The NEWS Recognizes the Top 40 Under 40

October 1, 2015
Source: The News
Next generation of HVAC professionals will lead the industry into the future Most everyone in the HVAC industry has heard the stats about the “graying” of the industry and the lack of younger individuals choosing HVAC as a career. It’s a real issue, and one that is continuously being addressed by those in the industry.

 

However, it’s sometimes easy to forget there are a lot of younger individuals doing a lot of great things in the HVAC industry. You can’t go to an industry meeting without seeing some of the younger generation soaking up the HVAC knowledge.

 

From the young contractor running his first business to the vice president at a distributor, the industry has a lot of young talent on all levels of the industry. The NEWS wanted to highlight these individuals with a list of 40 HVAC professionals under 40 years of age who are accomplishing great things in their respective positions. We asked our readers to nominate the best of the best and, indeed, they did. We received 125 entries, and picking the top 40 was incredibly difficult. Read the entire article here.

 

Reclaimers Find Opportunity in HCFC Phaseout

October 5, 2015

 

Source: The News
Demand for Recovery Products, Services Likely to Grow
The ongoing phaseout of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), such as R-22, holds many unknowns for the HVACR industry as 2020 approaches, but at least one sector of the industry anticipates tremendous opportunity: the reclamation sector. Although the reclaimers face some of the same unknowns as the rest of the industry, the need for their services is likely to increase, and they will play a vital role in contractors’ ability to service their customers.

 

“The reclamation sector has been anxiously awaiting the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] phasedown for many years,” said Bob Kussel, vice president, Consolidated Refrigerant Solutions Inc. “Reclaimers are ready, willing, and able to handle the current and future demands for reclaimed refrigerant R-22 as the new and imported supply is reduced.” to read the entire article, click here.

Contractors Key in Reclamation

September 15, 2015

 

Source: The News
Financial Benefits, Reclaimer Assistance, Secure Supply Keep the Process Attractive Contractors have been doing a good job of recovering refrigerants, but there is more to reclamation than that, noted Bob Kussel, vice president, Consolidated Refrigerant Solutions Inc. For example, contractors should have a full-service, complete cylinder management and recordkeeping reclaim program.

 

“Every contractor should have safe, refurbished, evacuated, sealed, and Department of Transportation [DOT]-compliant recovery cylinders from their reclamation company at all times,” Kussel said. “They need EPA-compliant recordkeeping that can also sort by job number or work order to provide individual reports to their clients when requested. This recordkeeping is vital to contractors if the EPA audits them.” Read the entire article here.

 

Beware the Hazards of Mixing Refrigerants

Beware the Hazards of Mixing Refrigrants 10-15September 1, 2015

Source: The News

Contractors must proceed cautiously when combining new, alternative refrigerant.

In the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) delisting from the significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program of certain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in specific applications, HVACR technicians are likely to deal with an increasing number and variety of refrigerants in the near future. The ruling is widely expected to lead to a growth in the use of so-called natural refrigerant options, such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants — such as propane and isobutene — as well as a variety of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants designed to replace HFCs. Read the entire article here.

EPA Finalizes R-22 Phaseout Plan

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. Read the entire article here.

Thieves Target R-22 as EPA Phaseout Threatens Supply

Earlier this summer, Mike White, CEO, Clean Air Systems of Louisiana, greeted his front office crew as they headed out for lunch. Due to the sweltering Shreveport, Louisiana, heat, his staff left the garage doors up to allow air to flow throughout the space. White and his wife retreated to their offices, opting to enjoy their midday meals at their desks.

As the company secretary returned from her meal, she was greeted by a visitor who casually questioned, “Hey, who cuts your grass?” After receiving an answer, the subject strolled toward the exit, jumped in his van, and sped away.

Read the entire article here.

Air Conditioner Thief Pleads Guilty to Violating Clean Air Act

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Martin C. Eldridge III, 35, Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to violating the Clean Air Act when he cut the tubing on air conditioning units he was stealing and released a regulated refrigerant into the environment.

 

Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron O’Brien and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the plea entered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers.

 

Read the entire article here.

Predicting the Future of R-22 Reclamation

When determining where our industry is headed, we should take into account how our industry has evolved over the past several years. Traditionally, contractors had only one outlet for used refrigerant,  and typically it was an inconvenient and costly process.

 

Read the entire article here.

AHRI White Paper: Reports of R-134a Contaminated with R-40 and Other Refrigerants

Counterfeit R-134a, containing R-40 (Methyl Chloride or Chloromethane), has been found in mobile air conditioners, stationary air conditioning, and transport refrigeration systems in many countries. For your personal safety and to avoid serious injury or death, special care must be taken when accessing the service ports to sample or work on systems that are not functioning properly or have been serviced by others. R-40 chemically reacts with aluminum inside HVACR systems to generate highly reactive and/or toxic compounds, and exposure of the system’s contents to air and/or moisture could result in production of a strong acid and violent chemical reaction. Several container systems have exploded at service facilities, some resulting in fatalities. Some of these systems were found to contain R-40 and/or other

 

unacceptable substances. Read the entire article here.

Resource Guide to Reclaim Services

If and when contractors step up their commitment to reclamation, they will find plenty of places ready to perform the process that brings questionable refrigerant back to ARI-700 purity standards. And contractors will also find plenty of incentives to do so.

Read the entire article here.