Contractors have looked forward to attending the Indoor Air Expo, a collaboration between the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), for several years. This year, a new partner has been added - the Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA).

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will be offering seven education tracks during its 43rd Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo, taking place from Feb. 15-17. These tracks include Business Fundamentals; Residential Contracting; Commercial Contracting; Technical Excellence; Contracting Leadership; Refrigeration; and Quality Assurance.

The NEWS met with Talbot Gee, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI). Gee recently assumed his new responsibilities while Don Frendberg has elected to transition to chairman of the association.

The last few years have been challenging for HVACR contractors, the poor economy has resulted in financial stress, and recent federal legislation has caused concern. Even with these recent difficulties, there are numerous reasons to be hopeful, said Paul Stalknecht, president and CEO, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).

“What good is all the high efficiency equipment in the world, if it isn’t being installed correctly?” asked Tom Grunstra, Fujitsu General America’s national trainer for HVAC products, to a classroom full of installation and sales pros.

No matter how state-of-the-art the heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment is, more than likely it is running on coal-generated power. So, what is being done to offset coal-generated power with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind? And can those sources create enough power to run HVACR equipment?

This year, we are happy to name a well-deserved repeat winner in the Northeast region. Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning first won The NEWS’ Best Contractor to Work For contest in 2003. The essentials haven’t changed: It’s still a family business for more than one family.

Committed. Caring. Trustworthy. Family. These are the words that Donley Service Center employees use to describe the company. Taking that trust and respect to the next level of uncompromising integrity, however, sets the firm apart as The NEWS’ 2010 Best Contractor to Work For winner in the Western region.

At Brothers Air, Heat & Plumbing Inc., its generous vacation policy, profit sharing, an open-book approach to how the company is doing, and a goal to be a place “where people like to work,” has earned Brothers recognition as the Best Contractor to Work For in the South.

Fire & Ice Heating, Air Conditioning and Electrical's focus on training and company communication - between management and staff as well as between company employees and customers - are among the cornerstones of The NEWS 2010 Best Contractor to Work For in the North Central region.