HARDI has added two membership categories, “energy efficiency partner” for utility companies and contractors, and “affiliate partner” for other firms that do not fit into existing classifications.

In a bid to open its roster to a larger section of the HVAC industry, HARDI has added two membership categories.

“Energy efficiency partner” is for utility companies and contractors, and “affiliate partner” for other firms that do not fit into existing classifications.

“HARDI’s role as the sole source for sell-through data in the HVACR industry coupled with our ability to bring together industry and market analysts with widely representative distributor focus groups has attracted the interest of investment, private equity, sales and marketing, and distribution analysts and consultants,” said Talbot Gee, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International. “HARDI created this new affiliate partner membership category to provide a way for these interests to have access to our HARDI data and our members while also enabling the association to protect our membership by knowing exactly who has this access and how they’re using it.”

Energy-efficiency partners will gain access to manufacturers of such products and reach the association’s HVACR distributors, HARDI said. And affiliates will be able to view the quarterly webinar hosted by Alan Beaulieu, HARDI’s economist, as well as receive sales data. 

“The creation of the new energy-efficiency partner membership category is a proud moment for HARDI and the result of several years of strategic and fruitful outreach and collaboration with those who run and implement energy efficiency incentive programs,” Gee said. “HARDI believes our distributor members are integral to the success of these efficiency programs and we work with enough of them now that it was time we created an opportunity for leaders of these programs to become a closer part of the HARDI community.”

HARDI has also added a retired colleague membership that permits any retired former member a HARDI or predecessor group member company to become an individual member, provided he or she is no longer involved with any heating, cooling or refrigeration companies.