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It does not matter what line of work you may have come from, from where you might have gained your experience, but it is a virtual guarantee that somebody in your organization cares about the difference between features and benefits. If they didn’t, you probably wouldn’t be bringing down a paycheck.

I am writing this, my last column of 2009, only moments after I finished the rough draft of a nearly 2,000-word story that appears elsewhere in this issue. That story was written to meet this issue’s focus, “Refrigerant Revolution – An 11th Hour Update.” One of the most interesting things about these refrigerant predictions is that nobody really knows for certain what will occur.

Mr. Pete Williams e-mailed The NEWS recently to complain about an article in our Oct. 12 issue. I often call such fans of the magazine. The conversation with Williams spurred a few ideas, which are now shared with you.

The older I get, and according to relatives the more difficult to buy things for, the more often I receive gift cards. The whole issue of gift cards made me think how they might apply to our business. I have been trying to figure out a way that we could integrate the sale of gift cards into the culture of the HVAC business.

Knowing that the approaching R-22 phaseout could be a challenge, The NEWS began compiling legal and technical information on a Countdown to 2010 microsite earlier this year. With the countdown clock still running, we have refocused the site to help contractors answer the question, “Are you ready?”

Sometimes you can back into a story that proves most interesting. I had been following the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for a number of years. But the recent backing started in the summer while attending an environmental event some 100 miles from Chicago.

Dealing well with units and customers. Raise your standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Energy Star benchmarking program is making energy audits much more attractive, less time consuming, and what is even more important - an effective selling tool. If an HVAC contractor wanted to get into the energy audit business, the EPA Website might be a good place to start.

Understanding fundamental HVACR concepts.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) defines extraordinary events as unexpected occurrences that can cause the quality of outdoor air to worsen rather quickly and dramatically. These can include fires (and the resulting smoke), chemical releases, and chemical and biological attacks. The society has spelled out how to manipulate ventilation systems in such cases.