January 1, 2010
Cover Story
AHR EXPO Welcome to Orlando!
As further indication of the improving economy, managers of the AHR Expo to be held in Orlando, FL January 25-27 report that 165 new companies that didn't...
Columns
What Will You Do to Gain an Edge?
There's a lot of change afoot. But the fact is, there's always a lot of change afoot. From technology to legislation, to environmental consciousness,...
COMFORT FAQ
Over the course of 2010, this space will identify opportunities within customers' homes that you may not have observed in the past. The opportunities...
How to Measure Residential Hydronic System Btu
Since winter has arrived, let's take a look at how to measure the Btu delivery of a residential hot water heating system. This will be a brief introduction to water system Btu measurement. ...
Running Service Step 4: Never Quote the Bare Minimum
Editor's Note: Charlie Greer is in the midst of a year-long primer designed to teach you what to do when running service calls, and how to maximize each...
New Year, New Trends, and One Old Idea
American comedian and singer Joe E. Lewis said, For my New Year's resolution, I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in 14 days I...
Anthropogenic Business Climate Change
On this page two years ago I wrote, What if it doesn't get warmer? What if it gets colder? After a summer that wasn't and one of the coldest and snowiest...
Articles
Project Planning Earns Murphy Co. Best Practice Award
The St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers presented a Best Practice Award to Murphy Company, St. Louis, MO, and five other team members, for pre-project planning for a $28 million, 70,000-sq.ft. expansion of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital in St. Peters, MO....
EVENTS
AHR Expo International Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Exposition, Jan. 25-27, Orlando, FL ahrexpo.com. NADCA National Ar Duct Cleaners Association,...
Past ACCA Chairman, Business Owner Marvin Kanze Dies at 87
Marvin E. Kanze, a past chairman of the The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) died on December 15 at the age of 87. Kanze served as ACCA's...
PHCC Educational Foundation Seats New Board of Directors
Sixteen new members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Educational Foundation board of directors were sworn in at their first in-person meeting on October 20, 2009....
THIS MONTH IN CB HISTORY
1976: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Business editors traveled the U.S. to talk with contractors about rooftop system replacement success stories....
Contractor Briefs
Advent Air Conditioning, Inc., Dallas, TX, is now offering Carrier products. Mike Douglas founded Advent Air Conditioning, Inc. in 1981. He based his...
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment and Residential Hybrid Heating Systems
Commercial Focus: Refrigeration Equipment Emerson Emerson Climate Technologies has introduces its new Copeland Scroll outdoor condensing unit for medium-...
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions is one of the largest design/build mechanical contractors in the Pacific...
2010 Residential Construction Outlook: A Split Decision
There's some good news for residential HVAC contractors: residential construction markets are poised for a partial recovery in 2010. Single-family construction and improvements to existing properties should finally turn higher, while multi-family work continues to slump....
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,...
Refrigerant Reclamation Tips
If you work in the HVACR industry, you should know that if you're servicing or disposing of a piece of equipment that contains refrigerant, by law the...
Marketing & Selling Energy Services
The first article in this series explained why mechanical service contractors are the ideal service providers to offer energy savings to their customers....
Meet the NATE Top Techs
At HVAC Comfortech 2009, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) recognized five Top Techs from across the country. ...
Refrigeration Service Today
On these pages, ContractingBusiness.com provides information on products, trends, and business management for commercial refrigeration contractors....
Danfoss a Charter Member of DOE's Leader Program
In early December, Danfoss, the Baltimore, MD-based refrigeration products manufacturer, became a charter member of the Save Energy Now LEADER program,...
Q & A for the New Refrigerant Age
A new year usually brings big changes, and that's especially true for those who make, sell and service air conditioning and refrigeration equipment as...
Contractor Establishes Dialogue
How does a leading refrigeration contractor prepared for the HCFC phaseout? ContractingBusiness.com spoke with Ekle Small, director of design for the...
SERVICE TIP
To maintain efficiency, regular preventative maintenance is required. A cleaning and maintenance label is usually included in a conspicuous place on the...
News
LG Opens West Coast Training Academy
LG Electronics USA officially opened its newest LG Training Academy in Rancho Cucamonga, CA in December. The facility will support the company’s expanding commercial air conditioning business in the U.S. LG’s first such training facility was opened a year ago near Atlanta, GA. ...
Service Net Warranty Buys Extended Warranty Leader Equiguard
Service Net Warranty, LLC, Jeffersonville, IN, a leading administrator of service warranty programs, has entered into a court-approved agreement to acquire the assets of Equiguard, Inc., Westmount, IL....
Elite Software to Celebrate 30th Anniversary Throughout 2010
Elite Software, College Station, TX, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2010 with trade show appearances and anniversary discounts....
Danfoss Turbocor Inventor Conry Starts New Venture: Verdicorp
Danfoss Turbocor and Ron Conry — the inventor and founder of Turbocor Compressors — jointly announced that Conry has launched a new venture to develop new technologies, and develop solutions for energy generation and conservation....
Ferguson Distributorship Gives $10,000 for Industry Education
HVAC/plumbing wholesale distributor Ferguson, Newport News, VA, has made a $10,000 contribution to support the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s 2009 “Invest In Your Future” Annual Giving Campaign. ...
Emerson Bestows Awards Upon Leading 2009 Wholesalers
Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, recently announced its top-performing wholesalers for outstanding sales performance in 2009. ...
AHRI Launches Product Section for Fluid Pumps; Publishes Standard for Walk-in Units
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has announced the launch of a fluid pump product section, and the publication of a standard for walk-in coolers and Freezers....
ASHRAE Administers New Pilot Building Energy Labeling Program
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has launched a new program to inform building owners and operators, tenants, and prospective buyers on the energy use of buildings....
New Year Brings New Features to Lochinvar VIP Program
Lochinvar, Lebanon, TN has added new rewards and contractor resources in conjunction with its fifth annual VIP Contractor Program. The program is designed to help contactors achieve a successful and profitable heating season....
Taco Expands FloPro Factory Training for 2010
Sources from Taco, Cranston, RI, report the company is offering additional professional development opportunities for plumbing and heating contractors. The company’s FloPro Factory Training returns in 2010, with a new course and several new locations throughout the U.S. ...
Noritz America and John Siegenthaler Present Hydronic Boiler Seminar
Plumbing engineer John Siegenthaler recently addressed a packed house of HVAC contractors from the Northeast region on the benefits of Noritz America’s NH Boiler Series....
Products
PRODUCTS/SHOWCASE AWARD
Whole House Ventilation Offered by Ultra-Aire The Ultra-Aire 65H is the first compact, high-efficiency, whole-house ventilating dehumidifier designed...
Smart Products: January 2010
Take your company to the next level with Contracting Business' Smart Products a section featuring the latest technical and business management tools from...
