The Project Jupiter trades story is moving fast at the national level. The real question is whether skilled trades contractors, electricians, and HVAC technicians are positioned to capture meaningful value from a $165 billion development. Bob Allomong frames the Project Jupiter trades question the channel needs to be asking. In today's trades environment, risk doesn't … [Read more...] about Project Jupiter and the New Playbook for the Trades: From Big Bets to Real Outcomes
contractors
HVAC Distributor Sales Pick Up in February
HVAC distributor sales moved in the right direction in February, with HARDI reporting weighted average same-day sales up approximately 5% year-over-year. That is a meaningful swing from January, when the same measure was down 1%. Before anyone calls it a recovery, though, it is worth looking at what is actually driving the number. Price Is Doing Most of the … [Read more...] about HVAC Distributor Sales Pick Up in February
The HVAC Technician Shortage: What 2031 Could Look
Why the HVAC Technician Shortage Is Getting Worse The HVAC technician shortage is not a future problem. It is already here, and its trajectory points somewhere the industry does not want to go. By 2031, if the pipeline does not change, the sector will be operating under serious strain: longer wait times, higher labor costs, slower technology adoption, and service markets that … [Read more...] about The HVAC Technician Shortage: What 2031 Could Look
HVAC Tariff Costs: What the Supreme Court Ruling Really Changes
The Supreme Court handed down a significant trade policy decision last week, and the headlines made it sound like relief was on the way. For HVACR distributors, contractors, and manufacturers trying to manage HVAC tariff costs, the reality is more complicated than the news cycle suggests. The Court struck down one major tariff mechanism. Several others remain fully intact, a … [Read more...] about HVAC Tariff Costs: What the Supreme Court Ruling Really Changes
Watsco Q4 Earnings Miss Masks a Bigger Story
Watsco Q4 earnings tell two stories, and neither one cancels the other out. On the surface, Watsco Q4 earnings paint a rough picture. Revenue fell 10%. HVAC equipment sales dropped 13%. Earnings per share declined 29%. When you back out the 11% domestic pricing increase, implied equipment volumes were down more than 20%. That is not a soft patch. But Watsco's own framing … [Read more...] about Watsco Q4 Earnings Miss Masks a Bigger Story
Smart HVAC/R Systems: Convenience or Creepy?
The HVAC/R industry crossed a line without much debate. Smart HVAC privacy wasn't on the agenda when connected thermostats and cloud-based controllers became standard. The focus was efficiency, remote access, and fewer callbacks. But modern systems don't just control temperature. They collect data. Occupancy patterns, schedules, runtime behavior, user access logs. The equipment … [Read more...] about Smart HVAC/R Systems: Convenience or Creepy?
