GREEN SYSTEMS FORECAST 2011 BY BOB “HOT ROD”ROHR CONTRIBUTING WRITER 42


are my predictions, or guesstimates, for the hydronic and solar industry and market. Business-wise, work seems to be picking up around the country. My travels this year have taken me from Maine to Mississippi, from right to left coast and Alaska to Southern California. I have been exposed to an excellent cross-section of the market. I receive more daily newsletters that I can humanly read; I watch the homebuilders’ statistics; and listen to the contractors I meet. So I feel this prediction is grounded in reality. At least this week’s reality. Hydronics is in a funk, or slump. Even in the mountain resort areas, typically the stronghold for new installation radiant


Y


ear 2011 — time to pull out my hydronically warmed crystal ball and predict the next year. So here


work, business is way off. Repair and replacement marches on, mainly on an “as needed” basis. I’m not hearing of as many high efficiency boiler upgrades just to leverage lower operating costs. The slow economy and low fuel costs are both factors, I suspect. When I do see new construction projects, in the high-


end market, it looks like geothermal systems are the current rage. Homeowners and builders are attracted to this well-marketed concept. This is cutting into hydronics. It seems whenever the big name HVAC manufacturers have a message to drive to the consumers, their budgets dwarf that of the hydronic industries. The radiant manufacturers are coming up with geo-


compatible components. When you see the manufacturers commit their resources to a sector of the market, it’s a good indicator that this technology is needed and wanted. Manufacturers generally don’t retool without research and market analysis. Everybody backs the wrong horse now and then; however, when you see a trend across the


Why 2K Eleven? — an insider’s look at the upcoming year


When I do see new construction projects, in the high-end market, it looks like geothermal systems are the current rage. Homeowners and builders are attracted to this well-marketed concept. This is cutting into hydronics.


phc january 2011 www.phcnews.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88