How much HCFC-22 will be available to contractors in 2012 is an unanswered question as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers a faster phaseout of HCFCs. The EPA began the year by issuing a proposal called Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Adjustments to the Allowance System for Controlling HCFC Production, Import, and Export.
HVAC contractors are embracing Energy Star for New Homes Version 3, with many noting that even though they must now become certified to participate in the program its stricter guidelines improve quality, reduce callbacks, and raise the bar for the industry.
This year will bring plenty of changes to the Energy Star program, including implementation of Version 3 of its New Homes program. Most of the new guidelines became mandatory on Jan. 1. The rest kick in after July 1.
ABB and Thomas & Betts Corp. announced that both companies’ boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Thomas & Betts for approximately $3.9 billion. The combination is expected to enhance ABB’s North American low-voltage products business. Thomas & Betts also offers HVAC products, new to ABB but related to its core power and automation focus.
Show management announced that the 2012 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) has established a new all-time attendance record with nearly 40,000 registered visitors for the Chicago expo.
Members of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) will travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in March to not only enjoy some fun in the sun, but more importantly learn how to improve their businesses and navigate the challenges for the coming year.
HCFC-22 may not have been historically a refrigeration refrigerant, but it sure has been high on the minds of those wholesalers who deal with a lot of refrigeration products.
Comfort Supply, a Nashville-based wholesaler of Ruud HVAC products, has teamed up with KB Watson Enterprises to provide contractors with a suite of cloud-based calculators designed to simplify the most common tasks performed by HVAC comfort advisors, system designers, installers, and service technicians.