It’s agreed. Women should work in the HVACR industry. That was an easy question. So simple in fact, many of the contractors The NEWS posed that question to were seemingly surprised we even asked. It was the qualifying question as to where women fit in the HVACR industry that produced some differing opinions. Some felt that a woman could easily do any job in the HVACR industry that is available. Her only limitations would be her own training and capabilities. Others didn’t come right out and say it, but some of their responses limited women more to office functions, dispatch, and sales — the communications side of the business.

Overall though, the respondents seemed more than tolerant of the idea of having a competent woman, no matter which role she chose, as a part of the industry.

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DANBURY, CT — A contractor who investigators said hired unskilled labor for his chimney repair business, gave workers minimal training and turned them loose to prey on elderly homeowners made an appearance in state Superior Court here Wednesday.

Marc Anthony, 44, didn’t enter a plea on an array of felony and misdemeanor counts, including larceny and attempted larceny, which were filed against him last month after an investigation by Danbury police and inspectors from the state Department of Consumer Protection.

Anthony is a co-owner of CT Builders LLC, a company based in Long Island. He was represented in court by attorney Kevin Black, of Wilton, a former assistant prosecutor in the Danbury State’s Attorney’s Office.

The investigation began in March after two of his employees were allegedly found to be installing chimney liners without obtaining building permits from the city and without having the state licenses required to perform the work.

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By: Michael Newport

As we face serious environmental and economic ramifications from the Gulf Oil spill, more people are taking a closer look at the benefits of natural gas. Obama’s hotly anticipated climate change bill by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will include tax credits for natural gas fuels for trucks and manufacturers. Is natural gas America’s savior or a transitional fuel source that will tide us over until we become a cleantech nation awash in viable wind, solar and biofuel solutions?

The development of natural gas properties in the United States ensures our country’s greater energy independence from geopolitical strife and provides high paying energy sector jobs and prosperous communities. As the CEO of an energy company that is actively tapping our country’s natural gas reserves, even I don’t think natural gas is the answer to all our country’s energy needs. I simply believe that natural gas is a great, long-term bridge energy solution that provides an important part of our country’s energy equation.

America is awash in natural gas discoveries including Louisiana’s Haynesville Shale and new fields in Mississippi, New Mexico and Wyoming. As we engage in fruitful drilling of our natural gas resources, we should also build up our renewable and alternative energy technologies. Why? While our country has enough natural gas reserves to fuel Americans for many generations to come, we need to keep our eye on the ultimate prize — creating environmentally sound energy solutions that are not tied to natural resources. Americans needs to take a leadership role in developing alternative energy solutions.

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March was a good month for water heaters in the U.S., with factory shipments of gas units up 21% and shipments of electric units up 16%, according to figures just released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

The number of U.S. residential gas water heaters shipped in March 2010 was 421,303 units, up 21% from the 347,852 units shipped in March 2009. Residential electric water heater shipments increased 16% to 383,318 units, compared with 331,751 units in March 2009.

Year-to-date U.S. shipments of residential gas water heaters increased 10% to 1,086,869 units, compared with 991,304 units during the same time period in 2009. U.S. shipments of residential electric water heaters increased 4% year to date to 1,006,345 units, up from 965,983 units in 2009.

Commercial gas water heaters shipments increased 4%, up from 8,119 units in March 2009 to 8,476 units in March 2010. Shipments of electric water heaters dropped 4% to 5,698 units in March 2010, down from 5,909 units in March 2009.

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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released its 2009 US Solar Industry Year in Review, finding 2009 to be another year of strong growth despite the economic recession. A combination of policies, new business models, and declining prices drove expansion in 2009; and growth is expected to continue during 2010.

Overall US solar electric capacity, including both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power installations, increased by 37% in 2009. According to the SEIA, this was driven primarily by strong demand in the residential and utility-scale markets, state and federal policy advances and declining technology prices. As a result, total solar industry revenue reached $4 billion, a 36% increase on that reported in 2008.

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