< Previous30 OCTOBER 2018HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYan important issue all manufacturers should be concerned about: Even though your brand sticker is on the “engine,” your brand rep-utation will be associated with the entire car, regardless of whether you had anything to do with the transmission or the wheels.It’s only a matter of time before system perfor-mance becomes the new bar for our industry. It will soon be demanded by consumers as well. As a manufacturer you'll have two choices: The first is to stick your head in the sand, and pro-claim it’s out of your control, since you don't in-stall the system. This choice would convey lack of accountability, since it’s your authorized dealers installing your “engines.” It wouldn't play well in this heightened era of environmental responsibil-ity – not very good for a company’s image.The second and better choice, is to be proactive and develop a network of indoor comfort profes-sionals with the training and the tools they need to make the entire system work correctly. Imagine building a network of very skilled “High-Performance Dealers” who are trained and certified to test, diagnose, and offer the right solu-tions. These dealers would document system performance, and provide a delivered ef-ficiency rating. What if your dealers could certify a “(Your Brand Name Here) High-Performance System” that meets a minimum standard. What if the sys-tem was verified and documented by software monitored by a credible third party? The good news is this training, support, and software exists now. Over the past two decades, National Comfort Institute has developed a turn-key system your organization can plug into that includes the training, certifications, support, and software to get started right away. I f you’re in charge of sales or marketing for one of our industry’s major equipment man-ufacturers, you are probably seeking ways to differentiate your company’s position in this highly competitive market. The HVAC Industry has reached the point where we’ve squeezed every possible EER and AFUE out of equipment -- without reaching the point of diminishing returns.So what’s next? What will you do to stand out from the pack? To answer that question, it’s im-portant to recognize a phenomenon that’s been steadily building for many years. Government and regulated utilities are moving towards me-ter-based efficiency verification. It's where the rubber meets the road, as the meter doesn't lie.Affixing an equipment label with a factory-test-ed efficiency rating will no longer be enough. This new direction will include additional verifi-cation of how a “system” performs once installed in a home or building. This may seem unfair, since as a manufactur-er you have little control over how the equipment performs once it leaves your factory and is con-nected to the “rest of the system.” Unfortunate-ly it’s your brand name on the box, and you'll be looked to for answers as to why the system is per-forming at a lower efficiency than advertised.A good analogy compares HVAC “systems” to automobiles where the equipment is the “engine,” the duct system is the “transmission,” and the grilles and registers are the “wheels.” But there’s Dominick Guarino is publisher of HVAC Today magazine and CEO of National Comfort Institute, Inc. He can be reached at domg@ncihvac.com ONE MORE THING...By Dominick GuarinoAn Open Invitation To Manufacturers: The Future Is Here And NowTHE BETTER CHOICE IS TO BE PROACTIVE AND DEVELOP A NETWORK OF INDOOR COMFORT PROFESSIONALS WITH THE TRAINING AND THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MAKE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WORK CORRECTLY.Next >