Delta Plumbing Contactors

ROCKVILLE, Md. – The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) 28th Annual Educational Conference will be held October 13‐16, at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, Fla. The 2013 conference will challenge attendees to go “Beyond Your Limits.”

The theme will run throughout the program sessions and activities. Among the esteemed speakers will be entrepreneur and business consultant Troy Hazard, who will present “Beyond Tomorrow: How to Future‐Proof Your Business with Purpose, Passion, People and Profits,” and Vietnam War veteran and prison camp survivor Captain Charles Plumb, who will discuss “Tough Choices in Challenging Times.”

On October 13, a one‐day bonus program, “The Path to Higher Margins Is Not Business As Usual,” will be held from 7:30a.m.to 3:15p.m. The day’s speakers, all highly successful mechanical service contractors, will provide attendees with a wealth of road‐tested tactics on topics including customer prioritization and how to determine where to spend time, how to avoid the micro‐managing trap, and managing call backs and tracking results.

The conference will also feature a variety of educational programs, peer group roundtable sessions, and a Supplier Partnership Day that will spotlight the event’s exhibitors and sponsors.

“Companies and individuals that look beyond their limits are destined to succeed,” said Robert A. Lake, chairman of the MSCA. “The speakers at this year’s conference will provide the inspirational fuel attendees need to live outside their comfort zone and overcome boundaries that once seemed impenetrable.”

Visit www.mcaa.org/education/msca/annualconference

ROSEMONT, Ill. — ASPE, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF) will jointly fund a research project using data provided by Aquacraft Inc. to update Hunter’s Curve for estimating water supply for residential applications using water efficient fixtures.

The research project will provide statistical analysis of fixture use behavior in single-family residential homes, extended to include multi-family dwellings, using the latest data sets for 2010-11 as provided by Aquacraft Inc., a water management, research and use analysis firm.

Data sets representing a sampling of 1,300 homes will allow the mining of thousands of individual fixture samples to determine the probability of the fixtures’ end usage. Probabilities derived from this research will be used as a foundation to develop a statistical probability model for an estimating design curve for residential application.

In July 2011, IAPMO and ASPE convened a special task force to revise the methodology for properly sizing plumbing systems in response to the increased use of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings and appliances and the subsequent decreased demand for water in commercial buildings and residences. To assist with the mathematical and statistical aspect of the work, ASPE appointed three high-profile members — Jason Hewitt, PE, CPD, LEED AP, of CB Engineering; Tim Wolfe, PE, of KJWW; and Thomas Poerio, Ph.D., PE, LEED AP, of Univesco, LLC — to work with Dan Cole, IAPMO’s technical services supervisor. In addition to the ASPE appointees, Steven Buchberger, PhD, PE, professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, is assisting in statistical analysis.

“Such a large-scale statistical analysis of hourly use and flow patterns of plumbing fixtures common in residential occupancies has never been done,” Cole said. “The original Hunter model for public use was based on assumptions only, not data. The Hunter model for private use was based on morning calls in two hotels and one apartment. The scope of this project greatly surpasses the original work piloted by Dr. Hunter. We are excited about the potential results this project may bring forth for more accurate water supply demand estimates, efficient pipe sizing, and precise metering.”

“ASPE is committed to supporting this critical research that will provide our members with statistically sound information that will assist them in designing plumbing systems that are even more efficient and cost effective,” stated Jim Kendzel, executive director and CEO of ASPE. “The plumbing industry needs to continually invest in research to be able to provide the public with a safe and efficient water supply and ASPE is proud to be working with IAPMO and WQRF in supporting this project.”

The research project is expected to conclude end of 2013, and its findings will be applied to a code proposal for a future edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).

Visit www.aspe.org

WESTFIELD, Mass. — Mestek, Inc. announced that John E. Reed, chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 9, at his home. He died of heart failure due to advanced congestive heart disease.

Stewart Reed, vice chairman and Chief Operating Officer stated, “Mestek was always more than simply a business to him; it was his life and his creation. It was personal; and he cared deeply at many levels. He was intensely proud of the people who chose Mestek for their careers and the progress of the company. He established a culture for Mestek that he wanted to last for generations beyond his life, his most cherished legacy. Whether in his office or on the shop floor, Mestek was home. John Reed touched many of us in a profound way; he will be long remembered. We can honor his memory by fulfilling his vision: a world-class American manufacturing company with a bright future.”

He enjoyed a successful career that spanned 75 years, many of these years as chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mestek, Inc., which consists of more than 36 operating companies involved in the HVAC, Architectural Products, Metal Forming & Fabricating, and Coiled Metal Processing Industries.

Reed began his career with the H. B. Smith Company after graduating from The Williston School in 1933 and Yale, A.B in 1937. He earned his L.L.B law degree in 1942 from Northeastern University Law School. In 1946, Reed founded the Sterling Radiator Company where he pioneered hydronic finned tube radiation. Sterling Radiator continued to grow during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, both internally and through the careful acquisition of other climate control companies and of the Peterson Roll Feed Co. and the Cooper-Weymouth press feed company.

In 1975, Reed National was formed to administratively consolidate these companies and air distribution acquisitions. More growth and acquisitions followed, and in 1986 Reed National merged with Mestek Inc., a public corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mestek remained public for 20 years before returning to its present status as essentially a private company with shares traded under the symbol MCCK.PK.

Reed was a very active participant in the Hydronics Institute (now merged into AHRI) and the Better Heating/Cooling Council. He served as chairman of the Hydronics Institute twice and was one of the first chairmen of the Better Heating Cooling Council. He had also consistently supported various national manufacturing associations including the Association for Manufacturing Technology, the Fabricating Manufacturers Association (which honored him with a lifetime achievement award), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, and many others.

Reed will truly be missed by his family at home, at Mestek, and throughout the industry.

ARLINGTON, Va. — ACCA announced that registration is open for the Service Managers Forum, which is taking place October 3 – 4 in Austin, Texas. This event is presented by ACCA and the ACHR NEWS.

The Service Managers Forum is one of ACCA’s most popular managers’ meetings, and it is returning for the sixth year with a new line-up of learning labs to help veterans and new service managers reach new levels of success.

This year ACCA reworked the program schedule, so attendees get the most value out of this day and a half program. The lineup features eight learning labs that cover residential and commercial topics and two learning labs that cover leadership topics. The two leadership learning labs will be repeated, so that attendees will have the opportunity to go to both.

Kicking off the Service Managers Forum is Jason Young, a former high level manager at Southwest Airlines. He wowed contractors during the High Stakes Learning Event during ACCA’s 2012 Conference in Las Vegas. During the opening session, “Lead Smart — High Performance Leadership,” Young will share how leaders develop, motivate and empower people to achieve extraordinary results while providing vision and guidance throughout the entire process.

The event closes with the popular “I’ve Got An Idea!” session with idea-chief, Vince DiFilippo of DiFilippo’s Service Company. During this  event, attendees share their own success secrets for others to take back to their businesses to turn into big results.

“The Service Managers Forum continues to be one of our most popular educational events each year and we are excited to be heading back to Austin for our sixth year,” said Kevin Holland, senior vice president of Business Operations & Membership at ACCA. “We’ve packed the schedule with a brand new line up for learning labs that will feature some of our best speakers from the past and some new speakers to help service managers review their processes, recharge their outlook, and reinvigorate their entire team when they return home. This event is about learning, growing, and helping attendees move to the next level of success.”

To round out the forum, attendees can spend time talking to some of the top manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers in the industry in the Sponsor Showcase. Sponsors include: AC Leak Freeze, Data-Basics, Davisware, CallSource, Comfort Institute, ContractorSelling.com, Demandforce, Emerson, Fujitsu, Jackson Systems, NATE, and Service Automation.

Visit www.servicemanagersforum.com

 

WASHINGTON — The upcoming Memorial Day holiday signals the beginning of outdoor fun, especially in the backyard. The International Code Council’s Building Safety Month 2013 reminds everyone to take measures to avoid unsafe conditions in the backyard.

The educational public safety campaign also recognizes the important work of code officials who keep the public safe by ensuring homes and other structures are built in compliance with construction safety codes. Week three of Building Safety Month, May 20-26, focuses on backyard safety including decks and balconies, grills, and swimming pools and spas. Check with your local building or fire department to determine what meets code in your neighborhood.

Decks and balconies can collapse as they age if they are not properly built. Building or repairing decks and balconies might require a building permit and inspection. Homeowners should make sure these structures are built properly and comply with local codes. Other safety hazards to look for on decks and balconies are:

• Split or rotting wood
• Wobbly handrails or guardrails
• Loose, missing or rusting anchors, nails or screws
• Missing, damaged or loose support beams and planks
• Excessive movement, swaying or other unstable conditions when walked on
• Overcrowding, don’t exceed the weight capacity required by code

Grilling on or near combustible areas can be a fire hazard. The most common hazards are open flames or heat that can start a fire on a deck or balcony, the roof or siding. When grilling, follow these safety tips:

• Place the grill away from siding and railings; don’t grill under eaves or low branches
• Never grill on top of anything that can catch on fire
• Remove grease and fat buildup
• Use proper starter fluid and store the container away from heat
• Check propane cylinder hoses for leaks
• It is unsafe to grill in garages or enclosed areas that can trap carbon monoxide

Building codes require a four-foot high fence or other barrier around a pool or spa with a water depth of 24 inches or more. This includes inflatable pools. Fence gates must be self-closing and self-latching. Pool and spa safety tips include:

• Remove chairs, tables or any objects that allow a child to climb and reach a gate latch or climb over the fence pool to gain access to a pool or spa
• Make sure drain covers are not broken or in disrepair, and are anchored firmly over drain openings
• Although pool water alarms might detect accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water, they are not a substitute for fences or other safety devices required by code
• Install either an automatic or manually operated, approved safety cover to completely block access to water in a pool or spa

To find out if your backyard is safe and friendly go to www.iccsafe.org/safety/Pages/Backyard.aspx.

WESTFIELD, Mass. — Mestek, Inc. announced that John E. Reed, chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 9, at his home. He died of heart failure due to advanced congestive heart disease.

Stewart Reed, vice chairman and Chief Operating Officer stated, “Mestek was always more than simply a business to him; it was his life and his creation. It was personal; and he cared deeply at many levels. He was intensely proud of the people who chose Mestek for their careers and the progress of the company. He established a culture for Mestek that he wanted to last for generations beyond his life, his most cherished legacy. Whether in his office or on the shop floor, Mestek was home. John Reed touched many of us in a profound way; he will be long remembered. We can honor his memory by fulfilling his vision: a world-class American manufacturing company with a bright future.”

He enjoyed a successful career that spanned 75 years, many of these years as chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mestek, Inc., which consists of more than 36 operating companies involved in the HVAC, Architectural Products, Metal Forming & Fabricating, and Coiled Metal Processing Industries.

Reed began his career with the H. B. Smith Company after graduating from The Williston School in 1933 and Yale, A.B in 1937. He earned his L.L.B law degree in 1942 from Northeastern University Law School. In 1946, Reed founded the Sterling Radiator Company where he pioneered hydronic finned tube radiation. Sterling Radiator continued to grow during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, both internally and through the careful acquisition of other climate control companies and of the Peterson Roll Feed Co. and the Cooper-Weymouth press feed company.

In 1975, Reed National was formed to administratively consolidate these companies and air distribution acquisitions. More growth and acquisitions followed, and in 1986 Reed National merged with Mestek Inc., a public corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mestek remained public for 20 years before returning to its present status as essentially a private company with shares traded under the symbol MCCK.PK.

Reed was a very active participant in the Hydronics Institute (now merged into AHRI) and the Better Heating/Cooling Council. He served as chairman of the Hydronics Institute twice and was one of the first chairmen of the Better Heating Cooling Council. He had also consistently supported various national manufacturing associations including the Association for Manufacturing Technology, the Fabricating Manufacturers Association (which honored him with a lifetime achievement award), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, and many others.

Reed will truly be missed by his family at home, at Mestek, and throughout the industry.

WESTLAKE, Ohio — On June 3, ASSE International will begin operating from its new principal office, located at 18927 Hickory Creek Drive, Suite 220, Mokena, IL 60448. The move to this expanded facility will occur May 30-31, with normal operations resuming on June 3.

Mokena, a south suburb of Chicago, has been home to the Chicago Regional Office of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®) since 2007. Currently located on the first floor of the building, IAPMO will join ASSE International in the move to the 12,000-square-foot second floor, leaving room for growth as both organizations expand. The shared ASSE International/IAPMO suite will be divided to establish separate business units and identities, while still in close proximity to promote collaboration and the sharing of resources.

With easy access to all major expressways, two large classrooms featuring state-of-the-art technology, a spacious boardroom and a fully stocked kitchen, this new space is not only a greatly improved location for the day-to-day office work of ASSE International’s staff, but also ideal for any meetings, seminars and training sessions that have previously been outsourced to outside locations. In addition to the many other amenities of this new facility, traveling visitors and meeting attendees who need to work on the road can utilize the office’s 11 work stations located in the main lobby.

“This is a big adjustment for ASSE International staff, but we hope to make the transition as smooth and welcoming as possible,” said Scott Hamilton, executive director of ASSE. “I believe this tremendous new facility and the proximity to IAPMO’s highly professional staff quickly prove extremely beneficial as ASSE further embarks on its new era as an international chapter of IAPMO.”

Visit www.iampo.org

Arlington, Va. — The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team (STT) announced an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) public review period for the “BSR/ACCA 3 Manual S – 201x, Residential Equipment Selection” as a revised and redesignated industry standard. The 45 day public review period started on May 10, with a comment deadline of June 24.

This revised standard provides procedures for selecting and sizing residential comfort cooling and heating equipment. The standard has been divided into two parts – a “normative” portion that details the selection/sizing criteria and an ‘”informative” portion that provides discussion, guidance, and example problems related to procedure intent and use.

A review version of the proposed Second Edition of Manual S (dated April 17), and the public review response form, can be downloaded from www.acca.org/industry/ansi-standards/under-review.

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) joined the Licensing That Works coalition to strengthen the push to make the four-year bachelor’s degree the mandatory educational requirement for licensure as a professional engineer in the U.S.

ASPE and ASABE are the most recent technical groups to endorse Mandatory Education Requirements for Engineering Licensure, the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) position statement that makes the case for the traditional four-year degree as the key requirement for obtaining an engineering license.

According to the members of the Licensing that Works coalition, graduating from a four-year engineering program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, along with passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practices examinations and successfully completing a four-year internship, provide sufficient skills and aptitude for engineering licensure.

On the other side of the debate are adherents to the “Master’s or Equivalent” (MOE) plan, proposing 30 additional credits or a master’s degree, on top of the bachelor’s, for licensure.

The members of Licensing that Works, now representing more than 315,000 engineers, say there is no evidence suggesting that adding a full academic year of upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level coursework will increase the engineer’s impact on the public’s health and safety.

The coalition also believes that higher educational requirements could impair America’s ability to place an adequate supply of engineers in the industrial workforce, adversely impacting national competitiveness.

Visit www.aspe.org

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The module, which consists of a DVD and student and instructor workbooks, results from the ongoing joint strategic planning initiative between the United Association and MCAA. MCAA also sent the materials to all affiliated associations. It was developed by MCAA Past President Mark Rogers and Adam Snavely of The Poole & Kent Company.

The UA Training Department worked closely with MCAA in producing the DVD and related materials. Credit also goes to the International Training Fund, which underwrote the expenses incurred in developing these materials.

In a transmittal letter that accompanied the materials to UA locals, General President William Hite said, “The presentation on this DVD is the result of a collaborative effort between the United Association and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America in a combined effort to gain market share, put more UA members to work, and make our good union contractors more competitive… An instructor from your local JATC and an area MCAA contractor should present this DVD together to your second year apprentice class or where you feel appropriate.”

MCAA President Mike Cables also underscored the value of these training materials in recent remarks to the Western Mechanical Conference when he said, “At MCAA we feel that by helping our workforce better understand us as contractors we deepen their appreciation of the challenges we face every day as we strive to get work, keep them employed and enhance our joint position in the marketplace.”

Visit www.mcaa.org

IRVINE, Calif. — This year marks Navien’s 35th year in business. Navigator, Energy and Environment are the three words from which the company name was created. Chairman Sohn congratulated company members for their contributions and dedication to furthering the corporate mission of providing customers with the ultimate comfortable living environment through energy efficient products by using innovative technology to create a healthier environment for our future generations.

“Navien is proud to be a leading global green company,” said Harrison Kim, CEO of Navien. “2013 has been an outstanding year for Navien, continued Kim. Our NPE series condensing gas water heater won the prestigious International Forum (IF) award for Product Design. The NPE series, with its 2 inches PVC venting capability, utilization of existing ½ inch gas lines, field gas convertibility and the industry’s longest warranty (15 years) for the dual stainless steel heat exchangers, among other features, also won the plumbing Innovation Award at the AHR Expo this year. Additionally, one of our condensing gas water heaters, was selected a ‘Best Buy’ product in Premium Selection by Consumers Digest. Navien’s CH, Combi-Boiler/Water Heater is recognized as the most efficient and economical combination boiler/water heater on the market today.”

Eric Moffroid, vice president of Sales and Marketing, thanked Chairman Sohn for his acknowledgement and added, “We want to recognize, in turn, our partner Reps, Wholesalers and Installing Contractors for their part in Navien’s success to date. I particularly want to honor the Navien Service Specialists (NSS) and Navien Dealers who have attended our training classes and educated themselves, on their own time, in order to understand and participate in the benefits of the Navien product line.”

WASHINGTON — Using computer technology for plan review, the plan approval process and code checking streamlines building department operations and can be a boon for local economies. The International Code Council (ICC) and Fiatech have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that supports a shared vision to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of building design, construction and code compliance through the use of advanced technologies and practices represented by the Fiatech AutoCodes Project. AutoCodes—automatic code checking—is a significant development that moves regulatory compliance into the digital age on par with modern commercial design and construction industry practices.

“Automated code checking helps plan reviewers focus on the core tasks of code compliance and speeds up the permitting process,” said Ronald Piester, president of the ICC Board. “This innovative technology will provide comprehensive and consistent results from project to project across jurisdictions and allow code officials to dedicate more time to safety issues, inspections and other important duties.”

“Fiatech is pleased to have ICC’s support in the development of AutoCodes, which will be a ‘game changer’ in the building design and construction process,” said Ray Topping, director of Fiatech. “Our Memorandum of Understanding builds on the strong working relationship established with ICC over the past six years in advancing Regulatory Streamlining.”

The current stage of the project focuses on efforts to convert egress chapters 10 and 11 of the International Building Code into machine-language rulesets to check 3D building information models (BIM) for code compliance. A critical aspect of the phase is to define an ICC certification roadmap that confirms the integrity of AutoCodes Project deliverables with regards to the IBC for industry usage.

“ICC and Fiatech are committed to completing this long-term project,” said Dominic Sims, CEO of the ICC. “Using technology for code checking is a win-win for the jurisdiction, designer and property owner. The quicker plans are approved to begin construction, the quicker a business can open its doors and see sales dollars. Speeding up plan review and permitting turnaround time will result in projects being started and completed in a more timely manner thereby creating an economic development advantage in a competitive world. ”

Visit www.iccsafe.org

WASHINGTON — The International Code Council Board of Directors is accepting applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer. Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO is accountable for the leadership, management and success of the association to ensure the realization of strategic goals that are consistent with the long-range interests of ICC.

The duties of the CEO are:

• Leading and managing staff, Member programs, projects, finances, and all other organizational aspects so that ICC’s mission, vision, and strategies are fulfilled within the context of values as approved by the ICC Board and membership.
• Exercising authority over all areas of the association including the subsidiaries.
• Executing policies approved by the ICC Board in the delivery of programs and services.
• Assisting the ICC Board in identifying key emerging issues and establishing the future direction of the association.
• Directing and coordinating the formulation of financial programs to provide funding for new or continuing operations to maximize returns on investments, and to increase productivity.
• Maintaining and enhancing successful relationships with strategic partners while seeking opportunities to develop strong relationships with additional code development industry stakeholders.
• Developing and maintaining a professional staff capable of delivering all elements of the programs and services offered by ICC.
• Fostering a team environment, inclusion, entrepreneurial thinking and implementation of the values of the association.
• The Code Council has a number of emerging issues that candidates must be capable of addressing, including increasing the visibility of the association in a world market; elevating the stature of ICC in political and business circles; expanding the ability of our Members to participate in the important functions of the association through endeavors such as the cdp Access initiative; and moving the association from a static to a digital environment including developing and implementing Next Generation technology.

Candidates must demonstrate experience in Executive Leadership, being Results Driven, having Business Acumen, and building Coalitions. Applications should reflect an overall record of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to succeed in the CEO position.

Deadline for applications is May 30. Visit www.iccsafe.org

IRVINE, Calif. — This year marks Navien’s 35th year in business. Navigator, Energy and Environment are the three words from which the company name was created. Chairman Sohn congratulated company members for their contributions and dedication to furthering the corporate mission of providing customers with the ultimate comfortable living environment through energy efficient products by using innovative technology to create a healthier environment for our future generations.

“Navien is proud to be a leading global green company,” said Harrison Kim, CEO of Navien. “2013 has been an outstanding year for Navien, continued Kim. Our NPE series condensing gas water heater won the prestigious International Forum (IF) award for Product Design. The NPE series, with its 2 inches PVC venting capability, utilization of existing ½ inch gas lines, field gas convertibility and the industry’s longest warranty (15 years) for the dual stainless steel heat exchangers, among other features, also won the plumbing Innovation Award at the AHR Expo this year. Additionally, one of our condensing gas water heaters, was selected a ‘Best Buy’ product in Premium Selection by Consumers Digest. Navien’s CH, Combi-Boiler/Water Heater is recognized as the most efficient and economical combination boiler/water heater on the market today.”

Eric Moffroid, vice president of Sales and Marketing, thanked Chairman Sohn for his acknowledgement and added, “We want to recognize, in turn, our partner Reps, Wholesalers and Installing Contractors for their part in Navien’s success to date. I particularly want to honor the Navien Service Specialists (NSS) and Navien Dealers who have attended our training classes and educated themselves, on their own time, in order to understand and participate in the benefits of the Navien product line.”

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Plumbing Engineer is looking for unique and innovative projects for its 2013 Project Awards and encourages readers to submit their favorite project for consideration. The deadline has been extended to May 15.

To be considered, email a brief, three to five paragraph project description, credit list (including the project’s owner, engineer, contractor and any other pertinent team members), and two to three high-resolution project photos. In the project description, explain why the project is innovative, unique or otherwise noteworthy from a plumbing design and engineering standpoint, note any special challenges this project presented and discuss how you solved them.

Selected projects will appear in the June issue of Plumbing Engineer.

To see examples of past Project Award selections, visit www.plumbingengineer.com/june_12/engineering_feature.php.

Please submit your projects to Plumbing Engineer’s Editorial Director, Jim Schneider, at editor@plumbingengineer.com.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced that Christine Cunnick joined the national staff as the director of Marketing on May 6.

Cunnick has 13 years of results-oriented marketing and communications experience. Since 2005, she has been with the National Grocers Association, where she managed marketing campaigns for a wide variety of programs, events, and products aimed at different targeted audiences, including small business owners and consumers.

“We have been looking to bring on a team member who would be dedicated marketing the variety of programs and services we offer and Christine’s past success working with small businesses, makes her a great fit for ACCA,” said Kevin Holland, senior vice president of Business Operations and Membership. “We are extremely pleased to have her join our staff and look forward to seeing our programs grow with her help.”

In her new position, Cunnick will responsible for creating and implementing marketing programs for all of ACCA’s products, programs and services.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — On April 17, PHCC Vice President Kevin Tindall, owner of Tindall & Ranson Plumbing and Heating, was one of three small business owners who testified on Capitol Hill about how the implementation of the nation’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) is affecting small businesses.

The purpose of the hearing was for officials to hear from small business owners directly, in an effort to understand what small business owners are beginning to experience with the new law. Because healthcare reform is complicated, Congress is becoming increasingly concerned that confusion amongst small business owners will cause a situation that harms an already weakened economy.

In both his written and oral testimony, Tindall referred to himself a “small business job creator,” but pointed out that “the continued rise in the cost of providing health care insurance absolutely stifles my ability to create, provide and sustain jobs.”
Tindall also said, “I have yet to understand how we as a nation can continue to state that we need to create more jobs, yet challenge, threaten, or even ignore the very mechanisms for job creation.”

According to Tindall, many small businesses, including his own, do not qualify for the tax credit incentives provided by the ACA because the salaries they pay their employees often exceed the $50,000 per year threshold. He also said that small businesses simply cannot continue to absorb the steep insurance premium costs that continue to rise every year. At his own company, Tindall paid 9.7 percent more to renew health care insurance in 2011, followed by an increase of 9.3 percent in 2012.

In response to a question from Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), Tindall was able to further describe the many uncertainties the Affordable Care Act is creating for small businesses.

“We’re not being able to predict the cost of going forward,” Tindall said. “The implementation of the law was supposed to create a cost-controlling mechanism, but as a company, I haven’t seen that yet. … The biggest problem I have is that it is unpredictable.”

PHCC National Association plans to use Tindall’s healthcare reform testimony as a platform for its lobbying efforts at the upcoming 2013 PHCC Legislative Conference on healthcare reform that will be held May 22-23.

Visit www.phccweb.org

TORRANCE, Calif. – Five U.S. cities were honored for residents’ commitment to water-saving choices as part of the second annual National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Separated into five population categories, the winning cities are Denver; Tucson, Ariz.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Bremerton, Wash. and Laguna Beach, Calif.

Residents in all 50 states made more than 44,000 online pledges to save water, use less energy and reduce pollution in four categories – home, yard, community and life – with potential cost savings of more than $30.6 million.

Presented nationally by Wyland Foundation and Toyota, the National Mayor’s Challenge had participation from 70 mayors across the U.S., including Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock; D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray; Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael B. Coleman; Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn; Tucson, Ariz. Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Santa Fe, N.M. Mayor David Coss. City leaders encouraged residents to participate in the online challenge, which also provided access to regional water and energy resources along with cost-saving tips.

At a May 10 event in Denver, a grand prize winner will receive a new Prius c from the pool of winning cities’ participants, who are also eligible to win hundreds of water-saving fixtures and gift certificates to Lowe’s stores. The National League of Cities, CH2M Hill WaterMatch, Rain Bird Corporation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense, and the U.S. Forest Service supported the challenge as well. The additional support from well-known comedians through Comics for Conservation, a series of public service announcements, expanded this year’s environmental message. Pete Dominick, longtime SiriusXM host, stand-up comic and CNN contributor, was the official spokesperson.

Toyota’s partnership with the Wyland Foundation and the Mayor’s Challenge included a new element this year – an eight-state U.S. environmental educational tour to schools and communities, reaching 4,000 students. The mobile, 1,000-square foot Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Experience featured interactive exhibits to demonstrate the relationships between humans and water.

In addition to making water-saving pledges, challenge participants pledged to reduce their use of single-use plastic water bottles by more than 5.4 million bottles and eliminate 69.9 million pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds. By altering daily lifestyle choices, pledges also resulted in potentially 18.3 million fewer pounds in landfills and 2.2 million fewer pounds of fertilizer in the waste stream. Potential savings of 67.8 million gallons of oil and 2.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide rounded out the final pledge results.

Visit www.mywaterpledge.com

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.

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