The weather won't be the only factor affecting how readily consumers will invest in a new heating system. The housing market and consumer spending in general will affect how much they are willing or able to invest in their homes.
In order to maintain business continuity no matter what, Tom Willison turned his company into a "systems-based business." The systems include a policy manual, insurance, and a high-tech customer history/dispatch system. The latter, in particular, is "valued by me and my customers," he said.
"The Building Management System (BMS) is the brains of every modern building," said Roy H. Feinzig, P.E. "Like people, some are much smarter than others." Feinzig was speaking at the National Conference on Building Commissioning (NCBC) meeting on "Controls Commissioning: When Good Isn't Good Enough."
For a while, it seemed simplicity of use was the driving factor behind residential thermostats. Now, welcome back to energy consciousness. Today's products strive to offer simplicity of use and energy-efficient functions, such as setback and two-stage operation. They also offer the flexibility of multiple applications.
To say that this was an interesting cooling season would be a big understatement for some contractors. It was a trifecta of prolonged heat across the country, rising energy costs, and a new minimum efficiency for cooling systems that made some installations more complicated.
Don't judge what people need based on their income. You have to look at the people themselves. Tell them what is available. They might decide they're worth the best.
Now that the industry has all but finished its first 13 SEER cooling season, The NEWS wanted to find out how manufacturers' high-efficiency training programs have responded to contractors' needs.
Lennox believes IAQ products can be a lucrative niche. But these products need to be easy for contractors to sell, install, and service. The company believes its latest offerings in humidity control, filtration, and purification provide those benefits.
When it comes to smaller commercial building retrofit projects, the owners, operators, and HVAC contractors may need more guidance when it comes to commissioning because of their lack of familiarity with the process and what it can achieve.
They're the bane of commercial contractors: building owners who won't approve a budget for HVAC maintenance work. According to Bob Baker (BBJ Environmental), the inspection and maintenance project could help contractors by officially placing the ultimate responsibility for system inspections and maintenance where it belongs - on the owner.