. As a contractor, it’s your job to educate customers on the roots of their problems and inform them how a whole-house approach is most beneficial.

Johnson Controls is buying 60 percent of that business and creating a joint venture with Hitachi Appliances retaining ownership of the remaining 40 percent. The new business is valued at around $2.8 billion.

Since originating out of Robnett’s parents’ home, Home Energy Experts has grown to 15 employees with 10 fleet vehicles. Additionally, the company’s 2014 revenue increased 19 percent over its 2013 revenue. 

The settlement is a victory for the manufacturers and contractors who may have been substantially harmed by the standards had they remained in place. Yet, many in the industry are concerned about the growing need to litigate in order to ensure regulations are developed properly and fairly.

Regardless of the type of heat pump system chosen, building owners and managers are sure to see numerous advantages from installing this energy-efficient technology.

System design, performance, and service conditions must be evaluated when retrofitting with a zeotropic or near-azeotropic refrigerant blend. Always follow the refrigerant manufacturer’s retrofit guidelines before retrofitting with any refrigerant, or system performance could be affected and/or injury may occur.

There is a vast selection of refrigerants, and sometimes a technician has a choice in selecting a refrigerant for a particular system. Knowing some of the basic properties of refrigerants can assist a technician in making that selection.

The variable refrigerant flow (VRF) market in the U.S. just got a bit more interesting. Johnson Controls, Hitachi, Ltd., and Hitachi Appliances announced the companies have completed their global joint venture agreement and will immediately begin operations of Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning.

The revised OSHA Hazard Communication Standard now incorporates portions of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, which, according to OSHA, will benefit workers at more than 5 million workplaces in the U.S. by reducing confusion about chemical hazards, facilitating safety training, and improving knowledge of the hazards, especially for low-literacy workers.