WebHVAC March 2017 Monthly Top 5 HVAC Stories
This edition of our monthly HVAC news stories should interest those who enjoy technology, but we mix it up with general interest news related to cooling, heating, the weather and saving you money when possible. Here are the top HVAC stories for March 2017.
March 2017 HVAC News
1. Clean Energy is a Major Employer/Sector
If you enjoy reading government reports – and who doesn’t, right? – you’ll find the 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report fascinating. Among the details, in 2016, 1.9 million people worked in the Electric Power Generation and Fuels technologies sectors. About 1.1 million worked in traditional fuels while 800,000 worked in renewable energy.
2. Automating HVAC is Becoming the Norm
Millennials aren’t the only generation that likes to employ their smartphones as controllers for HVAC home automation. Demographic information for all adults shows that more are choosing to use automation apps to control their thermostats. Convenience isn’t the only reason; automation is also the best way to cut energy use and costs. Most use a programmable thermostat to set a basic schedule for heating and cooling, but when they’ll be home later than expected, they use the app to keep the heat down in winter or up in summer until they’re about to return home. By the way, we covered some of the top home automation thermostats last month.
3. Is your HVAC Technician NATE Certified?
The North American Technician Excellence certification service is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017. There are currently 34,000 NATE-certified technicians, and it is not a requirement to work in the industry. There are many outstanding technicians who haven’t pursued NATE certification, but working with one that has earned it gives you a certain level of assurance that the tech knows what he or she is doing.
4. What Does a Trump Presidency Mean for the HVAC Industry?
President Trump and his administration are a pro-business bunch. The HVAC industry is optimistic about Trump’s calls for lower taxes for business and for deregulation. Outside the industry are people on both sides of the issue. Some believe Trump’s infrastructure spending might benefit the environment while others are concerned that some administration actions will harm it. Where do you stand on the issues?
5. How Does Weather Affect your Energy Bills?
We know that the outside temperature has a significant impact on fuel usage and cost, but do you realize exactly how much? This news on the short-term energy outlook for the US provides interesting details on the temperature’s effect on energy usage and 2017 fuel prices.
See you Soon
That’s it for March. We’ll return in a few weeks with the April edition. As a final note, spring is the time many homeowners have their HVAC systems cleaned, repaired or replaced. If you’re planning any of those projects, be sure to use a qualified contractor to best ensure that the work is done properly.