It’s been a little more than a month in a half for me at The NEWS and boy, have I learned a lot. What makes my head spin, however, is that what I’ve learned doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the HVACR industry.

I find myself noticing things I never bothered to stop and notice before. For example: checking out the types of thermostats in the homes of my friends and relatives. I can now identify manufacturer brands. But, much to my disappointment, none of the thermostats I saw were the Wi-Fi devices I’ve been learning and writing about nonstop. This would then launch a new conversation about said thermostats with those family members and friends. (I think I convinced my aunt and uncle to look into the Nest Learning Thermostat, actually.)

Another example is after researching and writing about solar energy alternatives, I now notice solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the side of the highway on my commutes to and from work. I’m also paying attention to new solar projects like Ford and DTE Energy partnering to build Michigan’s largest solar array at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. Exciting stuff!

One of the reasons I went into journalism was because I loved talking to new people and learning about new things. Well, I’m definitely getting my fill of that at The NEWS. For my next trick, I’ll be diving into the world of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems. Stay tuned for more!