Industry News

WASHINGTON — As lawmakers debate budget cuts and tax reform in Washington, the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) has formally asked the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee to recommend extending federal tax credits for residential and commercial geothermal heat pump (GHP) installations through the year 2020.

In comments to the committee, GEO President and CEO Doug Dougherty made the case for continued federal interest in the health of the GHP industry.

“Buildings are the largest single sector of total U.S. energy consumption. GHPs can efficiently and significantly reduce the heating and cooling loads of buildings, with positive benefits for our environment and economy,” Dougherty said.

“Yet even though GHPs could achieve vast energy, economic and environmental benefits across America if installed for all suitable buildings, the technology is still relatively nascent and has been slow to catch a foothold in the broader HVAC market. At current rates of installation (<100,000 average 3-ton capacity residential units per year), GHPs represent less than 2 percent of the total HVAC marketplace. Reason? Higher ‘first cost’ incurred by drilling or excavation to place its ground-source heat exchange loop system near the building(s) which a GHP system serves,” Dougherty added.

The federal tax credits for residential and commercial geothermal heat pump (GHP) installations are set to expire on December 31, 2016. Dougherty suggested that with the life-cycle energy cost savings, the tax provisions make GHP systems more attractive to both residential and commercial HVAC consumers. Since inception, the federal tax credits and commercial bonus depreciation for GHP installations have effectively helped reduce the consumer shock of higher first cost for system installations.

After listing the many consumer, renewable energy, efficiency and environmental benefits that GHPs offer the nation, Dougherty spoke to the success of the federal tax credits.

“Even with all its potential benefits to the country, the nascent GHP industry claims less than 2 percent of the HVAC marketplace in the United States. Though approximately two million GHP systems have been installed—and Energy Star-endorsed GHP equipment efficiencies are better than ever—many competitive barriers remain for the industry,” Dougherty noted.

Dougherty continued, “During the recession, the federal tax credits for GHP systems helped prevent a crash in GHP installations. Though more recent GHP sales have declined, the industry believes this can be attributed to still lagging home construction and sales, as well as continued lack of consumer awareness. As the housing economy improves, the tax credits will reduce first cost and allow GHPs to make significant contributions to efficient heating and cooling in new and retrofit projects of all sizes.”

Dougherty suggested that with improving sales and installations will come greater recognition of GHPs, and an expanding HVAC market share, resulting in a positive impact of the federal tax credit program.

“Even so, it will take time for the geothermal heat pump industry to increase its market share from 2 percent to 20 percent or higher for the industry to move beyond its need for tax credit support. In the interim, Congress can help the GHP industry achieve greater market share by extending IRS Code sections 25D and 48(a) to the end of 2020,” Dougherty concluded.

Visit www.geoexchange.org

NEW CASTLE, Del. — Speakman Company made special plans for the 2013 Hospitality Design Expo at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, held May 15-17.

Following the response to last year’s unveiling of the 2012 Shower and Bath Collections, Speakman Company revealed three new collections to be added to its family of luxury bathroom fixtures. The additions included: Edge, Tiber and Chelsea collections.

Each collection features distinctly unique designs to fuse with diverse trends in current bathroom décor. The Edge has bold, square contours that fit in modern bathroom settings. The Tiber also has a square layout with the addition of soft curves around the frame to adhere to trends in the transitional bathroom. The Chelsea embodies timeless elegance with a circular frame fit for traditional bathroom décor.

In addition to these collections, Speakman featured a new booth that measured 20 x 40 feet. The booth included a lounge seating area, HI-DEF LED displays, elegant bathroom vignettes and a fully stocked open bar serving signature “Reaction” cocktails to guests.

Visit www.speakmancompany.com

WASHINGTON —  It was 1973 when smoke alarms were first required in the construction codes known today as the I-Codes, published by the International Code Council (ICC). To salute this life-saving milestone, the Code Council dedicated the first week of the 2013 Building Safety Month, May 6-12, sponsored by the Air Movement and Control Association International, to fire safety and awareness.

Smoke alarms have saved countless numbers of lives by alerting people to fires in homes and other buildings. Carbon monoxide alarms are also a safety requirement in new homes and townhomes with appliances fueled by natural gas, propane, coal, wood, charcoal, oil or kerosene. Affected appliances include furnaces, ranges, water heaters, clothes dryers, room heaters, portable generators and fireplaces.

Most deaths caused by residential fires were in homes that did not have working smoke alarms. Current codes require working smoke alarms on every level of a home, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms and in each bedroom.

Since 1980, Building Safety Month has been an annual public safety awareness campaign. Many of the 50,000 ICC members schedule community outreach events and school-based programs across the nation to demonstrate the importance of building to code.

Visit www.buildingsafetymonth.org

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that its 2012 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR compliance rates across eight product sections averaged 97.2 percent, far exceeding the overall average ENERGY STAR compliance rate of 93 percent.

“These high compliance rates warrant recognition from regulatory bodies and industry officials alike,” said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of AHRI. “They demonstrate the integrity of our certification program and the commitment of our program participants to quality and accuracy.”

The AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance lists performance information for one million products in 40 categories.

“These exemplary compliance rates illustrate the consistency and standard of excellence that are hallmarks of AHRI’s globally recognized and industry respected certification program,” Yurek continued. “In fact, the 2.8 percent of products disqualified by the EPA were identified based on information supplied by AHRI. This is a strong indication that government agencies, commercial interests, and consumers alike can and should continue to rely on AHRI’s certification programs for accurate product performance information.”

Visit www.ahridirectory.org

ATLANTA – ASHRAE members now have increased opportunities to find jobs within their chosen field under an expanded jobs board. The expansion between ASHRAE and BirdDog, which have worked together since 2009 to provide job board support at www.ASHRAEjobs.com, will make it easier for employers to fill built environment technology positions, as well as provide ASHRAE members with increased opportunities to find jobs within their chosen fields.

The expanded ASHRAEjobs site specifically allows employers, looking to hire ASHRAE members, to post their listings throughout the BirdDog family of job boards, as well as ensure all ASHRAE members have the opportunity to see the job posting.

“Our members are in high demand, and that’s good news,” said Tim Wentz, volunteer chair of ASHRAE’s Publishing and Education Council, which oversees ASHRAEjobs.com. “Unfortunately, like so many industries, companies wanting to or already employing ASHRAE members, report troubles finding the right candidate. The improved ASHRAEjobs site, along with its four years of history, gives us the foundation to expand our efforts and ensure the right talent is being matched up with right job.”

This announcement comes at a time where employers are reporting difficulties finding qualified candidates for open positions. ASHRAE members are the global leaders of building technology. To qualify as a full ASHRAE member, a minimum of 12 years professional experience must be shown in the industry.

“It had become evident in the past year that there was a gap between what we had in place and an increasing demand for both employers and job seekers to have a solution that was both effective and efficient,” said Bryan May, of BirdDog.

The new service launched April 15. Employers who have questions about the expanded partnership should visit www.ashrae.org.

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. — The 76th Annual RSES Conference and HVACR Technology Expo will be held in conjunction with the 50^th Annual RSES Empire Keystone Association Conference on October 23-26. The conference will take place at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. and will focus around the theme, “Champions of Education.”

The 2013 RSES conference will deliver a total learning experience for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors; service technicians; operations/maintenance managers, engineers and technicians; engineers; sales staff; instructors; and students. Leading HVACR manufacturers and other industry professionals will conduct many educational sessions where attendees can gain valuable industry knowledge, enhance their HVACR skills and discover new technologies.

In addition, daily educational programs will be available to members, nonmembers and students who are looking to attend a particular day of sessions rather than the entire conference.

As part of the conference, the RSES HVACR Technology Expo will take place on Oct 24. The trade show event will feature the latest HVACR equipment, tools and services, with manufacturer representatives on hand to answer questions and explain their products’ features.

Testing opportunities for RSES Specialized Member, RSES Certificate Member, RSES Certificate Member Specialist, Environmental Protection Agency Refrigerant Usage certification, Universal R-410A certification and North American Technician Excellence certification will be tentatively offered on Oct. 24-26, 2013.

Visit www.rses.org

WASHINGTON — In celebration of the 43rd annual Earth Day, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) celebrated all of the hard-working Americans who worked across the U.S. to help make solar one of the fastest-growing energy sources. The association celebrated in Springfield, Ohio, as Assurant Specialty Property, a major U.S. business that employs more than 2,000 people, turned on a solar system that will allow it to generate virtually all of its electricity from the sun.

“On April 22, 1970, when the very first Earth Day was held, there was virtually no solar energy powering the grid in the United States. How times have changed,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Today, there are 7.7 gigawatts (GW) of solar installed in the U.S. – enough to power more than 1.2 million American homes – and 5.2 GW is expected to be installed this year.”

Assurant Specialty Property made clean energy a top priority and invested in the state of-the-art solar facility that will produce more than 1.9 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar power annually.

“This kind of amazing success story is happening all across our nation as more and more companies and homeowners go solar,” Resch noted. “The 5,600 businesses and nearly 120,000 American workers that make up the U.S. solar industry are working hard every single day to harness the unlimited power of the sun.  In turn, this is helping to make our economy stronger and to ensure future prosperity by providing a clean, affordable and inexhaustible supply of domestic energy.”

Visit www.seia.org

VACAVILLE, Calif. – M&G DuraVent announced that it has gotten more key approvals for PolyPro Venting Systems. Bradford White approved PolyPro single-wall, concentric, and flex for all Power Direct Vent tank-type water heaters that accept PVC, CPVC or ABS venting.

All Power Direct Vent models are approved to be vented with PolyPro. Bradford White’s approval includes their High Efficiency Condensing Commercial, Power Direct Vent Commercial, Residential Power Direct Vent and Residential Power Vent models.

“DuraVent is pleased to have a relationship with Bradford White and others, offering the market an opportunity to vent with PolyPro, an excellent venting product that is safe and easy to install and is perfectly suited for their water heaters,” said Brooks Sherman, president and CEO of M&G DuraVent.

WASHINGTON — Results from the National Awareness of ENERGY STAR® for 2012 are available. Analysis of the data from a Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) household survey, the report shows the strength of the ENERGY STAR brand by measuring label recognition, understanding, and influence on purchasing decisions. Consistent adherence to the brand tenets by EPA and DOE and long-term brand promotion by members of CEE and trade allies has paid off. Eighty-seven percent of households recognized the ENERGY STAR label when they saw it—a 46 percent increase since CEE first conducted the survey in 2000.

“Once again, the results show that Americans understand and knowingly take advantage of the ENERGY STAR label,” observed Hilary Forster, senior program manager of Evaluation, Research and Behavior at CEE. “The efforts of efficiency program administrators to promote ENERGY STAR have a continued impact, and CEE members are proud to continue this research.”

This year’s report presents an analysis by EPA of a survey commissioned by CEE, a nonprofit organization of energy efficiency program administrators. Program administrators are important stakeholders in ENERGY STAR because they promote efficiency in twenty ENERGY STAR product categories to help achieve reductions in energy use at the local level. Likewise, through local incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR labeled products, efficiency programs help ENERGY STAR achieve its goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The report shows that the majority of American households recognize and understand the ENERGY STAR label. Seventy-four percent of all households recognized the label without seeing it. Similar to last year’s findings, 64 percent of households associate the ENERGY STAR label with “efficiency or energy savings.” Forty-one percent of households knowingly purchased an ENERGY STAR labeled product in the past 12 months, and of those, the majority are likely to recommend an ENERGY STAR product to others.

The value of the ENERGY STAR program has been built over time through a combination of publicity generated by CEE members, other stakeholders, and ENERGY STAR itself. Efficiency program administrators in particular helped propel the growth of ENERGY STAR through their local messaging and promotions. This one-two punch of national and local promotion has created an audience that recognizes the label, understands its meaning, and demonstrates loyalty to the label. All these activities give the ENERGY STAR brand tremendous marketplace clout.

For thirteen years, CEE has fielded the ENERGY STAR survey to collect national data on consumer recognition, understanding, and purchasing influence of the ENERGY STAR label, as well as on messaging and product purchases. This information provides critical evidence about the effectiveness of supporting ENERGY STAR at the national level. Additionally, CEE members may choose to supplement the survey to assess ENERGY STAR awareness in their own service areas.

The following CEE members who sponsored the 2012 survey:

Cape Light Compact
Connecticut Light & Power
GasNetworks, representing Massachusetts member gas utilities
Long Island Power Authority
National Grid
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Northeast Utilities
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Southern California Edison
The United Illuminating Company
Unitil
Western Massachusetts Electric
Xcel Energy

Visit www.energystar.gov