National News
44th Annual ACCA Conference
& Indoor
Air Expo
March 5-8, 2012 • Las Vegas, Nevada
The
ACCA Conference is where America’s most successful HVACR, building services, and energy professionals come together
to share, learn, and collaborate. In March 2012, we’ll meet in Las Vegas and “Raise the Stakes” to build
a bigger, stronger industry.
Innovative Education
The ACCA Conference features the highest-caliber
industry presenters — because we have the highest-caliber contractor attendees in the industry! In 2012, we’re
rolling out an all-new structure of Learning Labs, offering conference participants a wider variety of choices from among
the best educational seminars in the environmental and energy services field. Learn more.
Dynamic Networking
At the ACCA Conference, you’ll rub shoulders with the best contractors
in the world. At our exciting special events and networking sessions, you’ll get a chance to meet with, and learn from,
the contracting business owners who have built the most profitable companies in our industry. It’s an experience unlike
any other.
Exciting Marketplace
The Indoor Air Expo is our industry’s largest marketplace,
where top suppliers meet with top contracting decision-makers. In 2012, it will be co-sponsored by ACCA and the Indoor Air
Quality Association, and we will be joined in 2013 by RESNET, the Residential Energy Services Network. Learn more.
Viva Las Vegas!
ACCA is heading back to Vegas for the first
time in over ten years — and we’re at the Paris, one of the city’s most exciting destinations.
**********************
Friday, December 16, 2011, the Department of Energy (DOE)
and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will jointly host a public meeting at the DOE headquarters on the enforcement of regional
standards for HVAC appliances that go into effect on May 1, 2013.
The two main issues under consideration are
how will the agencies enforce the new regional standards rules and what changes are necessary to the labeling of HVAC equipment
to avoid distributor, contractor, and consumer confusion about the new rules.
Regional standards
will set new liabilities and responsibilities on HVAC contractors to install equipment that meets minimum efficiency levels
for a given state. There are likely to be new paperwork and filing requirements for contractors, along with the potential
for fines for violations of the rules.
The DOE released a “framework document”
for stakeholders outlining several elements under consideration for an enforcement scheme, including the possibility of allowing
for a waiver from installing a condensing furnace in the northern region.
DOE
is proposing three enforcement approaches with increasing levels of compliance through record keeping and/or the reporting
of equipment installation location information.
Under
Approach 1, contractors would be required to install HVAC equipment in the appropriate region.
Under Approach 2, contractors would be required to install HVAC equipment in
the appropriate region, and maintain records and paperwork about each installation.
Under Approach 3, contractors would be required
to install HVAC equipment in the appropriate region, maintain records and paperwork about each installation, and be required
to provide their distributors with model number, rated efficiency, serial number, and installation address for each installation.
Distributors would report the model number, efficiency, serial number, and installation zip code (not address) to DOE.
The FTC rulemaking
on new energy labeling requirements for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps is designed to help
consumers and businesses install equipment appropriate for their location under the new regional efficiency standards. The
FTC's Appliance Labeling Rule currently requires yellow EnergyGuide labels for heating and cooling equipment to disclose the
product's efficiency rating and a comparison of the highest and lowest ratings for all similar models.
The FTC wants to know how best to develop consumer and industry disclosures regarding the new
standards for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps, including possible revisions to the current
EnergyGuide label.
25c Tax Credits Expired At End of 2011
Despite the efforts of ACCA and its industry partners, Congress failed to extend the Residential Energy Tax Credits
(25c) before they expired on December 31, 2011. This is the first time since 2008 that there is no federal income tax incentive
for homeowners to make energy efficient upgrades to their homes.
All hope is
not lost on these tax credits though. We are continuing to work with Congress on getting them extended, but it is uncertain
when that may happen and if it does happen, if they will be retroactive to January 1, 2012.
Charlie McCrudden
explains what may happen to these tax credits and what other tax incentives were not extended in his latest Hot Air! blog.
Wondering if there are any state or local tax incentives to
offer your customers? Try using ACCA's HVAC specific DSIRE web
tool. It allows you to search for incentives by state, zip code, technology, and industry sector.
IE3Online.com Launches
Yesterday we launched the new www.ie3online.com website.
This website is an extension of the new IE3
Magazine that will be arriving in your mailboxes soon. But as you will see, there is nothing typical about
IE3!
The new website was designed to be able to be used by you, the way
you want to use it...whether that means on a PC, a smartphone, or an iPad. And it's not just a reprint of the articles in
the magazine. There are extended articles, videos, and special downloads that you can share with your entire staff. You can
also get into the conversation by sharing your thoughts and ideas. Who knows, we may ask you to your story in the future.
Check out the new website at
www.ie3online.com, start exploring and get into the conversation today!