Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from August 2008

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from August 2008

Lenox.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Lenox (East Long Meadow, Mass.) named David Pirkle as president of Industrial Products and Services.

Honeywell's (Morristown, N.J.) Dr. Ian Shankland, director of technology for the company's Flourine Products business.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Honeywell's (Morristown, N.J.) Dr. Ian Shankland, director of technology for the company's Flourine Products business, was awarded the 2008 Perkin Medal by the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Tecumseh Products Co.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Tecumseh Products Co. (Tecumseh, Mich.) relocated its global headquarters to Ann Arbor, Mich. The new phone number is 734-585-9500.

Rheem.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Rheem (Fort Smith, Ark.) introduced its DesignStar home comfort system customization tool available at www.rheemdesignstar.com and www.ruuddesignstar.com.

Onset Computer Corp.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Onset Computer Corp. (Bourne, Mass.) made available an on-demand Webinar, Determining Proper Boiler Sizing with Data Loggers.

Thermo King Corp.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Thermo King Corp. (Minneapolis) named John Habermann as product manager for Telematics.

Daikin Industries Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) and McQuay International (Minneapolis) began construction.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Daikin Industries Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) and McQuay International (Minneapolis) began construction of a new $50 million global research and development center in Plymouth, Minn.

Embraco (Sao Paulo, Brazil) received the Stars of Energy Efficiency award.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Embraco (Sao Paulo, Brazil) received the Stars of Energy Efficiency award from the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE).

Superior Radiant Products.(Manufacturers)
August 4, 2008... * Superior Radiant Products (Stoney Creek, Ontario) hired Tom Delp as National Sales Manager. He will be responsible for the U.S. market and based out of Cleveland.

The Chiller Systems Group's (CSG's) members have agreed to join the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).(Organizations)
August 4, 2008... * The Chiller Systems Group's (CSG's) members have agreed to join the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), effective Sept. 2008.

HVAC students shine at SkillsUSA.(training & education)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here are two sets of numbers to remember: 5,000 and 91; and 54 and 1. There were some 5,000 young persons in Kansas City in late June for the 44th SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills...

Measuring system performance digitally.(service & maintenance)
August 4, 2008... As energy costs continue to rise and our electrical infrastructure is strained to its limits, the practice of assessing equipment and system performance, in addition to the relatively new practice of whole-house residential building...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
August 4, 2008... Zonefirst's Website address is: www.zonefirst.com. It was incorrectly identified on page 8 of the July 14 issue. NATE's Website address is: www.natex.org. It was incorrectly identified on page 14 of the July 21 issue. The NEWS regrets...

McCain nor Obama know about business.(Presidential Candidates Won't Change High Oil Prices)(Letter to the editor)
August 4, 2008... I hope Mark Skaer had his tongue in his cheek when he wrote this and was just trying to stir up some comments. We are an oil-based economy and will be for some time to come. All the problems he listed are the direct result of the high oil...

Smooth talkers won't solve problems.(Presidential Candidates Won't Change High Oil Prices)(Letter to the editor)
August 4, 2008... Is Mark Skaer from San Francisco, Calif.? [An unemployment rate of] 5.5 percent is no leap and there is always change; what you make of it determines whether it's good or bad. Democrats and environmentalists caused the oil problems. Our...

Project files: outdoor malls.
August 4, 2008... COMPANY: Goyette Mechanical, Flint, Mich. INSTALLATION: Thaw-Pak Hydronic Snow Melt System COMPLETION: October 2007 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CUSTOMER: The Mall at Partridge Creek, Clinton Township, Mich. OBJECTIVE: Provide...

ACCA opens West Coast office.(newsline)
August 4, 2008... SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- With the state of California moving ahead on a number of energy and building code initiatives that will affect the HVACR contracting industry, and because of the influence California wields across other states nationwide,...

CES Group names president.(newsline)
August 4, 2008... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Nortek Inc. appointed Eric Roberts as president of Nortek's CES Group Inc. Roberts succeeds David Huntley, who has retired as the leader of Nortek's custom commercial HVAC business, a major segment of the international...

ATCO earns certification.(newsline)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... ATLANTA -- The Greenguard Environmental Institute awarded the flexible duct products of ATCO Rubber Products Inc. with Greenguard for Children & Schools[SM] IAQ Certification, under the Greenguard Product Certification Program. The ATCO,...

FlowCon opens headquarters.(newsline )(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- FlowCon International, a European manufacturer-distributor of flow control valves for commercial heating and air conditioning systems, has launched its line of AB automatic balancing valves from new headquarters in Charlotte,...

MSCA opens registration.(newsline)(Mechanical Service Contractors of America)
August 4, 2008... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Registration is now open for the Mechanical Service Contractors of America's (MSCA's) 23rd annual Educational Conference, being held Oct. 12-15, in San Antonio. Conference activities will provide attendees with strategies...

World Workplace conference slated.(newsline)(Conference news)
August 4, 2008... HOUSTON -- The "youniversal" workplace experience is heading to Dallas. An estimated 5,000 facility professionals from around the world will meet in Dallas to analyze the trends and new products affecting today's built environment during the...

Weather Guard sweepstakes.(newsline)
August 4, 2008... CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. -- Knaack LLC launched its Weather Guard[R] 2008 Tough Truck Driveaway promotion that will run through Nov. 30. For the third year in a row, the company will give away a 2008 Toyota Tundra to one grand prizewinner. The truck...

Nitrogen flow indicator.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The UNF3 nitrogen flow indicator is a visual tool that confirms the flow of nitrogen gas through the copper lines during the brazing process. Flowing nitrogen gas through copper tubing while brazing displaces the...

Single-stage furnaces.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Available in 80-plus and 92-plus AFUE, these new single-stage furnaces can be installed freestanding in a basement or enclosed in a closet. At just under 35 inches tall, the low-profile design can accommodate larger,...

Hot-water heat air handlers.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The enhanced MX and BC/BV Series hot-water heat air handlers are easily compatible with all types of hot-water heat applications, including in-home water heaters and boiler systems. Measuring 20.5 inches deep, the MX...

Comfort cooling, heating module.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Parasol is a compact comfort module for commercial and industrial applications and has been designed for control of IAQ and temperature. According to the company, using chilled beam technology, the modules are...

Chilled-, heated-water flow transmitters.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ClarkSonic Ultrasonic Flow Transmitters can be used for measuring flow in most clean liquids and many liquids with entrained solids. Applications include monitoring flow rates of chilled or heated water as part of a...

Coil, condenser cleaner.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EZ-Mix[TM] Granular Coil Cleaner[TM] comes as a concentrated, dry cleaner, preventing against accidental spills that can damage expensive equipment, parts, or tools in the back of the van or homeowner property while...

A/C, refrigeration acid neutralizer kit.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Acid-Buster[TM] is designed to chemically neutralize and prevent acid build-up in air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The AB-100CS Acid-Buster injection kit helps technicians add the exact amount of acid...

Programmable thermostat.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The THC-2000 programmable thermostat incorporates an exclusive "Save Display" which immediately indicates the percentage savings associated with any selected program. This takes the guesswork out of the way for...

Battery-powered refrigerant scale.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Model 9035 is a battery-powered, 220-pound-capacity refrigerant scale. It fits most existing refrigerant tanks. According to the manufacturer, the scale has high accuracy ([+ or -] 0.5 oz) and resolution (0.1 oz). It...

Laser measurement device.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... The pocket-sized Disto[TM] D2 is a compact, ergonometric-designed device able to measure distances, calculate area, volume, and hard-to-reach areas utilizing the indirect functions at the touch of a button with fast, reliable results, says the...

Venting products catalog.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new Product Family Catalog brings a new look for the company and all seven of its product lines into one comprehensive book, providing customers the ability to browse for vent system components, including...

Digital inspection camera.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... The digital inspection camera is designed for the professional trades, including plumbers, electricians, and HVAC, to quickly and accurately locate and evaluate common jobsite problems. With advanced digital imaging technology and a 2.5-inch...

Port protocol converter/gateway.(what's new)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Model FS-B2510 dual-serial port gateway includes two serial ports and one Ethernet port for integration from serial-to-serial or serial-to-Ethernet applications. It fits the needs of integrators seeking to...

The air conditioner of Notre Dame: supplemental A/C for the 166-year-old campus.(FOCUS: SCHOOL MARKET)(Company overview)
August 4, 2008... Founded in 1842, the University of Notre Dame is an independent, national Catholic university in Notre Dame, Ind., adjacent to the city of South Bend and 90 miles east of Chicago. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The university has an enrollment...

School district reduces energy costs: TAC completes performance contract in golden state.(FOCUS: SCHOOL MARKET)
August 4, 2008... DALLAS -- The Lucerne Valley Unified School District (USD) in Lucerne Valley, Calif., is completing $374,772 in facility enhancements to improve operations, comfort, and efficiency in three district buildings totaling more than 70,000 square...

MERV 13 filtration at one-half the pressure drop.(FOCUS: SCHOOL MARKET )
August 4, 2008... The Archie Dykes medical library at the University of Kansas had a problem: mold. This caused discomfort for students studying in the building who also suffered from respirator as asthma. A big part of the solution y problems, such was the...

Renewable scorecard helps school system make energy choices.(FOCUS: SCHOOL MARKET)
August 4, 2008... As more organizations look to reduce their environmental impact, the interest in renewable energy technology has reached an all-time high. According to a recent report from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, renewable...

Performance contracting vs. performance-based contracting in HVAC.(service & maintenance)
August 4, 2008... Performance contracting (PC) has been around for many years. It has been defined as "A mechanism to implement resource efficiency improvements with minimal upfront costs. It uses savings resulting from the efficiency project to pay for the work...

C[O.sub.2] and piping drive IIAR paper topics.(Refrigeration zone)
August 4, 2008... COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- C[O.sub.2] as a secondary fluid, piping precautions, and when and how to use variable-speed drives were among the topics of eight papers presented during the 2008 International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration...

Energy, environment topics at FMI.(conference update)
August 4, 2008... Energy costs, sustainability, and environmental trends are among the overriding topics for the upcoming Food Marketing Institute Energy & Technical Service Conference Sept. 7-10 in Orlando, Fla. Michael Sansolo, president, Sansolo...

Taking stock of downtime.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
August 4, 2008... During the normal course of servicing and installing refrigeration systems, there are times when a technician will need to wait before proceeding to the next task. This can be the case when evacuating a system or when letting the system's...

Air conditioning system troubleshooting.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
August 4, 2008... This is the final article in a series covering inefficient compressors, noncondensibles in the system, low and high condenser entering air temperatures, and different metering devices as they apply to troubleshooting air conditioning systems....

CFC disposal, export are still industry issues.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: industry news)
August 4, 2008... Even though much attention in the HVACR industry has shift ed to supplies of HCFC-22 and longterm viability of HFCs, questions about exportation and disposal of CFCs and CFC-containing equipment continue to surface. In one of the most...

AHRI holds first spring meeting.(meeting update)(Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute )(Conference news)
August 4, 2008... It was another historic event at a historic setting as the legendary Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., hosted the first Spring Meeting of the Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). It was historic because it...

Award for distinguished service.(meeting update)
August 4, 2008... Two industry leaders were saluted with AHRI's 2008 Distinguished Service Award at AHRI's Spring Meeting: Ronald Massa, retired executive vice president, A.O. Smith Corp., and David Lewis, retired vice president of government and international...

The NEWS' index remains volatile.(stock index)
August 4, 2008... Wall Street struggled this session, with stocks ending habitually further south than they started, battered by high oil, uncertainty in the banking sector, and continued weakness in housing. As our trading session ended June 30, 2008, the Dow...

Denso sponsors racing worldwide.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Denso Corp. is participating in a comprehensive motor sport sponsorship program for the 2008 season. The company will continue to sponsor teams participating in the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1), the FIA...

State Water Heaters goes off the track.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] State Water Heaters has extended its racing program sponsorship beyond the NASCAR racetrack. The company has been a continued sponsor of No. 66 driver Scott Riggs, but it is now also sponsoring Riggs as a regular...

Bryant picks Indy car.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... This is Bryant's second year as a sponsor of the Andretti Green Racing (AGR) team. Bryant's logo is displayed on Tony Kanaan's No. 11 car, uniform, and helmet, as well as crew uniforms, pit equipment, and the transporter. IndyCar Series events...

Lennox and Penske partner.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... Lennox Industries sponsors the No. 2 Kurt Busch car of Penske Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This marks the 11th consecutive year as a Penske sponsor partner. Busch, the 2004 Cup Champion, has captured three wins, 14 top-5, and 28...

Racing awards popular.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning understands the popularity of NASCAR and other racing venues with the HVACR industry. As a reward for the company's Stars & Stripes incentive, winners made their way to...

Parker Hannifin sponsors sprint car series.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Parker Hannifin Corp. signed a business agreement with True Speed Enterprises Inc. and Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises LLC, expanding the company's involvement in the racing world. As part of the agreement, driver...

Trane races for research.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... Trane distributor Wallwork Group sponsored a car under the Trane brand name for the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF). During this race, four drivers raced...

Rheem extends agreement.(hvac pit crew)
August 4, 2008... Rheem Manufacturing Co. extended its sponsorship agreement with Richard Childress Racing[R] (RCR) for the 2008 and 2009 Sprint Cup[R] seasons. Rheem will continue as the major associate sponsor of RCR's No. 29 car driven by 2007 Daytona 500...

If risk is too high, boomers won't buy.(sales call)(HVAC industry)
August 4, 2008... [Editor's note: This is the fifth article in an eight-part series on selling to Baby Boomers.] Baby Boomers grew up in an era of risk-taking. Being draft ed for an unpopular war, civil rights protests, drug experimentation, free love, and...

Feedback, testing improves dehumidifier.(manufacturer update)
August 4, 2008... MADISON, Wis. -- When Aprilaire introduced its 1700 and 1720 wholehome dehumidifier models a few years ago, the company already had a system in place to make improvements. Those are now available thanks to an accelerated review process and...

Powell's ponderings: a flurry before a storm?(opinions)
August 4, 2008... Sometimes a flurry of activities and actions surface quickly and then die down almost as fast. Such was the case in late spring--over at least one round--regarding legislation that calls for cutting carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse...

Gargaro's world: who needs Richard Simmons?(editor's blogs)
August 4, 2008... In the pages of The NEWS, we often write about how much the HVAC industry improves the lives of the general public. Add yet another item to the list of important benefits the HVAC industry gives people. That item would be a weight loss program....

Taking care of business: being small ain't bad at all.(editor's blogs)
August 4, 2008... I was visiting with an HVAC contractor recently who had moved his business from a small shop in the city to his home in a beautiful rural setting. He took a gamble that the move would be better for him, cutting down his overhead and...

American Standard.(Price Increase)
August 11, 2008... * American Standard (Piscataway, N.J.) increased prices 5 percent for PTAC units, effective immediately for new quotes and Aug. 22 for the rest.

TAC.(Contractors)
August 11, 2008... * TAC (Raleigh, N.C.) relocated its offices to 2600 Perimeter Park Drive, in Morrisville, N.C.

ABB Ltd.(Manufacturers)
August 11, 2008... * ABB Ltd. (Zurich, Switzerland) appointed Joseph Hogan as CEO of the ABB Group.

WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc.(Financial Reports)
August 11, 2008... * WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc. (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was named to SustainableBusiness.com's 2008 "Sustainable Business 20."

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) are sponsoring a free "Green Means Business" Webinar.(Organizations)
August 11, 2008... * The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) are sponsoring a free "Green Means Business" Webinar, featuring Russ Borst, on Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. EDT.

Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA).(Organizations)
August 11, 2008... * The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) is hosting its annual meeting, Oct. 16-18 in Savannah, Ga.

Home Ventilating Institute (HVI).(Organizations)
August 11, 2008... * The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) released two new brochures: Heat & Energy Recovery Ventilators and Bathroom Exhaust Fans--A Consumer Guide.

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA).(Organizations)
August 11, 2008... * The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is hosting its annual convention and product show Oct. 19-23 in Maui, Hawaii.

Green Mechanical Council's (GreenMECH's).(Organizations)
August 11, 2008... * Green Mechanical Council's (GreenMECH's) Tom Meyer is presenting "GreenSpeak" at the International Emerging Technology Symposium, to be held Aug. 19-20 in Chicago.

Refrigerant talk turns to HFOs.(refrigerant update)
August 11, 2008... WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Contractors who have mastered working with CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs may now want to turn their attention to what is being promoted as the fourth generation of refrigerants--HFOs (Hydro-Fluoro-Olefi ns). "We are on the...

Contractors track and trim expenses.(business management)
August 11, 2008... One of the dangers that face any business owner, let alone HVACR contractors, is complacency. When times are good and profits are healthy, business owners have a tendency to overlook the various expenses or neglect to read all of the fine print...

Contractor testifies to green benefits.(newsline)
August 11, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Ellis Guiles of TAG Mechanical in Syracuse, N.Y., testified before a House Small Business Committee on behalf of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), as to "The Role of Green Technologies in Spurring Economic...

Coleman promo offers cash back.(newsline)
August 11, 2008... NORMAN, Okla. -- The Coleman[R] brand of residential and light commercial HVAC equipment is offering consumers either a $1,500 cash-back rebate or a free, 10-year parts-and-labor extended warranty on qualifying equipment. The promotional period...

Class notes.(newsline)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COURSE TITLE: Commercial Reciprocating & Scroll Compressor Chiller/Rooftop/Self-Contained Unit Maintenance and Operation Course SPONSORING ORGANIZATION: McQuay International DATE: Sept. 15-19 LOCATION:...

HI meeting pumps it up.(newsline)
August 11, 2008... CLEVELAND -- The Hydraulic Institute's (HI's) 2008 Spring Technical Meeting brought together nearly 100 top-level technical professionals from the pump industry. They discussed the development of new pump standards and energy-efficient process...

Marcus P. Eubank.(OBITUARY)
August 11, 2008... LONGVIEW, Texas -- Marcus P. Eubank, a pioneer in the air conditioning industry and founder of Eubank Manufacturing, passed away June 18. He was 80 years old. Born in Eldorado, Ark., he and his family relocated to Texas during the Great...

Group to lobby for contractors.(newsline)
August 11, 2008... SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- In an effort to protect and enhance independent HVACR contractors in Illinois, the new HVACR Illinois State Association (HISA) has been formed. One of its primary focuses is to form an effective lobbying presence in...

Residential climate control software.(what's new)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The env software system is designed for indoor climate control optimization for residential and moderate-scale commercial buildings. It offers intelligent climate control technologies that balance indoor climate to...

Portable emission analyzer.(what's new)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ECOM-CN is an easy-to-use, handheld HVAC gas analyzer designed for basic combustion monitoring in a variety of applications. It is fitted with two gas sensors, measuring oxygen and carbon monoxide, plus stack and...

Packaged heating and cooling units.(what's new)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Coleman Apex[TM] Series of residential and light commercial packaged heating and cooling units are available in 3-, 4-, and 5-ton sizes. All models are designed with gas and electric utility knockouts on the...

Air density trim system.(what's new)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Temp-A-Trim[TM] air density trim system efficiently manages the fuel-air ratio in industrial and commercial burners to create fuel savings of up to 3 percent. Temperature changes in a boiler room, from day to...

Room, building wireless controls.(what's new)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Illumra[TM] products communicate with room and building controllers to conserve energy through occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, and personal workspace control technologies. The line of battery-free...