Mike Murphy

Recent reports indicate that unemployment, though easing somewhat, will continue to be at relatively high levels, with some projections ranging from 8.3 to 9.6 percent by the end of 2011. Sorry to start off with what may appear to be such dire statistics, but there really is a bright side.

In addition to regular meetings, Peaden Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing in Panama City and Fort Walton Beach, Fla., communicates weekly through a company enewsletter called As the Fan Turns. If I were an employee, everything I could ever want to know about the company’s activities is in that weekly communication.

The address 4340 Verasteau Lane is not the easiest place in southern Indiana to find. Even lost strangers rarely stumble across it. But for several hundred geothermal evangelists seeking training, the Verasteau House at the end of the drive is much more of a magnet than a navigational mistake.

What is this world coming to? HVAC products are becoming too flexible. If the industry keeps offering these crazy options on products, customers will start demanding all kinds of other stuff, and before you know it, customers will be able to customize their own comfort system products. You’re right. It’s not all that crazy.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience wheeled into the St. Louis area to the delight of nearly 100 White-Rodgers contractor customers. Emerson Climate has scheduled numerous successful NASCAR driving experiences, but the White-Rodgers crew made sure this event would be one to be remembered.

Solving the problem of formicary corrosion may continue to be an ongoing battle, as new subtleties develop every day in this business. However, simply sitting at a round table while everyone points their fingers to the right is no way to solve the problem - a problem that does appear to be on the rise in recent years.

After a few weeks on the road with a variety of contractor groups, it happened again. I learned some things about this business that I had thought I already knew. Or, at least thought I had heard a hundred times before and had probably stopped listening.

Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) President Kateri Callahan noted in her opening remarks at the gala Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner that the ASE has embarked upon the Decade of Energy Efficiency. The awards dinner brought dignitaries from industry, government, and academia.

The 18th annual Evening With the Stars of Energy Efficiency, a black-tie dinner and awards program hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) recognized the contributions and innovations of nine leading companies that have advanced the cause of energy efficiency. Danfoss received the Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency Award.

As often happens, I learned something new while talking to a contractor a few weeks ago. An interesting thing about learning something new is that I also often discover almost everyone else already knows what I am just figuring out for the first time. But, just in case, I thought I’d share some words of perspective from Tim McGuire.