Make sure your company is a place employees can take pride in when talking with their family, friends, or strangers. With the lack of qualified workers in the HVAC field, having your employees speak so highly of your business can only help.

We ran a poll at achrnews.com where more than 300 contractors voted. The results showed that 30 percent of contractors are willing to install products purchased by customers online while 70 percent would not. There were still more people saying no, but it was much closer than I imagined it would be when we posted the question.

Synergy Solution Group (SSG), a new association for independent mechanical contractors trying to gain a business advantage, is picking up momentum in the HVACR marketplace. And, while SSG is a relatively new association, many might be familiar with the group’s leadership.

A major manufacturer recently conducted a survey of 2,000 consumers asking for their feedback on smart products. When asked about their interest in purchasing smart products, more than 60 percent of respondents said they were interested in purchasing an intelligent control for their home. Other industry data shows that actual smart home product penetration is less than 20 percent.

Atlanta contractor Doug Zweber wants to bring the Uber technology to the HVAC industry. Uber, of course, revolutionized the taxi business. Zweber wants to accomplish the same thing with his company.

Teach your employees that any time they are in the company uniform, they should be acting like a camera is filming them — because one just may be.

WaterFurnace Intl. Inc. recently held its 2017 annual sales meeting in Denver, and as you can imagine, the 30 percent residential and 10 percent commercial federal tax credits for geothermal heat pump systems that expired Dec. 31, 2016, were on everybody’s minds.

It would be fair to say the geothermal industry is at a bit of a crossroads. Despite being around for more than 30 years, the math says it accounts for less than 1 percent of the HVAC market. And, for the first time since 2007, geothermal contractors are out in the market selling their residential products without a 30 percent tax credit.

The NEWS has elected to create a “Legends of the HVACR Industry” Award. This will be a bit like a hall of fame for the industry. And since there is no time like the present, we are beginning this year.

Emerson announced at the ACCA IE3 show that its next-generation Copeland Scroll two-stage compressor will be offered in Goodman Mfg. Co.’s new 16-18 SEER systems.