Performance contracting has been around for years. It has been defined as “A mechanism to implement resource efficiency improvements with minimal upfront costs. It uses savings resulting from the efficiency project to pay for the work over time.” Performance-based contracting, or performance-based service contracting, is quite different.

As more organizations look to reduce their environmental impact, the interest in renewable energy technology has reached an all-time high. The trend is very evident in school systems. However, they also need to pay close attention to payback vs. first costs.

The Archie Dykes medical library at the University of Kansas had a problem: mold. A big part of the solution was the installation of specialized filtration systems. These are said to provide increased filtration efficiency without the typical pressure drop, which can also require upgrades to the rest of the system to compensate.

Some may think that the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s (ACCA’s) Quality Installation (QI) Standard deals mainly with cooling systems, but that would be an incorrect assumption. The specification also deals with necessary steps for the safe and efficient installation and operation of fuel-fired heating equipment.

The NEWS recently paid a visit to Mobile Air to get a close-up look at the Mobile Air Force. The company works as a subcontractor to mechanical contractors and facility managers in the Great Lakes region, providing mobile air conditioning, heating, and filtration systems for planned and emergency equipment outages.

The trends in portable cooling are similar to those seen in other sectors of the HVAC markets: energy usage reduction strategies under the green umbrella; more sophisticated controls for operation and service ease; and everything possible to help contractors keep their customers happy.

In areas where professional contractors gather, a phrase is cropping up with more and more frequency. The “Quality Installation (QI) Standard” is an ANSI-recognized national standard that was initiated by ACCA and created with input from around the industry, to ensure that HVAC systems meet certain standards that promote comfort and energy conservation.

Eric Knaak, vice president of service with Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, Rochester, N.Y., gave his interpretation of “The Perfect Service Call” at a recent Webinar sponsored by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).

Magic Touch Mechanical is one very busy company, especially during the busy season. With a lifetime workmanship and 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, if the work isn’t done properly, it could add up to a lot of nonbillable time.

Increasing use of the Internet has changed many aspects of HVAC and refrigeration work - but when it comes to training, is that necessarily a good thing? Old-school thinking would seem to favor more hands-on instruction, but can old school work when trying to attract new talent to the industry? This article looks at the driving forces in HVACR training.