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The roundtable discussion joined HVAC OEMs, consultants, and contractors with advocacy and utility groups, and authorities in research and policy to examine the opportunity of investment in next-generation energy infrastructure for commercial buildings.

Engineers and architects took the seemingly impossible task of recycling an outdated industrial factory into a LEED-Gold showcase of some of the HVAC industry’s most innovative equipment for Asheboro, N.C.-based Randolph Community College (RCC).

It would take roughly $271 billion to bring public school buildings across the U.S. up to working order to gain compliance with the law, and a staggering $542 billion to meet current health, safety, and education standards. 

With just three years left to encourage homeowners to invest in geothermal advances, manufacturers are pulling out all the stops by introducing new features on their GHPs, such as variable-speed technology and sophisticated controls, which they say will provide homeowners with better comfort, as well as lower energy consumption and operating costs.

This group, also known as Generation Y, was born between 1980 and 2000 and has a strong reputation for being tech savvy, environmentally aware, and cost conscious.

President Barack Obama’s recently announced Climate Action Plan specifically references the future of the familiar HFC refrigerants all HVACR contractors work with on a daily basis.

Each geothermal installation involves digging up a yard, laying hundreds of feet of pipe, and generally disrupting the lives of homeowners, but thanks to the innovative thinking of manufacturers and contractors, there are now new products and techniques that can enhance the installation experience for the homeowner, as well as the contractor.

Most utilities promote conservation by offering rebates for the installation of high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and solar energy systems, but several are starting to think outside the box.

The geothermal courses focus on educating representatives, distributors, and contractors about how to perform a complete, successful geoexchange installation, from field work to equipment connections.

As technology continues to advance, more and more industry mobile applications are becoming available for smartphones and tablets. These mobile apps can be valuable tools for HVACR customers, contractors, distributors, and manufacturers.