Industry News

Navien, the leader in condensing technology, has started shipping their latest innovation, the NPF Hydro-furnace. First announced during their virtual launch event on September 26^th, the NPF forced air hydro-furnace is Navien’s introduction into the HVAC market.

Available in upflow and horizontal configurations, the NPF comes in two sizes of 60,000 BTU/h and 100,000 BTU/h that both boast 97.0% AFUE, utilize high-efficiency ECM motor technology, and meet the stringent requirements of SCAQMD rule 1111 for Ultra-Low NOx performance.

The NPF uses Navien’s industry-proven stainless steel heat exchangers to heat water in an isolated compartment out of the airstream which provides sound-reduction and energy efficiency. The heated water is circulated through a hydronic coil which transfers the heat into the airstream for the ultimate in quiet forced-air heating comfort. The sealed combustion design allows the NPF to deliver comfortable heat without significantly impacting humidity levels at one of the quietest sound levels of any furnace on the market. Water can be supplied to the NPF either through an auto-fill ¼” water connection or through an easily accessible manual fill water reservoir.

The NPF features industry leading variable capacity that can modulate down to 15% for an unparalleled level of comfort that allows the unit to meet year-round heating needs. Each NPF unit is field gas convertible from natural gas to liquid propane, and rated for high elevation up to 10,000 feet with factory supplied conversion kit.. An EZNav^® unit-mounted interface with built-in setup wizard provides easy, intuitive steps for startup, configuration, and diagnostics. Installers can set supply air temperature and airflow directly from the front panel, and the service wizard will walk contractors through component verification to aid in troubleshooting. NPF hydro-furnaces are compatible with most one- and two-stage thermostats and can be matched with any AC or heat pump system providing their own dedicated airflow selections and ramping profiles.

Upflow models of the NPF are available to ship now, with horizontal models planned to start shipping in February 2024. To learn more about the NPF Series of hydro-furnaces, visit navieninc.com.

Professionals from the field provide insight and education on current practices and industry trends

The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) has released the full schedule for the 2024 AHR Expo Education Program. This year’s program will feature more than 110 free seminars, a robust panel series lineup, new product and technology presentations, professional certifications, and continuing education courses.

“The Education Program has grown into a true complementary asset to the show floor experience,” said Show Manager, Mark Stevens. “Inside exhibitor booths, manufacturers are displaying real solutions to improve the health of the industry, the professional work experience and to address the shifts in our wider society. As a bridge to the robust activity on the floor and attendee understanding, the education program will offer real discussions about real problems that are shared across the industry. We’re working to connect the varying sectors within our industry to deepen these conversations. By inviting our associations and community leaders to the table, we can spark important conversations that lead to smarter decision-making and customer engagement.”

The AHR Expo Education Program will provide an understanding of real-world application and practice in areas of niche discipline, as well as a broader discussion of topics relating to trends happening currently and on the horizon within the industry. Workforce education and open-form communication is an important factor as developments occur across the industry.

“Our manufacturers do a phenomenal job of displaying everything new to the market,” continued Stevens. “All the latest products and technologies, as well as solutions to nearly any issue attendees may encounter in their day-to-day professional HVACR efforts are there. The education program adds an added layer of understanding and knowledge building that supports what our manufacturers are bringing to market, and how professionals can work together to identify solutions throughout the full project cycle.” Attendees can expect the program to address a wide variety of topics and are encouraged to explore the full program on the website.

2024 AHR Expo Panel Series
2024 State of the Industry

In 2022, the AHR Expo launched a panel discussion among leaders representing every sector of the industry. As the first large event following the pandemic, the panel served as a recalibration of all that was happening across the industry as a result. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the benefit to the industry led to open communication throughout the remainder of the year. In 2024, Bryan Orr returns to moderate a state-of-the-industry update with leaders from ASHRAE, AHRI, HARDI, NCI, ASHB etc., regarding the current challenges, opportunities, and forecasts for the year ahead in HVACR.
Expected topics include changing regulations, the economic forecast including inflation and tariffs, the green transition, the supply chain, and more.

Speakers on this panel include Dominick Guarino, President & CEO of National Comfort Institute, Inc.; Ginger Scoggins, President, ASHRAE; Greg Walker, CEO of ASHB; Steve Yurek, CEO of AHRI; and Talbot Gee, CEO of HARDI. This panel will be moderated by Bryan Orr of HVAC School.

Heat Pumps, Electrification, and the Grid
This presentation will address how best to deploy heat pumps in retrofit projects while addressing two major barriers to electrification;
1. At the building level – how can we electrify w/o requiring costly upgrades to the building’s electrical infrastructure?
2. At the grid level – how do we electrify without stressing the grid by adding load in the peak utility demand periods?

Speakers on this panel include Mark Frankel, Chair of ASHRAE’s TFBD Heat Pump Working Group; Jon Heller, President at Ecotope, Inc.; Rand Conger, Johnson Barrow; and Sean Jarvie, Flow Environmental Systems.

AI, Controls and the Future of Technology in HVAC
This session will discuss the current and future roles of controls technology and artificial intelligence as they relate to HVAC and buildings management.
Speakers on this panel include Greg Walker, ASHB; Anto Budiardjo, CEO at Padi.io; Chad Langston, ABB; Charles Pelletier, Vice President, Product Management at Distech Controls; Darryl DeAngelis, Ebtron; and Stephen Holicky, Tridium/Honeywell.

Addressing the Workforce Talent Gap through Educational Partnerships
This session will discuss the impact collaboration with an educational institution can have on fostering a robust workforce. As we face an increasingly declining workforce, HVACR professionals can attune to provide supportive efforts to attract and maintain talent. The following topics will be discussed:

• Proven strategies to establish partnerships between education and industry that make a significant impact on improving HVACR, as well as hiring challenges, financial performance, and new hire retention
• How to find new talent that operations managers appreciate and are eager to hire
• How to build a culture that promotes technician retention and improves financial performance
• Understanding the types of partnership and how they make sense for your
  organization
• Realistic expectations and adaptability
• How and where to start as a professional or company

Speakers on this panel include Scott Shaw, President & CEO at Lincoln Tech; Alison Neuman, North American Workforce Development Program Manager at Johnson Controls; Brian Feilen, Lincoln Tech; Susan English, Senior Vice President of Career Services & Industry Partnerships at Lincoln Tech; and Jose De La Portilla, Senior Manager of Education and Training at Rheem Manufacturing.

Regional Updates: Refrigerants, Regulation and More
As an addition to the program this year, sessions highlighting trends, refrigerant and regulation updates specific to region, including but not limited to DOE, practices, equipment, as well as current and future projections in the region. Sessions in this series include:

• South/Southeast – Chris Forth, Vice President Regulatory, Codes & Environmental Affairs, Ducted Systems at Johnson Control
• Southwest – Jennifer Butsch, Director, Regulatory Affairs at Copeland
• North/Northeast – James “Jimmy” Abraham, Regulatory Affairs Manager at Bosch

FREE INDUSTRY SEMINARS

The 2024 show will feature more than 110 free sessions led by industry experts. Sessions will range from one to two hours and address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges and exciting opportunities. Attendees are invited to attend general HVACR-related sessions, as well as those specific to professional practice areas.

“The Education Programming is a means to learn trends, tips, and growth strategies for the professional and the business,” said Kimberly Pires, AHR Expo Education Program Director. “Our associations are in tune with what is current in their areas of the industry, and this program is the culmination of full industry learning. Our sessions aim to provide diverse perspectives from every professional and perspective in HVACR. The opportunity for shared insight supports healthy communication and growth within the industry.”

Attendees are encouraged to explore the full program on ahrexpo.com. Additional highlights for the 2024 AHR Expo Free Industry Seminar program include:

Contractors

• Contractor Marketing Do’s and Don’ts 2024
• A2Ls Are Here; What Happened to A3s?
• How Distributors, Contractors & Homeowners Can Prepare for Low-GWP Refrigerant Transition
• Price Increases, Inflation, the Economy… and What Your Customer Experience Can Do about It

Facility Managers/Owners

• Exploring HVACR’s Role in Facilities Management
• The Future of Home Services: How AI and Diagnostics Can Contribute to Business Success
• Key Performance Metrics for Energy and Facility Managers

Engineers

• Building Tomorrow’s Cooling Workforce: Navigating New Technologies and
  Challenges
• The Future of Home Services: How AI and Diagnostics Can Contribute to Business Success
• The Decarbonization Countdown: What’s in Store for Commercial HVAC Systems
• ACG Building Systems Commissioning Guideline Overview

General

• Navigating to a Greener Future: How Decarbonization and Innovation is Leading Our Markets
• What You Need to Know – A Closer Look at the Ongoing Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act Incentives
• Redefining Comfort: Decarbonization’s Impact on the HVAC Industry
• How Distributors are Maintaining Profitability Despite Regulatory Headwinds

CONTINUING EDUCATION

AHR Expo attendees have the opportunity to participate in professional development courses through ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI), as well as short courses/professional development seminars approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that can apply toward maintaining P.E. licensure. Attendees are required to register and pay tuition fees in advance of the show and can do so either onsite or by visiting the ASHRAE registration website. Full-day courses account for six earned Professional Development Hours
(PDHs)/Learning Units (LUs) or 0.6 CEUs. All half-day courses are awarded three accredited PDHs/AIA LUs. Topics cover a wide range of industry subjects, including the fundamentals of the commissioning process, complying with the requirements of ASHRAE standards, laboratory design basics and beyond, optimizing indoor environments and more.

NEW PRODUCT THEATER PRESENTATIONS

Attendees are encouraged to sit in on exhibitor presentations in the New Product Theater. More than 145 presentations lasting approximately 20 minutes each are planned across all three days of the show. These free seminars will provide brief overviews of new product announcements and technologies that can be found in exhibitor booths on the show floor. Attendees are invited to follow up presentations with a visit to the booth for a more in-depth explanation and 1:1 interaction with products and representatives. These sessions are set to take place in special theaters right on the exhibit floor. No fee or registration is required.

This year, two 2024 Innovation Award winners will present, including:

• Danfoss Turbocor® Active Cooling Variant
• Inficon: Robotic Vision System for Refrigeration

Attendees can view the complete AHR Expo Education Program schedule, including the New Product Theaters, on the AHR Expo website. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to manage their show floor and education program agenda by creating a free MyShow Planner account and downloading the AHR Expo app.

The 2024 AHR Expo will be held Jan. 22 – Jan. 24 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. To register for the event, please visit the AHR Expo registration page.

Leading Denver plumber honored for its dedication to integrity and ethical business practices

High 5 Plumbing, a family-owned and operated plumbing company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, has been named a 2023 Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Award winner for the state of Colorado.

“This award is reflective of the integrity our team embodies every day, no matter if it’s in the office or on a service call for a client,” said Levi Torres, co-owner of High 5 Plumbing. “When we first started High 5 Plumbing, we wanted to create a business the community could be proud of for both the services we provide and our business practices. Being named a winner of the BBB Torch Awards of Ethics is proof that we achieved our goal. We will continue to operate in a manner that displays our dedication to integrity and excellence.”

The Torch Awards for Ethics is the most prestigious honor Better Business Bureau Great West + Pacific (BBBGWP) bestows on businesses operating within its eight-state service area. Winners must demonstrate a high level of personal character, meet the highest standards of ethics, and build trust with their customers and the community.

“It’s extraordinary to see how each of this year’s award winners went above and beyond in the marketplace and their community. They are setting the standard for what it means to be an exemplary and ethical business,” said Tyler Andrew, President and CEO of BBBGWP. “We hope this recognition can encourage others to step up in their respective businesses and build an ethical marketplace for all.”

The BBB Torch Awards of Ethics is the latest in a list of awards High 5 Plumbing has received this year. Those awards include the Denver Business Journal Fast 50, the Inc. 5000 and the ColoradoBiz Magazine’s Top 50 Family-Owned Businesses. They were also named one of the best plumbing repair companies by ColoradoBiz Magazine.

High 5 Plumbing offers a variety of plumbing services to residents in the Denver area, including repair and installation, drain cleaning, pump plumbing, piping, garbage disposal services, sewer line repair, gas plumbing, water heater installation and much more. In addition, the company offers 24/7 emergency services.

To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, visit https://high5plumbing.com/.

Manufacturer of water heating and storage equipment announces $50,000 donation to extend its partnership with Pennsylvania agency committed to sustainable energy and skilled trades training

Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, announced today a $50,000 grant through its Industry Forward® initiative to help Pennsylvania’s Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) launch a pilot internship program for youth and emerging workers from Philadelphia’s disadvantaged communities.

The grant will support a 60-hour internship program for up to 30 participants in ECA’s signature heat pump water heater installation and maintenance training course in 2024.

“Bradford White and ECA share a mission to showcase the rewarding career opportunities that are available in the skilled trades and to support the foundation of education and training necessary to maintain a thriving workforce,” said Rebecca Owens, senior manager of communications for Bradford White. “We’re proud to extend our partnership with ECA so they can continue to provide valuable learning opportunities for youth and adults throughout the Philadelphia area.”

Industry Forward® is Bradford White’s signature, developed to help advance workforce development and increase public awareness of career opportunities in the plumbing and HVAC industries.

ECA’s 200-hour heat pump training program consists of classroom instruction, lab exercises and career development. Interns supported by Bradford White’s Industry Forward® grant will supplement the training program with on-the-job installation experience supervised by a professional HVACR technician.

“Bradford White is providing critical support for our mission through their Industry Forward® program,” said Steve Luxton, executive director and CEO of ECA. “With their continuing partnership, our trainees will have more opportunities to develop the self-confidence and leadership skills that come from jobsite experience. Thanks to Bradford White, we’re able to provide innovative workforce development education for young people in Philadelphia while also ensuring our community has reliable energy services.”

Bradford White partners with nonprofit organizations and technical schools to educate individuals and families on the importance of the skilled trades and the role that industry professionals provide in the health, safety, sanitation, and infrastructure of their communities through strategic grant funding that supports workforce development training and education programs and industry career opportunities, events, and partnerships.

ECA leads the design and implementation of high-quality energy conservation initiatives to reduce household energy costs and stabilize low-income families in their homes and communities. ECA’s Heat Pump and Heat Pump Water Heater Training Lab, supported by Bradford White and other partners, prepares HVACR technicians from historically marginalized communities for sustainable careers, while facilitating the adoption of heat pumps and heat pump water heaters and advancing the clean energy transition.

For more information about Bradford White Corporation’s Industry Forward® initiative, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com/giving/.