On Dec. 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finalized new negotiated energy conservation standards for commercial air conditioners, heat pumps, and commercial warm-air furnaces, otherwise known as rooftop units (RTUs).

HVAC contractors in different climates and regions all over the U.S. agree that irregular upkeep is the most problematic issue when it comes to rooftop unit failure.

More than half of U.S. commercial building space is cooled by packaged HVAC equipment, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). So it comes as no surprise that energy efficiency is the biggest trend driving the rooftop market.

This heating showcase provides in-depth information on the features of each individual unit and also includes technical support information from the manufacturer. The manufacturers provided all of the data included in the product grid as well as in the photo feature; therefore, any questions should be directed to them via the contact information provided in the photo feature section.

This series of residential package equipment features energy-saving performance as well as cost-effective installation and maintenance.

Each year, The NEWS spotlights the industry’s latest commercial heating products. The manufacturers provided us with a brief description of features included with each product.

The units feature an exact-fit replacement design that matches the units to footprints of other manufacturers’ units and eliminates the need for a curb adapter.

While many educational sessions were presented at the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration (AHR) Expo, perhaps the most popular was the course on global HVAC trends offered by the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA).

Aaon’s focus on serviceability and performance helped the WH Series earn gold in The NEWS’ 2017 Dealer Design Awards HVAC Light Commercial Equipment category.

Fujitsu’s Technical Service Advisors event was held to strengthen manufacturer-distributor relationships and empower in-field technical support staff.

The two donated Airedale ClassMate packaged units were installed in the football team's fieldhouse at Parry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, Virginia.

While some contractors are willing to equip technicians with the necessary tools, others require workers to purchase their own, which can be yet another burden for someone just starting out in the field.

There’s no doubt the connectivity of mobile devices has made our personal lives more convenient, but now they’re also helping make technicians more efficient, thanks to tool manufacturers developing wireless-enabled devices and test and measurement apps for download.

We asked our contractor advisory panel to weigh in on their most useful and effective tools used in the field. Here’s what they had to say.

The self-contained HOBO MX1101 wireless data logger, which works with Onset’s free HOBOmobile App for logger setup and data management, enables the user to access data over a 100-foot range, at any time, from an iOS mobile device. 

The HOBO MX1102 data logger records and wirelessly transmits CO₂, temperature, and relative humidity data to mobile devices via Bluetooth Smart.

The ManTooth™ Wireless Digital Pressure/Temperature Gauge from Yellow Jacket Products Division, Ritchie Engineering Co., is this year's gold winner in the Electronic Tools category.

Fluke Corp.’s Fluke Connect received the gold award in the Testing & Monitoring category of the 2015 Dealer Design Awards.

HACCP Manager Enterprise is a portable data-collecting hand-held device paired with Web-based software that allows the sharing of temperature records, checklists, and custom reports across an unlimited number of locations via a single hosted platform. 

Manufacturers are responding to the demand by offering a wide range of wireless tools they believe will help contractors and technicians do their jobs more accurately and efficiently.

The Pelican™ case housing provides a watertight, crushproof, dust-proof enclosure with heavy-duty deflector ribs for extra protection from shocks and impacts.

This series of IAQ monitors can measure ambient temperature, relative humidity (rh), wet bulb, dew point, differential pressure, barometric pressure, CO₂, CO, O₂, ozone, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, NO, NO₂, SO₂, and H₂S. 

Many new testing and monitoring products were on display last month at the AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida, where manufacturers showcased and demonstrated their newest, smartest products.

These compact datalogging instruments offer users a durable design with flexible programming configurations and the convenience of datalogging readings in Excel format directly onto an SD card.

SD900 and SD910 three-channel DC current and DC voltage dataloggers are optimized for extended monitoring of milliamp (SD900) and millivolt (SD910) signals throughout a commercial, industrial, or residential facility.

The Extech TH30, RHT30, and RHT35 compact dataloggers are designed to provide HVACR professionals with easy access to real-time temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure readings as well as insights compiled from extended readings preformatted in Excel or PDF report formats. Users can set and forget the dataloggers with a customizable recording rate from once every 30 seconds to once every two hours, and it holds a capacity of up to 48,000 combined total readings with date and time stamps.

Just like bees return to the hive every day for sunset, Yellow Jacket has habitually returned to the AHR Expo every January for the past 45 years.

Last year was a notable one for Testo Inc. as the test and measurement manufacturing company celebrated its 60th anniversary. However, 2018 promises to be just as momentous as Testo US will reach its 35th anniversary milestone.

HVACR technicians are special individuals. They have the intelligence, aptitude, and knack for problem-solving. In fact, they are expected to know how to diagnose and troubleshoot equipment of all types, sizes, and ages.

This handheld device displays CO, CO₂, air temperature, rh, dew point, and wet bulb temperature measurements.

This product provides field-selectable current or voltage output that is proportional to the CO concentration of an area.

This product now features mercury-free temperature elements as an option in any 8- or 12-inch case configuration, in ranges between minus 30˚ and 600˚F.

New thermopile sensors save energy and increase safety when applied within the construction and property sectors.

Designed for HVAC and refrigeration professionals to view electrical and temperature readings, this product logs data remotely using the ExView® W-Series app on smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth.

This product is a leave-behind HVAC analytic device that technicians can install on each unit, regardless of the brand they service.

Badger Meter won Gold in the Testing and Monitoring category for its Dynasonics® TFX-5000 ultrasonic clamp-on meter, which measures volumetric flow and heating/cooling energy rates in clean liquids, as well as those with small amounts of suspended solids or aeration, such as surface water or raw sewage.

Summer cooling season is in full gear, which means that both technicians and their tools are being kept extremely busy.

Investing in the right tools will save your employees’ time and avoid delaying repairs in the rush of summer.

This brief year-end tool review rounds up a handful of items that might make the work a little easier in 2021.

Technological developments are consistently improving the tools technicians have to use.

Contractors are seeking tools that are equipped to handle A2L refrigerants, offer Bluetooth and wireless compatibility, operate efficiently, save the user time, and are safe to utilize.

Learn how HVAC companies can increase retention by giving their employees a stake in the company’s success through phantom stock plans.

ACHR NEWS launches new tools to help readers stay up-to-date on the latest trends.

Frank Bacchetta of Total Comfort Group talks about how his company uses data to improve the customer experience.

Selling products online is a whole new ball game. So, contractors will want to learn about their consumers buying journeys, and thoughtfully consider how to launch the online store, what products to sell, and how to market it.

Grocers are looking to their refrigeration contractor partners to be the experts and make suggestions about how they can transition smoothly to the new low-GWP refrigeration technologies.

EPA is counting on increased recovery and reclamation in order to maintain existing HVAC equipment, and finally, the numbers are going in the right direction.

People are still pinching pennies and choosing repairs, but there are ways for contractors to sell new equipment, even when it’s more expensive.

AI technology can help HVAC contractors monitor each sales and repair call.

Is reducing a facility's energy consumption by over 130,000 kWh annually through HVAC optimization possible?