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The need for more HVACR technicians was one of the issues that took center stage at the recent 2015 HVACR & Mechanical Conference for Education Professionals, where industry educators attended three days of seminars, classes, and networking events designed to foster collaboration within the industry.

The newly renovated wing of the Finger Lakes Technical & Career Center includes offices and conference rooms, which are now being conditioned using variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology and ventilation air supplied by three Systemair AB Topvex energy recovery ventilators (ERVs).

The 2015 AHR Expo blew into the Windy City and proceeded to trump all previous Chicago expo records as manufacturers, contractors, and distributors from all around the country traveled to the Midwest to discover what’s new and trending in the HVACR industry.

Rooftop heating and cooling equipment is a well-established and widely used technology, but that doesn’t mean the sector is standing still. Rooftop units, like most HVAC equipment, are constantly evolving to be more reliable, more efficient, and easier to control than ever before. 

Units that both cool and heat are in high demand, but other trends include remote monitoring and, for larger units, the ability to fit through a standard door width.

While the geothermal industry is enjoying the growth, many are focused on 2016, when the tax credits are set to expire. The existing tax credit grants a 30 percent incentive for residential projects and 10 percent for commercial projects.

To figure out which efficiency improvements make the most sense, owners usually turn to HVAC professionals to conduct comprehensive energy audits, which are used to thoroughly evaluate existing mechanical systems. While energy audits have traditionally occurred on-site, some firms are offering virtual energy audits.

Air 1 Heating Inc., a full-service heating and cooling contractor serving commercial and residential clients, has been awarded a contract to design/build a 38-ton HVAC system for the construction of a new 13,000-square-foot sporting goods store opening in Kent, Washington.

Regarding HVAC contracting excellence, The NEWS is proud to once again honor some of the industry’s best leaders in its annual Best Contractor to Work For contest.

Last summer, Australia repealed its carbon tax, which, since July 2012, had been imposed on the country’s leading emitters of synthetic greenhouse gases controlled by the Kyoto Protocol. Could a tax that targets carbon dioxide emissions and refrigerants be headed to U.S. shores?