Is it possible to have a building that produces as much power as it uses - in effect, a “net zero” building? Yes, said Andreas Athienitis of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, who reviewed the realities of a zero energy building during the 1st International High Performance Buildings Conference.

If an industry with HCFCs, HFCs, HFOs, and HCs wasn’t complex enough, consider the oil aspect. There are mineral oils, POEs, ABs, and the latest entry, PVEs. The issue then becomes - what refrigerants with what oils? That was a topic covered at the 13th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference.

While talk continues about the possibility of a government-mandated phase down in production of HFCs, the question among those who plan to be in the North American HVACR industry for many years to come is, “What’s next?” The current answer is “nothing for sure yet.” But a number of options are being explored.

I’m in the process of developing a story on small (12-oz.) cans of refrigerant - good thing or bad thing. Up in Canada, such cans are banned for CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs. But they can be used in the sale of HCs.

So in mid-July when temps and humidity were soaring in the Midwest, my wife and I headed southeast to West Lafayette, Ind., where I was to attend the Purdue University conferences that involve the latest technologies in HVACR and building sustainability.

For this article and a previous one, The NEWS contacted manufacturers of products in the chiller sector to ask their thoughts on key issues. The first article covered some specific legislative and regulatory issues; this article focuses on environmental matters and projections for economic growth in the chiller sector.

I’m a paperback pack rat. I am also a bit of a mystery fan. I am currently rereading one of the Sue Grafton mysteries featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone. What caught my attention was a mention of PHCC.

Readers of this blog know that from time to time I have been writing about wind turbines as an alternative source of energy – particularly about the pros and cons of such technology. I’ve been particularly aware of the topic because of a proposal to build a large number of such turbines in the Southwest corner of the county where I live.

Most of the 14,000 attendees and 5,400 contestants at SkillsUSA may not have given a lot of thought to the 52 contestants and the dozens of judges from the HVACR sector. But HVAC folks were as vital to the success of the event as any other aspect. That’s because outdoor temperatures started out hot and humid and only got hotter and more humid as the days went on.

A popular political talk show for many years was “Beyond the Beltway.” It supposedly covered topics that the rest of the country cared about - but that Washington politicians inside the Beltway didn’t care about. The East Coast is not the only part of the country where there are perception problems.