Regulatory

04.24.24

On February 28, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) put forth a landmark proposal to require all space and water heater equipment sold in the state of California to meet zero-emissions by a set date. The proposal comes on the heels of the Zero-NOx space and water heating standards adopted by Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in March 2023, and recent Zero-NOx water heating …

03.26.24

At the beginning of this year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) proposed amendments to how the state regulates HFC refrigerant gasses that are contained within appliances. While other states have been content to largely follow the lead established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on regulating these substances, DEC’s proposal represents an …

03.20.24

In what is likely one final last-minute deal on government funding for the remainder of the fiscal year, lawmakers look to avert a partial government shutdown by agreeing to a long-term continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the federal government fully operational through September 30. A first tier of funding keeping the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, …

03.15.24

In another last-minute deal, lawmakers averted a partial government shutdown by agreeing to a long-term continuing resolution (CR) that would keep parts of the federal government funded for the remainder of the fiscal year. This first tier of funding will keep the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and related agencies funded …

03.13.24

Chuck White, PHCC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, appeared recently on Plumbing & Mechanical's "And So it Flows" podcast. The episode, titled "Legislative and regulatory issues affecting PHVAC contractors in 2024" featured a discussion of legislative and regulatory actions that contractors should be aware of in the coming year. Legislative and regulatory issues affecting PHVAC …

03.05.24

FALLS CHURCH, VA. — For plumbing and HVACR contractors who are eager to make a difference, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) is providing a timely opportunity to for them to do so by educating lawmakers during the May 21-22 PHCC Legislative Conference in Washington

02.21.24

In 2023, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) was very active in regulating residential water heater and boiler product efficiencies, as has been addressed in this column previously. But what gives DOE the authority to take such actions, and what exactly are they allowed and not allowed to do? The answer to these questions come from EPCA. It is a federal law that was passed in 1975 and …

02.12.24

A look at the latest economic and employment trends … and how you as plumbing and HVACR contractors can use them to identify where growth will occur and possibly shift your strategies. As plumbing and HVACR contractors face a host of both business challenges and opportunities this year, strategic planning and adaptability will be key factors in your company achieving success. With this report, …

01.24.24

Happy New Year everyone! After what we at Bradford White hope was a relaxing holiday season for you and your family, legislative and regulatory bodies at all levels of government are beginning to go back to work. In this post, we’ll examine what we expect to see from them in 2024 at each level of government, and how it may impact the HVAC industry. Federal The United States Department of Energy  …

12.12.23

As plumbing and HVAC contractors, we are typically blue collar, self-employed, hard-working, and patriotic tradesmen and tradeswomen carrying the weight of the U.S. economy through essential services that Americans literally cannot live without. Plumbers and HVAC contractors have a constitutional right, like any citizen, to petition their government for a redress of grievances, a right enshrined …