Blogs

Step Up to the Plate! ACCA Volunteer Needed for I-Codes Committee

By David Bixby posted 2 days ago
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ACCA is seeking a member volunteer to serve on one of the Code Development Committees (CDCs) for the upcoming code revision cycle for the International Residential Code – Mechanical (IRC – M). The "I-Codes" are developed under the International Code Council (ICC) and are adopted as state and local codes by nearly all of the country. The ICC has recently published its code development schedule for the 2024 Group A Codes, which includes the IRC – M, in addition to other I-Codes. The ICC deadline for receipt of online applications is June 1, 2023. The ICC call for code change submittals is expected to be announced by October 2023 with a deadline for submittals ...
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ACCA Stands up for Employers' Rights, Urges Congressional Leadership to Reject the PRO Act

By Chris Czarnecki posted 2 days ago
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On Friday ACCA President & CEO Bart James wrote leaders in the House and Senate urging them to reject the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, H.R. 20 and S. 567. This bill would radically rewrite federal labor laws and restrict employers' rights. Some of the most egregious provisions would: strip away workers’ privacy rights and key protections guaranteeing workers’ free choice through secret ballots in union representation elections; curb opportunities for people to work independently through gig economy platforms or more traditional independent contractor roles; require workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment even in ...
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How About More Hydrogen in Your Natural Gas?

By David Bixby posted 13 days ago
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There is a movement afoot to save the planet AND gas appliances. Gas utilities, along with support from the Department of Energy (DoE), plan to blend “clean” hydrogen into our natural gas transmission lines. Hey, I don’t make this stuff up, I just report on it. Read on! Why Natural Gas? Natural gas is essentially methane; one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH 4 ). It would be the perfect energy source if it wasn’t for that one pesky carbon atom. That carbon is the reason why some states and local jurisdictions are banning natural gas in new construction in an effort to “decarbonize” the planet through “electrification.” The natural ...
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ACCA Pushes Congress to Reject Small Business Tax Increases Included in Budget Proposal

By Chris Czarnecki posted 13 days ago
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Yesterday ACCA wrote leaders of the House Budget and Ways and Means Committees urging them to oppose trillions in tax increases targeted at small and family owned businesses that were included in President Biden's recently released budget proposal. The increases include raising the top rates paid by pass-through businesses, increasing Net Investment Income Tax, making harmful loss limitation rules permanent, imposing a new minimum tax on larger family businesses, and doubling the tax rate on capital gains. These policies would raise top marginal tax rates from 29.6 percent to 57 percent (even higher when factoring in state taxes). You can do your part to ...
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ACCA Urges Congress to Support the HVACR Workforce by Passing the JOBS Act of 2023

By Chris Czarnecki posted 21 days ago
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This week ACCA wrote leaders in Congress urging them to support the Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act of 2023, H.R. 793 and S. 161. This bipartisan legislation was reintroduced earlier this Congress and would extend Pell Grants to short-term, high-quality, in-demand job training programs. By expanding Pell Grant eligibility, the JOBS Act would help close the skills gap and provide workers with the job training and credentials they need for careers in high-demand fields like the HVAC-R industry. You can let your representatives in Congress know why they should support the JOBS Act by participating in our Action Alert here .
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ACCA Supports Quality Installation, Tech Neutrality in DOE Rollout of IRA Efficiency Rebate Programs

By Chris Czarnecki posted 23 days ago
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On Friday ACCA submitted a comment to DOE's request for information on the Home Energy Performance-Based Whole House Rebate (HOMES) and High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHRA) programs, which were included in the Inflation Reduction Act. ACCA stressed four main points to DOE including prioritizing maximization of realized energy efficiency through quality installation, ensuring that funds are distributed to states as soon as possible, promoting tech neutrality, and urging DOE to help states with program administration. Together these new programs will provide nearly $9 billion in rebates to taxpayers for energy efficiency retrofits and new efficient ...
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House Small Business Majority Presses Administration on Regulatory Impact

By Chris Czarnecki posted 02-23-2023
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Today Republican members of the House Committee on Small Business including Chairman Roger Williams, Vice Chairman Blaine Luetkemeyer, and Oversight Subcommittee Chairwoman Beth Van Duyne sent multiple letters to agency officials inquiring about Administration compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Small Business Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), and Executive Order 13272. According to the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, there were 27 violations of RFA and SBREFA rulemaking clauses in 2022 by the Biden Administration, including 9 by EPA and 5 by DOL. Violations are defined as instances where agencies have failed to or ...
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House Oversight Chair Comer Presses EPA on Disposable Cylinder Ban

By Chris Czarnecki posted 02-16-2023
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Today House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan regarding the Agency's ban on disposable cylinders for HFC refrigerants. In his letter, he echoed concerns that ACCA has raised since the ban was proposed including the heavier weight of the new refillables, their cost, and the potential supply chain impacts it would cause. He also contended that the ban exceeds EPA's jurisdictional authority, as ACCA and HVAC distributor association HARDI have argued in our joint lawsuit over the ban. Further, the letter requests that EPA provide all documents and communications regarding EPA's decision to ...
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GFCI Incompatibility: Massachusetts Issues Emergency Amendment

By David Bixby posted 02-16-2023
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In previous blogs we’ve reported on the industry’s involvement in resolving nuisance trip issues concerning outdoor HVACR equipment connected to Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupters (GFCIs) per the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC). Now we are trying to address complaints from contractors in the field who have encountered nuisance tripping on indoor HVAC equipment installed in basements, such as a furnace condensate disposal system and HVAC air handling units. This aspect has not been addressed by the NEC so far. Recently, Ed Lehr, president, Jack Lehr Heating, Cooling & Electric, Inc., Allentown, PA (and vice chair of ACCA’s Codes Subcommittee) alerted ...
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EPA Tentatively Rejects Petition to Regulate PVC as a Hazardous Waste

By Chris Czarnecki posted 02-15-2023
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Today EPA tentatively declined to make discarded PVC a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This signals that EPA does not believe all PVC plastics present a substantial hazard and that the existing regulations in place are good enough to mitigate any risks posed by PVC. This is a win for contractors. If PVC was designated as hazardous waste it would have negatively impacted the contracting industry, especially regarding the supply chain, as companies would have to seek out PVC-free versions of popular products. EPA is expected to finalize the rule in the near future. You can read more about the decision here .
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ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo Answers Your Questions!

By Matt Grizzard posted 02-13-2023
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ACCA’s Contractor Forum is a top benefit of ACCA membership. It’s where contractors go to obtain advice, recommendations and answers to tough questions in order to grow sales, reduce call-backs and liability. At last year’s Conference & Expo, the Forum was taken to the main stage where questions were answered live! Questions covered: What can a contractor do to recruit new talent? What are some of the best things you’ve done to increase maintenance agreements? What are you doing to help with employee retention? What are the best lead generation options to help add-on/replacement business? At ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo , there ...
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Codes & Coffee! The IRA: Driving Consumer Awareness & Market Transformation

By David Bixby posted 02-13-2023
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UPDATE: ACCA members can now access a recording of this webinar by clicking HERE . On Wednesday, Feb 15, Codes & Coffee featured special guest Alice Rosenberg, Deputy Director with the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), to further discuss the Inflation Reduction Act. The two main topics included: · The IRA and Market Transformation of High-Performance HVAC The IRA of 2022 named CEE specifications as the basis for federal tax credits. This topic would look a little bit deeper into the historic role of tax credits as a market lever, successes from past examples, and insights into the direction of CEE levels as they ...
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Pro-Contractor Members of Congress Well Positioned for 118th Congress

By Chris Czarnecki posted 02-06-2023
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As ACCA proudly reported in November, one of our own was elected to the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections. This week, Senator Markwayne Mullin got his committee assignments. He will serve on two committees that are important to ACCA’s policy priorities including the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. We proudly congratulate Senator Mullin on this achievement and know he will continue to be a leading voice for contractors at the highest levels of government. To our knowledge, he is the first contractor ever elected to the United States Senate. Another one of ACCA’s friends in Congress, ...
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Size a Heat Pump for... Heating?!?

By Wes Davis posted 01-23-2023
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Quirky Until about 20 years ago, heat pumps were basically air conditioners… with a quirky valve that let it provide some heating. Now heat pumps are more robust and make better use of technology that can provide sufficient heat during frigid weather. In fact, new units seek to deliver heat down to -20F ( York/JCI , Trane , Carrier ). This makes them the flavor of the month for the electrification and renewable energy crowds. So, what does ACCA (Manual S) say about sizing a heat pump for heating? Manual S: 2023 Heat Pump Selection Sizing a heat pump is open to single-speed, two-stage, and variable-capacity equipment. The first two types of equipment ...
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Codes & Coffee Reviews Energy Efficiency Incentives in the IRA

By David Bixby posted 01-17-2023
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UPDATE: ACCA members can now access a recording of this webinar by clicking HERE . On Wednesday, January 18, at noon ET Codes & Coffee will feature special guest Charlie McCrudden, Director, Government Affairs, Daikin US, who will review the energy efficiency incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Specifically, the provisions of the IRA which extended and modified: Section 25C (the residential tax credit), Section 25D (geothermal tax credit), Section 45L (homebuilders tax credit), Section 179D (commercial building tax deduction); and Provides $9 billion in funding a whole home energy savings rebate program and ...
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ACCA MIX Group® Events at ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo

By Matt Grizzard posted 01-11-2023
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Many members who participate in ACCA’s MIX Group Program say that it has been transformational for their business. Many contractors have joined ACCA specifically for the MIX Group Program as it is a top benefit of ACCA membership. At ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo there will be two events designed to inform participants about the value of MIX Groups and provide real opportunities for MIX Groups to meet with Candidates (those seeking to join a group) in-person. Also, meeting space will be available at the end of the conference for existing or new groups to use to catch-up with other members of the group and perhaps conduct a conference debrief on the ...
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Hurry Up! Or Wait? How to Talk to Customers about Inflation Reduction Act Incentives

By Sean Robertson posted 12-21-2022
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The Inflation Reduction Act’s $45 BILLION in rebates and tax incentives for efficiency upgrades will be a huge opportunity for contractors. But your customers already see headlines promising $14,000 rebates, and fly-by-night operators are lining up to steal them away with promises of “free heat pumps from Uncle Sam.” One thing is clear: nobody can honestly guarantee today that any given system or homeowner will qualify for an Inflation Reduction Act rebate. ACCA is working to provide you with information and customer resources to fight back so your customers aren’t stuck in limbo, waiting for a rebate that may never come as equipment prices continue to rise. ...
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Improved Proposed ACCA Manual S® Out for Public Review

By David Bixby posted 12-19-2022
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The new, improved proposed Manual S® is out for ANSI public review. Check it out! Background Last month proposed revisions to ACCA Manual S® – 2014, Residential Equipment Selection , were publicly announced by ACCA and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for a 45-day public review period. Comments are due by January 9, 2023. The standard provides procedures for selecting and sizing residential heating, cooling, dehumidification, and humidification equipment. The red-line review draft can be obtained by sending a request to standards-sec@acca.og . Comments should be submitted to the same address. Normative Sections Only Manual S is ...
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Department of Treasury Posts Notice for Public Comment on 179D and Other Tax Incentives

By Alyx Simon posted 12-12-2022
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As stated in a previous blog , the 179D Commercial Building Energy Efficiency tax deduction has been expanded in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to increase the tax deduction from $1.80 per square foot, to a sliding scale rate of up to $5.00 per square foot. The exact amount of the deduction depends on the total energy and power cost savings from energy efficiency improvements, as well as fulfilling labor and prevailing wage requirements. The IRA also broadened the eligibility for building projects to now include non-profits and Tribal governments. Due to this change, the Department of Treasury recently announced that it will release notices to collect input ...
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Treasury Announces Guidance on Inflation Reduction Act

By Alyx Simon posted 12-06-2022
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Recently, the Treasury Department released initial guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act's labor requirements concerning Section 179D and several other energy tax incentives. We have broken it down into some easy-to-understand points and links to lead you to more information about each topic. Prevailing wage Requirements will go into effect 60 days after the law is put in place and will apply to any jobs performed after Jan 29, 2023. How do I determine the prevailing wage? Prevailing wage on a project means the business will pay minimum wage and fringe benefits based on the classification provided by the Department of Labor for the job performed. You ...
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