• The First Word

    Monthly editorial by Bob Mader or Terry McIver

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    Patrick Skinner
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    AHR
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    This montage represents many of the cover and name changes that Contracting Business.com has undergone since it began publishing in June 1944.
    This photo taken on July 1, 2012 shows the large-scale solar power plant in Kyoto, Japan. Even as Japan begins cranking up its nuclear reactors again, Tokyo has launched a scheme it hopes will spark a green-energy revolution and put the country at the leading edge of renewables. New rules oblige utilities to buy all electricity produced from renewable sources, including solar, wind and geothermal power, at above-market rates for the next two decades, in a bid to stoke 'green' power investment. Photo Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/GettyImages)
    Quantum computing uses strange subatomic behavior to exponentially speed up processing. It could be a revolution, or it could be wishful thinking. I like to think of it as revolutionary. It could change everything.

    Highlights

    What's YOUR History?

    March 28, 2024
    We want to hear about your early days in business, and how you've made it to today.

    Smith: Common Name, Uncommon Man

    Dec. 28, 2023
    Ron Smith has left a legacy of excellence in HVAC business management. These testimonials only scratch the surface of Ron's armour of excellence.

    Thank You, Charlie Greer. Welcome, New Voices

    Dec. 1, 2023
    The Contracting Business Team of Influencers for 2024 will share "what works" for HVAC businesses.
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    Cyber Security and the HVACR Contracting Community

    March 10, 2014
    The Target hack is just one example of cyber thieves riding on HVACR contractor credentials to steal consumer data Contractors take heed: remote monitoring could put you and ...
    Where do you stand on Obamacare and it's impact on your business? Please let us know if your health insurance costs have gone up, stayed the same, or gone down. Also, we're interested in the quality of that health care. Please share your thoughts with me here, on Facebook, or Twitter.

    Does the Affordable Care Act Save HVAC Contractors Money?

    Feb. 11, 2014
    Dinner with friends who own their own small business leads me to believe that HVACR contractors are facing increased health care costs instead of the promised lower costs by President...
    Graphic purchased from iStockphoto.com
    The 2014 edition of the AHR Exposition wil be held at the Javob Javits Center in New York City from January 21-23. This graphic was used on the cover of the January 2014 issue of Contracting Business.com magazine.
    Image from the Coast Fans website.
    Image from gold-miner-games.com
    With expectations for the geothermal market to reach $146.6 million in sales by 2017, you could say that a new gold rush is on in the U.S.
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    Fourth Quarter Fury in the World of HVACR

    Sept. 10, 2013
    Healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer spending are just a few of the areas that may make the fourth quarter of 2013 a bumpy ride for HVACR contractors and their employees.

    Climate Change Strikes the HVACR Industry Again

    July 2, 2013
    President Obama's Climate Change plan, announced in late June, will restrict coal-based utilities by forcing them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Some say that ...
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    HVAC Comfort: Living With Technology

    June 4, 2013
    There is a lot of innovation out there, but the key for continued success and growth of HVACR contractors is to not become so enamoured of the new technology itself, but to focus...
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    For Union HVAC Contractors: The Truth About "Unfunded Liabilities"

    May 1, 2013
    The unfunded liability in commercial HVAC is viewed as a debt owed by the contractor, even if the business is healthy and will be in business for decades. If that contractor sells...