With Thanksgiving just behind us, I thought it would be an appropriate time to take a look back and see what there is to be thankful for in the HVAC industry so far this year.

For my first year in the industry, it certainly seems like things are looking up. I’ve spoken to oodles and oodles of contractors this year and very few have been negative about how things are going for their business.

From this perspective, here are a few things I’ve noticed about 2013 that we have to be thankful for.

·         Industry associations working together: I think this will be big as the years go on. Having associations that work together for the contractor is a big benefit, especially as more contractors diversify their businesses and delve into home-performance work. Having a harmonic industry is a good thing.

·         Economy rebound: Many manufacturers have suggested they expect 2014 to be better than 2013, which was above expectations. A lot of contractors I’ve spoken with this year have said 2013 has been a good rebound year. Now, what is the next step for contractors when it comes to making sure 2014 is the best it can be?

·         Going green: It was certainly great to hear from so many contractors who took pride in making sure they offered energy-efficient products. Our environment needs all the help it can get, and the HVAC world can play a big role in helping our world reduce energy use.

Now that I’ve said my piece, what have you been most thankful for in 2013?