It seems many HVAC contractors are feeling positive about the year ahead, at least according to ACCA, which reported its January 2015 Contractor Comfort Index (CCI) scored a 74 — much higher than a year earlier when the CCI stood at 69.
The latest report from Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) showed that average sales for HARDI distributor members increased 9.4 percent in November 2014, but that annualized growth through November was 6.9 percent, which is where it was throughout 2014.
Year-to-date combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps increased 11.1 percent, and U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces increased 5.1 percent over the same period in 2013 (oil warm air furnaces increased 8 percent).
The Geothermal Exchange Organization is backing efforts in a number of states to change public policies that currently fail to recognize geothermal heat pumps as a renewable source of energy and an efficient way to satisfy the thermal loads of buildings.
The DOE’s proposed rule represents a significant increase in efficiency that would effectively eliminate noncondensing furnaces and significantly impact the design, installation, and cost of nonweatherized furnaces.
I suggest, as a contractor, you put this show on your 2016 calendar. As an added incentive, next year’s show — scheduled for Jan. 25-27 — is in Orlando, where the weather in January is likely to be much better than it was in Chicago.
Make yourself unique and memorable, helping customers separate you from everyone else who just blends in. When you put these tools in place, customer acceptance and appreciation will seem very obvious, and, soon enough, you’ll be looking back and saying, “No wonder that worked. It was a great idea.”
The EarthDirEX™ geothermal heat pump system is available in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-ton capacities and includes an electronic expansion valve for precise refrigerant control.