Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association, Inc (ACCA) News

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which establishes things like minimum wage, overtime pay, youth employment standards, and recordkeeping, dates back to the 1930s. Much has changed in the working world since then. For example, due to the worldwide labor shortage, minimum wage isn’t an issue the way it once was — especially in the HVAC industry. Increased operational costs “Overtime, on the other hand, continues to be a major challenge for [HVAC contractors] employers, an...

Conduit Tech, Inc. (Conduit Tech), a start-up building tools to generate sales and reduce unbillable work for Residential HVAC Pros announced that it has received a Powered by ACCA Manual J® Approval from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). Shelby Breger and Marisa Reddy founded Conduit Tech in 2022 to make it easier for all HVAC Pros to quickly and profitably design, sell, and install high-efficiency and comfortable HVAC systems. Streamlining design, sales, and installatio...

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), the region’s premier provider of residential and commercial plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical service and repair, is proud to have been named Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)’s 2023 Residential Contractor of the Year. Every year, ACCA presents its Residential Contractor of the Year award to one contracting company that has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to excellence. The winner, selected from multiple fi...

Among the requirements of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 is a ban on disposable, single-use cylinder tanks used to transport refrigerants through the supply chain to an HVAC installer. A final rule posted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 5, 2021, will prohibit the use of disposable cylinders in the next several years.  HVAC installers use the disposable cylinders every day to transport hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants including R32...

In a series from Motili, the company highlights PropTech, CRE, multi-family, and single-family industry news. Motili’s latest video takes a look at the importance of quality HVAC installation and the resources available to contractors to ensure they are performing optimally. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reported that 4 out of 10 American homes have HVAC systems that are improperly designed and installed.  Energy-Efficient living experience Quality installation...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announces the reaffirmation of the ACCA 6 QR and ACCA 14 QMref for ANSI status. These and ACCA’s other Quality Standards outline the procedures for contractors to follow when designing, installing, maintaining, repairing, and verifying heating and cooling systems. ANSI standards The Quality Standards are recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which has been adopted by utilities, government agencies, manufacturers...

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) launched its newest awards program, ACCA’s Marketing Masters Awards, sponsored by RYNO Strategic Solutions. The ACCA Marketing Masters Awards honor and recognize the best marketing programs developed and implemented by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors. Award categories The awards are broken into five categories: Traditional Media – Print Traditional Media – TV or Radio Connections through Social...

Alamo Austin Air was recently named a recipient of the prestigious 2021 President’s Award from Carrier. The award provides recognition for outstanding dealers in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry. One of Carrier’s highest honors for its dealers, the President’s Award, is given to Carrier Factory Authorized Dealers who achieve excellence in product promotions and deliver superior customer satisfaction. Recipients of this award demonstrate the very b...

The Clifford H. ‘Ted’ Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), announces scholarship awards totaling $83,000 to 44 students, including five military veterans, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry. "Each year, the Foundation provides aid to these aspiring technicians, helping to promote careers in the...

The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2019 would provide an orderly national framework to guide replacement of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) over the next several years in the United States, with newer refrigerants that have less negative impact on the environment. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases with very high global warming potential. The future of the HVAC industry is tied to the manufacture of next-generation refrigerants and their adoption. Versions of the AIM Act – Sen...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back a standard set under the Obama administration to require leak repair and maintenance for industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment containing 50 or more pounds of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The industry embraced HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases, as a replacement for ozone-depleting refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The requirements that have now been rolled back merely extended the leak p...

HVAC industry employees are included among “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During the COVID-19 Response” as designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The guidance memorandum states: “If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security … you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.” The edict comes from the DHS Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agen...

COVID-19 is a human tragedy for thousands and is having a profound impact on the world economy, including the HVAC market. Many businesses are scrambling to survive even as they address the intense human element of the crisis. A survey by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) gathered insights on the effect the coronavirus pandemic is having on the HVAC industry. More than 70% of survey respondents expect the medical implications of the pandemic to last up to three months. (The sur...

Good news for building owners, engineers/architects, and HVAC contractors who can now save energy, construction costs, and space in commercial facilities with this latest approved code addition. Doorway air curtains were approved June 25, 2019 as alternatives to vestibules on most commercial building entries in the upcoming ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings.” The professional association’s approved addition requires...

Trade associations and membership societies representing North America's Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration industry requested that federal, state, and local authorities grant "essential business" status to those technicians and engineers who are tasked with keeping the American people productive, healthy, and comfortable in these trying times. The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) joined with nine other organizations, representing the HVACR an...

Trade associations and membership societies representing North America's Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration industry requested that federal, state, and local authorities grant ‘essential business’ status to those technicians and engineers who are tasked with keeping the American people productive, healthy, and comfortable in these trying times. The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) joined with nine other organizations, representing...

The Clifford H. ‘Te’ Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), announces scholarship awards totaling $85,500 to 49 students, including seven military veterans, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry. "We are pleased to award scholarships to these qualified and dedicated students and veterans, and we lo...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is holding two back-to-back fall meetings, bringing together hundreds of contracting professionals for industry-lead educational programs and networking events from November 5-8 at the Crown Plaza in Dayton, Ohio. ACCA Next Level (November 5-6) addresses the challenges and opportunities facing emerging talent in the contracting industry. ACCA’s popular Service Managers Forum (November 7-8) features educational programs that help contracto...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has submitted public comments to the Department of Energy, opposing mandates to replace non-condensing furnaces with condensing furnaces. The Department of Energy sought out input on imposing energy conservation standards that would make atmospherically vented (non-condensing) gas products, such as furnaces and water heaters unavailable, and asked for comments on the impact that a mandated switch to non-condensing products would have on consume...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) hosted a roundtable discussion between officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ACCA members, to discuss the refrigerant reclamation industry. The roundtable discussion focused on educating policy makers about refrigerant reclamation issues and was not related to any pending regulations or rulemakings. ACCA has an excellent working relationship with officials from the EPA’s Stratospheric Protection Division and regular...

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) released the following statement from Barton James, ACCA President and CEO, regarding the confirmation of the Honorable Eugene Scalia to serve as the Secretary of Labor: “ACCA is pleased that the Senate confirmed Mr. Scalia to serve as the new Secretary of Labor. The Department of Labor plays a pivotal role, helping address the workforce challenges that contractors are facing. ACCA is thankful for the Senate's swift action to confirm him and...

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) releases a new version of their operating procedures for, Standards Development of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute. These procedures are out for public review with a comment deadline of October 14, 2019. ACCA, an ANSI member and Accredited Standards Developer (ASD), has submitted revisions to its currently accredited operating procedures for documenting consensus on ACCA-sponsored American National Standards, under...

The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced scholarship awards totaling $62,000 to 36 students, including five military veterans, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry. "We are pleased to award scholarships to these qualified and dedicated students and veterans, and we look forward to...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America has announced new workforce development resources to help ACCA members recruit, educate, and retain industry professionals and fill the employment gap impacting heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) contractors. Pledge to America’s Workers ACCA’s updated resources coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Pledge to America’s Workers. On July 25, 2019, President Trump invited ACCA to participate in the...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announces that pioneering home improvement financing company, Dividend Finance of San Francisco, California has joined ACCA’s corporate sponsor program. ACCA’s corporate sponsor program enables HVACR industry suppliers and manufacturers to demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to ACCA members and the contracting industry through year-round support of the association's activities. The corporate membership program also provides manu...

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) attended an event at the White House with President Trump to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Pledge to America’s Workers. This initiative recognizes the crucial role companies play in educating and training the American workforce. Representing ACCA at the event were, Barton James, ACCA President and CEO, Eric Knaak, ACCA Chairman of the Board and Vice President and General Manager, Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, and Luis Serrano...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announces a partnership with Money Mailer of South Bay, a leading multi-platform advertising company to offer ACCA members an exclusive advertising discount. "Money Mailer of South Bay is excited to partner with ACCA and offer a generous discount to ACCA’s elite network of contractors. We have forty years of experience working with contractors and can help them reach our network of 15,000,000 customers across the U.S.,” said Ray Gede...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announces that Donald Prather, ACCA Manager of Technical Services, received the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Distinguished Service Award. ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award recipient In recognizing his contributions, ASHRAE noted that, “It is the volunteer effort of people such as Mr. Prather, which allows ASHRAE to contribute technical advances for the benefit of the industry and pub...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is proud to announce Sean Robertson as ACCA’s new Vice President of Membership and Business Operations and Todd Washam as Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations. Sean Robertson comes to ACCA with more than fifteen years of experience leading advocacy and member engagement efforts at the Alzheimer’s Association, the Land Trust Alliance, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In each role, he harnessed the...

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is excited to announce a partnership with Savings4Members that promises greater monthly savings for ACCA members. ACCA’s membership benefit program with Savings4Members enables ACCA members to access to more than twenty vendors offerings discounts to ACCA members. For more than thirty years, Savings4Members has specialized in helping independent businesses save time and money by partnering with associations like ACCA. With this new partne...