Articles by Nicole Krawcke

Historically, the most common HVAC company names were typically family-named or alphabetical, which helped the positioning in media that listed companies A to Z. It’s important for HVAC contractors to break through all the clutter and noise in the market and be memorable.

As home-performance contractors spend considerable time sealing air leakage in homes, much of the responsibility of educating homeowners about the benefits of proper ventilation lands on them. 

People want to breathe clean, fresh air, which has thrust IAQ into the mainstream. This thriving consumer and contractor awareness is serving as a catalyst for manufacturers as they strive to develop new, cutting-edge ventilation products.

ERVs are among the fastest growing segments of improved IAQ management in buildings, according to a report from Navigant Research. According to the report, worldwide revenue from ERVs will grow from $1.6 billion in 2014 to $2.8 billion in 2020.

George “Butch” Welsch, the 74-year-old owner of the St. Louis-based Welsch Heating & Cooling Co., was recently honored as the ACCA 2016 Residential Contractor of the Year during the ACCA 2016 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

The combined events drew more than 1,500 people from all over the country and featured 35 workshops in seven different tracks, including leadership, commercial contracting, residential contracting, business operations, radiant and hydronics, quality assurance, and building performance, which were assembled by some of the nation’s most successful contracting professionals.

As a shortage of labor continues to plague the HVACR industry, it’s more important than ever for contractors to attract and retain a younger generation of employees.

Now in its sixth year, the ranking examined the total institutional and commercial square footage of LEED-certified space per resident certified throughout 2015, based on U.S. Census data. Illinois retained its top national position for the third year in a row, with 161 LEED certifications representing 3.43 square feet of certified space per resident.