Thursday, January 20, 2011

Women in HVACR would like to introduce its 2011 Executive Board.

Serving as President this year will be Nita Brooks. Nita is the Business Product Development and Member Services Manager for the business level of membership with NCI- National Comfort Institute http://www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com. During the eleven years she has been with ISL, her areas of responsibility have included enhancing and developing vendor programs, coaching and training members on business practices, helping to develop tools to support the member’s business practices, recruiting, and supporting the accounting functions. Nita brings over 24 years of successful business development experience to the HVAC arena. As an Area Controller for Purina Mills, Inc., Nita developed local controls to focus on the support of ethical practices and processes to ensure profitability for multiple facilities. Nita’s experience in auditing business practices to provide compliance with standards needed for improved profit margins has aided to develop results-driven solutions for HVAC contractors.

The Vice President for 2011 is Patti Ellingson. Patti has an extensive background in sales, business development and marketing within the HVACR industry since 1993. She currently heads up RemTec International’s www.remtec.net Wholesale Division featuring the Refrigerant Buy Back and Recovery Program, Destruction of ODS gas for Carbon Credits Program and virgin & reclaimed refrigerant sales. Through a defined vision, she has produced successful market tactics resulting in profitable growth for her partners within the industry. Her ability to motivate others through goals, challenges and coaching have contributed to her proven sales record. Patti earned her degree in Human Resource Management with a minor in Marketing from Saint Leo University (1993). She is active in the HVACR industry as a member of HARDI, Women in HVACR, AHRI, and the USGBC. She is focused on the issues of environmentally beneficial “green” solutions, indoor air quality and energy efficiency within the industry.

The position of Treasurer will be shared this year by Karen Riffice and Barbara Keil. Karen grew up in a family of service pipefitters. Although eager to join the trade after high school, she received a less-than-enthusiastic reply to her interest. She worked with her two brothers at their contracting firm prior to finishing her four-year degree and MBA. She realized that there are many ways to make a great living in this industry. With her education, she chose the financial side. Karen worked for Soderlund Bros., Inc., a HVACR contractor for 26 years as the company Controller. When the owner decided to retire, she started her own HVACR and Plumbing company, Amalgamated Services, Inc.

She has developed important skills in contractor financial management as well as sales development, service scheduling, fieldwork personnel supervision, union contract negotiation, customer service, collections, and banking relationships. Karen also has participated in numerous trade and professional organizations, serving as an officer and board member in several instances. Her many years in the industry have prepared her well for the task of ownership. Her goals include increasing the outreach into schools to raise awareness about careers in the HVAC industry.

KEIL Heating & Air www.keilheatac.com was founded by Barbara's grandfather in 1908. Although she recalls helping out at a very young age, Barbara's father suggested she put her accounting degree to work at KEIL until she found a "real job." Truly enjoying the perspective of running a business, Barbara never left! Celebrating 100 years in business, KEIL has earned the Contractor of the Year Award from Contracting Business magazine and the Best Contractor to Work for (Northeastern USA) Award from the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News. Barbara is an active member of International Service Leadership (ISL), Toastmasters International and The Alternative Board.

The position of Secretary is held by Tammy Smith. Tammy and her husband, Hal, started Halco Plumbing & Heating www.halcoheating.com in 1984. In 2004 they expanded their business ownership by opening a supply house called PBS Supply, Inc. between the two ventures; they employ approximately 125 people in the Finger Lakes Region in upstate NY. They are active members of International Service Leadership (ISL), where Hal assists with training for light commercial contractors. Married for 25 years, they have three children: Seth, 21; Brock, 17; and Paige, 8. Tammy actively supports the local schools and their community. In what spare time they find, Tammy enjoys riding her Boss Hoss motorcycle with Hal, bowling, skeet shooting and taking vacations.

And Past President is Kimberly O’Neal, who will remain active on the board. As a Channel Marketing Specialist for the Home Comfort and Energy Systems business for Honeywell, www.customer.honeywell.com. Kim has an active role in identifying marketing opportunities, developing plans and executing the tactics within the HVACR channel. A former employee of the Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), she has a unique perspective on many facets of the HVACR Distribution side of the industry. She has been a member of WHVACR since its inception and a WHVACR Board member since 2005.

Additional Board members are:
Kathy Corr, NATE - Ruth Ann Davis, Williams Furnace - Alyssa Peluso - DuroDyne Leslie Titcomb, Harvey Hottel

Monday, January 17, 2011

RemTec International Proud Member of HARDI

RemTec International's Buy Back & Recovery Program is specifically designed with the needs of the HARDI wholesale distributor in mind.

We understand the need for ease and simplicity, so our "No-Hassle" program provides you with a way to dispose of your unwanted CFC, HCFC and HFC refrigerants.

We are committed to the wholesale distribution model and have made a commitment that we will set ourselves apart from our competitors by not buying and selling directly into the HVAC/R industry.

Our Program:

· Design a specialized reclamation program specific to your company’s needs.
· Pick up your refrigerants within 24 hours of your call.
· Accept for credit your R-22 as low as 90% purity.
· Pay top dollar/credit for your 99.5% R-22.
· Dispose of your mixed and unusable refrigerants at no charge.
· Cylinder exchange program-with fast recovery cylinder turn around.
· Take care of all freight arrangements.
· Provide a complete paper trail for your EPA record keeping.
· Provide a refrigerant banking/storage service if needed.
· Tank refurbishment & certification to DOT standards available.
· Virgin & Reclaimed refrigerants for sale.

RemTec International is the only EPA Certified Refrigerant Reclamation Center with On-site AHRI Lab, On-site destruction capabilities & On-site cylinder recertification facility.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Recover, Recycle & Reclaim

The following describes the specific differences between refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclamation:

Recover

To remove refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and store it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in any way.

Refrigerant RECOVERY involves the removal of a refrigerant from a system and the placement of that refrigerant into a container. The recovery process:

  • Is conducted whenever technicians need to open or dispose of air conditioning or refrigeration equipment.

  • Includes removal of refrigerant vapor (heels) to established vacuum levels to maximize the amount of refrigerant captured and minimize releases. Examples of recovery/recycling machine design safety are included in Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1963, and performance specifications are included in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 740.

  • Involves service technicians, equipment operators, appliance disposal facilities, equipment and refrigerant manufacturers.

Recycle

To extract refrigerant from an appliance and clean refrigerant for reuse without meeting all of the requirements for reclamation. In general, recycled refrigerant is refrigerant that is cleaned using oil separation and single or multiple passes through devices, such as replaceable core filter-driers, which reduce moisture, acidity, and particulate matter. Under section 609, refrigerant can be removed from one car's air conditioner, recycled on site, and then charged into a different car.

Refrigerant RECYCLING involves processing used refrigerants to reduce contaminants, then reusing the refrigerant.

  • Recycling is recommended only when recharging to the same owner's equipment.
  • Recycling involves removal of some contaminants prior to reuse. Contaminants can result in early system failure. Contaminants include oil, moisture, acid, chlorides, particulates, and non-condensable gases.
  • The Industry Recycling Guide (IRG-2) published by ARI describes maximum recommended levels of impurities.
  • International Organization for Standards (ISO) 11650, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1990 or AHRI 740 standards may be used to measure recovery/recycling equipment performance.

Reclaim

To reprocess refrigerant to at least the purity specified in the ARI Standard 700-1993, Specifications for Fluorocarbon Refrigerants, and to verify this purity using the analytical methodology prescribed in the Standard. Reclamation requires specialized machinery not available at a particular job site or auto repair shop. The technician will recover the refrigerant and then send it either to a EPA certified reclaimer, http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/reclamation/reclist.html, or back to the refrigerant manufacturer.

Refrigerant RECLAMATION involves purifying used refrigerant to meet industry product specifications.

  • Reclamation identifies bad or mixed refrigerants which could result in equipment damage or leakage. Chemical analysis also is required to verify specification values to meet or exceed product standards. (e.g. ISO 12810, AHRI 700).
  • Reclamation may include filtering, separation, distillation, dilution, or reformulation of the recovered refrigerant.
  • Reclamation is recommended when used refrigerants will be charged into equipment other than the equipment it was removed from, or into equipment owned by a different company.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that reclaimed refrigerant must attain AHRI 700 or ISO 12810, or equivalent specification prior to resale.
  • Reclamation facilities and processes should be designed to minimize emissions.
  • Non-reclaimable refrigerants should be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner, and in accordance with applicable regulations.

RemTec International Introduces Blog Site

Article from the HVACR Distribution Website



RemTec International, an EPA- certified reclaimer, announces the launch of their new educational blog site at http://r-22-refrigerants.blogspot.com/, providing the industry with updated information and tips for refrigerant reclamation programs. A second blog has been established to keep contractors up to date and informed on all of the changes in carbon credits and carbon offsets at http://ods-destruction-carbon-credits.blogspot.com/. “I encourage you to follow our blogs as we continue to assist the HVACR industry through education and sound solutions while working to reduce the environmental impact that halocarbons (Halons, CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs) have on our atmosphere. Through target marketing and education, we continue to broadcast our message of recover, reclaim, re-use,” says Patti Ellingson, director of Wholesale Development.
Visit http://www.remtec.net/ for additional information.