Refrigerants

Airthings, a global authority in indoor air quality and producer of award-winning radon and indoor air quality monitors, has acquired Airtight, a Norwegian proptech company that develops smart sensor technology to significantly reduce energy waste from buildings. With the acquisition, Airthings emerges as a pioneer in helping businesses around the world use air quality and environmental data to improve energy efficiency, comfort and to ensure a healthy, productive indoor environment. People spend more than 90% of their time indoors, where the air is often anywhere from five times to 100 times more polluted than even the lowest quality outdoor air. Identifying potential issues In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has thrust the issues of personal health and environmental sustainability into the spotlight, technology that can improve the everyday wellness of homes, workplaces and public spaces has never been in higher demand. By acquiring Airtight, Airthings can now provide customers with the previously untapped capability to address both air quality and energy efficiency in buildings through one combined solution. Together with Airtight, we can now offer an all-in-one solution to our customers" “Together with Airtight, we can now offer an all-in-one solution to our customers, which not only monitors and identifies potential issues but also solves them, while simultaneous helping our planet,” said Oyvind Birkenes, CEO of Airthings. “Thanks to Airtight’s patented technology, we’re fully equipped to help our customers achieve a balance between occupant health and operational bottom lines while reducing the global carbon footprint. This partnership will be a win-win for both our clients and the world.” Controlling ventilation systems Airtight’s patented proptech technology monitors air pressure in buildings and uses cloud-based algorithms to dynamically control ventilation systems. This can reduce radon levels, prevent moisture, and extend the lifetime of buildings while minimizing energy waste and optimizing indoor comfort. “Buildings consume 40% of the world’s energy and of that more than 12% leaks into thin air,” said Per Magne Helseth, CEO of Airtight. “Our goal is to be in every building and cut global energy consumption by 5%. Airthings is well-aligned with our vision, and their complementary technology and global presence will enable us to reach our goal faster.” The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) identified ‘building airtightness’ as the most cost-efficient way to reduce CO₂ emissions and energy usage. Reducing unnecessary carbon emissions Airthings was founded in 2008 by three scientists from CERN to make radon testing more efficient and simple Most of the buildings that will be in use by 2050 are already built. With long lifespans, optimizing energy usage and indoor air in buildings is a cost-effective way to significantly reduce unnecessary carbon emissions. Airtight’s customers, which include ISS Facility Services, KLP, and Intertek among others, experience an average energy reduction of 16% and significantly more stable indoor temperatures. This results in increased occupant comfort. Airthings was founded in 2008 by three scientists from CERN to make radon testing more efficient and simple. Since then, the company has expanded to offer some of the smart indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and professionals. Making informed decisions In 2019, the company launched Airthings for Business, a tailored solution for schools, offices, and public buildings with the same user-friendly approach as its consumer-facing product line. Airthings for Business helps building managers and business owners make informed decisions using around-the-clock indoor air quality data. Set up in a matter of minutes, the wireless monitors run on long-lasting batteries, making the solution easily scalable and customizable to any new or existing space. With the acquisition, Airtight’s technology will be integrated into the Airthings for Business solution providing added value to existing and new customers.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have developed a 50-page report titled ‘Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report: Benefits of cooling efficiency and the Kigali Amendment’. The report highlights the growth of cooling appliances in numbers, addresses the COVID-19 estimated impacts and outlines six important opportunities identified under the K-CEP program. According to the report, there are an estimated 3.6 billion cooling appliances in use globally, and that number is growing by up to 10 devices every second. This growth is set to increase the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, further warming the planet. Air conditioners are a double burden, as the report explains. Efficient and climate-friendly cooling The global economic downturn will also have an impact on investment in energy systems In most cases, they use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), extremely potent greenhouse gases, and require significant energy to run. Without policy intervention, direct and indirect emissions from air conditioning and refrigeration are projected to rise 90% above 2017 levels by the year 2050. The report lays out ways to resolve this dilemma by delivering efficient and climate-friendly cooling for all – in particular by rapidly phasing down hydrofluorocarbons in the cooling sector and delivering cooling more efficiently through more efficient equipment and buildings. The report indicates that reductions between 210-460 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions could be achieved in the next 40 years through actions to improve the energy efficiency of cooling systems and a transition to climate-friendly refrigerants. Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created extraordinary global health and economic crisis. Beyond the immediate impact on health, the current crisis has major implications on global economies, energy use and CO2 emissions. The economy could decline by 6% in 2020, whilst energy demand, which declined by 3.8% in the first quarter of 2020, could fall by 6% by the end of 2020. Global energy-related CO2 emissions could fall by 8% in 2020. This global economic downturn will also have an impact on investment in energy systems, including efficient climate-friendly cooling. For example, it is expected that investment in building efficiency will fall by over 10% in 2020. Opportunities under K-CEP program Conditional bailouts for hard-hit sectors that support sustainable cooling. Funds to bail out hard-hit sectors should by tied to the adoption of climate-friendly cooling solutions. Rebates and incentives to promote cooling efficiency in the built environment, increasing demand for efficient appliances and climate-friendly cooling technologies will create jobs and induce spending from lower energy bills. Policy design to address resilient and responsive cold chain logistics for healthcare and food security. A growth in cooling is needed for food and medical supplies, will improve health outcomes, reduce food and vaccine loss and build capacity to respond to future shocks. Cooling retrofits and R&D Supporting measures to encourage the implementation of cooling retrofits and passive technologies. Retrofitting of buildings with better cooling features are low-capital investments which are labor Expanding financing models to meet cooling needs. Funding can be used to promote and also support initial capital investment now to realize future savings. Public and private financing investment in R&D for cooling. Grants and loans will sustain future innovation and deliver future improvements, offering innovators a competitive advantage. The timing of impact of the different recovery measures will vary. For example, cooling system maintenance and painting roofs with reflective paint will increase employment in a relatively short period (in the order of months), whilst investing in more efficient equipment and buildings will take longer. Members are recommended to take note of the report.

In the six weeks since Carrier launched its BluEdge service platform, the program is gaining momentum with key wins in all three of its business segments. Carrier has signed more than 300 service agreements with customers selecting service programs that most effectively meet their needs. Carrier Global Corporation is a provider of an innovative heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. Enhancing efficiency and performance "We are very pleased with the early response to our BluEdge suite of offerings from our customers," said Ajay Agrawal, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Services, Carrier. "These offerings were designed based on a thorough understanding of customer needs to enhance efficiency and performance, lower costs, and improve building health. We are applying our deep OEM expertise and digital capabilities to address customer needs across the product lifecycle." Carrier's HVAC business has signed more than 200 service agreements since the launch of BluEdge Carrier's HVAC business has signed more than 200 service agreements since the launch of BluEdge and introduced a specialized first-year service offering on qualifying commercial equipment purchases in the U.S. and Canada. Refrigeration has signed service contracts covering more than 900 units for truck, trailer and intermodal refrigerated transportation applications in North America. Powerful pump modules In Fire & Security, Marioff Marine won a multiyear service contract for the Heerema Sleipnir, the world's largest heavy lift crane vessel. Marioff's HI-FOG system helps protect accommodations and service spaces, as well as the vessel's and cranes' machinery including its powerful pump modules, accumulator units, valves and thousands of nozzles. Marioff will provide BluEdge Enhance lifecycle maintenance services to optimize HI-FOG system life cycle costs and minimize potential downtime. Central to the BluEdge service platform is a tiered-service model that provides customers with a range of dynamic options to meet the needs of their businesses. These new tiers of service include: Core. Customers benefit from as-needed expert service to ensure peak equipment performance and longevity. Enhance. Customers can customize on-demand and value-added services, such as multi-year service agreements, preventive maintenance and remote monitoring. Elite. Customers who want complete peace of mind can choose this comprehensive solution that expertly optimizes performance helps maximize uptime and minimizes cost.

The quality of the air that everyone breathes, indoor and outdoor, is a valuable asset, and has been important to General Filter Group, since their foundation. The company firmly believes that everyone needs to contribute to preserve it. ‘Clean Air’ project General Filter Group has created the ‘Clean Air’ project, in collaboration with Fondazione Francesca Rava N.P.H. Italia Onlus To launch and spread this message of improving the quality of air, General Filter Group has created the ‘Clean Air’ project, in collaboration with Fondazione Francesca Rava N.P.H. Italia Onlus and the fashion and reportage photographer, Stefano Guindani, who is a long-time ambassador of the foundation. The #Ilovefilters project, throughout a photo contest and a non-profit initiative, in support of the N.P.H. Saint Damien children’s hospital in Haiti, aims to reflect on how ‘clean air’ not only means a better life, but also contributes to saving lives. Raising awareness on air pollution A very topical theme, despite the fact that the ‘2014 Air Quality’ report by the European Environment Agency shows that air pollution is still the main environmental health hazard, the European Commission plans to decrease the air quality improvement commitment from the top of the 2015 political agenda. Taking this into account, the mobilisation of various public and private institutions, such as the Italian FAI (Italian Fund for the Environment), and General Filter’s contribution in the debate was sought. Promoting the cause of ‘Clean Air’ project The company invites everyone to follow on Facebook and participate in the #Ilovefilters contest by uploading a photo that has as its theme ‘clean air’ onto the #Ilovefilters project official website or #Ilovefilters Facebook app, from April 7, 2015 to August 10, 2015. The ‘Clean Air’ theme can be depicted in all its forms through the use of places, landscapes or subjects, as well as problems associated with pollution of any kind, provided that optic or digital filters (e.g. Instagram) are applied to the photos. #Ilovefilters contest A jury will announce the #Ilovefilters contest winners by September 2015. This jury will be chaired by Stefano Guindani (owner of the SGP Photo Agency) and comprise of General Filter Group CEO & President, Gianni Polin, Diamante D’Alessio (Editor-in-Chief of the fashion magazine, Io Donna), Costanza Pratesi (Head of Environmental Sustainability and External Relations of FAI – Italian Environmental Fund) and Mariavittoria Rava (President of Francesca Rava N.P.H. Italia Onlus Foundation). The prizes include an adventure trip for two to one of the European countries with the cleanest air, Iceland, and the new Barber Shop accessories dedicated to lovers of photography and Italian craftsmanship. Partners with Francesca Rava N.P.H. Italia Onlus Foundation In this initial stage of the project, the company is helping to finance the Saint Damien Hospital in Haiti Furthermore, General Filters announced that they have joined forces with the Francesca Rava N.P.H. Italia Onlus Foundation to support their hospital projects for children in difficulty all over the world. In this initial stage of the project, the company is helping to finance the Saint Damien Hospital in Haiti, the largest non-profit children’s hospital in the Caribbean area that provides assistance to more than 80,000 children a year. Importance of improving Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality, just think of the operating rooms, is essential to preserve the life of the young patients. But the project does not stop here. Some of the winning photos of the #Ilovefilters contest and the photos taken by Stefano Guindani during his travels in Iceland and Haiti, depicting the work performed with the non-profit organization, Francesca Rava Foundation at the St. Damien Hospital, will be displayed in a photographic exhibition, obviously themed ‘Clean Air’ to be held in 2016, the year when the General Filter Group prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Almost 5 years ago, Danfoss introduced NovoCon S, the first –of-its-kind digital actuator, specially designed for AB-QM pressure independent control valves (PICVs). At the time, this was a revolutionary actuator for controlling flow through terminal units in hydronic HVAC applications. NovoCon S digital actuator With its bus-communication for BACnet MS/TP or Modbus RTU protocols, NovoCon S is a front runner in establishing new and innovative IoT solutions for smart buildings. The concept of NovoCon is widely spread and used by many fans of smart HVAC solutions Meanwhile, the concept of NovoCon is widely spread and used by many fans of smart HVAC solutions. The increased attention and usage also leads to new demands. As NovoCon S fits to AB-QM valves in sizes - DN 10 up to DN 32, the nominal flow is limited to 4,000 l/h. Other hydronic HVAC applications, such as Air Handling Units (AHUs), chillers and other high flow applications, still need to be controlled with conventional actuators. NovoCon M, L and XL digital actuators Danfoss announced that the company is proud to introduce the new NovoCon M, L and XL digital actuators. The new actuators, in conjunction with the AB-QM valves, achieve high-precision dynamic hydronic balancing and control for high flow applications. The NovoCon M, L and XL digital actuators are specifically designed to accurately control high flow rates. In specific: The NovoCon M is used for AB-QM NovoCon valves in DN 40-100 suited for flows from 3-59 m3/h, e.g. for air handling units. The NovoCon L is used for AB-QM valves in DN 125-150 suited for flows from 36-190 m3/h, e.g. for chillers. NovoCon XL is used for AB-QM valves in DN 200-250 suited for flows from 80-370 m3/h, e.g. for district cooling. Daisy-chain wired using standard cables Unlike the NovoCon S, the new NovoCon M, L and XL digital actuators don’t use plug & play connectors and cables. Instead, the new actuators can be daisy-chain wired using standard cables, which makes it easier to cover longer distances. The actuators are equipped with 3 resistance inputs to connect, e.g. temperature sensors. When such sensors are installed on the supply and return connections, the NovoCon actuators can be used for advanced control functionalities, like Delta T limitation or return temperature control. With these functionalities, the energy efficiency of the AHU or chiller can be optimized. NovoCon 4-in-1 solution Danfoss NovoCon digital actuators effectively combine four functions into one smart solution: Accurate flow control due to linear characteristic at different differential pressures and built-in step motor Bus actuator due to the BACnet MS/TP and Modbus RTU communication protocols I/O device due to the Resistance inputs (3x), Analog input (1x) and Analog output (1x) Energy manager due to the advanced algorithms for monitoring and energy management Integration via BACnet or Modbus communication protocols Danfoss NovoCon digital actuators can be digitally controlled via BACnet or Modbus communication protocols Danfoss NovoCon digital actuators can be digitally controlled via BACnet or Modbus communication protocols, enabling easy integration and providing actual system performance data into higher-level building management systems. The I/O interfaces can, for example, be used to connect sensors to measure supply and return temperatures and calculate the energy consumption. The I/O ports are also available for controlling individual devices, such as fans or connecting BMS (Building Management Systems) room temperature controllers. This means that all relevant system parameters and control options are always available for centralized HVAC energy management and energy efficiency optimization, as part of comprehensive smart building concepts. Engineering HVAC 4.0 for smart buildings The combination of AB-QM and NovoCon actuators is a good example of the increasing digitalization in HVAC. The combination established high precision, dynamic, hydronic balancing and control. The digital actuators provide BMS with real-time HVAC data to enable Active Energy Management (AEM). Digital valve control via fieldbus also offers advantages in remote commissioning, flow setting, flushing, predictive maintenance and energy allocation. Automatically generated alarm messages support fast and accurate troubleshooting. HVAC 4.0 continuously optimizes the energy efficiency and comfort of buildings by using smart and connected products and services. The now established full-range series of NovoCo digital actuators enable HVAC 4.0 solutions in smart building concepts. In this way they create a fundamental basis for efficient energy use in large non-residential and commercial buildings, such as hotels, office buildings, data centers, shopping centers and hospitals.

Greenheck has introduced two new heavy-duty industrial control dampers for high temperature applications. Models HCD-324 and HCD-524 feature a high temperature blade design to control airflow and provide shutoff in industrial process systems. Model HCD-324 has a pressure rating up to 25 in. wg and velocity rating up to 5000 fpm. Model HCD-524HCD-324_Open has a pressure rating up to 45 in. wg and velocity rating up to 5000 fpm. Both models have a temperature rating of -40 degrees F to 1000 degrees F. Wide range of actuators A variety of optional features make models HCD-324 and HCD-524 extremely versatile allowing the dampers to be tailored to the application. A wide range of actuators is also available for both models. Greenheck, is a pioneer in manufacturing and distributing air movement, conditioning and control equipment, offers the most UL certified dampers and the largest selection of AMCA licensed dampers in the industry.

Residential HVAC is a fulfilling business to be in. Whether be it servicing a furnace or installing an air conditioning unit, the individual is doing important work to help keep families in the community safe and comfortable. The work also comes with perks such as good margins, some great customers, and the ability to set varying pricing and schedule. If an individual is in a growing business in this space, chances are that they have seen more than a few hectic days. Days where it becomes difficult to juggle crews, instruct technicians on necessary job details, and answer client calls, all at the same time. In theory, this chaotic day-to-day is a good problem to have. In practice, it can get really tiring, pretty fast. Robust system to streamline operations The work can be extremely overwhelming and if the right systems aren’t in place, the business could suffer. Lines of communication can get crossed and if time is being spent working on the wrong things, the individual could miss out on opportunities to grow. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing a high growth HVAC business, by applying the right operational strategies, businesses can flourish. Coordinating requests while dispatching techs out to do work is where many administrators and operations managers hit a roadblock in business growth. This is precisely why businesses need to implement software that lets them track jobs, view technician schedules, and flag new jobs to crew members all in one place. This will eliminate the need to play ‘phone tag’ across the organization, which in turn will keep operations running smoothly and reduce manual errors. What’s more, if the software allows techs to automatically trigger an invoice that customers can pay on the spot, businesses can avoid hours of chasing down past-due payments and create a better cash flow. mobile apps: Picking The right software Businesses are encouraged to choose software with a mobile app where customers can enter the payment type Businesses are encouraged to choose software with a mobile app where customers can enter the payment type, such as cash, check, credit, debit and a receipt can be automatically emailed to customers. This will also cut out out-of-date operations, while giving businesses access to what they need (schedules, work orders, customer information and more) at anytime from anywhere. Having a central hub for keeping everything organized also creates the operational flexibility needed to take on work. To ensure businesses don’t have to turn new jobs down due to delayed responses or scheduling issues, a crew member can be kept flexible for this task. In order to do this right, businesses need to calculate how much emergency work they’re losing due to unavailability and adjust accordingly, by creating a schedule with allotted time. Spacing out work won’t impact the number of scheduled installs and replacements retained, while giving businesses added time and revenue to take on emergency repairs. This strategy is only doable if businesses have the requisite software that can provide an accurate and full look into employees’ workloads. pricing services Research Is Important A business in high-growth mode needs to ensure their pricing reflects the services being offered. This can be done with researching of other companies in the area that are charging for the same services offered, so that the business can have a number to compare to when setting prices and also prepare to justify higher price to customers. Setting prices higher can be advantageous for a business, if they can show customers the differentiators. Most people want work done right, and an added premium that ensures top service often won’t turn them away. Additionally, it’s important to make sure all expenses are covered, down to the credit card fees. When pricing services, businesses need to build a file of overhead expenses, then determine the percentage profit want to charge clients. Different jobs require unique services, so prices should reflect that Varied pricing per customer Different jobs require unique services, so prices should reflect that. A business might charge more for commercial clients than homeowners. These minor adjustments will ensure that a business makes the profit that the work deserves. Feedback is also very important for repeat orders. If a business is not getting repeat clients due to pricing, they should keep that in mind when building profit margins. Pricing shouldn’t be static, continuous adjustments has to be made where it makes sense and extra time invested to do the research. Ensuring exceptional customer service It’s important to set up systems and expectations for teams to follow right out of the gate With business growth also comes customer growth, and for residential HVAC companies that physically go into a customer’s home, it’s crucial that their services reflect the highest quality. It’s important to set up systems and expectations for teams to follow right out of the gate. Helping crews do their best work from a technical and customer service perspective by establishing guidelines for what the business wants every homeowner to experience is the key. Open lines of communication Aside from ensuring that the crew keeps a clean workplace, keeping open lines of communication with customers should be a top priority for businesses. This can be as simple as answering the phone and getting a technician to a job site as soon as possible. Often, customers come from positions of stress due to broken equipment, so having quick response time is a key differentiator between good and bad service. A good solution for this is to evolve into automating key communications that allow techs to send ‘on my way’ text messages. How a business interacts with customers is a key signifier into how the company operates, so businesses need to ensure that have the best customer service practices in place. Never take valuable employees for granted While it sounds simple, a high-growth business needs reliable employees to scale, so that their competition does not swoop in and scoop up an employee who doesn’t feel valued. As business ramps up, it’s easy to miss that technicians are not being dispatched to jobs that they enjoy. If employees are constantly doing a job because they’re good at it and they don’t feel fulfilled doing that specific job, at the end of the day, they are not going to be happy. To avoid losing employees, businesses should take the time to ask what jobs they like to do and see if they can accommodate schedules to reflect their preferences. employee retention And loyalty A crucial factor in building a top performing team is employee retention and loyalty A crucial factor in building a top performing team is employee retention and loyalty. Businesses should focus on creating a great atmosphere to work in. This includes keeping a pulse on what’s happening in the team’s personal lives and use that to show appreciation in meaningful ways. One way to do this is by investing in the team’s education. For example, paying tuition fees for techs so they can get new certifications and licensing. These types of gestures show that the business cares about the success of their employees, while also helping them retain the most qualified crew members. Incorporating software solutions and automating tedious tasks Developing a high-growth residential HVAC company doesn’t have to be stressful if businesses know what systems and processes to implement to better manage operations. By adopting strategies that incorporate software solutions, like Jobber, to streamline operations, automate tedious tasks and improve customer communications, the opportunity for growth is more accessible for businesses. Organizations should focus on creating a solid operational system by doing research before pricing services, keeping customer service a top priority and not letting great employees slip away. All these strategies will work together to help maximize business growth.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is moving forward with rulemaking that sets limits and deadlines to decrease the use of refrigerants with global warming potential (GWP) in the commercial refrigeration market and in the residential and commercial stationary air conditioning equipment markets. California regulations are widely expected to influence the direction of other states seeking to regulate GWP of refrigerants. Declining to delay planned deadlines because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, CARB is proposing a GWP limit of 150 for new stationary refrigeration systems that contain more than 50 pounds of refrigerant, irrespective of end use, beginning on January 1, 2022. GWP Of Air Conditioning Systems California State Fire Marshal currently does not allow use of mildly flammable refrigerants in the state’s building codes For residential and commercial stationary air conditioning systems, the proposed new rule will take effect on January 1, 2023, and will include a GWP limit of 750. CARB held a public workshop in July to discuss the proposals. There is another challenge of implementing the limits. The alternative materials that enable compliance include lower-GWP A2L refrigerants that are mildly flammable; however, the California State Fire Marshal currently does not allow use of mildly flammable refrigerants in the state’s building codes. Presumably, the building codes will be updated in time to allow use of A2L refrigerants as an alternative to meet the limits, but the uncertainty makes it harder to plan ahead. Washington state has already revised its state building codes to allow the use of A2L, and other states are in the process of doing the same. VRF Manufacturers Concerns The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) industry group has been in discussions with CARB about anticipated industry and supply chain compliance challenges caused by COVID-19 disruptions, and because California building codes do not yet reference required safety standards. At the public workshop, AHRI proposed January 1, 2025, transition date for 750 GWP for newly manufactured air conditioning equipment, but CARB did not comment on the proposal. Manufacturers of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems have also expressed concerns with meeting the compliance deadlines. However, the current 2023 deadline coincides with the implementation of new U.S. Department of Energy efficiency requirements for residential central air conditioner and air-source heat pump systems. This timing allows manufacturers to design systems to meet both the CARB and DOE requirements at the same time, rather than having to redesign systems twice. Destructive Measure of climate pollutants Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how destructive a climate pollutant is, compared with carbon dioxide Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how destructive a climate pollutant is, compared with carbon dioxide (CO2), which is assigned a value of 1. GWPs are also used to define the impact greenhouse gases will have on global warming over various time periods; a time horizon of 100 years is used by CARB, which maintains a list of GWPs for common refrigerants. Driving the new rulemaking in California are regulations passed in 2016 that commit California to reduce HFC emissions in the state by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. Release for public comment By enacting the 750 GWP limit for new stationary air conditioners in 2023, CARB projects a reduction of 2.3 million metric tons in CO2 equivalents of annual emissions in 2030. That is almost a fourth of the progress needed to achieve the target and equates to removing about half a million passenger cars from California roadways each year from 2023 to 2040. A finalized “notice package,” which includes details of the new limits and deadlines, will be released for a 45-day public comment period on October 23, 2020, with the comment period ending right before the CARB’s board hearing in mid-December, when the board could approve the package.

Lower prices in the oil and gas industry have led to job losses as the sector has contracted recently, and that was even before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked additional havoc on the national and world economies. The COVID-19 crisis is accelerating what was already shaping up to be one of the oil industry’s most challenging years. More than a dozen oil companies have declared bankruptcy so far in the United States alone, and widespread industry layoffs are expected to continue. Oil field closures But displaced oil industry employees may provide a benefit to the HVAC industry, which faces struggles to attract sufficient skilled labor to meet customer needs. Might those displaced workers be great candidates for the HVAC industry? Definitely, says Brett Hobson, owner of Perfect Technician Academy, an HVAC technician school in Weatherford, Texas, near Dallas. “Many similarities exist between the oil and HVAC industries,” says Hobson. “That’s largely why [our school] has garnered a variety of new students from oil-heavy states around the U.S. in recent months.” Perfect Technician Academy has paid attention to the turmoil unfolding in the oil industry and is taking steps to mitigate it. Previously, the HVAC trade school has catered to veterans and active-duty military, helping them to transition to civilian life. Lately, the school has expanded the focus to include the men, women and families displaced by oil field closures in and around Texas. Providing stability during pandemic Having your livelihood pulled out from under you and beginning a new career path is an incredibly stressful situation" Perfect Technician Academy offers courses in HVAC Repair Service Technician, Residential Install Technician, Maintenance Service Technician, and installer Assistant Technician. “When people learn about the nature of the HVAC industry, they typically are left wishing they had come to the school sooner,” says Dr. Thomas Moorman, Provost and School Director. “Having your livelihood pulled out from under you and beginning a new career path is an incredibly stressful situation to be in.” Perfect Technician Academy seeks to provide stability to those in need during the pandemic, emphasizing that opportunity exists in the HVAC market for those willing to pursue it. An advantage of an HVAC job over the life of oil company employees is the ability for an employee to sleep in their bed at home, rather than being off in an oil patch for three or six weeks at a time, Hobson says. Climate-Control systems Heath Averitt was laid off after spending 23 years in the oil field. “Oil hit zero dollars a barrel,” he told KOKH-TV Fox25 News in Oklahoma City. “What am I going to do to make it? How am I going to get out to make some money to pay bills the fastest?” With two brothers-in-law working in HVAC in South Texas, Averitt approached Perfect Technician Academy to explore the possibilities of a career change. “We can get them back in the workforce in an accelerated period, in a career that probably has a lot more stability,” says Hobson. Employment of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians and installers was projected to grow 21% from 2012 to 2022 based on U.S. Labor statistics. The growing number of sophisticated climate-control systems is expected to increase demand for qualified HVAC technicians, according to Perfect Technician Academy.

HVAC systems are the most common home repair, representing 19 percent of service incidents facing homeowners. More than half of homeowners (53%) have faced a home repair emergency of some kind in the past 12 months. Furthermore, about a third of homeowners have US$ 500 or less set aside to pay for emergency home repairs, with some 17 percent having no money at all set aside for emergency home repair work. 10th Edition of the Biannual State of the Home Survey These are among the results of the 10th Edition of the Biannual State of the Home Survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of HomeServe USA Corp., a provider of home repair solutions in the U.S. and Canada. The survey carried out covered 2,026 U.S. adults (of which 1,454 are US homeowners) was conducted during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. HomeServe’s real-time repair data shows that customers are continuing to require urgent repair help during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Greater strain on home infrastructure and HVAC systems More Americans are putting extra strain on their homes’ infrastructure and major systems More Americans are putting extra strain on their homes’ infrastructure and major systems. As parents are spending more time working from home, and the children are in home schools, the shortcomings of existing systems are becoming more obvious, especially as the summer temperatures rise. In the current uncertain times, comfort is more of a need than a luxury. Concerns about air quality in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is occurring at the height of the allergy season, are also driving new business for HVAC technicians.    Technicians using personal protective gear at homes Service technicians are using proper social distancing protocols and personal protective gear (PPE) while performing maintenance and service tasks at consumers’ homes. Consumers want to know what companies are doing differently to protect their customers during the pandemic. At the very least, installers should keep contact to a minimum and meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local requirements to contain the spread of the coronavirus.  Following social distancing protocols in repair works “We’re wearing gloves, washing our hands between calls, wearing masks, and we have sanitizers and soaps in our cars, making sure we are maintaining safety,” said Michael Concannon, Repair Technician for Bell Brothers, located in Sacramento, California, USA. There is also an opportunity for HVAC companies to provide expert advice on subjects that customers are asking about now, such as indoor air quality. In the midst of economic uncertainty, routine maintenance can provide greater peace of mind, as well as extend the life of equipment. Consumers to foot bill for home repair work According to the HomeServe survey, many homeowners do not know it is their responsibility to pay for home repairs According to the HomeServe survey, many homeowners, especially younger ones, do not understand that it is their responsibility to pay for home repairs. Many mistakenly believe repairs will be covered by a city/municipality, a water utility, or a homeowner’s insurance. “The findings of the latest survey clearly show that homeowners, especially younger ones, are unaware of their responsibility when it comes to common home repairs,” said John Kitzie, HomeServe USA Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Smart financial planning tools John adds, “HomeServe seeks to educate homeowners and to provide them with smart financial planning tools so they are prepared when an inevitable home emergency strikes.” HomeServe USA serves more than 4.4 million customers across the U.S. and Canada under the HomeServe, Home Emergency Insurance Solutions, Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) and Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC).

Nicknamed the gateway to Southern California, the city of Ontario, as well as neighboring city Montclair, is home to the third largest elementary school district in California, the Ontario-Montclair School District (OMSD). Founded in 1884, the district also incorporates portions of the city of Upland, and unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County, comprising 24,000 students in 26 elementary schools and six middle schools. Ontario-Montclair School District Ontario-Montclair School District’s overall mission is simple yet speaks volumes to its dedication to all students, to do whatever it takes to guarantee its commitment in providing the highest quality education for all students. To meet this mission head-on, OMSD contracted with TMAD Taylor Gaines, a professional engineering consulting and services firm. Ontario Montclair School District was interested in reducing their overall energy costs by 20%" “Ontario Montclair School District was interested in reducing their overall energy costs by 20%, they along with other school districts throughout California were mandated to reduce their overall energy costs,” said John Simmons, RCDD, LEED AP, and Project Manager for TMAD Taylor Gaines. He adds, “We initially ran some numbers based upon information we found on Bard HVAC’s website, and through consultation with Geary Pacific Supply, Bard’s largest West Coast distributor.” Geary Pacific, distributor of new HVAC units Based upon the scope of the projects in consideration, the money available to fund them and the overall cost of the units in consideration, as well as overall potential energy savings, TMAD Taylor Gaines recommended that OMSD select Geary Pacific as the distributor of the new HVAC units. “We considered other companies as part of our overall recommendation but in all honesty we were impressed by a couple of things. First, Bard Manufacturing had a wealth of product and technical information about their products on their website, including case studies of other customer successes. That in combination with Geary Pacific’s previous experience working successfully with the School District made our recommendation a simple one,” added John Simmons. Bard wall-mounted HVAC units deployed “Our District was already familiar with Bard because we had success using some of their other wall mounted units on several of our modular school buildings,” said Craig Misso, Director of Facility Planning & Operation at Ontario Montclair School District, adding “Our goal was to not only upgrade our facilities and make them more energy efficient, but also work to reduce some of the HVAC noise inside the classroom, as well as save on the purchase, operation and maintenance of all of the units at our schools.” TMAD Taylor Gaines and Geary Pacific’s approach was to do the retrofit in several phases. The pilot project encompassed one site, Sultana Elementary School, which included 24 re-locatable buildings, made up of both newer and some older construction. Bard WG*S Step Capacity Series units with CO2 sensors TMAD Taylor Gaines and Geary Pacific started doing groups of schools, encompassing 14 different building sites “Sultana was a great school for the pilot because there were a lot of little issues to contend with and work through,” stated Simmons, adding “The Bard WG*S Step Capacity Series units with Energy Recovery Ventilators and CO2 sensors worked great and we were initially very surprised at how quiet they actually operated.” After that, TMAD Taylor Gaines and Geary Pacific started doing groups of schools, encompassing 14 different building sites. Group one included 6 schools and approximately 83 units while Group 2 included 8 schools and 101 units. It was during the second group of installations that TMAD Taylor Gaines realized that putting in units that required the installation of underground gas piping was not the best solution for all classrooms. Bard’s Quiet Climate 2 units That’s when Geary Pacific recommended utilizing Bard’s Quiet Climate 2 units with Energy Recovery Ventilators and CO2 sensors in about 1/3 of the overall installation. “Bard’s Quiet Climate 2 units are some of the most energy-efficient HVAC units on the market today,” said Maury Tiernan of Geary Pacific, adding “Plus the operational sound level is extremely low and is greatly appreciated by the students and teachers.” John Simmons said, “We were really pleased at how easily these units were able to be retrofitted into the re-locatable classrooms. There are almost no changes and smooth sailing in almost all cases.” Quiet, efficient operation The dramatic reduction in operating noise levels was an added improvement and benefit for which Craig Misso was particularly proud. “At Sultana, we invited some of the teachers and our principal over to see the new classrooms. Our principal asked, ‘Why aren’t the new HVAC units running’? I had to laugh, because I knew they were on. They were just so quiet nobody could tell that they were working. That moment sold every teacher on the Bard units,” added Craig Misso of Ontario Montclair School District. “From the very beginning, Geary Pacific became our partner in the success of the project,” stated Simmons, adding “Always available to answer questions on-site and knowledgeable about all aspects of the product and installation I can honestly say they can’t do anything wrong by me. Geary Pacific and the engineers at Bard Manufacturing came through in every way possible and more.” Wall-mounted heating and cooling equipment expert Bard’s HVAC products offer a combination of quiet operation, and energy efficiency Over thirty years ago, Bard Manufacturing began solving the comfort needs of schools across the country by providing wall-mounted heating and cooling equipment. Bard’s HVAC products offer a combination of quiet operation, and energy efficiency, with unsurpassed quality and dependability that make them the #1 choice for schools. With three, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network, Bard’s commitment to quality and product innovation begins with its commitment to research and development. With features like self-diagnostics and self-programming energy monitors, Bard delivers products that provide tangible solutions for any school. Energy and cost savings “The Bard units reduced ambient classroom noise levels by over 75% and further gave us a 50% savings in energy,” said Misso, adding “This savings allowed us to also install software on our computers that automatically turns off the lights and the AC, when the classrooms are unoccupied, which further increased our savings. Our hope is to have the funds necessary to install all 280 Bard units as specified by TMAD Taylor Gaines.” Misso concluded, “Geary Pacific has been extremely professional and service oriented throughout the project. Because of our School Board’s commitment to energy conservation, our District will receive a dual reward, recognized energy savings and efficiency with an enhanced classroom environment for our students and teachers. We couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Living in the McLean County Unit District No. 5 region ensures one thing that children will receive one of the finest educations available. With one of its high schools ranked in the Top 50 Public High Schools in Illinois and listed in U.S. News & World Report’s Nation’s Top Schools, Unit District No. 5 is the place where excellence in education takes on a new meaning. Replacing antiquated HVAC systems But excellence doesn’t come without a price. In the current economic environment, maintaining and improving upon existing school facilities remains one of the most significant challenges for administrators and educators alike. That’s why officials turned to a solution that proved both unique and highly practical, when six schools in the district faced antiquated HVAC systems, nearing the end of their life-cycle. Upgrading and retrofitting school HVAC systems CM Engineering and Earth City Distributing understand the challenge of maximizing facility investment dollars CM Engineering and Earth City Distributing understand the challenge of maximizing facility investment dollars when it comes to upgrading and retrofitting school facilities. They also realize the key role those facilities play in keeping a school educationally competitive. The first schools from the Unit 5 School District to undergo retrofits included Oakdale Elementary School and Glenn Elementary School. Each school had ceiling limitations which made a conventional rooftop boiler-chiller system impractical. “We wanted a system that would be easy to service and maintain, provide cooling and be energy efficient,” said Jeff Monahan, Director of Maintenance for McLean County Unit District No. 5. Bard QTEC ground source heat pump installed “We had experienced earlier success working with a school in McComb, Illinois, where using a new type of piping system and the Bard QTEC ground source heat pump saved us over 50% in installation costs,” said Kirk Mescher, President of CM Engineering. Kirk adds, “Using Bard Manufacturing’s QTEC product in the Unit 5 School District applications was not only practical, it was the win-win solution in terms of reliability and efficiency in operation.” Between 2006 and 2008, 112 Bard QTEC units were installed in 6 schools. “Between CM Engineering’s unique design approach and Bard’s very efficient QTEC unit, the installation at all of the Unit District No. 5 schools couldn’t have gone any better, “ said Mike McManus, Owner of Earth City Distributing, a local Bard distributor, adding “Not only are the units energy-efficient and incredibly quiet when operating, they can be easily accessed for service.” Bard’s wall-mounted heating and cooling equipment Over thirty years ago, Bard Manufacturing Company began solving the comfort needs of schools across the country by providing wall-mounted heating and cooling equipment. Bard’s products offer a combination of quiet operation, and energy efficiency, with unsurpassed quality and dependability that make them the #1 choice for schools. With three, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network, Bard’s commitment to quality and product innovation begins with its commitment to wide-scale research and development (R&D). With features such as self-diagnostics and self-programming energy monitors, Bard Manufacturing Co. delivers state-of-the-art products that provide tangible solutions for any school’s needs. Enhanced serviceability The QTEC’s serviceability is also a contributing factor to Unit District No. 5’s overall success “What we got by using Bard Manufacturing’s QTEC product was an HVAC system that not only provided heating and cooling, but did so while also providing more than a 40% savings in total utility costs, without upgrading windows or insulation,” said Jeff Monahan. The QTEC’s serviceability is also a contributing factor to Unit District No. 5’s overall success. “I love the fact that the units are virtually maintenance-free,” stated Monahan, adding “They’ve basically reduced our service calls to near zero.” Energy estimate from CM Engineering “Whenever any of our school clients are open to the idea of having an in-room unit installed, we always spec the Bard QTEC units. In fact, in all the years, since we’ve been in business, we’ve never installed anything else inside a classroom,” said Kirk Mescher, President of CM Engineering. With Unit District No. 5, CM Engineering initially gave them an energy estimate that proposed they could provide the schools with heating and cooling at no additional operating cost. Energy and cost savings Mescher adds, “Not only were we able to achieve that goal, but because of the Bard QTEC units, we were able to surpass it, helping the schools reduce their overall utility costs significantly, in some cases by over 40%.” He further stated, “For any school, anywhere in the country trying to save money on installation, service and energy costs, not to mention lowering overall ambient noise in a classroom, these are significant enough results that simply can’t be ignored.” Quiet and comfortable QTEC units Bard’s QTEC unit is designed to be installed inside the classroom, fully engineered to be quiet and comfortable Success with the retrofit of their six schools has, in fact, led McLean County Unit District No. 5 to approve installation of additional Bard QTEC units in a seventh school during the summer of 2009. Bard’s QTEC unit is designed to be installed inside the classroom, fully engineered to be quiet, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. QTEC units are designed and tested to operate at 20% above federal standards with easy installation features that make servicing fast and simple. Bard’s QTEC units can provide the following features: A one-piece factory unit with individual room climate control Designed for fast installation and easy servicing Sound deadening insulation Simple utility hookups Integrated energy recovery ventilator Controlled dehumidification A rating for efficiency that is 20% above Federal Standards

One won’t find bustling cities or lots of traffic in Montgomery County and that is just the way residents like it. Montgomery County is located in south-central North Carolina, an hour drive from Charlotte and just under two hours from Raleigh and Fayetteville. Eighty percent of the county comprises the geologically pristine Uwharrie National Forest, which provides a beautiful, scenic backdrop for quiet, country living. With children under 18 accounting for just over 25% of the local population, Montgomery County Schools' mission is to ensure that all students are prepared for the opportunities by addressing the challenges. Cost-Effective solution One of these challenges was directly related to a new elementary school – Green Ridge Elementary School - the district was planning to build in the town of Biscoe. “We recently completed building another school in the district that used a combination boiler/chiller to heat and cool the school”, said Bill Mingin, Maintenance Director for Montgomery County Schools. All Seasons recommended utilizing the wall-mounted design of Bard’s Quiet Climate 2 unit “Unfortunately, we found the high cost of fuel oil combined with the high cost of installing this type of system, forced us to come up with a better, more cost-effective solution for Green Ridge.” That’s when Montgomery County Schools turned to Drayton Stott of All Seasons Commercial HVAC Distributors, the local Bard dealer. Overall construction costs “I was very familiar with Bard because we had great success using some of their wall mounted units on several of our retrofitted schools,” said Mingin. “We were hoping, however, to reduce some of the overall operational noise and costs within the new building even more.” That’s when All Seasons recommended utilizing the wall-mounted design of Bard’s Quiet Climate 2 unit – albeit on the outside of the building. “The Bard Quiet Climate 2 units are some of the quietest HVAC units on the market today,” said Stott. “Green Ridge Elementary School also benefitted from a reduction in overall construction costs, including cement work, steel framing, the cost of running ductwork and construction of a maintenance and mechanical boiler/chiller shed.” Utilizing the Quiet Climate 2, Stott was also able to also provide each room and teacher with individual control over their room’s temperature. Enhanced operational efficiency “This enhanced operational efficiency in several ways, including better and more even temperature control throughout each classroom,” said Mingin. “Plus, if any particular unit needed maintenance, it wouldn’t mean that the whole system had to be shut down. By having the units installed on the outside of the building we could work on the units without disturbing the teachers or the students inside.” The school had the added benefit of turning units off or on as needed" “The school had the added benefit of turning units off or on as needed depending on whether or not individual rooms were in use.” Another big improvement was the overall cost and installation of the Bard system. “Our mission is to provide our students with the educational building blocks that will prepare them to ultimately compete in a global economy,” said Donna Kennedy, Principal of Green Ridge Elementary School. Wall-Mounted heating “Working with Bard, we were able to save Green Ridge Elementary over $800,000 in installation and purchasing costs over a conventional system. That savings gave us the opportunity to purchase a complete technology package for our school, including smart boards and computer labs in every classroom. As a former AC service technician, I have to say that I’m extremely impressed with the Bard Quiet Climate units– they actually make no noise at all,” said Matt Wolf, a teacher at Green Ridge Elementary School. “They make teaching and learning a quiet, comfortable experience.” Over thirty years ago, Bard began solving the comfort needs of schools across the country by providing wall-mounted heating and cooling equipment. Bard’s products offer a combination of quiet operation, and energy efficiency, with unsurpassed quality and dependability that make them the #1 choice for schools. Self-Programming energy monitors Bard delivers products that provide tangible solutions for any school With three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network, Bard’s commitment to quality and product innovation begins with its commitment to research and development. With features like self-diagnostics and self-programming energy monitors, Bard delivers products that provide tangible solutions for any school. “With the Quiet Climate 2 units our teachers and students never have to worry about room temperature interfering with classroom learning,” said Kennedy. “Whenever we have a weekend community activity, teachers tutoring in off hours, or classes going on night, we know we can make those spaces comfortable without wasting energy in unused classrooms.” “Our experience with Bard products over the years in retrofitted schools has been excellent and the Green Ridge Elementary School results confirm that Bard performs as well in new schools as they do in older, existing school buildings,” said Mingin. “Bard’s ability to give us individual room dehumidification is another benefit that’s hard to quantify – we just don’t have any of the problems associated with high humidity.”

Munters, a global renowned company in energy efficient air treatment and climate solutions, has received an order for a desiccant dehumidification solution, providing a climate with very low humidity, for a U.S.-based lithium battery production facility. dehumidification solutions The lithium battery manufacturing market segment is one of Munters’ prioritized areas for growth and expansion. The order for the dehumidification solution has a value of approximately US$ 12 million. Munters Group AB (MTRS), energy efficient air treatment and climate solutions firm, announced the order to provide desiccant dehumidification solutions for a lithium battery production facility in the US, including equipment and services. ICA and IDS systems  Munters will deliver Integrated Custom Air Handler and Industrial Desiccant Dehumidification systems Munters will deliver ICA (Integrated Custom Air Handler) and IDS (Industrial Desiccant Dehumidification) systems, utilizing proprietary Green PowerPurge technology and delivery is expected to start in Q4 2020 and continue through mid-2021. Peter Gisel-Ekdahl, President Business Area AirTech, Group Vice President Group at Munters said of the order, “We are very pleased to have received a large order for our dehumidification solutions in the fast-growing lithium battery market, which is one of our three prioritized market segments." Energy-efficient and complete solutions Peter adds, “In this project, we worked very closely with all parties involved to develop the best overall solution, from equipment performance to energy efficiency to service needs." He further stated, “Our focus is always to deliver strong customer value by providing energy-efficient and complete solutions. By utilizing our application and industry knowledge, we can ensure every customer gets the best value.”

Thermo King®, a provider in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, announced that its new hybrid refrigeration systems for trucks and high-loaders are being delivered to customers across Europe. The new T-Series Hybrid and UT Hybrid refrigeration systems seamlessly switch between diesel and electric mode allowing transporters to operate in inner cities, residential areas and low emission zones with the unit’s diesel engine turned off. Greggs, UK’s bakery food-on-the-go retailer with over 1,800 shops nationwide and serving over six million customers a week, is one of the first customers in Europe to experience the benefits of the new hybrid refrigeration systems. Three new trucks with Thermo King’s hybrid systems will contribute to lowering the environmental impact and reducing operating costs of their truck transport operations in central London. Reducing sound level and eliminating emissions “Thermo King units have been our systems of choice for several years now. Their units have delivered good flexibility and work efficiency to our operations, and we could also always count on the Thermo King dealer service network to support us,” said Richard Penna, group logistics manager at Greggs. “We’re very cautious about the sustainability of our transport operations. It is paramount for us to operate in inner cities with as little noise and reduced emissions as possible. It was a natural choice to work with Thermo King and equip our trucks with these new units that can easily switch from diesel operation to electric, reduce the sound level and eliminate emissions. On top of that, we expect to benefit from the lower daily fuel consumption.” Trailer hybrid refrigeration “Thermo King Hybrid technology was designed to help transport and delivery companies future-proof their refrigerated operations and investments. With this solution they can stay ahead of regulations, control their total cost of ownership and achieve important sustainability goals,” said Colm O’Grady, product manager at Thermo King. “Thermo King was the first to offer its European customers a trailer hybrid refrigeration. Now, our truck transport customers can also benefit from this cleaner and electrified transport refrigeration to make urban distribution more flexible and sustainable.” Switching between electric and diesel operation The new hybrid single and multi-temperature solution for trucks feature Frigoblock alternator and inverter-drive technology. The nose-mount T-Series Hybrid and under-mount UT Hybrid refrigeration automatically switches between electric and diesel operation as required or necessary. This enables the transport companies to operate in inner cities, residential areas and low emission zones with the refrigeration unit’s diesel engine turned off. The system is also well accepted by drivers, mainly due to the simple and smooth transition from one drive technology to the other. The driver only needs to set the vehicle when leaving the depot and the system will switch electric and diesel modes seamlessly during the working day depending on the unit’s requirements. The T-Series Hybrid and UT Hybrid solutions are aligned with Trane Technologies’ 2030 sustainability commitments, and the commitment to reduce customers’ carbon emissions by one gigaton – equivalent to the annual emissions of Italy, France and the United Kingdom combined.

With news of the coronavirus' airborne droplets being able to be neutralized via advanced filtration, Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical is responding by providing Houston homeowners with state-of-the-art HVAC testing and next-gen products to combat the COVID-19 pandemic surge. As the virus re-surges throughout Texas and parts of America, infectious disease experts are learning that COVID-19 can be contracted by inhaling tiny, invisible particles that hang in stagnant air for hours. HEPA filters and UV light A recent investigation by ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) revealed that a combination of HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters and UV light are homeowners' best defense against the virus droplets. New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo said recently that large malls should be required to install HEPA systems before re-opening. Delta Airlines is also equipping its fleet of aircraft with HEPA filters, while American Airlines said its planes have been using the systems since the 1990s. The licensed HVAC professionals at Abacus Plumbing can inspect current residential systems and suggest a solution from their extensive line of HEPA and UV products. Cleaning air to clear out COVID-19 particles HEPA systems, such as the REME HALO, can remove 99.7% of particles as small as 0.3 microns" "Obviously, cleaning surfaces is still important, but cleaning the air that recirculates through homes and buildings is now a huge focus," Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Nancy McClellan told GMA. “HEPA systems, such as the REME HALO, can remove 99.7% of particles as small as 0.3 microns,” said Dr. Rajat Mittal, a professor studying the dynamics of COVID-19 particles adding, "That is potentially good news, because almost all the droplets that are going to be carrying viruses are all within that range." REME HALO air purification system Abacus Plumbing so trusts the REME HALO that it's installed in the company's own HVAC systems. "To help keep our employees as healthy as possible, Abacus installed the same air filtration equipment in our offices that we install in our customer homes," said Abacus Plumbing Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alan O'Neill, adding "In an essential business like ours, we have to do everything possible to help prevent our team members from allergies, germs and viruses. We owe it to our employees to invest in their health, and our customers who depend on us to be ready to serve 24 hours a day.” The HALO purifies the air in homes from the source, the HVAC system. Its patented technology is hospital tested and military approved to reduce allergies, fight odor and kill bacteria, mold and viruses. Ensuring health and safety of Houstonians "We haven't come across anything that it can't handle," said Rene Luna, whose company, The Partner Group, has been selling HALOs to Houston distributors, like Abacus Plumbing, since 2006, adding "It doesn't wait to clean the air in the equipment and it actually cleans your air and your living space. It's by far the leader in the industry." With COVID-19 finding new ways to harm Houstonians, Abacus is ready to help homeowners protect the health and safety of their family by installing the best defense available.