Articles by Herb Woerpel

Every year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Energy Star program acknowledges products it deems “Most Efficient” in the marketplace. Here is a snapshot of Energy Star’s Most Efficient Geothermal Heat Pumps of 2015.

Performance-based contracting involves HVAC professionals measuring the live, installed field performance of systems to ensure customers are getting what they’ve invested in. The field-performance measurements obtained by an HVAC professional are then used to rate the operating efficiency of the installed system.

The emergence of the smart home, interconnectivity, and a push for efficiency stemming directly from the White House is revitalizing HVAC equipment. Here are some up-and-coming, game changing HVAC components and technologies designed to propel the industry forward. 

Be the best, otherwise your competitor is going to scoop in and take what’s yours. Are you up to the challenge?

Amidst all the challenges that tugged at your productivity, you overcame and achieved. You deserve a pat on the back, so, here it is. Feels good, doesn’t it? But what about the guys and gals with their boots on the ground. Are they gaining the recognition they deserve?

It’s important to remember that not every member of today’s youth fits the “millennial” mold. There are good kids out there. And, while finding these gems may take time and effort, the payoff is often well worth the investment. 

As building professionals, which dose of climate change science do you believe in? Is our world on a fast-track toward damnation, or is the “science” behind man-made climate change a large dose of hysteria?

As building professionals, you must consider the potential impacts of climate change on the built environment. You must incorporate appropriate adaptation strategies so the environments you build, design, and manage today will be suitable for an uncertain tomorrow.

While you have zero control over what your competitors say or do, you have total control over what you say and do. Make sure your staff is relaying the most convincing message it can.

The conference, which took place March 7-12 in west Maui, Hawaii, featured keynote speeches from Leon Panetta, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); John Green, the author of “The Fault in Our Stars;” Michael A. Pleasant, assistant general president, United Association (UA); and oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard, who may be best known for finding the Titanic in 1985.