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Improper installation of heat pumps may increase household energy use for space heating and cooling on the order of 30 percent over what it should be.

There’s nothing consumers love more than a deal. Find a way for them to save money, or even get more for their money, and they’re putty in your hands. This is why rebate programs can be such useful tools for home-performance contractors. Over the past few years, however, contractors have observed that rebate programs are diminishing or disappearing altogether.

The New York Geothermal Organization (NY-GEO) hosted its annual conference April 19-20 in Albany, New York. The event, which registered as the largest in the organization’s history, allowed elected officials, government agencies, and industry professionals from around the world to share the progress being made toward implementation of geothermal heating and cooling technologies.

EGIA works closely with utility companies and the government on their energy-efficiency and renewable energy programs and manages one of the largest energy-efficiency financing programs in the country. In fact, EGIA has facilitated the financing of more than 200,000 residential and business projects valued in excess of $2.5 billion and administered over $750 million in rebate payments.

In March, Trump released his preliminary 2018 budget proposal detailing several changes to the way the federal government spends money. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of many government departments being targeted.

In 2008, my wife, Dorian, and I moved to Albuquerque from Colorado to establish Outlaw Mechanical. Colorado taught me a few things about the need for tough, durable HVAC systems, so, today, about 40 percent of Outlaw’s work is hydronic.

Being accountable for proper airflow delivery causes a tech to examine every portion of an installation differently. Airflow is no longer assumed since test instruments now measure it. Let’s look at some of the most common obstacles to achieving a successful air balance on a residential HVAC system.

WaterFurnace Intl. Inc. recently held its 2017 annual sales meeting in Denver, and as you can imagine, the 30 percent residential and 10 percent commercial federal tax credits for geothermal heat pump systems that expired Dec. 31, 2016, were on everybody’s minds.

While some contractors are proceeding with caution when it comes to smart home automation products, further training and awareness may force their hands sooner than later.

By now, most contractors are offering Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats and systems that include central interfaces. Those ahead of the curve are utilizing these central interface systems to upsell customers on security cameras, camera-infused doorbells, perimeter lighting, and more.