Commercial Equipment & Services
Simple steps ensure good IAQ in commercial buildings
Indoor air quality (IAQ) issues can arise in any building — new or old. But they’re not inevitable. In fact, a building owner’s best defense against IAQ problems is a skilled HVAC technician who knows the proper steps to take to ensure a healthy indoor environment....
Warming Up to Portable/Spot Heating
Localized heating applications can be found in many customer settings, from retail sites to industrial spaces....
Sustaining Energy Efficiency with Recommissioning
The HVAC industry has developed a variety of approaches to optimizing HVAC-system performance. The most widely recognized is recommissioning, a process that includes an assessment of a system, identification and correction of mechanical and control issues, development of new operating procedures, and, often, implementation of new energy-efficiency strategies....
A Thriving Enterprise: Commercial Contractor of the Year
Fans of the television series Star Trek™ know that the mission of the starship Enterprise was to "boldly go where no man has gone before." The mission of Contracting Business.com magazine's 2011 Commercial Contractor of the Year, Enterprise HVAC Service and Control, is to boldly solve comfort and energy efficiency challenges that no one has solved before. ...
New Energy Revitalizes Performance Contracting
With performance contracting, the ultimate technology limiters have to do with energy cost and the enabling legislation in a particular state. Critical aspects of the legislation, such as the term that’s enabled for such agreements and the types of technology that are allowed, will define the technologies that can be implemented. By the same token, the local cost of energy (particularly electricity), and the presence of utility rebates are also factors....
Refrigeration Issues on the Table
This month, we begin a four-part series devoted to the issues discussed at the Roundtable. In future issues, we’ll offer information on training, alternative refrigeration systems, maintenance issues, and technician certification....
The Essentials of Design/Build
A strong Design/Build team can collectively understand and provide all aspects of the process....
Lifecycle Selling: Is There a SHORTER Payback?
Buyers' choices in HVACR equipment, and their reluctance to upgrade aging and costly systems, frequently puzzles policy makers and energy efficiency advocates. After all, reduced energy consumption and operating costs are good for owners, good for society and the planet. Why would anyone choose otherwise? Answer: incremental first cost. ...
Unified Group, Lennox to Partner for Light Commercial Projects
The Unified Group, Broadview, IL, announced a new partnership with Lennox Industries, Inc., for light commercial applications. Through the partnership, Unified Group members will have access to Lennox opportunities, products, and customer service in their individual markets. ...
Tips for Selling to Building Owners & Facility Managers
Three commercial HVAC contractors reveal some of their secrets to selling in good times, bad times, and every time in between....
Champions of Specialty Refrigeration
Hughes Environmental Engineering, Inc. is distinguished by precision refrigeration system designs, the highest standards of professionalism and training, and a profound commitment to customers. ...
Best Practices for Entering the Renewable Energy Industry
The transition to an “energy era” is gaining momentum. The phrase, “going green” is familiar to every age group, profession, industry, and institution. However, going green can mean a lot of different things to different people, and there are a large number of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) companies that are struggling with what it means to their businesses....
Ten Tips for Commercial Chiller Maintenance
Chillers often represent a plant's single largest electric load. But factor in fouled tubes, leaking refrigerant, or myriad other factors, and operating...
Holding Down the Fort
Inspiring historical tales can be found everywhere, and they needn't always involve epic battles, treaties, or inventions. The business world is full...
Thinking Outside the Box in Real Time
Contractors are often under a great deal of pressure to complete jobs faster, and at a lower cost. One case in point was a call we received to repair...
Welcome to Water World
Don't be afraid of the water. That's the message from Dave Yates, owner of F.W. Behler, York, PA, and John Barba, contractor training and trade program...
Benchmarking for Commercial HVAC Contractors
There are many ways to gauge success and high performance in corporate America. Financial statistics come to mind, such as quick ratio, debt/equity ratio,...
Innovation in Commercial Refrigeration
Commercial refrigeration product manufacturers aren't sitting around waiting for something good to happen in the U.S. economy. They're continuing to bring...
2010 Commercial Construction Outlook: Far from a Perfect 10
From October 2008 to October 2009, nonresidential construction spending slumped 11%, with the steep declines among many building categories: warehouses,...
AirTight Mechanical Establishes Links with Danfoss, PDU Cables
AirTight Mechanical, Inc., a commercial HVAC contractor based in Charlotte, NC, has been granted partner status by Danfoss and PDU Cables. ...
Dallas Cowboys Stadium Sets a Record for TDIndustries
This past June, commercial HVAC contractor TDIndustries, Dallas, TX, completed the largest project it's ever had to tackle in its 60-year history: the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. ...
Boland Approved as Trade Ally for Pepco/Delmarva Program
Boland, Gaithersburg, MD, a commercial, institutional, and industrial HVAC contractor, has been approved as a trade ally for commercial and industrial...
Key Elements of an Energy Services Offering
This is the second article in a three-part series on energy services for commercial HVAC contractors. In the first article (See CB, Nov. 2009, p.38; or...
Energy Services for Commercial HVAC Contractors
Everybody's talking about the need to save energy. There are those who see every dollar we ship overseas to buy energy as funding a threat to our own...
Commercial Green Systems & Components
AAON AAON chillers provide high efficiencies at full-load and part-load conditions, sources say. Variable capacity R-410A scroll compressors can modulate...
