Welcome back, plumbing and HVAC experts! JB Warranties is back again with another Monthly Round-Up — our last of 2023! We’ve spent the past 11 months (22 months when you count our 2022 Round-Ups, too!) scouring the web to gather the latest news, events, and trends that have swept across the trade industry. As the holiday season ramps up, we’re back again to look towards 2024.
In our November Round-Up, we broke down the Biden-Harris Administration’s new electric heat-pumping manufacturing project, discussed the emerging IAQ partnership between Field Controls and Tadirans, and announced the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Association’s upcoming 2024 expo. Let’s wrap up 2023 by checking out December’s latest news!
1. EPA Extends Sell-Through Period, Easing Inventory Concerns
On October 24, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final ruling for the ongoing transition to low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants in air conditioning, heat pump systems, and refrigeration. The recent ruling included a sell-through mandate of January 1, 2025 for certain HVAC systems, which quickly sparked excess inventory and financial loss concerns over systems that would not meet the low-GWP criteria.
Fortunately, the EPA announced this month that they would be amending this provision and are now extending the sell-through mandate for an additional year. Under updated EPA ruling, all new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025, can still be sold and installed before January 1, 2026. The EPA believes this extension will significantly alleviate ongoing worries over the stranded system inventory that would not be compliant under upcoming GWP limits.
2. HARDI Hosts 2023 Ascend Conference
On December 5, the Heating Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Association concluded its annual Ascend Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The event experienced record-breaking numbers this year, with more than 1,940 attendees that included over 500 wholesaler attendees from 180 different companies. The event also featured a sold-out booth program featuring 250 HVAC vendors.
The HARDI Ascend Conference centered around six key speakers whose presentations covered a wide array of industry topics, including but not limited to effective workforce management, HVAC innovation, and the various geopolitical factors currently impacting our industry. The conference also included 26 breakout sessions, which used data from HARDI’s Market Intelligence team to provide attendees with valuable business development insights.
During the 2023 conference, HARDI also took the time to recognize 16 graduates from its Emerging Leaders program. The Emerging Leaders program leverages learning and networking platforms to aid in the development of next-generation HARDI executives, protecting the association from staff shortages that have plagued the rest of the industry. HARDI’s 2024 Conference is set to be held in Atlanta, Georgia from December 7 to 10 at the Marriott Marquis.
3. CEO Warrior Partners With Ferguson
This month, CEO Warrior, a nationwide leader in business development training for service-based businesses, announced that they would be entering a collaboration with Ferguson, a leading nationwide supplier of HVAC and plumbing supplies. With over 300+ current clients, over 100 vendor partners, and numerous annual training events, CEO Warrior has helped HVAC, plumbing, electrician, and housing contractors CEOs gross over $1 billion in customer revenue since its start.
Now, with a collaboration with Ferguson, CEO Warrior hopes to add even further value to the services it provides its members. In addition to various training and mentorship solutions, the Furgeson partnership plans to provide members with easy access to an expansive catalog of high-quality HVAC and plumbing products to support enhanced business growth.
4. Daikin Donates HVAC Equipment and Services to Ronald McDonald House Charities
Earlier this month, Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc., a primary provider of HVAC solutions, donated an expansive collection of HVAC equipment and services to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. Such equipment included Daikin room air purifiers, which will be used to improve the indoor air quality of private rooms and common areas of the Ronald McDonald House program.
To celebrate the donation, The Ronald McDonald House of Greater Washington D.C conducted a ribbon-cutting event for a Daikin-sponsored isolation room for patients who are dealing with compromised immune systems. The event will be featured on an upcoming episode of Daikin’s Sustainability Series, which covers topics such as indoor air quality, sustainable residential HVAC equipment, and low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants.
5. Trade Jobs Launches to Help Elevate Employment in the Home Service Industry
A new employee recruitment platform built for the trade industries, Trade Jobs, recently hit the market with the aim of better addressing ongoing labor shortages across the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing industries. President of Trade Jobs, Jeff Bonds, stated that, “the employment crisis in the trades has been well-documented as the older generation continues to enter retirement,” and filling ongoing position vacancies is now more difficult than ever for service-based professionals.
Luckily, the Trade Jobs program is built for and maintained by trade professionals from the HVAC and plumbing industries who understand exactly what employers are looking for in technicians. The Trade Jobs platform will eliminate the need for employers to scan through hundreds of unqualified resumes and, instead, help connect them with professionals who meet their specific job requirements.
If local job boards haven’t been helpful lately, employers can register for a Starter, Professional, or Master account, where they can post an unlimited number of positions and search the Trade Jobs database for qualified candidates. Job candidates can also register with the Trade Jobs network, where they can upload their resumes and easily connect with local trade companies in need of new team members.
Tune in Next Year for JB Warranties’ First Monthly Round-Up of 2024
Well, HVAC and plumbing professionals, that just about wraps up 2023! Over the past several months, we’ve encountered countless new industry trends and technologies, significant changes to industry rules and regulations, and learned about new collaborations amongst prominent industry stakeholders. Now, all that’s left to do is wish you a very Happy New Year, from our team to yours.
Don’t forget — as you set up your 2024 business goals and operational workflows over the next few weeks, head over to the JB Dealer Services Marketplace for an extra boost. There you can learn about a variety of business management solutions, including field service management solutions and financial tools that can help you elevate your HVAC or plumbing company throughout 2024.
Matt Cosby
Director of Marketing
