On a regular basis, I read HVAC industry publications and a forum. This week, I was reminded of another reason home and building owners need to plan ahead for their heating and AC needs. By planning ahead I mean basically three things:

1. Interview and select the local HVAC service company you want to use when it comes times to repair or replace your furnace, boiler, heat pump or central heating system.
2. Choose wisely and place a high value on technician education and professionalism.
3. Get on an annual maintenance program with that local company.

Make Your Selection When Companies Are Not BusyAnnual Maintenance Plans Prevent Emergency Repairs, Save Energy, and More

Unlike extended warranties that require a good bit of scrutiny to choose good values from poor values. An annual maintenance plan on your AC & heating system should pay for itself many times over.

The main benefits of annual maintenance plans are:

1. Prevents small problems from turning into major repairs in the equipment or your property.
2. Can save on energy or fuel costs and lower your monthly bills.
3. Identifies gas leaks, carbon monoxide, and other potential safety issues.

Now back to the HVAC forum from this week, and the importance of technician education and professionalism.

Here’s a summary of what I read:

In spite of relatively high unemployment around the U.S., a surprising number of heating and air conditioning companies are having a difficult time finding qualified technicians. Some HVAC business owners even described going to high school vocational programs to start the selection and grooming process early for future technicians. These company owners gave several possible reasons for this phenomenon.

Their explanations included: candidates having necessary aptitude to work with their hands, increasing need for technical HVAC training, physically challenging work environment (in attics, under floors, etc.), parental focus on white collar type training and jobs over skilled labor/ blue collar, and the type of physical working conditions involved.  At The General, all of our technicians are trained professionals that are subject to a rigorous background check and random drug screens to ensure that you have the absolute BEST coming to service your HVAC equipment!

If the above facts and our previous post about Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, have peaked your interest in a Preventive Maintenance Agreement inquire here.  They are extremely affordable and are a great way to ensure your family’s comfort and safety!

Article Sources: Get Ahead Of The Crowd On Your Furnace And Heating

NEW YORK, Feb 21, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –Fitch Ratings assigns a rating of ‘AA-/F1+’, Stable Outlook to the $28,500,000 Indiana Finance Authority economic development revenue bonds, series 2012 (AC Grain LLC project). The rating is based on the support provided by an irrevocable direct-pay letter of credit (LOC) issued by CoBank, ACB (rated ‘AA-/F1+’, Stable Outlook).

The bank is obligated to make payments of principal of and interest on the bonds upon maturity, acceleration and redemption, as well as purchase price for tendered bonds. The ratings will expire upon the earliest of: (a) March 1, 2013, the initial stated expiration date of the LOC, which expiration date will be automatically extended for successive one year terms unless CoBank notifies the trustee and AC Grain LLC that it will not extend the expiration date; (b) conversion to a flexible rate interest period of more than 99 days and to the semiannual, term and fixed rate modes; (c) any prior termination of the LOC; and (d) defeasance of the bonds. The LOC provides full and sufficient coverage of principal plus an amount equal to 109 days of interest at a maximum rate of 10 % based on a year of 365 days and purchase price for tendered bonds, while in the daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly modes and flexible rate modes of interest rate periods of 99 days or less. The Remarketing Agent for the bonds is Thornton Farish Inc. The bonds are expected to be delivered on or about Feb. 23, 2012.

The bonds initially bear interest at a weekly rate, but may be converted to a daily, monthly, quarterly, semiannual, flexible, term or fixed rate. While bonds bear interest in the weekly rate mode, interest payments are on the first business day of each February, May, August and November, commencing May 1, 2012. The trustee is obligated to make timely draws on the LOC to pay principal, interest, and purchase price. Funds drawn under the LOC are held uninvested, and are free from any lien prior to that of the bondholders.

Holders of the bonds may tender their bonds on any business day, provided the paying agent is given the requisite prior notice of the purchase. The bonds are subject to mandatory tender: (1) upon conversion of the interest rate (other than a conversion from a weekly rate to a daily rate and vice versa and from a term rate period to a term rate period of a different duration); (2) the last day of each flexible rate period; (3) upon expiration, substitution or termination of the LOC; and (4) following receipt of written notice from the bank of an event of default under the reimbursement agreement and direction to cause a mandatory tender. The bank has the option of directing an acceleration rather than a mandatory tender upon an event of default under the reimbursement agreement. The bonds shall be accelerated following trustee’s receipt of notice of the non-reinstatement of the LOC interest. Optional and mandatory redemption provisions also apply to the bonds. Additional bonds may be issued under a supplemental indenture, but the trustee is prohibited from drawing on the LOC to make payment on the additional bonds unless the LOC is amended to allow for such payment.

Bond proceeds will be used to finance all or a portion of the cost of the expansion, improvement and equipping of the grain handling facility and related equipment owned and operated by AC Grain LLC located in Dana, Indiana.

Additional information is available at fitchratings.com . The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

–’U.S. Municipal Structured Finance Rating Criteria’, April 25, 2011;

–’Rating Guidelines for Letter of Credit-Supported Bonds’, July 26, 2011.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

U.S. Municipal Structured Finance Rating Criteria

fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=624129

Rating Guidelines for Letter of Credit-Supported Bonds

fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=647311

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS . IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY’S PUBLIC WEBSITE ‘ WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM ‘. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH’S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ‘CODE OF CONDUCT’ SECTION OF THIS SITE.

SOURCE: Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings Primary Analyst Ronald P. McGovern, +1-212-908-0513 Senior Director Fitch, Inc. One State Street Plaza New York, NY 10004 or Secondary Analyst Mario Civico, +1-212-908-0796 Senior Director or Committee Chairperson Linda Friedman, +1-212-908-0727 Senior Director or Media Relations: Brian Bertsch, +1-212-908-0549 Email:

Copyright Business Wire 2012

Article Sources: Fitch Rts Indiana Finance Authority $28.5MM Econ Dev Revs, Series 2012 (AC Grain LLC Proj) ‘AA-/F1+’

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 22, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ – U-Haul Moving and Storage of Fifth Ward has earned the prestigious LEED-CI Certification Silver for commercial interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  U-Haul is only one of two businesses who have earned a Silver Certification for LEED-CI in the city of Milwaukee.

(Photo:  photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120222/LA57538)

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090622/LA34860LOGO-b)

The U-Haul Moving and Storage of Fifth Ward project utilized an existing industrial warehouse built in the early 1930s that was located in Milwaukee’s Fifth Ward district, which has been getting attention recently with the city’s plans to stimulate growth in the area. U-Haul worked hard to retrofit this industrial building to be used as a do-it-yourself moving and self-storage facility, with sustainability in mind.

The project included restructuring a 3,371 square foot area, to be used as a retail showroom. The space was located within an existing heavy-steel-frame structure enclosed by brick walls and a wood roof.  The brick walls were repurposed into double-wythe walls by similar bricks acquired from another building in Milwaukee built in the same time frame.  “The primary goal for the U-Haul Team was to reuse and recycle as much material as feasible, while installing as many new sustainable design features as possible,” stated Mike Schneider, president, U-Haul Company of Eastern Wisconsin.  

The new elements of the facility now include: efficient lighting with day-lighting controls and occupancy sensors, a high-efficiency HVAC system used in conjunction with a newly constructed thermal envelope to help reduce energy consumption, and the installation of low-flow fixtures to reduce water consumption.

“The LEED certification of the U-Haul Moving and Storage of the 5th Ward shows the U-Haul commitment to common sense sustainability.  Using the Triple Bottom line as a guide, U-Haul created a sustainable showroom that highlights sustainable features that benefit both the client and the business as a whole.  This certification demonstrates the U-Haul commitment to green building and sustainable design,” Phil Vetterkind, Director, Sustainable Building Solutions.

“Receiving a LEED-CI Certification Silver for commercial interiors from the USGBC is a prestigious and substantial accomplishment that the U-Haul Company of Eastern Wisconsin takes seriously,” added Schneider.

The industrial warehouse was purchased for use by U-Haul on October 9, 2008.  The building was most commonly known as the old Grede Foundry building.

Today, U-Haul Moving and Storage of Fifth Ward is a state-of-the-art facility that boasts 923 storage units with more than 60,046 square feet of storage to go along with renting trucks, trailers and towing devices, as well as selling self-moving and towing products and supplies.

About U-Haul

U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up during the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: “Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel-efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100% biodegradable.  Learn more about these facts and others at uhaul.com/sustainability.

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the choice for the do-it-yourself mover. U-Haul customers’ patronage has enabled the Company to maintain the largest rental fleet in the do-it-yourself moving industry which includes trucks, trailers and towing devices. U-Haul also offers storage throughout North America. The Company provides industry leading moving and storage boxes and an extended line of packing supplies to protect customer possessions. U-Haul is the consumer’s number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket. The Company supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard grills as one of the nation’s largest retailers of propane.

Contact:Joanne Fried, Director, Media and Public RelationsAshleigh Wagner, Senior Media and Public Relations SpecialistU-Haul International, Inc.(602)

Article Sources: U-Haul Moving and Storage of Fifth Ward Receives LEED-CI Certification Silver for Commercial Interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

The Moon Board of Supervisors has its sights set on improving roads, intersections and the township library in 2012.

At its meeting Wednesday night, the board authorized advertisements to seek bids for the 2012 road paving program, as well as a project to improve the Beaver Grade Road-Thorn Run Road intersection. The board will award bids at its meeting March 7.

Board members also discussed adding a traffic light to the intersection at Beaver Grade Road and Montour Run Road.

Chairman Marvin Eicher said there are complications getting a traffic light at the intersection of Beaver Grade Road and Montour Run Road. He said he hopes to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Robinson Township Board of Commissioners to address traffic congestion.

Although $100,000 has been set aside for this particular project, Eicher said that money will not cover the entire cost of the light and its installation.

Eicher also discussed the board’s plans to make long-awaited repairs to the Moon Township Public Library. The library is experiencing problems with a leaky roof and its HVAC system.

The board discussed these repairs at its last workshop meeting and plans to have a township engineer draft specifications for the project by April. 

“Our goal is to have this project finished by May or June at the latest,” Eicher said. “It is not an option to let the building deteriorate.”

With all of these projects, funding “becomes a big consideration, but we do have a plan and we are going to move forward,” Eicher said.

Article Sources: Moon Supervisors Plan for Road and Building Improvements in 2012

Author: Peter McMillin

Date Posted: 02/02/12 05:20 PM

As the Project Manager for the NREL Research Support Facility Expansion, the most energy efficient, net zero office building ever built, we have achieved success never imagined. This is by far the largest net zero ever built in the US, a total of 370,000sf vs the previous 13,000sf. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to become more informed on how we made this happen.

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Author: Patrick OLeary

Date Posted: 02/03/12 03:19 PM

Futura Solar & DCM-A&E are offering a multiple solar benefit roofing system for low profile commercial-industrial buildings that will accomplish these goals and routinely provide significant energy to the business operating below that roof.

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Author: David Hronek

Date Posted: 02/08/12 08:23 AM

The firm I work for, Harley Ellis Devereaux, has recent experience in the design of Net Zero Energy buildings. As a sustainable design and LEED were new concepts that took time to catch on and now is just how we design buildings, so I believe will be Net Zero. As a sustainable design advocate and LEED accredited professional, I have been making the argument the Higher Education market, with acres of sprawling campuses, millions of square feet of facilities, growing enrollments and energy costs, and shrinking capital construction and O&M budgets, are ripe for this type of building. Becomong a Net Zero campus would mean the limited resources that they do receive from state legislatures or endowments can be redirected to improve the quality of education and be of benefit to their commmunities. And it can be done over years of thoughtful planning, good design, institutional leadership, and community support. I saw first hand recently this tatic being employed on a campus in Southern California. Net Zero energy buildings are the future.

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Author: Laura Blau

Date Posted: 02/10/12 06:54 PM

As Certified Passive house Consultants trained in the EU near Zero approach to building we see this as a “no-brainer” we are finding that for modest scale projects this is the way to go. Conservation first, superior building envelope design and very minimal “active” HVAC systems. The cost is nominal with big ROI. IF is great for mixed use projects where LEED and EnergyStar are either unfeasible or unavailable.

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Author: Louis J Pucca. PE

Date Posted: 02/11/12 06:50 PM

Has any advancement been made in the field of solar powered air conditioning?

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Author: Ben Wilson, PE

Date Posted: 02/15/12 04:39 PM

LEED has always been viewed as having good intentions, although a little mis-guided. This will further help to steer more away from it.

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Author: Ben Wilson, PE

Date Posted: 02/17/12 09:51 PM

Why does this website find it necessary to delete comments that don’t necessarily agree with the net-zero religion? There have been several that were not profane and have been removed. Why?

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Author: Rona Fried

Date Posted: 02/20/12 12:17 PM

We delete comments when they are garbled and don’t make sense or when they’re so filled with typos, it’s embarressing.

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Article Sources: Zero Energy Buildings Are Next Frontier

(01/27/12) – It seems nothing is safe from scrappers.

We've been reporting recently about roof top air conditioning units being picked apart and destroyed.

A strip mall, in Flint Township, just west of I-75 on Miller Road.

Some small business owners may have to pay out of their own pocket to replace the units.

“They just destroyed everything out there,” said Alfred Scherret, manager at All Sew.

Scherret took pictures showing the mangled mess of what remains on the roof at Yorkshire Plaza.

“The heating guy who took me up there said there was over $100,000 worth of damage. It was just a mess up there,” he said.

“I see it all over the city of Flint. I own some rental property on the southend and I have to watch my property real close,” Scherret said.

But it's never happened here until now.

It seems almost every single unit was hit

Over at Steve's TV?

Manager Russell Meyers, “We're the only ones in the whole building that, luckily, didn't get hit.”

Flint Township Police tell ABC12 they have made progress in similar cases.

In fact, just last week?

Lieutenant Tim Jones said two people were arrested after a citizen saw an entire stolen air conditioning unit fall out of the back of a truck.

That person called 911.

There are at least 10 businesses in that strip mall.

Scherret tells us his business is covered.

Depending on what kind of lease the others have, they may not be.

Article Sources: ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MIAC units damaged at Flint Township strip mall

The Greater North Augusta Chamber of Commerce handed out awards during its annual meeting and banquet Tuesdy at the North Augusta Community Center. U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was the guest speaker.

Stephen Beckett, the vice president of Busby’s Heating and Air Conditioning, was named the 2011 Ambassador of the Year during the Greater North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and banquet Tuesday.

“It was an unexpected honor,” he said, adding that his employees and family make it possible for him to have time to volunteer with events.

The Citizen of the Year Award was split this year between Ray Fleming and his wife, Lyn. The couple have lived in North Augusta since 1965.

Lyn works with the children at North Augusta Gardens and founded a learning center in the apartment community. Ray is an Aiken County school board member.

The couple are heavily involved with Fairview Presbyterian Church, where each serves as a youth group leader.

The award typically is given to one recipient.

“I just thought, ‘I’ve been tricked,’” Ray said, when he realized he, too, was an award recipient. For more than two weeks the couple had to keep it a secret from each other.

“I am very, very honored,” Lyn said, noting she has a lot of help with the programs she is involved in.

Article Sources: North Augusta Chamber of Commerce hands out annual awards

The HVAC Network. Smart IT for an evolved HVAC community. marketing-banner1 The all-in-one technology solution for California HVAC dealers and contractors based RV industry supplier Airxcel Inc. set up shop this week (Feb. 13-16)

CRYSTAL RIVER, FL, Feb 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — Mobiform Software, Inc (OTN:MOBS) , a global provider of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) technology for manufacturing and heavy industry, today announced that it has signed a

Gardiner is expanding the HVAC, temperature controls, mechanical contracting, and energy services market segments for Direct Recruiters. His previous experience as a sales engineer and director of marketing in the HVAC industry, and 15 years as an HVAC

Direct Recruiters welcomes Gary Gardiner. Recent Posts. Field service software needs to address industry demands. Read More ». Exhibition discusses future trends of electrical, plumbing industries. Read More ». HVAC industry migrates

Article Sources: Direct Recruiters welcomes Gary Gardiner

HAVERHILL — Firefighters who raced to RiversEdge Plaza on Lincoln Avenue yesterday morning thought they would find a man on the roof who had received an electrical shock.

They were relieved to find the man had not been shocked, but instead had suffered minor injuries after he collapsed onto the roof and hit his head. He was repairing a rooftop HVAC unit.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said a 911 call at 10:42 a.m. indicated the man may have been shocked.

“It wasn’t an accident, but instead a medical issue that caused him to fall and hit his head,” Moriarty said.

As a precaution, firefighters used a cervical collar to protect the man’s spine, and then placed him in a rescue basket.

He was lifted off the roof of the Fashion Bug store in the bucket of the Fire Department ladder truck and transferred to a Trinity EMS ambulance. The man, who appeared to be alert at the time, was taken to Lawrence General Hospital for treatment.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Moriarty said.

Police identified the injured man as Mike Maranda, 28, of Sutton.

Moriarty said Engine 4 from the Bradford Fire Station was first on the scene because the truck was on the north side of the river when the 911 call came in. Engine 3 from the Water Street Station was in for maintenance and the rescue truck was tied up because an injured man had just walked into the station for help.

Following the rescue, The Eagle-Tribune spoke to a man who was at the rear of the building, in the area where the rooftop HVAC units are located. The man, who identified himself as Ken LaPierre of Dudley, said he was an employee of MetroTech, a nationwide HVAC service company, and that the person who was injured was his work partner.

LaPierre said that after getting replacement parts from a work van, he climbed up a ladder and onto the rear of the building’s roof, and found his partner lying on the roof, bleeding from an injury to his head.

“He appeared dazed and didn’t know where he was or what day it was,” LaPierre said. “I told him not to move as I didn’t want to take any chances then I called 911.”

LaPierre said firefighters arrived within several minutes of his call and that by that time his partner was more alert and better able to answer questions.

“We had already turned off the power and we had confirmed that it was off,” LaPierre added.

• • •

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.

Article Sources: Worker who collapsed is rescued from rooftop » Haverhill » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

HVAC technicians install and maintain heating systems, air conditioning systems, refrigeration systems, and design ventilation into the systems where called for.  These systems distribute the cold or warm air through building HVAC configurations that consist of sheet metal ducts.  They are operated, however, by a network of thermostats, switches, fans, furnaces and refrigeration or air conditioning units.HVAC technicians may spend as much time repairing or replacing old systems as they do installing new ones.  Work in an existing structure on an old system can be cramped, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous if the old ducts are insulated with asbestos.  Nevertheless, trained HVAC technicians are in a business that in theory is not seasonal, since HVAC is designed to maintain constant temperatures year ’round.Many young people find this work appealing because of its mixture of electronics and construction work.  No two jobs are the same, and usually an HVAC installation is a team effort.  If this is an occupation that interests you, here are your options that lead to a career as an HVAC technician.

Begin by checking state requirements.  Some states require certification of HVAC installation and repair professionals.

Advantages of Becoming a Veterinary Technician

Are you torn between career choices and just don’t know which path to follow? Does your heart have a soft spot for animals? Are you sitting on the fence trying to decide between jobs? Well, if you really do love animals and don’t want to become a veterinarian or go through the long education why not become a veterinary technician? There career comes with many benefits and advantages. Becoming an Automotive Technician

Automotive technicians are the repair professionals that fix your car these days. They’re called technicians because cars operated with the help of computer systems and so do the diagnostic tools used to analyze car problems. It’s a job with a much different set of challenges than mechanics faced a generation ago. Bulletproof Pharmacy Technician Career

The world of work has certainly changed a great deal in the last few years. Outsourcing and increasing amounts of unemployment have led to great upheavals and changes in the workplace. How to Become a Journeyman Electrician

Electricians who work in construction and home remodeling begin most days by looking at a blueprint. All of their conduit, wiring, switches and breaker panels are located according to a plan prepared by the building architect.Requirements for licensure vary greatly, but all States or localities that require a license have a test that must be passed, some of which require extensive knowledge of local electrical code requirements.  IMPORTANT: In many cases, state licensure also requires participation in an apprenticeship program.  If not, there are a couple of training options.You can enroll in a vocational school.  There are many vocational schools that provide the academic work required for HVAC training, both in classrooms and online.  Most programs last from six months to two years, resulting in a diploma or an associate’s degree.  Studies include the theory of temperature control, equipment design and construction, and electronics; as well as the basics for installation and repair.  You’ll probably have to take an “entry level” certification exam at the completion of the program.You can sign on to an apprenticeship program.  Many HVAC workers learn the trade through an apprenticeship program, usually sponsored by a combination of a contractor’s association and a local of the sheet metal worker’s union. Apprenticeship programs take three to five years and include classroom instruction as well as on-the-job training.  Upon completion, the former apprentice is considered a skilled HVAC technician.You must also be licensed to work with refrigerants.  In order to purchase or work with refrigerants technicians must pass a written examination specific to the type of work in which they specialize.  There are three types: small appliance refrigerants, low pressure refrigerants and high pressure refrigerants.  The exam is administered by a local body, such as a union office, approved by the EPA.

Article Sources: Become an HVAC Technician