Blogs

Tax Tips From ACCA: How Will Tax Reform Impact You?

By Todd Washam posted 2 days ago
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ACCA played a big role helping get the tax reform packaged passed through Congress and signed by the President in 2017. And, over the past year many of ACCA’s commercial contractors have reported increased sales of commercial HVAC equipment thanks to the inclusion of the HEAT Act in the tax reform package. In case you missed it, the HEAT Act provisions allow commercial business owners to immediately expense HVAC systems, instead of expensing them over a 39 year period. Hopefully you’ve been taking advantage of this opportunity and helping your commercial customers invest in new equipment. ACCA played a big role helping get the tax reform packaged passed through ...
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ACCA Joins Fight Against Bad Legislation in NJ

By Todd Washam posted 8 days ago
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ACCA joined forces with NJACCA to fight Senate Bill 3071 and Assembly Bill 3666 in New Jersey. These bills would require contractors who work on public works contracts to participate in, or have completed, a registered apprenticeship program. ACCA supports increasing access to apprenticeship programs and is working with the Trump Administration on proposals to create nationally recognized apprenticeship programs for the HVACR industry. However, the apprenticeship model is not currently the primary educational program for the contracting industry, like it is for plumbing. Most individuals entering the contracting industry do so through trade schools and technical ...
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ACCA Files Comments on Equipment & Installation Tracking in California

By Todd Washam posted 8 days ago
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For more than two years, ACCA has been fighting proposals in California to create and implement an equipment and installation tracking system, commonly referred to as serial number tracking (SNT). In February 2016, California State Senator Lois Wolk introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1414, which would have required the California Energy Commission to create an SNT system to track HVACR sales and installations. Senator Wolk’s office stated that their goal was to increase permit compliance and compliance with California’s energy code. ACCA argued that a new regulation was not a reasonable solution to increase permit and energy compliance. In our negotiations with ...
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Watch Out For These Common Phishing Tactics

By Craig Gotthardt posted 8 days ago
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Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. The tactics that crooks use are changing constantly. Here is an infographic highlighting the most common ways they are trying to get your information right now.
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My Employee Had an Accident in a Company Truck...What's Next?

By Hilary Atkins posted 13 days ago
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A member asked us:   Are employees responsible for any accident or mishaps with a company vehicle, if it is or is not in the company handbook and signed by employee?   ACCA’s General Counsel Hilary Atkins responds:   As a general matter, employers should ensure that employees understand the consequences of causing damage to the employer's property, including company-owned vehicles.  It is therefore highly advisable to adopt a written policy on this issue, include it in the company handbook, and obtain the employee's acknowledgment that he or she has read and agrees to comply with all the policies included in the handbook.  Without a written ...
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Go First Leadership…

By Mark Tibbetts posted 15 days ago
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In a recent survey, ACCA members rated LEADERSHIP as their number one topic for the Annual Conference. And we’re delivering in 2019. Check out one of three planned key-note speakers. Seth Mattison is the founder of FutureSight Labs. Seth advises leading brands and organizations on talent management, leadership, and change. With a passion for helping to create greater understanding and collaboration in the workplace, you’ll return home with actionable items that will improve your business like: Insights on the skills required to lead today; strategies to clear your head and focus on what’s really important; confidence to lead from a position of strength; ...
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Customer Service: Building Relations

By Karina Beltran Romero posted 16 days ago
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To create customer relationships, and keep them strong, you must do all you can to engage customers. Here are five ways to build customer relationships and keep them coming back. 1. Communicate. As a key to any good relationship, communication is an essential way to build customer relationships. Promoting your business and listening to your customers are equally important. Rather than just telling customers about your business, have conversations with them. Find out what your customers need, then show them that you have a solution to their problem. 2. Exceed expectations. Your customers expect great products or services from you. You should continue ...
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Make Sure Your Website Is ADA Compliant

By Christine Gibson posted 17 days ago
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation. You are probably familiar with the physical accommodations that are required of business owners, such as wheelchair access, automatic doors, etc. But, have you thought about your website. That’s right, websites fall under the ADA, and you need to make sure that your company’s website is complying, or you could get dinged. Under the law, websites should be just as accessible as ATMs, elevators, terminals, and other user interfaces. And it must be accessible across the multitude of devices used today: laptops, desktop, tablets, and mobile phones. ...
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EPA SECTION 608 UPDATES – Myth vs. Fact

By Todd Washam posted 21 days ago
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There is a lot of confusion among contractors about updates to EPA’s Section 608 certification, especially the possibility of allowing non-certified individuals to purchase refrigerants. ACCA has been working closely with the EPA, for more than two years, on changes to the EPA’s refrigerant program and Section 608 updates. ACCA is publishing this special alert to clear up the confusion. As an ACCA member, you will always have access to reliable information and we encourage you to follow our government relations blogs on a regular basis, so you remain “in the know.” The EPA published a rule that would rescind the Section 608 certification ...
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ACCA Joins Fight Against Florida Power & Light, Endorses Coalition Activities

By Todd Washam posted 22 days ago
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The Air Conditioning Contractors of America is proud to join the MEP Coalition to fight against utility expansion into heating and air conditioning services, as well as other services provided by the skilled trades. ACCA stands with professional contractors and local business owners who want a level playing field, fair competition and protection from utility monopoly subsidized threats” said Todd Washam, Director of Industry and External Relations for the ACCA. Visit the MEP Coaltion Website: www.mepcoalition.org/media/national-air-conditioning-association-endorses-campaign-against-fpl/
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Inhale. Exhale. No Worries Canadian Employers – Marijuana Legalization Doesn’t Mean a Free-for-All in the Workplace

By Hilary Atkins posted 23 days ago
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On October 17, 2018, Canada’s Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act (the Act) was passed into law and allows for the recreational use of marijuana. Employers are justifiably nervous about a new set of complex issues to manage regarding impairment of their employees while on the job.   But, no worries Canadian members (or, at least, no more than usual), the legalization of recreational marijuana does not provide employees with a right to use marijuana in the workplace. Both before and after the Act, employers have the right to establish policies pertaining to the use and possession of marijuana at work (similar to their rights or lack thereof to do so with respect ...
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New Jersey Publishes Mandated Paid Sick Leave Law Notice

By Hilary Atkins posted 23 days ago
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Head’s up! The New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law (ESLL) goes into effect on October 29, 2018 after being signed into law earlier this year (see our member’s only blog detailing its passage here .) With this new initiative, New Jersey joins ten other states in the U.S. having a statewide sick leave mandate. Under this mandate, most employees have the right to accrue up to 40 hours of sick leave per year.   The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently released the required form of notice to be posted and distributed in the employers’ workplaces.   The Notice informs employee of key provisions under ESLL. The Notice must be ...
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The Scourge of Distracted Driving

By Mark Tibbetts posted 24 days ago
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As a parent of three children ages 10, 12, and 12 (yes twins) I enjoy lots of windshield time transporting my kids and others to soccer, lacrosse, and rugby. Residing in Northern Virginia this means navigating our congested roadways to both home and away games. Being on the road rarely do I not see one or more vans or box trucks bearing the wrap of local HVAC contractors and it’s with pride that I can often note that it’s an ACCA member. This may illicit an eye roll from my teenage daughter. E.g. Dad you’re such a dork, but I actually enjoy the tangible reminder of who I work for and the industry I serve. This leads to a troubling observation. Driving a full-size ...
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Employees, Vacation, and Overtime Pay

By Brooke Duncan posted 28 days ago
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A member asked us:   I have a question regarding paying an employee overtime.  Let’s say an employee has 43 hours owed him/her in a pay week.  Of the 43 hours, 24 hours are either vacation and/or holiday pay.  Do we pay 40 hours regular pay and three hours overtime?  Or can we pay 43 hours regular time?  My interpretation is any pay over 40 hours per week has to be paid at the overtime rate after 40.     Brooke Duncan, from the law firm Adams and Reese in New Orleans, LA, responds:   Great question because it underscores a common misconception about the obligation to pay overtime. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, overtime is required only ...
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Where Does Your State Stand?

By Melissa Broadus posted 29 days ago
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It's National Energy Awareness Month. And since we all know that heating and cooling systems are the biggest consumers of energy, this is an opportunity to share with your customers how they can save some money but upgrading to more efficient equipment. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy families could save up to 25% on utilities by taking a few energy efficient measures. So, that leads me to the question in the title...where does your state stand...in terms of energy efficiency?  Recently, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2018’s Most & Least Energy-Efficient States. To gauge the financial impact of doing ...
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Achoo…It’s Flu Season Again!

By Kimya Bailey Cajchun posted 29 days ago
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Forgive my rant, please. But can we talk about the flu? It’s just October and apparently we’re already knee-deep in influenza. Prevention is key. So, here’s what the CDC says to do to Fight the Flu . Basically the CDC suggests getting a flu vaccine, avoiding people, washing your hands, covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and taking meds - basically all that stuff we learned when we were elementary school age. Yeah, yeah, I do all of that stuff and more. Yet here I am; congested, dizzy, wrapped up in extra blankets, nursing hot tea, and feeling like someone dropped a window unit on me. This sucks! And it’s probably ...
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What Is The Reasoning Behind The 15% Oversizing Limitation?

By Glenn Hourahan posted 10-15-2018
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An ACCA Member Asked: I work with a company out of Winston Salem, NC, and I had a quick question regarding the 15% oversizing limitation prescribed by ACCA. Basically, I want to know what the reasoning is behind the 15% number and just how strictly it should be followed. We have multiple scenarios when the sensible capacity of the equipment is not sufficient for the sensible load of the structure, yet the 15% total capacity rule says otherwise. There are also cases where the 15% rule is impossible to satisfy, such as a load calling for 19,500 BTU's. The only next step up would be a 2 ton system, but the oversizing exceeds 15%. I am curious due to a recent ...
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ACCA Board of Director Meets

By Barton James posted 10-11-2018
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On October 10, ACCA’s Board of Directors held its fall meeting at ACCA’s headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area. This was my first meeting with the entire Board of Directors as the new/Interim President and CEO of ACCA. I’m excited about the future of ACCA, which is led by this tremendous group of volunteers who take time away from their families and businesses to lead the nation’s premier association of contractors. I thought about this quite a bit yesterday, particularly what it means to be a trade association for contractors. When I think about ACCA my default it to think of it as an organization based in D.C. But, ACCA is much more than that. We are ...
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Meeting With The Speaker of the House

By Barton James posted 10-11-2018
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Coinciding with ACCA’s fall Board Meeting, I had the pleasure to introduce ACCA Board Member, Martin Hoover, of Empire Heating & Air Conditioning in Decatur, GA, to Speaker Paul Ryan’s (WI) office. Mr. Hoover leads ACCA’s Advocacy and Political Action Committee, which helps ACCA set our public policy goals and raise money to help transform our priorities into accomplishments. We met with the Speaker’s Assistant for Policy (Energy & Environment) to build on past discussions about two of the HVACR industry’s policy goals: ratification of the Kigali amendment (which phases out certain refrigerants) and promoting quality installation practices. For anyone ...
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ACCA Fights for Small Business Tax Reform 2.0

By Todd Washam posted 10-10-2018
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On September 26, ACCA sent a letter to every Member of the House of Representatives supporting a second round of tax reform.   The tax reform bill that President Trump signed in 2017 was a great first step in helping small business owners. However, more needs to be done for small businesses – contractors in particular. The “Tax Reform 2.0” being considered in the House consists of several pieces of legislation (bills), including the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act and the American Innovation Act. These bills are important for small business because they make permanent the tax deductions for small businesses allowing them to be more competitive. ...
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