A Look Back and a Look Forward

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ACCA members are continuing to thrive after a complicated 2020 that threw us all off. Due to the global pandemic, our members had no choice but to adapt. They continued to provide their customers with great service, and they ultimately finished out the second half of the year strongly. With knowing what our members were going through on the front lines, the ACCA team worked tirelessly to ensure that each of our members, both large and small, were provided with the resources they needed to flourish.  

ACCA’s advocacy efforts have not gone unnoticed. It is so important that contractors are protected when they go to work each day, which is why we advocated for their prioritization in vaccine distribution. HVACR contractors are essential for keeping the nation’s critical infrastructure operational – including but not limited to modern medicine, the food supply chain, and data centers. When these professionals go to work each day, they risk exposure to COVID-19, potentially putting themselves and their loved ones in danger. With the slow roll-out of the vaccine, it is likely Americans will continue to work from home, and as a result, there will continue to be an increase in demand for indoor air quality products. HVACR replacements and service work will remain necessary, and HVACR companies will continue to adopt new ways to provide better services to homeowners in such areas as ventilation, insulation, and moisture management. 

ACCA worked hard on policy, related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This included legislation that aimed to put money in the pockets of ACCA members who took advantage of the program. It saved borrowers time and money that they would otherwise spend on filling out paperwork and allocated a second round of loans for struggling businesses across the U.S. Additionally, ACCA successfully lobbied for energy efficiency tax incentives, financial resources for HVACR improvements in our nation’s schools, and industry mandates on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).  

The AIM Act, which was included in the COVID-19 relief package in December 2020, requires the phase-down of HFCs by 85% at the national level over the next 15 years. We use HFCs in every part of our daily lives. We use them to power our cars, home appliances, and HVAC systems. ACCA has been working to ensure a safe transition from HFCs to mildly flammable refrigerants through our online training course on A2L handling that was launched at the end of 2020. What we accomplished in 2020 has rolled over into our efforts for this year based on predictions and industry trends. Energy efficiency programs will be running on jet fuel, incentives for renewable energy will return, incentives for geothermal energy will reemerge, and research on energy efficiency at national labs will be taken to the next level.  

We expect workforce development, career and technical education, and the skills gap/skilled trades to receive continuing bipartisan support this year. ACCA is continuing to encourage our members to utilize the Workforce Development resources that are needed to attract and train the next generation of HVACR technicians. It is our responsibility to secure the future of the HVACR industry.  

As digital technology continues to evolve, the Internet of Things (IoT) will become more prevalent amongst homeowners, including remote monitoring and control over HVACR equipment. This means there will be even more career opportunities, specifically to incorporate this type of technology.  

ACCA has a proven track record of working on behalf of the HVAC industry, and its members. We should be proud of how we have managed to successfully move forward. Thank you for letting us continue to be your trusted association. 

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Posted In: ACCA Now, Opinion