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I recently learned that our most-recognized superheroes - Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman - were created near the end of the Great Depression. Today’s heroes could be slightly different. Instead of a Captain America, how about a Captain Economy, or Greenman? Greenman could be green in many ways, saving energy and saving people from the poorhouse.

Reclaimers do not see large amounts of refrigerant coming to them. They admit the return process is a work in progress and, like with anything new, it has both cost and learning curve issues. But it is just those cost and learning curve issues that are causing contractors not to put their refrigerant into the reclaim pipeline to any great extent.

Global warming as excuse for more selling.

Have you ever wondered about all the facts and figures that are tossed around like bits of lettuce floating through the air? Can all the numbers be right? In the current world of green initiatives, tax credits, and stimulus packages, playing fast and loose with energy savings claims does seem to be more of an art and less of a science.

Educate customers to choose repairs or replacements. We need more governmental financial responsibility.

I know this is a generous industry in every sense of the word. I know that the contractors we point to as leaders donate time and effort toward making someone else’s life better. I would like to humbly suggest that more contractors look at Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a logical connection for our industry’s humane activities.

We’ve all had our opportunity to cry through the winter about how bad everything is in the economy and the effects on our businesses. Now spring is here and it’s time to quit crying and get out there and turn our businesses successful again. I know it’s not going to be easy, but we have an awful lot going for us - despite all of the negatives.

If you happen to be an unregistered voter in the United States, you probably didn’t vote in the recent presidential election. OK, perhaps no great loss, depending upon your perspective. However, if you are an unregistered contractor with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), it could certainly be a great loss.

The more I study issues related to climate change, the less I understand. That’s because for every respected person that takes one position, there is someone else equally respected with the opposite viewpoint. But the emphasis we need to focus on is how the HVACR industry can provide solutions to dealing with climate change.

Consumers’ tight budgets mean they’re spending more time at home … and noticing their indoor environments more. Consumers are also learning that some purchases are more necessary than others. Appeal to consumers’ practical interests and you have a good chance of getting a portion of their dwindling discretionary dollars.