From ratifying amendments to the Montreal Protocol to boosting apprenticeship development, an umbrella group of HVAC industry associations has released its legislative priorities for 2018.

The Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Alliance said its 2018 wish list builds upon some successes in 2017, including tax reform and incentives and raising the profile of industry careers.

The group’s top issues include greater use of industry consensus standards, reforming the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act, securing ratification of the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol and energy efficiency and ensuring high-quality HVAC installations.

Paul T. Stalknecht, chairman of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and the HVACR Industry Alliance, said members are hopeful they’ll have continued success this year.

“Alliance members had a tremendous impact on federal policies in 2017 because we were united and worked together where we have common policy goals,” Stalknecht said. “The new tax reform law contains several priorities that many alliance members focused on, such as expensing of HVAC equipment for business owners, better tax rates for business owners and reforms to the estate tax. Several alliance members also shared numerous workforce development initiatives with the Trump administration, such as the national focus on increasing the number of apprenticeship programs. We look forward to continued success as the alliance focuses on quality installation programs, refrigerant policies, and reforming the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in 2018.”

The HVACR Industry Alliance is comprised of: the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association; Air Conditioning Contractors of America; Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute; Air Movement and Control Association International; ASHRAE; Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International; Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Institute; National Air Filtration Association; North American Technician  Excellence; Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors-National Association; and the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society.