Do you remember when people used to say, “We don’t get weather like we used to?” Living in the Mid-Atlantic gateway to the Northeast, specifically New Jersey, I can relate. It had been quite some time since we experienced a “real winter.” That changed this year when temperatures dropped below design conditions for an extended period of time and 18 to 24 inches of snow fell within a few days. It was a powerful reminder that weather is not consistent; it operates on cycles and long-term averages.

One of the biggest barriers to early career awareness isn’t interest—it’s language. Terms like HVACR, plumbing, or the mechanical trades don’t naturally live in kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms. But air and water do. Children feel them, see them, and rely on them every day. That insight is foundational to the Next Up Trades to the HVACR and Plumbing Discovery Kits and lesson plans. Rather than introducing technical job titles too early, the curriculum intentionally starts with air and water as classroom language.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has named Ryan Kiscaden the 2025 Spirit of Independence Award winner for his extraordinary efforts to educate and inspire the next generation of HVACR professionals—beginning in the pages of a children’s book. 

Load calculations, and using software to do them, are key traits of the contractor of the future. According findings of the latest Contractor of the Future study from ACCA and the Farmington Consulting Group.

As veteran HVACR contractors approach retirement and fewer young professionals step forward, the question of who will lead next—and how prepared they will be—has become impossible to ignore.

Over the last few years, ownership transitions have become a familiar part of HVACR. Increased interest from investors, strong company valuations, and an aging workforce base has pushed many business owners to take a closer look at succession planning. 

Explore how federal, state, and local regulations impact energy solutions for homes, the legal and legislative battles over gas equipment, and how contractors can protect consumer choice and affordability.

Finding HVACR technicians is becoming an increasingly difficult task. Finding skilled technicians is even more challenging. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVACR jobs are projected to grow 8% between 2024 and 2034, creating more than 40,000 new openings annually due to retirements and rising demand.