ACHR NEWS

All-Star Awards 2026 Winners

July 27, 2026

This program honors standouts in categories ranging from innovative tools and technology to outstanding business leadership, workforce development, and industry influence. Winners were selected through peer nomination and voted on by ACHR NEWS readers.

All-Star Awards 2026: Residential Product

Big Features, Easy Installation: Honeywell Home ElitePRO Voted Residential Product of the Year

The smart thermostat offers everything homeowners want, while providing benefits to contractors, too

Dylan Kurt

July 27, 2026

This year’s winner is a smart thermostat that delivers useful features to the homeowner, while providing the contractor an easy way to stay connected with customers.

All-Star Awards 2026: Commercial Product

Lennox Rooftop Heat Pump Takes Commercial Product of the Year Honors

The variable-speed rooftop heat pump is designed to simplify electrification while keeping installation and service familiar for contractors

Dylan Kurt

July 27, 2026

The 2026 Commercial Product of the Year is designed to help contractors bring high-efficiency heat pump technology to existing rooftop applications.

All-Star Awards 2025 Podcast - “From the Yellow Chair”

All-Star Awards 2026: Podcaster

From the Yellow Chair Wins HVAC All-Stars Podcast Award

Hosts Crystal Williams and Emily Fleniken help contractors build more profitable businesses

Joanna R. Turpin

July 27, 2026

More than 200 episodes after its debut, "From the Yellow Chair" has earned the HVAC All-Stars Podcast Award by putting the industry's people and leadership stories center stage.

All-Star Awards 2026: Residential Contractor

Family-Owned 128 Plumbing Earns HVAC All-Star Honors

Leading with values, residential contracting All-Star committed to family ownership

Matt Jachman

July 27, 2026

Named for a well-known beltway in the Boston area, 128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric has grown substantially since its founding 34 years ago. The company is one of this year’s HVAC All-Stars.

All-Star Awards 2026: Commercial Contractor

From Marine Boilers to Mission-Critical Service

How Tate Engineering spent 100 years building a modern mechanical business

Dana Slone

July 27, 2026

What does it take to thrive for more than a century? Tate Engineering’s answer starts with people — not equipment.

All-Star Awards 2026 Legend - Dave Chatmon

All-Star Awards 2026: HVAC Legend

The Industry Builder

HVAC Legend Dave Chatmon forged a legacy by refusing to accept the status quo

Maria Taylor

July 27, 2026

A backed-up training schedule. One donated furnace. A simple question no one else was asking. Time and again, Dave Chatmon turned everyday challenges into industry-wide movements.

All-Star Awards 2026: Influencer

Shine On: Jen McKee’s Influence on the HVACR Industry

A look at how the 2026 HVAC All-Star Award Influencer is elevating the industry

Chris Gray

July 27, 2026

Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, is modernizing the HVAC industry’s voice through authenticity and by leading by example.

Distribution Trends

Consumer Choice on Trial: The Next Battle Over Natural Gas Appliances

As states consider new restrictions on gas equipment, distributors warn that mandates must account for product availability, supply chains, and consumer choice

Todd Titus

July 26, 2026

Legal and legislative battles over restrictions on the use of natural gas-fueled appliances will continue, and distributors need to make their voices heard in the process.

Distribution Trends

Mining HVACR Gold With CRM Software

Using data about customer transactions locates and leverages business opportunities

Darrell Sterling

July 25, 2026

CRM software is more than a tool to manage customer relationships: it is also a treasure trove of opportunity.

Guest Column

Why Oversized HVAC Systems Undermine Electrification Goals

Heat pumps and other electrified systems perform best when capacity matches the building's actual needs

Igor Kudinov

July 11, 2026

As electrification continues to evolve, attention to system sizing remains an important component of performance-focused HVAC design.

ASHRAE President Stresses Teamwork in Inaugural Speech

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

July 11, 2026

The theme of ASHRAE President Sarah Maston's term, “Changing the Game: Retrofitting for Resilience,” focuses on how the building industry can work together to develop a winning game plan to improve the efficiency, performance, and resilience of existing buildings.

Leadership Expert to Speak at Annual PHCC Conference

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

June 10, 2026

Dr. Rick Goodman has spent more than 30 years helping organizations strengthen workplace culture, improve communication, and inspire teams to achieve greater success.

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

2026 July 27

Cover Story

All-Star Awards 2026 Winners

Feature Articles

Big Features, Easy Installation: Honeywell Home ElitePRO Voted Residential Product of the Year

Lennox Rooftop Heat Pump Takes Commercial Product of the Year Honors

From the Yellow Chair Wins HVAC All-Stars Podcast Award

Family-Owned 128 Plumbing Earns HVAC All-Star Honors

From Marine Boilers to Mission-Critical Service

The Industry Builder

Shine On: Jen McKee’s Influence on the HVACR Industry

Distribution Trends

Consumer Choice on Trial: The Next Battle Over Natural Gas Appliances

Mining HVACR Gold With CRM Software

Columns

Why Oversized HVAC Systems Undermine Electrification Goals

Newsline

ASHRAE President Stresses Teamwork in Inaugural Speech

Leadership Expert to Speak at Annual PHCC Conference

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