CEO’S COLUMN


It Was a HOT Summer!


WHEW, IT WAS A HOT SUMMER! I’m sure I don’t have to tell any of you that! Just in case your custom- ers’ concerns were not enough, the national media sure has done a wonderful job reminding the public of the challenges that come along with record heat- waves that almost every one of us has felt by now. At ACCA, our communication team has been field-


ing lots of interview requests, and we sure are grate- ful for how many of our outstanding ACCA members have taken our calls when we are playing match- maker 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:


Barton James is President and CEO of ACCA. He can be reached at barton. james@acca.org.


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 Develop- ment, 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 keep- ing quality team members. We know this is a uni-


versal 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 $549, 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 member- ship@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 under- stand 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-exclu- sive IRA Resource Center. If you aren’t already receiving our monthly Gov-


ernment Relations Update email, make sure to sub- scribe 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 Indianap-


olis 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 contin- ued workforce shortage! Onward & upward!


4


SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023


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