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Do you hear statements like the following on a regular basis? “What’s wrong with that lady? Her furnace is 25 years old and she won’t even consider replacement.” If your service technicians and sales team are frustrated, it’s time for a new philosophy when it comes to communicating with homeowners.

These days, the political pundits are all saying that the new scene in Washington, D.C., will be a constant tug o’ war. Everyone anticipates a battle between the newly elected, Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate and Obama administration.

From the government to the Disney Channel, an overall message of energy efficiency is being pounded through the airwaves and television sets of the standard American consumer. It has reached a level that echoes the greenwashing epidemic from which Americans have yet to recover.

A while back we requested that you search the stacks of old NEWS issues in your offices and elsewhere, so we could find the oldest issue among our readers. We’ve heard from some folks with pretty old issues of The Electric Refrigeration News (our magazine’s first title).

I’m starting to think that what I am about to write about will become an annual column. It concerns the latest global environmental conference that didn’t seem to produce any results. But now I’m starting to wonder if there might be some good should such events start to show some results.

I have quoted Earl several times over the years. He was one of the most challenging customers I ever met, while masquerading as a territory manager at Lennox Industries in the Dallas market. Earl said, “Murphy, always look for the job that no one else wants to do. Those are the ones you make money on.”

I just received notice from another manufacturer that they will be offering the “dry charge” condensing units in the first quarter of 2011. They are the latest of many manufacturers who have decided to take advantage of what I can only say is a loophole in the federal regulations and the Montreal Protocol.

What do Allied Air Enterprises, American Standard, Armacell, Baltimore Air Coil, Carrier, Guntner, Johnson Controls, Lennox, Nordyne, Rheem, Trane, WaterFurnace, and a slew of other companies have in common? They are all celebrating the coming New Year with gifts to the industry - price increases!

Some rants and raves about the industry - Rave: U.S. News and World Reports names “HVAC technician” as one of the 50 best jobs of 2011. The publication points out a few reasons for the rankings, including the more than decent wage, the ability for upward mobility, and the upcoming increased need as the new homes built last decade will begin to need replacement systems.

Houses and buildings are certainly at the forefront of discussion in the construction industry. Architects, engineers, contractors, home builders, energy conservation gurus, and legislators seem to have a heightened awareness of the importance of energy conservation, and the role that efficiently designed buildings play. But, there is still a lot that needs to be done.