Industry News

New Requirements Outlined in Standard

Maintain to sustain is the name of the game when it comes to saving energy and money in today’s building stock.  A new standard from ASHRAE and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will help ensure a consistent minimal level of HVAC&R maintenance and inspection to preserve a system’s ability to achieve acceptable thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality in commercial buildings. ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180-2008, Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems, is the first standard to address inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems. Robert Baker, chair of the committee that wrote the standard, noted that inconsistencies exist within the building industry when it comes to inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems, with some facilities following rigorous policies while others have adopted a run-to-failure approach.

“Consistent maintenance ensures that energy efficiency remains at design levels,” Baker said. “Where maintenance is neglected, energy costs rise significantly and equipment life drops dramatically. With HVAC&R systems responsible for about 60 percent of site electrical energy use, it’s imperative that we provide consistent maintenance and inspection to improve energy efficiency along with thermal comfort and indoor air quality. When systems are not maintained, indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and energy efficiency all suffer.” In addition, much of the information that will be required to prepare the maintenance program can be obtained from building commissioning documents which provides a basis for identifying failures. Source: ASHRAE

HD Supply Sees Signs of Stabilization

HD Supply (Home Depot) has reported net sales of $1.974 billion for the second quarter, up slightly from $1.973 billion in the same quarter last year. Consolidated net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 was $115 million, compared with a net loss of $89 million for the same period in fiscal 2009. “We are beginning to see signs of economic and industry stabilization and are cautiously optimistic," said CEO Joe DeAngelo. "We continue to invest in the critical growth areas for our business that will uniquely position HD Supply to grow faster than the markets as they recover." Net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2010 were $3.8 billion, a decline of 2.8% compared with the first six months of fiscal 2009. Operating income in the first six months of fiscal 2010 improved $11 million to $5 million compared with an operating loss of $6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2009. "Over the past six months, we have enhanced our product mix, continued to improve our operational efficiencies and have made critical investments in our technology systems. Source: Home Channel News

How Will U.S. Financial Reform Protect Consumers?

Almost two years after the near collapse of the U.S. financial system, a sweeping reform package has finally been signed into law. Now the real work begins. Government officials are starting to staff a brand-new half-a-billion-dollar federal agency. Regulators are gearing up to conduct 67 studies and write 243 new rules. Wall Street lobbyists and consumer advocates are lining up to influence those watchdogs as the law is put into practice. And financial services companies are adjusting to, or looking to work around, the new rules.  But even amid the uncertainty, some things are clear. "Borrowers and investors are likely to benefit from a higher level of regulation, but at the end of the day we could all be paying more for credit," says Kathleen Engel, a Professor at Suffolk University and a member of the Federal Reserve's Consumer Advisory Board.

The centerpiece of financial reform is the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which will write and enforce consumer protection rules for most loans, including credit cards, private student loans, and mortgages. The agency will be housed within the Federal Reserve, but its director will be a presidential appointee. The bureau will consolidate consumer protection staffs from half a dozen existing regulators, and it should be up and running within a year.  Consumers won't have to wait for Congress to pass a law to be protected," says Engel.  The CFPB will operate a toll-free hotline for borrowers to report problems with a loan, and it will have the power to crack down on deceptive practices and hidden fees.  State regulators will also have the right to enforce new federal rules, adding another layer of protection. The CFPB is a major victory for borrowers. "This is the biggest thing in consumer protection since deposit insurance," says Ed Mierzwinski, Consumer Program Director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Source: Money Magazine

DOE Announces Nearly $120 Million in Funding for Weatherization Projects

U.S. Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, has announced award selections for approximately 120 organizations across the country that will receive nearly $120 million in funding to support the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Weatherization Assistance Program. DOE said this funding will enable successful weatherization agencies to expand their programs and will support new pilot projects to demonstrate innovative weatherization delivery and financial models and new technologies. As part of this announcement, nearly $90 million in Recovery Act funds will be awarded to more than 100 high-performing local weatherization providers in 27 states to complement and expand their existing weatherization programs.

Each of the selected organizations has already met their milestone of weatherizing 30 percent of their total production goal and spending 30 percent of their Recovery Act funds. These awards will allow these successful grantees to install renewable energy systems and cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies in homes to help families save even more on their energy bills. This includes installing technologies such as solar heating systems, solar photovoltaic panels and shingles, small-scale wind turbines, new insulation technologies, cool roofs, high-efficiency appliances, tankless hot water systems, high-efficiency combination boilers for hot water and heat, in-home energy monitors, and ductless heat pump systems.  An additional $30 million from the weatherization program’s annual budget will fund 16 recipients that will demonstrate other innovative approaches to weatherizing low-income single and multifamily homes.  Source: TheNews

Contractors Anticipate Growth Despite Decline in August CCI

The Contractor Comfort Index (CCI) declined for a second consecutive month in August. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) began measuring contractor attitudes toward short-term economic growth with the CCI in February of this year. For August, the CCI is 61, down from 64 in July.  Even with the decline, the index still shows that contractors anticipate short-term growth. Even though contractors are becoming more cautious in their outlook, in its first seven months, the CCI has increased 11%. The CCI is calculated based on a survey of the association's contractor members, who are asked how positive they feel about new business prospects, existing business activity, and expected staffing decisions in the short-term future. Weighted and averaged into one number, a CCI of 50 or above reflects anticipated growth. The CCI is released prior to the start of each month.  The next index number will be released during the last week of September. Source: ACCA Today