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Retailers have diversified and have included additional products and services to their main offering. I wondered how we could apply these principles to our HVAC contracting businesses. The things that came to mind immediately are maintenance agreements, water panels for humidifiers, and replacement media for media air cleaners.

The front page of this week’s issue carries an interesting, and actually, ground-breaking story. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have taken important steps toward the merger of these two powerful industry organizations.

According to Wikipedia, hot stove “is not actually a league, but the term instead calls up images of baseball fans, anxious for the start of the new season, gathering around a hot stove during the cold winter months discussing their favorite baseball teams.” Now let’s take that sports metaphor and compare it to the HVAC world.

A battle to override federal efficiency standards for HVAC appliances is being waged on Capitol Hill - and, you guessed it, California is once again leading the charge. In addition, almost 14 states have indicated a desire to supersede federal requirements.

Tattoos and piercings are the norm on young techs. Clothes don’t make the student.

Eliminate moisture source to eliminate mold growth. What’s behind global warming?

There are ways you, as employers, can take a bite out of higher health care costs. Start promoting healthy lifestyles among your employees. Give them incentives to quit smoking and lose weight. Sit down with all of your employees and explain the rising health care costs associated with poor health.

The NEWS thought it would be a good idea to explore just what each segment of the industry (manufacturers, contractors, and associations) is doing to help resolve the HVACR labor shortage problem. I am happy to report that, for the most part, each segment is pitching in.

Who has the tougher time finding qualified technicians - those who hire in the HVAC sector or their counterparts in refrigeration? As far as the refrigeration folks are concerned, there is no contest. Those in the refrigeration sector say they have more trouble.

Maybe the concept of tying energy efficiency to taking cars off of the roads isn’t working very well. We are just too attached to our horseless carriages. Here is a horse of a different color. The color is green.