In an effort to increase the number of technicians that are certified and more importantly recertified, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) has made changes to its certification program. With one in every three NATE tests being given by a HARDI member, distributors are hoping this increases participation in NATE.
Members of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) got up to speed about the industry and did some networking as they held their annual meeting in Amelia Island, Fla., recently.
A year after Daikin Industries acquired Goodman Manufacturing, the company is shaking up the U.S. HVAC marketplace. Daikin announced they are launching a residential brand in the United States and that the VRF systems will be manufactured in the United States for the first time. The company also introduced an exclusive dealer program.
I am here to report that the HVAC business community has put the phrase “cautiously optimistic” behind them.
I travel a lot in this job and have the opportunity to meet with people all along the HVAC chain. Ever since the great crash of 2008, when I asked people how they see business going in the next 12 months, they inevitably told me that they were cautiously optimistic. Well, that is not entirely true as during that first year everyone was either depressed, mad, or defeated.
Being the Big Man on Campus might not have worked well for Manti Te’o, but being the Big Man on the Planet (BMOP) is a goal for a lot of distributors across the country.
A 30 percent federal tax credit and high levels of consumer knowledge have spurred growth in the geothermal heat pump market. While most estimates have the market at around 1-2 percent, distributors would be wise to educate their customers on geothermal as some predict as much as a 100 percent increase by 2017.
A 30 percent federal tax credit and high levels of consumer knowledge have spurred growth in the geothermal heat pump market. While most estimates have the market at around 1-2 percent, distributors would be wise to educate their customers on geothermal as some predict as much as a 100 percent increase by 2017. Geothermal manufacturer ClimateMaster wants to make that process as easy as possible for distributors.
“We do not object to the whole settlement. We don’t object to APGA’s ability to settle with the department on the matter of furnaces,” said Jon Melchi, director of government affairs, HARDI. “We reject the premise that the case should be dismissed outright because of that settlement. We believe the judge should allow us to continue our case as it relates to the direct final rule process which established these standards, including air conditioners.”
