Heat Pump Systems

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/heat-pump-systems

For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house and during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances.

Power Shift In Congress To Impact HVAC

http://digital.bnpmedia.com/display_article.php?id=1871391&id_issue=236133
Jen Anesi

Gridlock May Continue, Despite Republican Control of 114th Congress

On Nov. 4, American voters elected a wave of Republican candidates who will soon take control of the U.S. Senate and increase their current majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. And while some industry leaders think the power shift may help loosen the gridlock that has plagued the 113th Congress, and perhaps lead to a renewed focus on energy legislation and other issues beneficial to the HVAC industry, others are less optimistic.

Power Shift

'Do You Want Fries with That Burger?' | 2014-09-24 | Distribution Center

'Do You Want Fries with That Burger?' | 2014-09-24 | Distribution Center

Furnace Standard Fans The Flames

http://digital.bnpmedia.com/display_article.php?id=1871404&id_issue=236133

Joanna R. Turpin

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently published new energy conservation standards for residential furnace fans, which it says will help reduce carbon pollution by up to 34 million metric tons and save Americans more than $9 billion in home electricity bills through 2030. Critics of the rule argue the DOE is placing an undue burden on the HVAC industry by regulating components of appliances that already meet energy-efficiency guidelines, and that consumers will be harmed by the higher cost of the new furnaces.

Manufacturers will initially bear the brunt of this change, as they will need to redesign their furnace lines in order to comply with the new standard, which takes effect in 2019. While it is still too early to tell how much that will cost, it will likely be significant, noted Francis Dietz, vice president of public affairs, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). “We believe that regulating individual components is a step in the wrong direction. Instead, we should be moving in the other direction — considering the overall efficiency of systems rather than components.”

Condensing Furnaces Require Special Care

http://digital.bnpmedia.com/display_article.php?id=1871457&id_issue=236133Sophisticated 

Joanna R. Turpin

Systems Require More Comprehensive, Consistent Maintenance

After enduring last winter’s bitterly cold temperatures across much of the country, many will be relieved to hear the polar vortex is not expected to make a return appearance this year. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cautions that below-average temperatures are likely in the south-central and Southeastern U.S. And, for those who put stock in it, “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” predicts this winter will bring Arctic-like temperatures and above-normal snowfall throughout much of the nation.

Cashing in on Catchy Vehicle Marketing

Bright, Bold Colors Attract Customers to Your Company

By Nick Kostora

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/128036-cashing-in-on-catchy-vehicle-marketing

No one knows your business exists unless you make them aware of it. Proper marketing is essential to the success of an HVAC company, and many contractors have found success using the free advertising space afforded to them on the sides of their vans or trucks. While some business owners are better than others at showcasing their company’s services to potential clients via their vehicles, there are varying schools of thought on how to best portray the message.
Mirror Your Own Marketing

EPA Finalizes R-22 Phaseout Plan

By Peter Powell

http://digital.bnpmedia.com/display_article.php?id=1850010&id_issue=231447

Contractors who have found virgin hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 readily available at their local supply houses had best prepare for a drastic drop-off in such supplies very soon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final phasedown schedule regarding production and importation of HCFC- 22 on Oct. 16. The order calls for an immediate drop from 51 million pounds allowed in 2014 to 22 million pounds beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Subsequently, 18 million pounds of new and imported R-22 will be allowed in 2016, 13 million pounds in 2017, 9 million pounds in 2018, and 4 million pounds in 2019. No new or imported R-22 will be allowed in the U.S. on or after Jan. 1, 2020.

Aggressive Linear Reduction

In its ruling, the EPA described the phasedown as an aggressive linear reduction.Other options would have allowed between 30 and 36 million pounds in 2015 — much higher than the 22 million pound limitation.

"EPA is trying to address the concerns about oversupply in existing inventories while encouraging transition, reclamation, and proper refrigerant management, all while sending a signal to the industry that allocations will be dropping," said Charlie McCrudden, senior vice president of government affairs, ACCA, commenting on the supply options the EPA explored. "The agency considered market information, comments, regulatory and statutory requirements, and its long-standing policy objectives as it weighed the merits of the proposed approaches.The final allocation meets the 2020 phaseout deadline and should help achieve a smooth transition to more environmentally friendly alternatives while providing regulatory certainty to consumers and industry."

Jon Melchi, director of government affairs, Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), said: "This rule provides contractors with the knowledge that this transition is indeed happening. While there will certainly be some tightening of the market, there will be sufficient supply to meet servicing demands in the near future, and we urge all contractors to work with their distribution partners on the all-important question of, 'where do we go from here?' The smart play is to begin investing in training [on alternative refrigerants] and to not wait until the last minute to prepare your customers and your businesses for a time when R-22 is not readily available."

Immediate Impact

The impact on virgin R-22 supplies will be almost immediate.

"The agency settled on a much more aggressive schedule — a 57 percent reduction from the 2014 allocation," said Gordon McKinney, vice president, ICOR Intl. Inc. "We encourage all of our associates to prepare for a dramatic increase in R-22 pricing and a major spike in alternative refrigerant sales and reclaim activity."

Steve Mella, CEO, ComStar Intl. Inc., predicted immediate and future shortages and price increases."These are normal results and will be expected by the industry at large. [But] as this moves forward, the market will dictate what fills the vacuum and the direction the industry takes. Once the word gets out to all levels of our industry, we should hear a sigh of relief. The five-year allocation plan will give the industry the ability to make financial decisions that will help the overall industry and economy."

Maureen Beatty, vice president of operations, National Refrigerants Inc., said some suppliers may limit the quantity of R-22 they are offering, but that does not mean R-22 is unavailable. "Contractors should make sure they are buying from a reputable supplier who will assure the legitimacy and quality of the R-22 they sell," she said.

Honeywell Intl. Inc. addressed immediate implications in an announcement: "One model suggests this ruling will result in existing channel inventory to be drawn down at an accelerated rate as end users attempt to build stock in anticipation of limited supply, while others hold inventory. The combined effect could be limited supply near-term. Contractors should prepare accordingly."

Honeywell's statement also referenced an existing base of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants that can be retrofitted into existing R-22 systems, a process that has been successful for a number of years, adding, "these are proven alternatives to R-22 for every application. Contractors should take steps to educate themselves and their customers on the alternatives."

Reclamation

The use of reclamation services has long been available and brings used refrigerants back to ARI-700 purity standards. Such a service will allow any R-22 currently in use or yet to be produced to be recycled and reused well beyond the 2020 end of virgin and imported versions of the refrigerant.

Many refrigerant reclaimers applauded the announcement.

Bill Auriemma, president and CEO of Diversified CPC Intl., said: "As an EPA-certified reclaimer, we welcome the ruling and appreciate the fact that the EPA collected and considered industry feedback. The ruling brings much-needed clarity to the market and enables manufacturers, reclaimers, and HVACR contractors to move forward with decisive plans, which will only benefit the refrigerant industry as a whole."

Kevin Zugibe, chairman and CEO, Hudson Technologies, said, "As we approach 2020, when virgin R-22 production will be fully eliminated, the reclamation industry will become the primary provider of R-22 to service aftermarket demand."

Contractor to Customer

Contractors need to keep customers informed of these developments and the impact they may have on a contractor's ability to service R-22 equipment.

"We feel the most important thing is for contractors to make sure they keep their customers well informed," said Butch Welsch, owner, Welsch Heating and Cooling Co., St. Louis."This spring, during maintenance visits and in our newsletter, we will be advising customers of the situation.We'll urge them that a replacement, rather than a repair, is probably the best thing to do.'

Refrigerant Roundup

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Final Rule document that detailed the phaseout schedule of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 stated the EPA will continue to review dry-shipped condensing units and the use of high-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.

Dry-Ship

The dry-ship issue goes back to 2010 when the EPA said no new equipment could contain the refrigerant. However, the industry determined condensing units designed for R-22 could continue to be shipped dry, without refrigerant, as part of aftermarket servicing.

Charlie McCrudden, senior vice president of government relations, ACCA, said, “The final rule addresses the issue of dry-shipped condensing units that are manufactured for sale as a system replacement part. In the request for comments to this rule, the EPA sought quantifiable information on the number of dry-shipped condensing units that were being shipped, whether they are being used as a repair instead of a compressor or motor replacement, and whether, and to what extent, condensing unit replacements extend the life of an existing system.

“The EPA did not receive substantive comments to these questions, but intends to survey a limited number of industry stakeholders to collect additional data,” he said.

Hydrofluorocarbons

Another simmering issue surrounding this announcement is the placement of HFC refrigerants under the same no-venting rules that govern chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs.

Regarding this, McCrudden said: “In the final rule, the EPA mentions a pending petition submitted by an industry trade group to extend the Section 608 program rules to HFC refrigerants. In its response to comments filed on this, the (EPA) final rule noted, ‘The EPA is actively considering the merits and environmental benefits of this petition under a separate process.’ ”

Significant New Alternatives Program

At the same time, from a global perspective, the U.S. has publicly noted its desire to steer away from HFCs perceived to have a high GWP.

In this context, the EPA has been proposing to decertify HFCs -134a, Refrigerant Roundup - 404A, and -507 in certain new and retrofit retail food applications under its Significant New Alternatives Program (SNAP).

On Aug. 9, the EPA published “40 CFR Part 82 Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Change of Listing Status for Certain Substitutes Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program; Proposed Rule” in the Federal Register.

The proposal deems certain HFC refrigerants unacceptable in specific applications on or after Jan. 1, 2016. There has not been a final rule in that regard, but the EPA now is proposing to expand the list of acceptable low-GWP alternative refrigerants.

According to a statement from representatives at Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the EPA, on Oct. 10, issued a prepublication notice in which “the EPA found several alternatives acceptable in air conditioning, refrigeration, and foam-blowing end uses.” Included was the use of R-744 (CO2) in new refrigerated transport equipment.            

Heating Prices Set to Increase This Winter

EIA Anticipates Increases in Natural Gas, Propane, and Electricity Heating Costs

By Nick Kostora

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/127862-heating-prices-set-to-increase-this-winter

While rising energy prices and cooler temperatures prompt Americans to reach for their overcoats and pocketbooks this winter, these conditions often spark smiles upon HVAC contractors’ faces as they prepare their crews for what appears to be a busy heating season.

Home Heating Bills

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), households heating with natural gas are expected to rise 14 percent this season, increasing average residential energy costs by $80 compared to last winter.

By region, the EIA predicts households heating with propane in the Midwest will spend an average of $120, or 9 percent, more this winter than last winter; residences in the Northeast are expected to spend an average of $206, or 11 percent, more. Similarly, households heating primarily with electricity can anticipate an $18, or 2 percent, increase on their bills this winter.

Some reprieve should come for those primarily using heating oil. The EIA expects those households to spend an average of $46, or 2 percent, less this winter, reflecting a 5 percent decrease in prices and a 3 percent increase in consumption.

What Owners Need to Know About ... Rooftop-Unit Maintenance

Impacts of deferred maintenance and a strategy for mitigating them

Oct 9, 2014By MICHAEL WEST, PhD, PE, Melbourne, Fla., and RICHARD COMBES, PhD, PE, Beaufort, S.C., AdvanTek Consulting Inc. | HPAC Engineering

http://hpac.com/air-conditioning/what-owners-need-know-about-rooftop-unit-maintenance

In buildings across the country, reductions in operating budgets are delaying important equipment upkeep. This article discusses impacts of deferring maintenance on rooftop package units and outlines a cost-based preventive-maintenance protocol.

For new unitary air-conditioning and heat-pump systems, minimum energy-efficiency ratios (EERs) are 9.7 to 14 MBH per kilowatt, depending on system capacity. A substantial number of installed unitary systems, however, are operating at EERs of 9 or less, depending on condition and maintenance history.

Analysis of a rooftop package unit—RTU-2

Can My Beloved Furnace Get any Quieter or Efficient?

Who Connects a Single-stage Thermostat to a Two-stage Furnace?

September 22, 2014

By Herb Woerpel

http://www.achrnews.com/blogs/17-opinions/post/127673-can-my-beloved-furnace-get-any-quieter-or-efficient

I write and read about HVAC contracting eight hours a day. However, it’s uncommon I actually get to see these skills put to the test. It’s even rarer that such actions occur inside my own home.

Some background: My wife and I purchased our first home about two years ago. After eight months of playing the real estate game, we settled on a two-story colonial built in 1987. The home boasted many recent upgrades including a new furnace. And this isn’t your everyday, run-of-the-mill furnace. It’s a 96.7 percent AFUE, two-stage, variable-speed furnace. Lord have mercy.

How HVAC Owners Are Wasting Their Marketing Dollars

Danielle Legler June 19, 2014
http://www.godigitalmarketing.com/hvac-owners-wasting-marketing-dollars/

If you’re in the 77 percent majority of HVAC contractors who admit to not having a marketing plan in place, you’re most likely relying on word-of-mouth to gain new leads.

Or, you could be a HVAC contractor who is attempting to increase your business with marketing efforts in the more traditional, and outdated way by listing your business in the Yellow Pages – and completely wasting your money.

The Yellow Pages Are So 2002

Contractors Search for Role in DIY Market

HVAC Contractors Reporting an Increase in Faulty DIY Installation Calls

By Nicole Krawcke

September 22, 2014

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/127664-contractors-search-for-role-in-diy-market

With the availability of hot new items like Wi-Fi thermostats at big-box stores and online retail giants like Amazon, more and more homeowners are choosing to buy and install products themselves rather than go through a contractor. In fact, the do-it-yourself (DIY) smart home market, which the thermostat is indeed a part of, is expected to grow in the U.S. from $1.3 billion today to $7.8 billion by 2019, according to a report by NextMarket Insights.

If this is indeed the trend over the next couple of years, it could present a problem to contractors. Not only would they lose out on a sale, but they could see an increase in service calls over malfunctioning equipment.

Do or Don’t

The Right HVAC/R Tools Can Drive Field Performance

Originally published: 03.01.14 by Bill Spohn

http://www.hvacrbusiness.com/2725.html

The typical goal of HVAC contractors and their customers is to extract maximum performance from installed equipment. This makes sense — it’s a goodinvestment, right?

This usually equates to expending the least amount of energy necessary to satisfy the customer. Equipment performance might also relate to efficient use of space or low noise levels. You want to obtain the smoothest operation and highest efficiency possible. Or, you follow this process: right size, appropriate equipment, correct installation, and proper commissioning. If good processes yield good equipment performance, then good job-related processes should yield high productivity, or good field performance. Let’s take a look at a contractor’s work processes as they relate to the tools that are used. Are you performing as efficiently as possible with the right HVAC/R tools? Are your tools and techniques fast enough to get the job done as efficiently as possible? Fast comes in many flavors: let’s cover a few below.

Physics on your Side:

Keeping Productivity High As Summer Ends

What to do if your customers are telling you "I'll wait until next spring."

Originally published: 08.01.07 by Ruth King

http://www.hvacrbusiness.com/high-summer-productivity.html

Keeping your technicians and office personnel productive during a long, hot summer becomes increasingly difficult as the summer continues. By the end of the busy season, the telephone has stopped ringing off the hook, but it still is ringing. Your technicians may not be scheduled for overtime or even for all 40 weekly work hours. Most of the equipment that is going to break has broken and been fixed. Or if it breaks, many times the homeowner's response is: "What do I have to do to keep it running right now? I'll wait until next spring to replace it." He limps along for the remainder of the season.

To keep productivity high, you must plan some end-of-the-busy-season activities. Here are a few that I find most valuable:

1. Maintain a complete tickler file. (It's critical that you start one, if you haven't already.) For each customer who tells you, "I'll wait until next year," place a reminder note in the tickler file. This will ensure that you call the customer next spring.

Defining The ‘Real’ HVAC System

By: David Richardson

An innocent assumption made by many is that the HVAC equipment is the HVAC system. This has unknowingly turned the specialized skills required to perform HVAC into a commodity in the eyes of many.

If you don’t think this is an issue, think back to the last time you tried to convince a homeowner or building contractor that you are different. Consider how well that is working out for you when you’re selling the Exact same piece of equipment as your competition.

Comparing Motor Technologies

By Brian Michael

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/comparing-motor-technologies
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry currently uses a variety of motor technologies in its equipment. The type specified in any product design depends upon several criteria, including the product’s performance goals, positioning, cost and potential application. Historically, the two predominant motor types have been permanent split capacitor (PSC) single-speed motors and 2.3 electronically commutated motors (ECMs) with variable-speed capability. Most HVAC professionals understand the key differences between these two motor types and are comfortable discussing the benefits of one technology over another.

Man Gets Prison Time for Venting R-22

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Clean Air Act

By Jen Anesi

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/127297-man-gets-prison-time-for-venting-r-22

An Ohio man is serving time in federal prison for violating the Clean Air Act after police witnessed him cutting the refrigerant line on an air conditioning unit and releasing HCFC-22 into the atmosphere. (Photo courtesy of Chris Hunkeler)

A 35-year-old Columbus, Ohio, man recently pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Clean Air Act after law enforcement officers witnessed him cutting a refrigerant line on an air conditioning unit and illegally venting hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22, also known as R-22, into the atmosphere. Martin C. Eldridge III now faces 31 months in federal prison for releasing the refrigerant, which is currently being phased out of production in the U.S. due to its threat to the earth’s ozone layer.

While Eldridge’s conviction seems to be an isolated incident, many are hoping it is a sign the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be cracking down on individual violations across the country.
Caught Red-handed

According to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Eldridge and others stole at least 49 air conditioning units between August and October 2013 in order to sell the copper and parts for cash. Randall K. Ashe, special agent in charge of the EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program in Ohio, said Eldridge’s “continual theft of air conditioner parts was illegal and a clear violation of the Clean Air Act.”

Commander Robert Meader, who oversees the property crimes bureau of the Columbus Division of Police, said his officers actually watched Eldridge cut the refrigerant lines. As soon as Meader was notified of the crime, he recognized it as a violation of the Clean Air Act and contacted federal authorities.

“We had covert undercover personnel following him, and, since he’d hit that particular apartment complex before, they waited for him to cut it,” he said. “Once the hydrochlorofluorocarbon were released, Eldridge violated both state and federal codes.”

Eldridge is serving his federal sentence concurrently with the sentence he received for stealing the air conditioning units. He will require court supervision for a year after his release, and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
First Time for Everything

For Meader, this is the first time he has seen an individual convicted of violating the federal law.

“Eldridge now has the notoriety of being the first person charged and convicted in the state of Ohio under the Clean Air Act for stealing air conditioners,” he said. “It’s very difficult to get a charge under that.”

While Eldridge was sentenced to prison time, Meader pointed out he wasn’t the only person to be punished under the law.

“At the time [of his arrest], we had 19 area scrapyards, and seven of the 19 didn’t comply with the federal law, so they had to enter into consent decrees with the EPA,” Meader explained. “If you bring an air conditioner into a scrapyard, as the seller, you have to sign a document saying you disposed of the [R-22] in compliance with federal law; not one of our area scrapyards did that. They also have to have equipment that extracts that fluid, and none of our scrapyards did.”

Meader pointed out that for just one violation, the fine is $39,500.

“They all piped up and said, ‘you have my attention,’” he said. But, even with prison time and hefty fines on the line, Meader wasn’t sure if Eldridge’s fate would necessarily keep others from illegally venting R-22, though he said Eldridge is certainly “going to think twice about doing it again.”
Unusual Enforcement

While it is not unheard of for the EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act, Charlie McCrudden, senior vice president of government relations for ACCA, said violations are usually voluntarily reported to the EPA when a leak is discovered — not reported by the police after a suspect has been arrested.

“There’s a lackluster enforcement of Section 608 of the Clean Air Act,” McCrudden said. “In commercial equipment, with a 50-pound charge or above, if there’s a leak in it, you have to report it to the EPA. All emissions are voluntarily reported, and the EPA takes enforcement action, so they’re not going out and finding violations. But, for residential equipment, there isn’t any police force to make sure they’re abiding by the rules.”

McCrudden said the EPA was able to go after Eldridge for the Clean Air Act violation because local law enforcement officers witnessed Eldridge cutting the line and releasing R-22. However, in most cases where an individual is suspected of illegally venting R-22, the evidence is only circumstantial, which makes conviction difficult.

Meanwhile, it’s the law-abiding and responsible HVACR contractors who are suffering from the lack of enforcement, McCrudden said.

“A lot of contractors, or people who purport to be contractors, are deliberately ignoring these rules; they don’t get trained or certified, and they don’t buy the required recovery equipment,” he said. “That puts the playing field in their favor while the upstanding contractor goes through all the regulatory hoops just to be undercut by these people.”

While McCrudden admitted it is really hard to convict someone for violating the 608 rules, he still hoped Eldridge’s conviction would be “a sign of things to come” for the industry.

Publication date: 8/11/2014

Five Ways to Prevent Mold from Invading a Home

August 11, 2014

http://blog.friedrich.com/five-ways-to-prevent-mold-from-invading-a-home/

You may not realize this, but mold is actually a naturally occurring part of nature. If you take a walk in the woods, you will probably see some mold acting as the forest’s recycling system. However, since you probably don’t live in the woods, odds are you don’t want mold in your home either. Here are five ways to prevent mold from infiltrating your home.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Address and fix leaky plumbing – Make repairs to leaky plumbing quickly, especially under toilets and cabinets and in the basement where water can collect out of sight. Also check for damp pipes where condensation is collecting. Wipe these dry whenever you find them and then find proper insulating materials to prevent a recurrence of condensation.
Quickly clean up spilled water – After a spill or a water leak, get water wiped up immediately. If rugs or carpets are involved, make sure that they are given plenty of opportunity to dry before being put back in place. Although not technically a “spill,” it will also help to wipe the shower dry after each use.
Keep an eye on your drip pans – Some of our modern conveniences are an unknown source of pooling water. Make sure that drip pans and drain lines from AC units, refrigerators and ice machines are unobstructed and free-flowing so that water isn’t allowed to collect or pool.
Utilize your exhaust fans – Humidity often builds up in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.  Make sure that each of these rooms has proper exterior venting, an exhaust fan to the outside, or a window. Sources of humidity:

• –Cooking/Boiling Water
• –Automatic Dishwashers
• –Showers/Baths
• –Drying Clothes

Purchase a reliable dehumidifier – The indoor humidity needs to be kept low to prevent mold growth, if possible between 30 and 50 percent. The right dehumidifier – like Friedrich’s Energy Star-designated D50BP with built in drain pump – can pull up to 50 pints of moisture from your home’s air every 24 hours. It can handle damp to extremely damp circumstances, uses regular house current and comes with a 6-foot power cord.

Touting the Benefits of Residential Geothermal HVAC Systems

Industry Groups Educate Homeowners About GHPs

By Joanna R. Turpin

July 28, 2014

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/127213-touting-the-benefits-of-residential-geothermal-hvac-systems

Advocates for geothermal technology have been working hard to advance and promote the adoption of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) across the country. As a result, more homeowners are learning about the energy savings that can be achieved through the use of GHPs and choosing to install these systems in their new or existing houses.

That being said, the industry still has a long way to go before GHPs will be considered mainstream technology, as market penetration is still in the low single digits. But, optimism remains high that the federal government will extend existing tax credits beyond 2016, and local utilities and state governments will start (or continue) offering incentives to encourage homeowners to invest in GHPs.

Surviving and Thriving

The good news about the residential geothermal market is that it survived the recession, and no major manufacturer went out of business, said Doug Dougherty, president and CEO, GeoExchange Organization (GEO), a nonprofit trade group that advocates the economic, energy security, and environmental benefits of GHPs. “We had about 2-3 percent of the residential new home market going into the recession, and coming out, we’re about the same — although it took a while to get back to that point, given the lack of new homes being constructed.”

There was even optimism last year that market share could reach 4-5 percent in 2014, as installations of GHPs were robust in the third and fourth quarters of 2013. Then came the first quarter of 2014, with the worst winter in years, causing new home sales to grind to a halt.

“We had a very poor first quarter, and a lot of our units didn’t go in because nothing was being constructed,” said Dougherty. “However, I have talked with some of our larger driller members about how many jobs they lost as a result of the weather, and all of them said the jobs were just postponed, not canceled. Everything ground to a halt because they couldn’t get their drilling rigs in. We believe there is going to be some catch up this spring and summer, and the second and third quarters of this year are going to be very good.”

Driving Interest

One major issue currently driving interest in GHPs is the desire of some homeowners to move away from heating equipment utilizing fossil fuels. “This was highlighted by the harsh winter, which resulted in high costs and/or propane shortages,” said Patrick Hughes, director, Buildings Program and Building Technologies Research & Integration Center (BTRIC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), which facilitates scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs that accelerate the development and deployment of solutions in building energy efficiency.

In fact, the desire to move away from propane is expected to be a major driver in the GHP retrofit market this year, as those sky-high bills from last winter are still on the minds of many homeowners. Some in the geothermal industry are advertising aggressively to these homeowners, coining the term “pro-pain,” in order to encourage them to switch to GHPs.

Propane users should seriously consider switching to a GHP because the shortage of propane and the resulting price hikes will occur again, with more frequency, said Dougherty. “The price volatility of propane is going to be out there because of the demand for natural gas. Propane is a derivative of natural gas. As coal-fired plants come under more regulation, we’re going to see more natural gas used to generate electricity. That’s going to drive up the cost of propane again, so we think the retrofit market for propane furnaces is pretty ripe for us and that we’re going to see a lot of retrofits before next winter.”

Death and Taxes

The federal tax credits are also driving the market, along with the states, utilities, and cooperatives offering incentives for geothermal installations, said Bob Ingersoll, director, International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), a nonprofit organization that advances GHP technology on local, state, national, and international levels. “With the interest from local energy providers, homeowners are inquiring about incentives for installing these energy-efficient systems, which have shown a payback period of five to seven years.”

These incentives are still necessary, as the high first cost is the primary barrier to GHPs becoming more mainstream, said Hughes. “Also, in many geographic areas, the installation and after-sales service infrastructure is weak or lacking. In these areas, it is not easy to source a system, and one-off pricing can make it difficult for even a motivated customer to justify the high cost.”

That is why GEO is working diligently to make sure the federal tax credits are extended, as well as introducing legislation to include GHPs in the federal definition of clean energy. “If we can change the federal definition, we can use that to help us change states’ definitions, creating a new path for utilities to earn renewable credits with GHPs,” said Dougherty.

The incentives for utilities are significant, noted Ingersoll, as geothermal units reduce the peak load on their grids. “Research has shown that every ton of installed GHP results in more than 0.5 kW in demand reduction. The industry needs to help bring awareness about the technology by reaching out to state and central agencies’ decision makers regarding tax incentives.”

Some utilities are embracing GHPs, such as Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Anadarko, Oklahoma, which is spearheading a unique program to help bring awareness about GHPs in Oklahoma and parts of New Mexico, Kansas, and Texas, said Ingersoll. “The GoGoGeo Challengehas a goal of showing 25,000 homeowners the potential savings that can be achieved through the use of a ground-source heat pump. We are looking to help expand programs like the GoGoGeo Challenge to include other entities where we can group retrofits and promote thermal service agreements to help alleviate the first-cost issue of ground-source heat pumps.”

But, overall, utilities continue to underestimate the value of GHPs, said Dougherty, and if they fail to recognize its benefits, others will step in and take away that opportunity from them. “There are progressive developers out there right now who have figured out they can make money off the geothermal exchange in the ground. In one new subdivision, the developer is installing a common loop field and GHPs for 7,500 homes and then charging the homeowners a monthly tariff for energy service. That type of arrangement is really going to move the market.”

That being said, the barriers to the widespread adoption of GHPs remain the same as they have for the last 30 years, said Dougherty.

“Lack of consumer awareness, lack of builder adoption, and lack of utility support. Although we have a much better infrastructure of distributors and dealers, we still don’t have a level of business infrastructure to promote the technology. But, I am an eternal optimist, and I believe the higher cost of energy will move people toward GHPs. In the retrofit and new home construction markets, we’re going to see a fairly significant increase in market penetration over the next three to five years.”

Publication date: 7/28/2014

Bye, Bye R-507A, R-404A and Others; EPA to Ban More 'Unacceptable' Refrigerants

 Contracting Business   July 16, 2014

http://contractingbusiness.com/refrigeration/bye-bye-r-507a-r-404a-and-others-epa-ban-more-unacceptable-refrigerants 

The list of refrigerants that refrigeration contractors have known as popular, efficient, and "forgiving," but that are now branded as "unacceptable" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grew by leaps and bounds on July 10, when EPA proposed to prohibit the use of certain chemicals that it says significantly contribute to climate change where what it describes as "safer, more climate-friendly alternatives" exist.
This is the agency’s second action aimed at reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a class of "potent greenhouse gases," under President Obama's Climate Action Plan.

EPA says it estimates the ban will reduce greenhouse gases by up to 42 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020, equal to the carbon dioxide emissions from the annual electricity use of more than five million homes.

“President Obama called on us to take action against potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Today, we are issuing a new proposal that builds on the innovative work businesses across the country have already made to reduce and replace some of the most harmful chemicals with safer, more climate-friendly alternatives that are available and on the market today,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “This action will not only result in significant reductions of harmful greenhouse gases, but it will also encourage businesses to continue bringing safer alternatives to market.”

Under the authority of the Clean Air Act, EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies that are safe for the ozone layer. The proposed action would change the status of certain so-called "high-global warming potential (GWP) HFCs" that were previously listed as acceptable under the SNAP Program to be unacceptable in specific end-uses based on information showing that other alternatives are available for the same uses that pose lower risk overall to human health or the climate.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE LIST OF NEW UNACCEPTABLE REFRIGERANTS.
The HFCs and HFC-containing blends affected by today’s proposal are used in aerosols, motor vehicle air conditioning, retail food refrigeration and vending machines, and foam blowing.

Today’s proposal complements an earlier action EPA proposed to expand the list of climate-friendly alternatives for refrigeration and air conditioning under its SNAP Program.

The agency received input from industry, environmental groups and others through workshops and meetings over the past year on this proposal.

EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
In addition to more than a dozen automotive refrigerants and aerosol propellants, the new list includes:

• For new and retrofit retail food refrigeration (including stand-alone equipment, condensing units, direct supermarket systems, and indirect supermarket systems) and for new and retrofit vending machines, as of January 1, 2016: the HFC blends R-507A and R-404A are unacceptable.
• For new and retrofit retail food refrigeration (including direct supermarket systems and indirect supermarket systems), as of January 1, 2016: HFC-227ea, R-407B, R-421B, R-422A, R-422C, R-422D, R-428A, and R-434A are unacceptable.
• For new, stand-alone retail food refrigeration and new vending machines, as of January 1, 2016: HFC-134a and certain other HFC refrigerant blends are unacceptable.
• For all foam blowing end-uses, as of January 1, 2017, except where allowed under a narrowed use limit: HFC-134a and blends thereof are unacceptable; HFC-143a, HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc and blends thereof, and the HFC blends Formacel B, and Formacel Z-6 are unacceptable in all foam blowing end-uses where they are currently listed as acceptable, except for spray foam applications; and the HFC blend Formacel TI is unacceptable in all foam blowing end-uses where it is currently listed as acceptable.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE LIST OF NEW UNACCEPTABLE REFRIGERANTS. 

DATCP Offers Buying Tips for Propane

July 17, 2014
http://datcp.wi.gov/news/?ID=1123

Media Contact: Jerad Albracht, Senior Communications Specialist, 608-224-5007 or Jim Dick, Communications Director, 608-224-5020

MADISON – With summer in full swing, winter heating options are the last thing on the mind of most consumers. But energy experts are advising consumers to plan ahead for their propane needs this winter by looking at options now and buying early. To assist Wisconsin consumers, DATCP is offering a new fact sheet explaining propane options, including questions to ask when comparing offers.

“Propane suppliers offer a wide variety of pricing agreements and delivery options, and consumers are more likely to get a better price when they buy early,” said Sandy Chalmers, Administrator of Trade and Consumer Protection. “Research options, ask questions, and get everything in writing.”

The new DATCP fact sheet includes background on common delivery options and pricing structures to help consumers weigh their options when buying propane. It also includes key questions for the consumer to ask, aimed at allowing the consumer to compare contracts. Download the fact sheet from the DATCP website (http://datcp.wi.gov/uploads/Consumer/pdf/PropaneConsumerTips500.pdf) or request a copy by mail by calling 1-800-422-7128.

“The propane contract sets the terms of the agreement between a propane marketer and a consumer, so make sure you read and understand the terms of the contract before you sign,” said Chalmers. “Pay special attention to provisions on added fees and surcharges and how credits and refunds will be applied.”

Other tips to consider include:

Pricing agreements. Budget plans, pre-pay plans, and fixed-price plans can offer consumers savings when compared to buying at market price. Knowing your tank size and your typical propane usage can help you get the best price and avoid over- or under-buying. If you use up your contracted amount before the end of the season, you may have to pay the market price for additional propane. If you overbuy, your retail marketer may credit your account for the following year, depending on the terms of your contract.

Delivery arrangements. Some retail marketers offer to deliver propane automatically to refill your tank. Others allow you to monitor your usage and call when you need a delivery. Make sure you know how much advance time your retail marketer needs to schedule a delivery.

Ask about fees and other charges. When you compare between retail marketers, don’t ask only about per-gallon cost. Retail marketers may charge a variety of add-on fees, including trip fees, after-hours delivery charges, weekend fees, partial fills and inspection fees. Those fees can have a major impact on your total out-of-pocket costs.

Get a signed and dated contract and keep copies of receipts for at least a year. No matter what kind of agreement you reach, a written contract sets out the rights and responsibilities of both the buyer and seller. Receipts are handy to have if there is a dispute between you and your propane supplier.

For additional information or to file a complaint, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at datcp.wisconsin.gov, call the Consumer Information Hotline at 1-800-422-7128 or send an e-mail to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov.

Link to .PDF version of full news release:  07.17.14_DATCPPropaneBuyingTips.pdf 

Ice Storage: A Cost-Efficient Way To Cool Commercial Buildings While Optimizing the Power Grid

When CALMAC CEO Mark MacCracken looks at a building, he sees thermal mass and air conditioning load, and – above all – an opportunity to vastly increase the efficiency of our national power grid. He sees the world of electricity production and consumption from an integrated, systems-thinking approach, and the potential for huge improvements.  Which is a blessing and a curse, because alongside the enormous potential, he also observes an impressively high level of old-school, status quo thinking that keeps us mired in uneconomical ways of running our power grid and cooling our buildings.

Duct Dynasty: Duct Sealing Side Effects You Need to Know

Take Caution When Sealing Up Undersized or Oversized Equipment

By David Richardson

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/127038-duct-sealing-side-effects-you-need-to-know

In many areas of the country, duct sealing and tightness testing is now mandated at local and state levels. This has brought about renewed interest in sealing existing duct systems among HVAC professionals as awareness increases.

While a properly sealed duct system can lead to improved IAQ, comfort, and possibly a reduced risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, is it possible that too much is being assumed for tight ducts to really be right ducts? Is there a possibility that duct sealing could negatively affect an HVAC system?

Cause and Effect

A Brief History of Air Conditioning

Inventors who came before Willis Haviland Carrier tinkered with cooling machines. But it was Carrier's creation that launched the modern idea of air conditioning. To mark the 110th anniversary of his invention, we look back at the long story of a/c.

By Amanda Green  July 16, 2012 3:00 PM

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/electrical-plumbing/a-brief-history-of-air-conditioning-10720229

1758 All liquid evaporation has a cooling effect. Benjamin "I invented everything" Franklin and Cambridge University professor John Hadley discover that evaporation of alcohol and other volatile liquids, which evaporate faster than water, can cool down an object enough to freeze water. 

Craigslist Classifieds and the Contractor

Online Forum Offering At-Your-Own-Risk Employment, Distribution Opportunities

By Angela D. Harris

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/126891-craigslist-classifieds-and-the-contractor

From refrigerant to technician tools to rooftop units, HVAC equipment is onCraigslist. Described as local classifieds and forums that are community moderated and largely free, Craigslist has more than 50 billion page views per month and counts more than 60 million users each month in the U.S. alone.

There is a lot of stigma that goes along with Craigslist, and although its usage for job postings, lead generation, and equipment sales seem to be growing, the online forum’s benefits, dangers, and impact on the HVACR industry is largely undefined. To help shine a light on Craigslist, The NEWS reached out to a number of contractors and distributors to determine, “What role does Craigslist have in the HVACR industry?”

You’d Be Crazy Not To?

Selling Thermostats that Save
Customers Energy and Money

Originally published: 04.01.14 by Bill Fortner

http://www.hvacrbusiness.com/sell-energy-and-money-saving-thermostats.html

When you think of industries offering the latest technology, computer software, social media, and cell phone companies may come to mind first. But when I reflect back on my 27 years in the residential HVACR industry, I realize we too keep up with the times. 

One way we keep up with innovations is through thermostats in customers’ homes. Over time we have seen the transition from mercury and bi-metal thermostats to digital, programmable, and now Wi-Fi thermostats with onboard alerts. There are several hurdles that must be overcome in order to fully convert these new developments in thermostats and controls into HVACR sales. To be successful selling thermostats and controls, you must educate your employees about the new technologies, and convince your technicians to not just sell but also fully embrace them. Every time your technicians enter a home they have the opportunity to discuss the merits of new thermostats with customers. If they don’t, you miss out on potential add-on sales. 

What Are the New Technologies? 

Allergy Season and Indoor Air Quality

Posted by Brittany Yeager on May 15, 2014 @ 01:00 PM

After this past winter, I’m sure we’re all glad that the snow has melted and spring has finally found its way here; but warmer weather comes with its own set of problems. Within days of being able to see the grass again, allergy sufferers were reminded of what they were missing for the past four months.

Snow melts and the pollen count rises. It’s the same vicious cycle every year. However, HVAC contractors don’t have to suffer with the rest of the world. Allergy season is actually a great season to sell HVAC systems.

When the outside world fills up with pollen and spores, people with allergies retreat indoors; but they’re not as safe from suffering as they think. Dust mites, animal dander, and even cockroaches can attack allergies in the home. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says that eight out of ten people in the United States are exposed to house dust mites, and six out of ten are exposed to pet dander. Then there are the homeowners who still want to try to get the fresh air from outside and will throw open their windows and doors to try to bring it inside, not bothering with window filters. Of course, bringing in that new spring air will also bring outside pollutants in with it. You don’t need to be a math genius to figure out that that adds up to a lot of people putting up with allergies.

Now here’s the kicker: controlling the air quality in your home can reduce your seasonal symptoms. Putting in a new HVAC system or having an old one maintained can decrease the misery. According to Web M.D., many pollutants (like pollen and particulate matter) are water-soluble; and since air conditioners are made to remove water from the air, they remove the pollutants as well. Removing the pollutants means a more enjoyable time in your own home. And if that’s not enough to seal the deal on a new system, good indoor air quality can also reduce negative health effects, lower the costs associated with illness, and can improve quality of life (Indoor Air Quality.com).

Think of yourself as Superman: when the evil Allergens come to invade homes, you can stop them in their tracks just by growing your business.

http://www.arzelzoning.com/blog/allergy-season?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_content=5306309&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Get More Time for Your Work and More Work from Your Team

Originally published: 05.01.14 by David M. Dye

Asking the right questions can get your team to find their own answers
If you ever struggle with feeling like you’re doing your team’s thinking for them, or don’t have time to do your own work, then your team needs help with problem-solving. As a leader, you’re in a unique position to help them in specific ways no one else can.

Compressor Failures

Part 2
By Glenn Minch

If a refrigeration or air conditioning system fails or is not performing according to design the focus is almost always directed to the compressor.  After all,  the compressor makes the most noise so our attention naturally goes to the component of the system doing the work.  In all reality the “boss” of the whole system is the evaporator.  The “work” we need to do is remove heat from a refrigerated space.  The evaporator needs to perform at its design capacity to achieve our goal.  A poor performing evaporator not only affects the room or product temperature but also has an effect on the life of the compressor.  That being said, we must make sure that the evaporator is set up to optimize efficiency and performance.  Listed below are a few evaporator issues that have an effect on compressor life.

• Coil cleanliness……..May cause liquid flooding back to a “vapor” compressor.
• Improper air flow…..Same result as above.
• Too much evaporator superheat……….High return gas temperature causing overheating on a suction cooled compressor.
• Not enough superheat……….Liquid flood back to  a “vapor” compressor.

  

There are times when an evaporator may experience changing performance due to increased or reduced loads.  At that point we need to look at system protection components like suction accumulators, etc.

Is HVAC a good career choice?

Posted on April 9, 2014By Ryan Hill

It can be difficult deciding on a career to embark upon. Whether it’s your first or a result of a switch.
There aren’t many industries or sectors that you can genuinely say are growing and offer a wide variety of employment options. The HVAC industry is one of the few. A career in the HVAC industry can be rewarding, well paid and offers real prospects. Take a look at our top 10 reasons why a career in HVAC could be ideal for you.

Fantastic Career Stability

Thanks to continuous development, often driven by environmental considerations, a career in the HVAC industry is always changing. An example of this is the R 22 and HFC phase out. Energy efficiency and the savings it can create are also a driver in HVAC industry development. There will always be old systems that need replacing and therefore work to be done.

Year Round Work

The HVAC industry is also one that doesn’t suffer too severely from seasonality. Although there are quieter periods during milder weather months there is still demand for equipment servicing and repair. Whether it is hot or cold people will need new systems fitted or old systems serviced to ensure they can deal with weather extremes. It seems these weather extremes will only increase thanks to global warming making commercial HVAC jobs even more appealing.

The Pay

The HVAC industry pay scale can be very appealing. It is a challenging industry, you have to excel in what you do, if you do you can reach a substantial pay packet. By choosing a speciality you can improve that further.

Skill Specialisation

There are 60 different skill areas in the HVAC industry. This gives a HVAC technician the option to pick and choose what appeals to them. Specialising in a number of areas will also improve a technician’s employability and earning potential.

Low Recession Impact

Although no industry is truly recession proof HVAC is very recession resistant. Just like people will always need to get their haircut, HVAC systems will always need to be serviced. If HVAC systems fail on commercial buildings or in schools the buildings often have to shut. Most of the time this is not an option meaning a technician will have to be called out.

Challenging and Rewarding Work

A career in the HVAC industry is ideal for people who enjoy challenging work. Emergency call outs are common and often require engineers to call on their intuition and think on their feet. An engineer’s skills can also be called upon for equipment design or improvement. It’s not always easy but it is certainly rewarding.

Job Opportunities

Thanks to the constant development of the industry HVAC companies are constantly looking for young and talented individuals to join their ranks. With systems relying more and more on computerisation young, computer savvy technicians have a real advantage over older engineers. By staying ahead of the game you can really excel.

Hands on Approach

Sitting at a desk staring at a computer screen doesn’t appeal to some. The HVAC industry is a perfect example of a place where you can find yourself hands on, varying employment. Whether you are being called out to an install in the country or service in the city no two days are ever the same.

Industry Growth

Climate change and the increase of a global middle class are just two reasons that the HVAC industry is continuously seeing growth. With demand for HVAC equipment showing no signs of abating you can be sure you won’t be short of work.

Employment in Varying Sectors

Another fantastic thing about working in HVAC is the varying business sectors and industries in which you can find work. Residential, end user, industrial and commercial sectors all require HVAC equipment and therefore HVAC engineers. Specialising in one sector such as commercial HVAC jobs can be advantageous just as spreading your bets amongst sectors can be.
We hope it’s now clear that a career in the HVAC industry can be rewarding, stimulating and lucrative. In other words, HVAC is a good career choice. If you are skilled and work hard the earning potential is fantastic and job satisfaction can be high.
All Seasons Hire are always interested in hearing from talented HVAC engineers who are looking to join a dynamic and growing team. If you are interested in working for us please send a CV info@allseasonshire.com to or call us on 0800 082 8001.
Written by Ryan Hill

http://www.allseasonshire.eu/blog/hvac-good-career-choice/