Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast

In this candid follow-up to our impromptu conversation at the 2026 National HVACR Education Conference, we bring together technicians, trainers, reclaimers and refrigerant management experts to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing our industry. With only about 3% of refrigerant making it back to a reclaimer and the next HFC phase-down step approaching in 2029, the panel takes an honest look at where we stand and what happens if we don't change course.

We explore:

• Why recovery rates need to double or triple to keep service gas available for existing equipment

• The differences between recover, recycle and reclaim, and why field-cleaned refrigerant isn't the same as certified reclaimed gas

• How small charges add up, from bar coolers to ice machines

• Why drop-off fees at the distributor level work against the entire supply chain

• The culture shift underway as technicians hold themselves and each other accountable

• How record keeping and tracking software support compliance

The panel shares straight talk and practical perspective for technicians, contractors, distributors and instructors who want to protect the future of the trade. Whether you work on thousand-pound chillers or 12-ounce self-contained units, this episode is a reminder that the refrigerant in today's equipment is tomorrow's supply.

Take the anonymous refrigerant recovery survey and tell us what would move the needle: https://form.jotform.com/261955475258066. #HVACR #Refrigerant #Reclaim #Trades #ESCO #ESCOInstitute

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🏫 Lincoln Tech — https://www.lincolntech.edu / @LincolnTech — Training the next generation of skilled HVACR professionals through hands-on career education.

🧰 NAVAC — https://navacglobal.com / @NAVAC — Revolutionizing the HVACR service industry with smart, efficient and reliable tools for technicians.

⚙️ Amatrol — https://amatrol.com / @Amatrol — Providing world-class technical training systems that empower students and instructors in the skilled trades.

🌎 A-Gas — https://www.agas.com / @a-gas8684 — Leading the way in sustainable refrigerant lifecycle management and environmental responsibility.

👏 Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting education, innovation and growth in the HVACR industry!

#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #LincolnTech #NAVAC #Amatrol #AGas #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACInnovation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

In this eye-opening and timely episode, we chat with Vic Marinich from Danfoss about the scale of data center construction and look at them from a technician's perspective. We dig into the massive cooling demands behind these facilities and the opportunities they're creating for contractors across the HVAC industry.

We explore:

• The needs of today's data centers, and why a single facility can use 140,000 tons of cooling and hundreds of chillers

• How the industry is tackling community concerns around energy use, water consumption and noise

• The shift from water-cooled to air-cooled systems as chip and chiller operating temperatures rise

• How heat exchangers and coolant distribution units move heat from the chip to the chiller, and the potential for waste heat recovery

• The trade-off between first cost and operating cost in heat exchanger design

• Why maintenance and uptime create long-term, year-round service opportunities for contractors

Vic shares real-world perspective for contractors, technicians and industry leaders looking to understand the technology behind data centers and the role HVAC plays in keeping them running. Whether you're curious about getting into data center work or want to better understand the gravity of this industry shift, this episode is packed with insights.

Learn more at danfoss.com. #HVAC #DataCenters #EnergyEfficiency #Danfoss #ESCO #ESCOInstitute

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🏫 Lincoln Tech — https://www.lincolntech.edu / @LincolnTech — Training the next generation of skilled HVACR professionals through hands-on career education.

🧰 NAVAC — https://navacglobal.com / @NAVAC — Revolutionizing the HVACR service industry with smart, efficient and reliable tools for technicians.

⚙️ Amatrol — https://amatrol.com / @Amatrol — Providing world-class technical training systems that empower students and instructors in the skilled trades.

🌎 A-Gas — https://www.agas.com / @a-gas8684 — Leading the way in sustainable refrigerant lifecycle management and environmental responsibility.

👏 Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting education, innovation and growth in the HVACR industry!

#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #LincolnTech #NAVAC #Amatrol #AGas #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACInnovation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

In this energetic, on-location episode, we head to the 2026 United Association ITP Week and Apprenticeship Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Clifton sits down with Ryan, last year's international competition winner turned mentor, and a table full of fourth- and fifth-year apprentices from across the U.S. and Canada. We dig into what it really takes to compete at the state, regional and international levels, and why this week is as much about brotherhood as it is about skill.

We explore:

• What the UA apprenticeship competition looks like from the state level all the way to internationals

• Why so many technicians make the leap from residential to union commercial and industrial work

• The variety and depth HVAC/R offers, from rooftops to grocery to institutional refrigeration

• How mentorship and continual training keep technicians from hitting a career plateau

• Why AI-driven data centers are becoming the next big opportunity for skilled UA contractors

Ryan and the competitors share candid stories about how they found the trade, what keeps them motivated and the advice they'd give anyone feeling stuck or unsure of their next step. Whether you're an apprentice, a contractor or an educator, this episode offers a firsthand look at the passion and community driving the next generation of the trade.

#HVAC #UA #Apprenticeship #ESCO #ESCOInstitute #SkilledTrades

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🧰 Service Logic — https://www.servicelogic.com / @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC — The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.

🌎 Hudson Technologies — https://www.hudsontech.com / @HudsonTechnologies — Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.

📚 iConnect Training — https://iconnecttraining.com / @iconnecttraining — Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.

🔧 The United Association (UA) — https://ua.org / @UAPipeTrades — Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders and HVACR professionals.

👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation and opportunity!

#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

Live from the UA Instructor Training Program, we chat with Joe Fernandez Jr. about the trade that's increasingly overlapping with HVAC: plumbing. We dig into how heat pump water heaters are reshaping expectations for both plumbers and HVAC techs, and why education and service are driving the transition.

We explore:

• Why heat pump water heaters are already the norm overseas and gaining ground in the U.S.

• The consumer pushback around upfront cost, and how technicians can educate customers

• How building a plumbing service program from the ground up transformed one UA local from 5% to over 40% service work

• Why service work is recession-resistant, and how the 2008 downturn and COVID-19 reshaped training priorities

• The growing emphasis on soft skills and customer communication alongside technical training

• How the UA is expanding curriculum with branch classes for specialized service skills

Joe shares hard-won lessons from over 30 years in the trade, including how his local rebuilt around service work after the 2008 crash and why "getting comfortable with being uncomfortable" has become a guiding philosophy for training the next generation. Whether you're a contractor, instructor or technician navigating the shift toward electrification and service-based work, this episode offers practical insight into where the trades are headed.

#HVAC #Plumbing #ESCO #ESCOInstitute #UnitedAssociation

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🧰 Service Logic — https://www.servicelogic.com / @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC — The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.

🌎 Hudson Technologies — https://www.hudsontech.com / @HudsonTechnologies — Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.

📚 iConnect Training — https://iconnecttraining.com / @iconnecttraining — Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.

🔧 The United Association (UA) — https://ua.org / @UAPipeTrades — Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders and HVACR professionals.

👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation and opportunity!

#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rob Vilches, training specialist with the United Association (UA), live from the 2026 UA Instructor Training Program (ITP) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With roughly 2,200 UA instructors on campus and over 400,000 members across the U.S. and Canada, the UA quietly runs one of the largest training operations in the skilled trades.

Rob breaks down:

• How the UA trains the trainers, turning field technicians into skilled classroom instructors

• How the Future Instructor Program identifies and develops leadership potential in fourth- and fifth-year apprentices

• Why so many technicians are already "teaching" without realizing it

• The culture shift within the trades toward treating apprentices with respect and long-term vision

• The UA's Pipe Pals initiative, tackling mental health and suicide prevention head-on with peer support

Rob shares personal insight into how the UA is reshaping its culture from the ground up. He emphasizes that great instructors and a healthier industry start with recognizing the mentors already among us. Whether you're a technician who's never thought of yourself as a teacher or an industry leader looking to build a stronger pipeline of educators, this episode offers a powerful look at what's possible when an organization puts people first.

Learn more at ua.org.

#HVAC #SkilledTrades #UnitedAssociation #Instructors #ESCO #ESCOInstitute

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🧰 Service Logic — https://www.servicelogic.com / @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC — The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.

🌎 Hudson Technologies — https://www.hudsontech.com / @HudsonTechnologies — Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.

📚 iConnect Training — https://iconnecttraining.com / @iconnecttraining — Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.

🔧 The United Association (UA) — https://ua.org / @UAPipeTrades — Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders and HVACR professionals.

👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation and opportunity!

#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

In this candid episode, we sit down with Jess Slade, a fourth-year pipefitting apprentice at UA Local 502 in Louisville, KY. She’s a participant in the UA's Future Instructors program, part of an effort to train the next generation of trade educators from within the apprenticeship pipeline.

We discuss:

• How the Future Instructors program identifies apprentices with leadership potential and develops them into educators while they're still completing their training

• Why the industry's instructor shortage is just as urgent as its labor shortage, and how programs like this are addressing it

• The power of dual mentorship, where younger apprentices help veteran instructors adapt to new technology while learning trade skills in return

• How generational differences in learning styles, communication and emotional intelligence are reshaping classroom instruction

• Why understanding "the why" behind technical training builds more capable, more invested tradespeople

Jess offers a refreshingly honest perspective on what it's like to be young in the trades today, the value of mentorship in both directions and why she believes her generation is poised to make a lasting impact on the industry. Whether you're an instructor navigating new technology or a young tradesperson considering a path into teaching, this episode offers real insight into where trades education is headed.

#Trades #Apprenticeship #ESCO #ESCOInstitute #UnionTrades #TradeEducation

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🧰 Service Logic — https://www.servicelogic.com / @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC — The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.

🌎 Hudson Technologies — https://www.hudsontech.com / @HudsonTechnologies — Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.

📚 iConnect Training — https://iconnecttraining.com / @iconnecttraining — Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.

🔧 The United Association (UA) — https://ua.org / @UAPipeTrades — Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders and HVACR professionals.

👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation and opportunity!

#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

In this episode, recorded live at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, we sit down with Aaron Wright, HVAC instructor at Delcastle Technical High School, to talk about what it takes to build a thriving vocational program.

We explore:

• How Delcastle's exploratory model lets freshmen sample HVAC alongside other career pathways before committing

• The "GAD score" system schools use to place students into high-demand programs like HVAC

• Turning classroom skills into real jobs through resume prep and interview practice

• Why employer partnerships and structured co-op schedules are key to getting students real-world experience

• The hands-on projects — brazing, electrical, sheet metal — that hook students in just a few days

• How coming up through the trades himself has shaped Aaron's approach to mentoring the next generation of techs

Aaron shares practical advice for instructors, school administrators and industry partners looking to build or strengthen their own CTE and apprenticeship pipelines. If you’re looking to connect with student talent, this episode offers a candid look at what's working on the ground.

#HVAC #CTE #SkillsUSA #ESCO #ESCOInstitute #HVACTechnician

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🏫 Lincoln Tech — https://www.lincolntech.edu / @LincolnTech — Training the next generation of skilled HVACR professionals through hands-on career education.

🧰 NAVAC — https://navacglobal.com / @NAVAC — Revolutionizing the HVACR service industry with smart, efficient and reliable tools for technicians.

⚙️ Amatrol — https://amatrol.com / @Amatrol — Providing world-class technical training systems that empower students and instructors in the skilled trades.

🌎 A-Gas — https://www.agas.com / @a-gas8684 — Leading the way in sustainable refrigerant lifecycle management and environmental responsibility.

👏 Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting education, innovation and growth in the HVACR industry!

#HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #LincolnTech #NAVAC #Amatrol #AGas #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACInnovation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

What can an HVAC competition teach us about preparing students for the realities of the field? In this episode, Clifton sits down with Jim Fultz of Copeland and White-Rodgers to recap their experience at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference—and share what instructors and industry professionals can learn from watching the next generation of technicians in action.

We explore:

• How SkillsUSA connects students, educators and industry professionals

• What the competition reveals about the current state of HVAC education

• Why students must understand both equipment operation and the troubleshooting process

• How technicians can approach unfamiliar equipment with greater confidence

• The importance of teaching proper flaring, torquing and pressure-testing procedures

• How competing under pressure prepares students for real-world service calls

• Why technicians should communicate diagnoses as “what I’ve found so far”

• How instructors and manufacturers can get involved as participants, observers or judges

Jim and Clifton also discuss the remarkable 17-year-old student who won this year’s HVAC competition, the growing number of high school participants and the value of collaboration among instructors—even when their students are competing against one another. For HVAC technicians, instructors and industry partners, this episode offers a candid look at the skills students are mastering, the areas where additional training may be needed and how the industry can help prepare tomorrow’s workforce for success.

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort – https://daikincomfort.com/ @DaikinComfort Delivering comfort, efficiency, and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🧰 Service Logic – https://www.servicelogic.com/ @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.

🌎 Hudson Technologies – https://www.hudsontech.com/ @HudsonTechnologies Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.

📚 iConnect Training – https://iconnecttraining.com/ @iconnecttraining Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.

🔧 The United Association (UA) – https://ua.org/ @UAPipeTrades Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders, and HVACR professionals.

👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation, and opportunity! #HVACR #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #staycurrent

What does it take to build a tool that survives real life on the job site — not just a CAD drawing? In this episode, Clifton catches up with returning guest Greg Guse, Director of New Products at Malco, for a behind-the-scenes look at how Malco decides what tools get made next, and why.

We explore:

• Malco's expansion from sheet metal into duct board tools, vacuum pumps and refrigerant equipment

• How the Safe Seal hose eliminates frostbite risk and Schrader valve leaks

• Why closed systems like R-290 and R-600 may need new recovery solutions

• The reverse-engineering story behind Malco's left-hand thread fitting

• New releases: the Tinner's hammer, a sheet metal cutting attachment and longer-blade snips

• Why Malco field-tests every tool with a global technician pool

Greg and Clifton also swap stories about lost fitting adapters, mysterious tank dimensions and much more. For technicians, distributors and instructors, this episode offers a candid look at how tool innovators keep pace with a constantly evolving industry.

Learn more about Malco's tools and solutions at MalcoTools.com. #HVAC #Refrigerants #A2L #ESCO #ESCOInstitute

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort – https://daikincomfort.com/ @DaikinComfort Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🏫 Lincoln Tech – https://www.lincolntech.edu/ @LincolnTech Training the next generation of skilled HVACR professionals through hands-on career education.

🧰 NAVAC – https://navacglobal.com/ @NAVAC Revolutionizing the HVACR service industry with smart, efficient and reliable tools for technicians.

⚙️ Amatrol – https://amatrol.com/ @Amatrol Providing world-class technical training systems that empower students and instructors in the skilled trades.

🌎 A-Gas – https://www.agas.com/ @a-gas8684 Leading the way in sustainable refrigerant lifecycle management and environmental responsibility.

👏 Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting education, innovation and growth in the HVACR industry!

#HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #LincolnTech #NAVAC #Amatrol #AGas #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACInnovation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

Is R-410A really gone — or just mostly dead? In this candid episode, we sit down with Greg Guse, Director of New Products at Malco, to unpack the confusing, ever-shifting reality of the R-410A phase-down and what it means for contractors, distributors and homeowners right now.

We explore:

• Why EPA's shifting guidance has left contractors and consumers unsure which system to buy • Why the R-410A shortage may hit faster than the R-22 phase-out did

• The push toward A2Ls and natural refrigerants — and why even A2Ls are just a transitional stop

• What's next for residential HVAC: heat pump chillers, air-to-water systems and CO2 technology

• How new tool designs are addressing A2L flammability and cross-contamination risks

• AI's growing role in tool design and technician training

Clifton and Greg trade stories from the field — from vintage Coke machines to CO2 laser bleed-off valves — while making the case that R-410A isn't dead yet … but it's time for contractors and educators to get ahead of what's coming next. Whether you're a technician, distributor or instructor, this episode is a practical gut-check on where refrigerants are headed.

Learn more about Malco's tools and solutions at MalcoTools.com.

#HVAC #Refrigerants #R410A #A2L #ESCO #ESCOInstitute

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🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!

A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇

💨 Daikin Comfort – https://daikincomfort.com/ @DaikinComfort Delivering comfort, efficiency, and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.

🧰 Service Logic – https://www.servicelogic.com/ @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.

🌎 Hudson Technologies – https://www.hudsontech.com/ @HudsonTechnologies Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.

📚 iConnect Training – https://iconnecttraining.com/ @iconnecttraining Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.

🔧 The United Association (UA) – https://ua.org/ @UAPipeTrades Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders, and HVACR professionals.

👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation, and opportunity!

#HVACR #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #staycurrent