The main focus of a panel discussion made up of manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors at the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Network '05 Conference was to find ways to improve the supply channel by open and honest communication.
The NEWS' contractor consultants discuss the pros and cons of dispatching service technicians to their first call directly from their homes each morning versus asking service technicians to report to work first.
David Mulvey, facilitator and content specialist for the Disney Institute, hosted a seminar for attendees of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Network '05 Conference in Orlando. "Everything starts with great leadership," he said.
The NEWS picked up a grass roots perspective during a visit to a branch of Behler-Young Wholesale Heating & Air-Conditioning in suburban Detroit to get a feel for what people are talking about and some of the changes coming in HVACR.
There are a lot of ways that HVAC contractors can become more profitable; they just have to make the decision to make the change. That's what Mike Maynard, Quality Service Contractors business coach, told seminar attendees at the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Network '05 Conference.
Do installing or servicing workers know the dangers of working on elevated buildings, and do they take the necessary precautions to ensure safety every step of the way?
The most popular benefit for employees is medical insurance, but according to The NEWS' 2005 Salary and Service Rates Editorial Study this is offered by only 74 percent of contractor respondents. The total shows a marked decrease from the 2002 Salary and Service Rates Editorial Study, when 88 percent offered medical benefits.
The NEWS' "Salary and Service Rates Editorial Study" asks readers what they pay their employees; what they charge their customers; and about practices such as flat-rate pricing, service agreements, dispatch options, etc. The most recent study shows a disturbing trend - at least in my view.
With hybrids, it's possible to combine equipment into an efficient system that raises the comfort level beyond normal means. That comfort level is also accompanied by lower energy costs, making hybrid systems an attractive option for building owners and homeowners.