Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from January 2008

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from January 2008

EMCOR Group Inc.'s (Norwalk, Conn.) Michael Shelton, P.E.(Contractors)
January 7, 2008... EMCOR Group Inc.'s (Norwalk, Conn.) Michael Shelton, P.E., president of Emcor Government Services, was named cochairman of the Professional Services Council (Arlington, Va.).

Tri-City Mechanical.(Contractors)
January 7, 2008... Tri-City Mechanical (Phoenix) was named to The Phoenix Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" list for 2007.

Gamewell-FCI, part of Honeywell's Life Safety Group (Northford, Conn.).(Manufacturers)
January 7, 2008... Gamewell-FCI, part of Honeywell's Life Safety Group (Northford, Conn.), appointed Alex Nino as Latin America regional manager, Alex Salter as Western territory regional manager, and Robert Veenstra as Mid-Atlantic regional manager.

ECR Technologies Inc.(Manufacturers)
January 7, 2008... ECR Technologies Inc. (Lakeland, Fla.) promoted Joe Parsons Jr. to the position of vice president.

Harsco GasServ Group (Camp Hill, Pa.) was acquired by Wind Point Partners (Chicago) and will now operate as Taylor-Wharton International (Mechanicsburg, Pa.).(Manufacturers)
January 7, 2008... Harsco GasServ Group (Camp Hill, Pa.) was acquired by Wind Point Partners (Chicago) and will now operate as Taylor-Wharton International (Mechanicsburg, Pa.). Robert Gadomski was chosen as CEO.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America.(Organizations)
January 7, 2008... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) relaunched its Website at www. acca.org.

The American IAQ Council.(Organizations)
January 7, 2008... The American IAQ Council (Glendale, Ariz.) approved a new certification exam for its Council-certified Indoor Air Quality Manager (CIAQM) program.

CholodExpo Rossija's.(Events)
January 7, 2008... CholodExpo Rossija's (Moscow) inaugural show will be held at the Crocus Expo Center in Moscow, Feb. 19-21.

The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers (NAOHSM) will be holding its 55th Annual Convention and Trade Show May 18-22, 2008.(Events)
January 7, 2008... The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers (NAOHSM) will be holding its 55th Annual Convention and Trade Show May 18-22, 2008, at the new Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn.

Countdown TO New York show.(AHR EXPO 2008)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK CITY -- It's hard to believe that it's been 17 years since New York City last hosted the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration (AHR) Expo. This year's event will definitely be bigger...

A.O. Reed helps California post offices to go green.(MANUFACTURER REPORTS)
January 7, 2008... A.O. Reed Helps California Post Offices to Go Green: Usually when the words government and green appear in the same sentence, our thoughts may turn to higher taxes. But that's not the case in California, where the federal government's campaign...

Innovation Award winners announced.(FOCUS: AHR PRE-SHOW ISSUE)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- Nine companies have been named as winners of the sixth annual AHR Expo Innovation Awards. All nine companies will be recognized at the awards ceremony at the Javits Convention Center on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. in the New Product...

Ruud supports contractors and independent distribution.(newsline)
January 7, 2008... FORT SMITH, Ark. -- The Noland Co., a long-time Ruud distributor, has decided to no longer represent the Ruud heating and cooling product line. As a result, Ruud management has committed all necessary resources to ensuring a smooth transition...

Maintenance cost database goes online.(newsline)
January 7, 2008... ATLANTA -- A new, free, online database from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) provides engineers with equipment service life and annual maintenance costs for a variety of building types and...

Climate change.(Cartoon)
January 7, 2008... ... So, for home automation, an open protocol such as IP on the oBIX platform ensures interoperability with nextgen devices. Amanda! Please Come here. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Would you mind repeating that for out 5th grader? ...

Managers attend Boot Camp.(newsline)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NORMAN, Okla. -- Territory managers (TMs) with Johnson Controls-Unitary Products, completed five-day training programs called Basic Boot Camps, at the company's corporate headquarters. The entry-level workshops...

Celebrating with free stuff.(newsline)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- As part of Totaline's 20th anniversary celebration, HVAC technicians and contractors can receive free stuff every month throughout 2008. "We've done contests in the past, but this isn't a contest," said Mike Dziok,...

Emerson makes 50 million.(newsline)
January 7, 2008... ST. LOUIS -- Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, reached 50 million installations of its Copeland[R] brand CR compressors. In light of the compressors perceived market success, Emerson Climate Technologies will launch into...

AMCA moves on standards.(newsline)(Air Movement and Control Association)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International Inc. released information regarding multiple, recent actions. The association approved Section 16 of AMCA 511-07, adding a Certified Ratings Program (CRP)...

NCI Plans Team Summit.(newsline)(National Comfort Institute Inc)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... SHEFFIELD LAKE, Ohio -- The National Comfort Institute Inc. (NCI) announced plans for its 2008 National Comfort Team Perfor-Maxx Summit, March 3-5 in Clearwater, Fla. To be held at the Belleview Biltmore hotel, NCI said this event is designed...

Air conditioning system.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The VRV[R] III air conditioning system is the seventh generation of the company's original VRV. It features 460-V three-phase power supply, larger capacity up to 20 tons, connection up to 41 indoor units from one...

Ductwork video inspection system.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Roto-Vision[R] video inspection system is designed for video-assisted air duct cleaning. The system allows both contractors and customers to see deep inside air duct systems during the cleaning process. According...

Oil burner electronic control.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The GeniSys Model 7505 is a 120-vac primary safety control for residential and light commercial oil burners in boiler, furnace, and water heater applications. It has three diagnostic lights, welded relay protection...

Calibration method, reminder service.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... Compliance-Max[TM] is a calibration method. The calibrations are A2LAaccredited, NIST-traceable three-point calibrations, which include both before and after calibration data. The Calibration Club is an automatic calibration reminder service...

Distribution software.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... Enhancements have been made to its S2K Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software suite. Version 3.7.6 features an enhanced suggested purchasing application to improve the consolidated purchasing capabilities of the software. Upon receipt of...

Snow- and ice-melting systems.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company has upgraded its entire line of snow and ice melting systems featuring Nexans electric heating cables. The systems now include an optional remote control panel that enables users to operate the system's...

Cold-weather sealing foam.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... The CF 512 cold-weather foam can dispense and cure at temperatures as low as 30[degrees]F. The product can be used for restricting air, sound, dirt, and water infiltration in a variety of applications. The high-performance, high-yield foam is...

Gas sampling system.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MultiGard gas sampling system uses a common set of analyzers for up to 32 locations. This low-maintenance fixed system detects carbon monoxide, NO2, O2, and refrigerant gases, and delivers the sample to up to...

Customer reminder, sales e-mail system.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two new features have been integrated with the PagePilot Web generation system: Home Maintenance Reminders and E-Commerce, an optional upgrade using the popular PayPal online payment system. The two features can be...

Plaque diffuser.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The OPD Series omnidirectional plaque diffuser is designed for T-bar or lay-in ceiling applications. The diffuser offers the high volume of air diffusion typical of more traditional step-down, cone models, such as...

Pressure-sensitive tapes.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two new pressure-sensitive tapes are available. The 340 is a two-mil (0.002-inch) aluminum foil pressure-sensitive tape with release liner. The foil and adhesive are high-performance materials used to meet the...

Lift trucks.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... A line of lift trucks offer maximum performance, superior energy efficiency, and lower maintenance costs due to the use of electric ac power, the company says. An ac brushless hoist motor powers the advanced hydraulic system to reduce...

Flexible plastic duct.(what's new)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new, bend-and-stay type of flexible plastic duct features an interlocking construction. According to the manufacturer, Pliaduct[R] is a 100 percent rigid, self-supporting PVC duct with a ribbon-lock construction...

Minimizing R-22 shortfalls through more recovery.(service & maintenance)
January 7, 2008... Refrigerant recovery, reclamation, and recycling are three processes critical to minimizing an R-22 shortfall as the 2010 phaseout deadline approaches. Therefore, it is important for the HVACR industry to have a clear understanding of what each...

Beyond the trenches.(business management)(Interview)
January 7, 2008... Georgia Berner, of Berner International and Berner Energy Recovery, stepped into a new position as president in 1984. The company has expanded, diversified, and achieved its goals under her leadership which is anything but ordinary. One of her...

Danfoss sponsors EnVisioneering event.(meeting update)
January 7, 2008... BALTIMORE, Md. - In order to tackle the world's complex energy challenges, all stakeholders--from energy producers and policy-makers to HVAC industry experts and end users--must be better informed and educated and willing to share their...

Radiant and VRV pressing U.S. industry.(business management)
January 7, 2008... Another American manufacturing industry that formerly dominated the world and was responsible for most of its innovations, is about to get clobbered. U.S. air conditioning manufacturers, just like U.S. auto, TV, and electronics manufacturers,...

Hire right HVAC person, stay out of trouble.
January 7, 2008... On the surface, it appears to be a routine chore. You have a job to fill, so you must interview the applicants and select the most promising. In truth, interviewing job candidates today is far from routine. One of the toughest issues to...

Don't ask.(business management)
January 7, 2008... Avoid questions about pregnancy. Except in very limited circumstances (e.g., health reasons), employers cannot make hiring decisions based on an applicant's pregnancy. If an interviewer was to ask a female applicant whether she was--or planned...

A home builder's creative salesmanship.
January 7, 2008... We are in the process of building a home that can accommodate my mother when she moves from Phoenix. After looking at about 200 homes and finding five that were the "perfect house"--at least according to my wife and daughter-in-law --we did...

Unlimited possibilities with limited liability: more HVAC firms are choosing to become this type of company.
January 7, 2008... There is a relatively new business structure on the block. While the S corporation remains the most-used type of small business entity, the limited liability company (LLC) is increasingly the entity of choice for both new and existing HVACR...

Are we keeping our employees healthy? News' consultants talk about healthy incentives--or lack there of.(industry news)
January 7, 2008... Americans are unhealthy. According to the American Obesity Association, around 90 million adults are obese--and the costs are very high. The direct health care costs of obesity amounts to approximately $117 billion. Another $33 billion a year...

It's official! ARI and GAMA unite.(industry news)
January 7, 2008... While most people in the country were merrymaking, ringing in the new year, there was one more reason for ARI and GAMA members to celebrate. At the stroke of midnight, Jan. 1, 2008, the merger of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute...

ASHRAE's meeting reaches new heights.(FOCUS: AHR EXPO PRE-SHOW ISSUE)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK CITY -- "Reaching New Heights In Net-Zero Buildings" is the theme of this year's American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) meeting, which will be held Jan. 19-23 at the New York Hilton. The...

A fresh look at facilities maintenance: Webinar examines goal alignment, performance-based maintenance.(service & maintenance)
January 7, 2008... How do you convince a facility owner that the HVAC maintenance you want to perform is truly worthwhile? Paul Wheeler, facilities management and Lou Ronsivalli, service development, both with Trane, offered some advice on this and other topics...

Readers weigh in on eBay HVAC purchases: contractors split on installing units they don't sell.(business management)
January 7, 2008... Online mega-seller eBay has become a household word among consumers, both buyers and sellers. Its popularity entered the HVAC domain long ago and continues to be a source for people interested in buying and selling HVAC equipment. The NEWS has...

Value chain catapults sales and profits: buyers want to deal with HVAC experts they can trust.(sales call)
January 7, 2008... Karsten Solheim, the inventor of the Ping Putter told the story about managing a shoe repair store during the Great Depression. When his nearest competitor lowered the price of new heels to 15 cents, Solheim placed a big sign in the front...

Mayday ... Mayday! The wingman's call to action.(team leadership)(Viewpoint essay)
January 7, 2008... "Mayday!" is the universally recognized call of distress. It means--"I need help... NOW!" It's a call you never want to make, but it could very well be the most important of your life. Fighter pilots use it during extreme emergency...

The new marketing mix: where will you meet your customers?(business management)
January 7, 2008... It wasn't so long ago that the marketer's quiver held a handful of arrows. The skillful oft en chose some combination of print advertising, radio, broadcast television and cable spots, Yellow Pages ads, direct mail, billboards, special events,...

Expo reinforces business relationships.(show update)
January 7, 2008... FLUSHING, N.Y. -- ABCO Refrigeration Supply Corp. of Long Island City, N.Y., hosted its annual expo amid beautiful sunny skies and a full agenda. A total of 4,500 visitors exchanged information, reconfirmed business and personal friendships,...

PHCC and partners award scholarships.(hvac charity work)
January 7, 2008... FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation and its industry partners have awarded scholarships for 2007 totaling more than $100,000. The scholarships are funded by the PHCC...

Oil heat seminar raises funds.(hvac charity work)
January 7, 2008... EAST PETERSBURG, Pa. -- The phrase "All work and no play... " was the thought behind the fundraising seminar held to benefit the Oil Heat Cares Foundation. Seminar attendees toured historic Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, and then...

SMACNA wheels over hunger.(hvac charity work)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAPTION: SMACNA WHEELS OVER HUNGER: Motorcycle and classic car enthusiasts from the Arizona Chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA Arizona) and the Piping Industry...

Convention presentation.(hvac charity work)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CONVENTION PRESENTATION: The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) President, Richard Cramer, presented a $5,000 check to Kelly O'Shaughnessy (left) and Paula Puppel (right) of...

Intellidyne provides equipment to YMCA facility.(hvac charity work)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... HUNTINGTON, N.Y. -- The YMCA of Huntington, N.Y., received a donation of energy-saving control equipment from Intellidyne Inc., Glen Cove, N.Y. Intellidyne provided the equipment, and the YMCA paid for the installation. "As a nonprofit, we...

IFMA and Grainger rebuild New Orleans fire department.(hvac charity work)
January 7, 2008... NEW ORLEANS -- The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at promoting research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management, and Grainger, joined forces to help the New...

More simple things to rev up 2008.(MURPHY'S LAW)(Editorial)
January 7, 2008... The last time you read this page, you might have been laughing because I don't know how to count to 10. I had only listed four of 10 simple things to do to grow your business. What better way to start the New Year than by picking up where we...

Cutting blindsiding out of HVAC.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
January 7, 2008... As 2008 unfolds, a number of challenges face the HVAC trade. Some are obvious and some are subtle. And some are just plain invisible. The latter is what I am interested in. How many times have you heard the phrase, "I was blindsided by...

SPX Cooling Technologies.(Price Increases)
January 14, 2008... SPX Cooling Technologies (Overland Park, Kan.) increased prices 4-6 percent on all Marley- and Recold-brand factory assembled products and options.

Smith Services Inc.(Contractors)
January 14, 2008... Smith Services Inc. (Vero Beach, Fla.) was named one of Home Depot's Top 25 HVAC Program Dealers for 2007.

ABB.(Manufacturers)
January 14, 2008... ABB (New Berlin, Wis.) received the Voluntary Protection Program Star Award from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

HVAC industry helps shape regional standards language.
January 14, 2008... In late December, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) that is a good thing. AHRI is a newly formed association that combined...

Is high-stakes contracting worth the gamble? Acceptable risk in one market may not be worth it in another.
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many people enjoy riding unicycles. You may be one of them. Done correctly, it's a safe and healthy activity. What about unicycling on a tightrope, or across a gorge? Do you still feel quite so confident in your...

HARDI Foundation changes leadership, elects officers.(newsline)
January 14, 2008... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Foundation made multiple changes to its headship. Having completed his term as president and leader of the foundation, Douglas R. Young,...

Global conference announces speakers.(newsline)(Conference news)
January 14, 2008... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Valentine Lehr, senior partner, Lehr Consultants International, will be keynote speakers at the opening plenary session for...

Johnson controls congratulates students for winning letter-writing campaign.(newsline)
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MILWAUKEE -- Johnson Controls Inc. announced that four students of Carnegie Mellon University are the first-place winners in its open letter-writing competition--Tomorrow's Energy Ambassadors, Managers, and Scholars...

ASHRAE chapter in Indonesia.(newsline)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... ATLANTA -- Eighty-five years after creating its first chapter outside the United States, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has chartered its 170th chapter, based in Indonesia. "ASHRAE...

Denso CEO retires.(newsline)
January 14, 2008... SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- Denso announced that Mitsuo "Matt" Matsushita, president and CEO of Denso International America (Denso's North American headquarters) and managing officer of Denso Corp., retired from Denso effective Dec. 31, 2007....

LonMark Int'l gives awards.(newsline)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- LonMark International announced the winners of its Best of the Year Awards at LonWorld 2007. The annual awards program received 34 nominations in the six different categories from companies around the world. The Best...

ABB wins new contract.(newsline)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- ABB won a contract from Wise Alloys LLC to manage service activities and raise productivity at its Muscle Shoals, Ala., facility. It is the seventh ABB Full Service[R] agreement in North America. Under the five-year...

Industrial controls merges with Piedmont.(newsline)
January 14, 2008... WANAMASSA, N.J. -- Industrial Controls Distributors LLC merged with Piedmont Instruments and Controls of Charlotte, N.C. Piedmont will integrate operations with Industrial Controls' Charlotte operation to cover North Carolina, South Carolina,...

Infrared camera.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ThermaCAM[R] BCAM SD infrared (IR) camera helps users monitor and diagnose the condition of buildings quickly and view crisp thermal images on the 3.5-inch color LCD, the company said. The built-in laser...

Solid-state switches.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... Two new relay switches are available: the D7G100D45/24/24W and D7G1 00D100/v. The D7G100D45/24/24W is a 100-vdc/45-A SPST relay/switch designed to deliver 20 kW of power in microseconds. The D7G100D100/v is a 100-vdc/100-A SPST relay/switch...

Multigas detector.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The G450 detector continuously measures carbon monoxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and combustibles in ambient air. The data logger records gas concentrations and alarms over a period of 50 hours. The data can be...

HVAC steam software.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Created for engineers, designers, and contractors, the HVAC Solution Steam Program Version 4.1 offers an easy drag-and-drop method of designing and modeling HVAC steam systems. The stand-alone, Windows[R]-based...

Chimney liner production system.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new tube production system for chimney liners and similar HVAC applications is designed to eliminate batch production processes involved in manufacturing insulated chimney tubes. The Chimneymaster, an integrated...

Square, flexible ductwork.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... The company's insulated and uninsulated square flexible air ducts are all UL 181-listed and specifically designed for installation in areas with restricted or limited space that cannot accept standard round ducts. According to the manufacturer,...

Geothermal heat pumps.(what's new)
January 14, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The complete line of Envision commercial geothermal heat pumps feature two-speed compressors, reaching up to a 5.0 COP (coefficient of performance) in heating and a 30 EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) in cooling in...

The power of one, the expertise of many.(FOCUS: DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTING)
January 14, 2008... Before sending soldiers into battle, a general marshals his top advisers, and together they devise a plan for victory. The same strategy lies behind the design-build delivery method of construction. Like the military, design-build is based...

Design-build: a good choice for 2008?(FOCUS: DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTING)
January 14, 2008... As 2008 unfolds, HVAC contractors will roll out their business plans for the next year. Some will stay the course they have been following, while others may make dramatic changes to shake things up. Some may choose to stay with markets that...

Software programs automate design-build.(FOCUS: DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTING)
January 14, 2008... It has long been rumored that two heads are better than one. But what about five heads? If you are a mechanical HVAC system designer, you know how much work goes into the job. You probably wish you had a few extra assistants and some extra time...

Contamination could equal burnout.(REFRIGERATION ZONE)
January 14, 2008... "Ignoring mineral oil and other residual contaminants during a R-22 to R-410A refrigeration system conversion will likely result in a compressor burnout," said Robert P. Scaringe P.E., the president of Rockledge, Fla.-based Mainstream...

Just read the material!(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
January 14, 2008... Many of the systems and replacement components used in our industry will come with some type of literature supplied by the manufacturer. This literature will usually contain useful information for a technician and it should not be tossed aside....

System overcharge.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
January 14, 2008... Many technicians have a tendency to add refrigerant to a refrigeration system simply because it is not cooling to its potential. Oft en, this overcharges the system with refrigerant and can make matters worse. The service technician must...