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ACCA News

Chapter Executive

Kellie Jones
314-600-2659

chapterexec@acca-stl.org

Chapter Assistant

Angie Krueger

314-484-3382
chapterassist@acca-stl.org

Chapter President

Phil Hendrickson

American Boiler & Mechanical
314-865-3000
phil@abmstl.com

  • Home Performance Standard Approved by ANSI

    February 07, 2012

    The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute Standards Task Team announced that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has recognized ACCA 12 QH-2011 Existing Homes Evaluation and Performance Improvement standard.
     
    ACCA 12 QH-2011 was developed by ACCA in the cooperation with the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) and is the first, and only, industry-developed nationally-recognized standard that establishes how to audit, evaluate, develop a scope of work, perform the work approved by a home owner, and test completed work.
     
    “ACCA is proud to offer the home performance community with the first standard for existing homes that is in line with our other ANSI recognized standards," said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. "This new standard provides clear guidelines for how to properly evaluate homes, provide homeowners with appropriate solutions, and then perform the work. And, by requiring third-party verification to ensure that the work was performed correctly, gives more credibility to the contractors who are following the standard and sets them apart.”
     
    “We were happy to work with ACCA to create this standard for existing homes,” says Steve Baden, executive director of RESNET. “RESNET will use the standard as the foundation for its Energy Smart Contractor designation. Having an ANSI standard for existing homes will make the entire industry stronger as a whole.”
     
    The ACCA 12 QH-2011 Existing Homes Evaluation and Performance Improvement is available for download at www.acca.org/quality and will be available for purchase soon.
    For over forty years, ACCA has served the nationwide educational, policy, and technical interests of the small businesses who design, install, and maintain indoor environmental systems. For more information, visit www.acca.org.

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  • ACCA Contractor Members Receive Free Shipping On Online Orders

    January 09, 2012

    New For 2012: ACCA Contractor Members Receive Free Shipping On Online Orders
    The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nation’s leading association for indoor environment and energy service businesses, is now offering free shipping on select products ordered online by ACCA contractor members.
     
    In order to receive free shipping, orders must be placed online at www.acca.org/store, by an active ACCA contractor member that is logged into their account. All items that are eligible for free shipping are marked online and include:
    • ACCA technical manuals such as Manual J, Manual D, and Manual N.
    • ACCA standards such as the Quality Installation (QI) Standard.
    • ACCA training DVDs and CDs such as Understanding Manual J and Mastering AC Service.
     “ACCA offers over a hundred resources and products to help our members be more professional and successful,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “By providing free shipping on many of these items, we are cutting the costs our contractor members incur as they work to improve their businesses and continue being the best of the best in our industry.”
     
    Visit www.acca.org/store to view all ACCA products and resources that are eligible for free shipping and to order online.
    The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is a non-profit association serving more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses in the HVACR community, who work together to promote professional contracting, energy efficiency, and healthy, comfortable indoor environments for all Americans. For more information, visit www.acca.org.

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  • IE3online.com

    January 05, 2012

    It's a new year, and there are new opportunities for the indoor environment and energy services contracting industry. IE3 is going to be with you every step of the way.

    What's IE3? It's ACCA's new official publication, but it's a lot more than that. IE3 is a new approach to contractor business media. Built from the ground up for a mobile world, IE3 lives in the cloud and will meet contractors wherever they are.On your phone. On your iPad. On your desktop. And yes, even in your mailbox. Wherever you are, IE3 is there, and it works. Check it out today.

    In the first issue of IE3, we reached out to some amazing contractors with lessons to share. You'll learn from them:
    • How to increase your service agreement program retention by 50%
     
    • Why lowering your maintenance agreement prices may make you less competitive
     
    • How you may be driving Facebook fans away -- and what you can do to increase social media followers by more than 300%
     
    • How office software can make or break a contracting business
     
    • Why GPS should be about tracking vehicles, not people
     
    • Why ACCA chairman Joe Nichter says, "I don't even think ACCA's name makes much sense anymore."
     
    • And tons more, but this email is already getting too long.

    But wait, before you go -- we want you to know that IE3 is not just about easy-to-read articles.
    • There are interactive training tools you can put to use in your company right away, like the expanded Tech Challenge, a new Business Challenge, and safety tips for your employees.
     
    • Loads of online extras, including videos, downloads, expanded articles, and web-only resources.
     
    • The exciting new IE3 Audio program, where you can participate in in-depth conversations with the contractors featured in IE3
     
    • And of course The Buzz, our flagship weekly column and e-newsletter, which will be continued and expanded as part of the new IE3 family

    It's all live now at IE3online.com. Go ahead, poke around the site -- it adjusts itself for any size screen, on just about any modern browser. (If you're still using an old version of Internet Explorer, well ... let 2012 be the year you upgrade.)

    You can even read the entire digital version of the January print issue online (and yes, it works on iPads, even iPhones, too). 

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  • ACCA, AHRI, HARDI Agree to Collaborate on Hydronics, Radiant Initiatives

    December 29, 2011

    The three leading trade associations in the indoor environmental industry have announced they will collaborate closely on educational initiatives to benefit the industry’s hydronics and radiant panel sectors. 
     
    The three associations are Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), which represents contracting businesses; the Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), which represents manufacturers; and, the Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), which represents wholesalers and distributors. These three organizations have a longstanding history of collaboration and partnering for the betterment of the air conditioning and heating industry.
     
    The hydronics partnership was developed in a series of meetings at ACCA, which recently launched a Radiant & Hydronics Council (RHC) to provide specific support to member companies who work in the hydronics field. 
     
    “Hydronics is of growing importance to our industry, as contractors are now being expected to understand a wide variety of different technologies in order to serve their customers, from air to water to ground and back again,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA President & CEO. “The three legs of our industry – contractors, manufacturers, and distributors – all recognize this importance. We understand we need to work together to ensure that systems are properly designed, installed, and maintained.”
     
    Through the collaboration, AHRI will continue to update basic hydronics training and curricula. This material will be used by HARDI to encourage its distributor members to provide hydronics training in their local areas. ACCA also will use this material to develop online education for contractors and their employees, and encourage members to take advantage of HARDI member training where available. The ACCA RHC will develop advanced online training modules for contractors that need to go “beyond the basics” in hydronics design and installation.
     
    In addition, the ACCA RHC and HARDI will be represented on the AHRI committees responsible for developing or revising hydronics training materials. The ACCA RHC will join AHRI, HARDI, and many others in the North American Council on Hydronics, a USA-Canadian alliance group.
     
    “We are delighted about this new collaboration, said Stephen Yurek, AHRI President & CEO. “Working together, our three organizations will provide a higher level of service and professionalism than we could on our own to the entire hydronics industry.”
     
    Talbot Gee, HARDI Executive Vice President & COO, added, “Our members are very excited about the opportunities presented by collaboration between our three organizations. There are tremendous possibilities for future projects that will pay great dividends for those who specialize in hydronics, an area where industry-specific education is sorely needed.”

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  • 25C Tax Credit Extension Is Unlikely in 2011

    December 20, 2011

    - By Charlie McCrudden, ACCA National Vice President for Government Relations

    The 25C residential energy tax credits are not expected to be renewed before they expire on December 31, 2011, despite the work of Congress to pass tax extenders legislation before the end of the year.

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  • ACCA Applauds Congress for Providing Tax Relief for Small Businesses

    November 18, 2011

    the House of Representatives voted 422 - 0 to pass Senate-amended version of H.R. 674, legislation to repeal the 3% government withholding tax mandate on federal, state, and local contracts that was scheduled to take effect in 2013. In passing the bill last week by a vote of 95-0, the Senate added an amendment to provide help to veterans in finding jobs and to give a tax credit to companies that hire veterans. 
     
    The 3% withholding tax requirement was a revenue raiser tucked into the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 that extended several important tax cuts, including the lower capital gains tax rates and expanded small business expensing allowances. ACCA has been working with the Government Withholding Relief Coalition to repeal the 3% withholding tax since it became law in 2006. 
     
    By passing the Senate-amended version of H.R. 674 today, the House clears the way for President Obama to sign the repeal into law.
     
    “ACCA is pleased that Congress again worked together to pass legislation to help small businesses. Earlier this year Congress repealed the onerous 1099 form filing requirement.  With the repeal of the 3% withholding tax on government contracts, small businesses that perform work for a government entity won’t face additional paperwork and potential loss of revenue,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “Since President Obama has already come out in support of this repeal, we hope that he will act swiftly to sign this bill into law.”
     
    Over the past month ACCA contractors and other small business owners have sent Congress thousands of messages urging them to repeal this requirement.
     v

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  • ACCA Forms New Media Subsidiary New Flagship Publication IE3

    November 09, 2011

    The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nation's largest association of indoor environment and energy services contracting businesses, has formed a new subsidiary company to oversee the association's growing media programs. The company, ie3media, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACCA, focused on creating new value for ACCA's members and customers through expanded online, mobile and print services.

    "ACCA is a forward-thinking, fast-paced organization and it's important that we continue to take advantage of our key strengths in order to do what we're here to do -- help contractors achieve business success," says Joe Nichter, ACCA's 2011-2012 Chairman of the Board. "ie3media will play a key role in our future ability to provide first-class service to the entire industry."

    ie3media's first offering will be a brand new magazine and website aimed at ACCA's core audience, owners and managers of the nation's most influential contracting firms. The publication, IE3: indoor environment & energy efficiency, is being built from the ground up as a mobile-ready enterprise, offering provocative, useful and fast-paced content that will be available in print, on the web, on smartphones, and on iPads. More information, including the initial media kit for advertisers, is online now at http://www.ie3online.com. 

    IE3 and its associated web hub will be launching in January 2012. The bi-monthly print magazine will replace the association's previous quarterly magazine, Contractor Excellence, which has been published since 2002. 

    Owned by ACCA, ie3media will be led by an independent board of directors. Initial board members include Chairman Larry Taylor, of AirRite Air Conditioning; Richard Dean, of Environmental Systems Associates; and, Stan Johnson, of Stan's Air Conditioning. 
    Paul Stalknecht, ACCA President & CEO, has also been named President & CEO of ie3media. Stalknecht has appointed Kevin Holland to serve as ie3media's Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Holland will also continue to serve as ACCA Senior Vice President for Business Operations & Membership.

    "ACCA's members are seeing significant opportunities to expand their expertise and offerings in the indoor environment and energy services arena," Stalknecht says. "We are committed to helping contractors take advantage of those opportunities, both through the association's services and through new offerings from ie3media."

    For information about advertising opportunities in IE3 and related media, contact Tom Murphy, ie3media's Director of Sales, at 703-824-8875 or tom.murphy@acca.org. For editorial information, contact Melissa Broadus, IE3 managing editor, at 703-824-8842 or melissa.broadus@acca.org. 

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  • Raise the Stakes at the 2012 ACCA Conference and Indoor Air Expo

    November 07, 2011

    Use St. Louis Chapter Discount Code "worldfair12" to receive $100 off your first attendee - but only if you register before Dec. 15th!
     
    Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nation’s largest organization of indoor environment and energy services contracting businesses, has opened registration for the 2012 ACCA Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo. The 44th annual event will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 5 - 8.
     
    The ACCA Conference is the largest educational event for the HVACR contracting industry. This year, to provide more focused learning labs that cover more of the topics that contractors want to learn about, some learning labs will be 90 minutes and some will be 45 minutes. Topics will cover residential and commercial contracting, refrigeration, technical excellence, radiant and hydronics, business fundamentals, contracting leaderships, and quality assurance. Some of the learning labs scheduled are:
    • Google’s Rise, How It's Changed Your Customer’s Expectation And What Contractors Should Do About It (45 mins)
    • Time Management: Get More Done By Working Smarter, Not Harder (45 mins)
    • Regional Standards & What They Mean For You (45 mins)
    • Service Lead Turnover Avalanche (90 mins)
    • The Customer Satisfaction Pyramid (90 mins)
    • Culture & Consistency Leads To Profitability (90 mins)
    A full list of scheduled learning labs is available at www.accaconference.com/education. 
     
    ACCA has scheduled some of the nation’s most sought-after keynote speakers to create a well-rounded educational experience. Tommy Spaulding will open the event with powerful keynote focusing on relationship building and why contractors need to focus on “ROR” (return on relationships) and not just ROI. Then Erik Wahl will wrap up it all up by talking about “The Art of Vision,” which will prepare you to go back to your business and look at things in a broader scope, so you can make adjustments that will truly improve business.
     
    ACCA has also added a special “High Stakes” learning event on March 8, featuring Jason Young, a former Southwest Airlines executive. This half day session will help you come up with a solid plan for creating a company culture where your employees will thrive and you can achieve greater profitability. This event is limited to 300 people, so make sure to mark the box on your registration to save your seat at the event.
     
    To make sure that participating contractors leave the event armed with valuable information to drive their businesses in the future, ACCA is recording all of the conference presentations and workshops. Those who purchase a full, “first employee” registration before December 15, 2011, will receive the full Learning Labs DVD set for free after the conference.  Use St. Louis Chapter Discount Code "worldfair12" to receive $100 off your first attendee - but only if you register before Dec. 15th!
     
    “It’s impossible to remember everything you learn at an event like our conference, so as we have done in the past, we are offering a free DVD of all the sessions to attendees who register early,” says Paul T. Stalknecht, president and CEO. “It’s a great way for us to thank them for attending and it helps them refresh their learning experiences, and share valuable information with the top leaders in their companies that may not have been able to attend. We will mail out the DVDs as soon as production is complete, to all attendees who either registered early to earn it for free or purchased a copy on-site.”
     
    Full conference registration includes all of the learning labs, sessions, and forums, as well as passes to the Indoor Air Expo and the evening Chairman’s Banquet. Many other meals and networking opportunities are included with registration. 
     
    The ACCA Conference is held in conjunction with the Indoor Air Expo, the industry-wide marketplace and showcase. The 2012 Indoor Air Expo is co-presented by ACCA and the Indoor Air Quality Association. The show floor is filling up fast, as HVACR suppliers gear up to present contractors the latest in improvements and technological advances aimed to make contractors’ businesses more efficient and productive. More than 3,000 decision makers in the indoor environment and energy services industry will be converging in Las Vegas. It is an audience that is eager and ready to explore new products, technology, and ideas. The Indoor Air Expo continues to be the industry’s premier trade show and the leading marketplace for HVACR and IAQ buyers and sellers. For more information about exhibiting and sponsoring, contact Tom Murphy at tom.murphy@acca.org or 703-824-8875.
     
    The official hotel of the ACCA event is the Paris Las Vegas. Make hotel reservations by calling 877-796-2096 and mention ACCA for the special discounted room rate of $195 (plus applicable fees and taxes) before February 1, 2012. 
     
    Complete program information, including accommodation and schedule details, may be found online at www.acca.org/education/conference.

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  • ACCA Files Comments on DOE Rulemaking

    October 24, 2011

    The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nation’s largest organization of indoor environment and energy services contracting businesses recently filed comments to the Department of Energy (DOE) rulemaking on Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps. 
     
    In June, the DOE published a Direct Final Rule in the Federal Register proposing elevated and regional energy conservation standards for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps. If the DOE receives comments it determines to be adverse to the Direct Final Rule, it may withdraw the Direct Final Rule and extend the rulemaking period through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
     
    In its comments, ACCA recommended that the DOE withdraw the Direct Final Rule and revert to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The primary elements of the Direct Final Rule are based on a “Consensus Agreement” drafted by HVAC equipment manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates jointly submitted under the Direct Final Rule process that sidesteps the normal notice and comment process. 
     
    ACCA contends that the Consensus Agreement represents the view of a minority of stakeholders and is an unsuitable use of the Direct Final Rule process. ACCA has previously opposed regional standards, because they would be nearly impossible to enforce. The Direct Final Rule also imposes an unprecedented regional standards scheme with insufficient consideration of the enforcement plan, while overlooking the rise in the sale of equipment across regional barriers through internet sales. It directly and adversely impacts contractors who were not included in the Consensus Agreement.
     
    ACCA urged the DOE to withdraw the Direct Final Rule, because it justifies condensing furnaces in the Northern region based on incomplete or inaccurate assumptions on the costs and installation issues when replacing non-condensing furnaces with condensing furnaces. 
     
    “This Direct Final Rule creates regional standards without fully considering a regional standards enforcement plan or what the penalties would be on contractors,” say Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president & CEO. “Furthermore, the DOE has not done its due diligence on the installation cost increases that arise with condensing furnaces. The DOE's economic analysis underestimated the frequency of installation issues due to accommodating for venting and condensate disposal issues. Homeowners will either repair old inefficient equipment because they cannot afford a condensing furnace, or will seek out an unscrupulous installer who will perform an illegal installation.”
     
    If the DOE receives substantial adverse comments, it will withdraw the Direct Final Rule. Otherwise, the Direct Final Rule is effective on October 25, 2011.  
     
    Under the Direct Final Rule, non-weatherized residential furnaces installed on or after May 1, 2013, in the Northern Region must be at least 90% AFUE. The Northern Region is comprised of the following states:  Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In all other states, the minimum AFUE standard for a non-weatherized gas furnace would be 80% AFUE.
     
    For split system central air conditioners, the Direct Final Rule creates three regional standards, one for the Southeastern Region, one for the Southwestern Region, and one for the Northern Region.
     
    Starting January 1, 2015, split system central air conditioners installed in the Southeastern Region must be at least 14 SEER. The Southeastern Region includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
     
    Starting January 1, 2015, split system central air conditioners installed in the Southwestern Region must be a minimum 14 SEER and 12.2 EER. The Southeastern Region contains the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico.
     
    Starting January 1, 2015, split system central air conditioners installed in all other states must meet 13 SEER, which is the current national minimum.
     
    There will be no regional standards for split system heat pumps, but starting January 1, 2015, the new minimum efficiency standard for split system heat pumps is 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF.

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  • ACCA Launches New Radiant & Hydronics Council

    October 17, 2011

    The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nation’s largest organization of indoor environment and energy services contracting businesses, has announced the launch of a new Radiant & Hydronics Council (RHC) within ACCA to provide specific services to this vital segment of the HVACR industry.   “Radiant contractors have been seeking a dynamic, contractor-focused organization for some time, and many have asked ACCA to expand an emphasis into that sector,” said Joe Nichter, ACCA 2011-2012 Chairman. “The RHC will provide first-class representation and services for radiant and hydronics professionals that wish to be the best in their field.”
     
    The changing indoor environment sector requires contractors of all kinds to master a wide variety of technologies; including air, hydronic, solar, geothermal, and other alternative energy services.  The addition of the RHC to the ACCA umbrella is a key part of the association’s strategic plan to help its members compete in the modern business climate.
     
    The RHC will be guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of the nation’s leaders in this vital industry segment.
     
    The first chairman of the RHC Advisory Council will be Dan Foley. Foley is president of Foley Mechanical in Lorton, Virginia, a recognized leader among hydronics contractors, and a past chairman of the Radiant Panel Association (RPA).
     
    In addition to Foley, others serving on the RHC Advisory Committee are:
    • Greg Jannone, William Jannone & Son, Bound Brook, NJ (past chair, RPA)
    • John Abularrage, Advanced Radiant Design, Stone Ridge, NY
    • Brian Stack, Stack Heating & Cooling, Avon, OH
    • John Siegenthaler, Appropriate Designs, Holland Patent, NY
    • Mark Hottel, Harvey W. Hottel, Inc, Gaithersburg, MD
    • Dave Yates, F.W. Behler, Inc., York, PA
    • Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr, Caleffi, Milwaukee, WI (past chair, RPA)
    • Bill Shady, PE, Sustainable Design and Product Management, Santa Cruz, CA
    “As a longtime active member of associations in both the air and radiant field, I am excited to see ACCA create this new organization,” said Foley. “It is definitely time for the many different elements of the indoor environment industry to come together under one umbrella for the betterment of all contractors. ACCA offers us an incredible opportunity to do just that. Since it is an organization of, by, and for the contractor, it gives us one strong voice in advocacy, while providing services specific to radiant professionals through the council.”
     
    The RHC’s initial scope of work includes:
    • The addition of a new Radiant & Hydronics educational track at the 2012 ACCA Conference, held March 5-8 in Las Vegas;
    • The launch of a new monthly e-newsletter, Radiant Trends, specifically for RHC members;
    • Development of a new two-day educational meeting specifically for radiant and hydronics professionals – the Hydronics Roundtable – to be held Fall 2012 as part of ACCA’s annual Contracting Week;
    • Development of a new radiant-specific section of the ACCA website, featuring webinars, articles, and resources exclusively for RHC members;
    • Addition of a hydronics-specific Contractor Directory on the ACCA website;
    • Inclusion of RHC input into ACCA’s broader activities in government relations, industry advocacy, education, communications, and standards development.
    Membership in RHC will be open to all ACCA member companies; in addition to ACCA membership dues, a nominal RHC fee of $95 per year will be charged for participation in the council.
     
    “The RHC is a continuing step as ACCA evolves with the changing industry,” Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO said. “We can’t wait to see radiant- and hydronic-focused contractors reap the benefits of the council. It’s going to be an exciting year.”
     
    Details about the RHC, including information on how to join, will soon be available on ACCA’s website at www.acca.org.
     
    For more information, contact Kimya Bailey Cajchun at radiant@acca.org or 703-824-8845.

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