CEO’s Column: It Was a HOT Summer!

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Whew, it was a hot summer! I’m sure I don’t have to tell any of you that! Just in case your customers’ concerns were not enough, the national media sure has done a wonderful job reminding the public of the challenges that come along with record heatwaves that almost every one of us has felt by now. 

At ACCA, our communication team has been fielding lots of interview requests, and we sure are grateful for how many of our outstanding ACCA members have taken our calls when we are playing matchmaker with reporters wanting to connect with the real HVAC experts (you all) to get real-world stories and perspectives. Recently, ACCA members and staff talked to: 

• NPR – Jimmy Barry, owner of Doctor Cool & Professor Heat, League City, TX 
• Wall Street Journal – Steve Lauten, owner of Total Air & Heat Co., Plano, TX 
• The New York Times – Barton James, ACCA president & CEO 

I say all this to acknowledge that ACCA knows you are busy, and we love it! We also appreciate how, when called upon, our members take their valuable time to talk to the media to share their stories. 

While we know you are swamped, there are two big things I need to bring to your attention that will affect how you do business. 

ACCA Next Level October 16 & 17

ACCA is heading to Indianapolis this fall to help our members take their team to the Next Level! ACCA has worked hard to build three training tracks for industry leaders, from service managers to owners. These tracks are Recruitment and Skill Development, Effective Team Leadership, and Strategy and Communication. The best part is that you are not tied to one track; you can pick and choose what best fits your needs from each track. 

On top of those three tracks, Jeff Butler, an author and workplace strategist, will kick off the event with an insightful keynote: Winning the Talent War: How to Attract and Keep the Best Talent. We selected Jeff because ACCA continues to hear that our members’ number one struggle is recruiting, hiring, and keeping quality team members. We know this is a universal struggle in our industry, so we are facing it head-on with this keynote presentation. 

If you haven’t registered you and your team for Next Level yet, this is your wake-up call. Bronze ACCA Members can register for just $499 right now, and there are even bigger savings for Silver and Gold Members. If you want those bigger savings but are not a Gold or Silver Member yet, email our membership team at membership@acca.org, and they will walk you through all of the benefits you will get when you upgrade. 

IRA Rebate Program Guidelines Released

The next big thing you need to be aware of is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finally released its guidelines for state energy offices to implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) residential rebate programs. Together, the Home Efficiency Rebates Program (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (HEEHR) are expected to deliver $8.8 billion in rebates for residential energy efficiency improvements, mostly targeted to low-to-moderate income households. 

ACCA has been doing a dissection into the 100-page guidelines to help contractors better understand what is coming next. We are working with our Allied Contracting Organizations to develop and share information with our members. We know this is a lot of information and it will affect how you do business, so expect to hear a lot more than you already have about the IRA and its implementation in the near future. Read more in ACCA’s member-exclusive IRA Resource Center. 

If you aren’t already receiving our monthly Government Relations Update email, make sure to subscribe to it, as that is one of the best places to get all the information about ACCA government relations and advocacy efforts. Visit our blogsite and fill out the form on the right side of the page to sign up. 

I look forward to seeing you in October in Indianapolis at Next Level. If you need anything before then, give me a call at 202-577-3990 or email me at barton.james@acca.org. The entire ACCA team and I are here to help you and we have you and your team in our thoughts as you navigate this brutal summer and the challenges associated with record temperatures and the continued workforce shortage! 

Onward & upward!

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Posted In: ACCA Now, Events, Government, Legal, Print Edition