One of the issues I often write about is the necessity for you, the contractor, to properly identify and calculate the true operational business costs you incur to run your business — in total and as those costs pertain proportionately to any given task.

When I was first given the charge to help bring the Radiant Professionals Alliance back into a more active role, I knew right away that the timing was right. Honestly, it has become a labor of love.

Fall heating season is here. What market forces are changing how we do business? What does the future business and technical climate look like for the PHC contractor? 

The owner of a high-rise multifamily residential building in Battery Park, Manhattan, faced a pressing infrastructure decision: replace an aging, gas-fired domestic hot water (DHW) system that could no longer deliver reliable, efficient service to residents.

Nobody said 2026 would be easy.  The refrigerant transition that reshaped purchasing patterns last year did not simply resolve itself when the calendar turned.

In the HVAC industry, it’s easy to feel like everything is becoming more advanced and more complicated. Building automation systems (BASs) are more capable.

Summer 2026’s global soccer tournament is unlike any other, with matches spread across 16 stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada. 

In last month’s column, we covered a brief history of backflow prevention in the United States and how the plumbing industry responded over time, developing backflow devices and standards for adoption in plumbing codes. 

This acquisition deepens the International Code Council’s technical advisory expertise in energy storage systems, fire protection systems, plan review and more.

The alliance combines industry-leading technology, digital capabilities and luxury showroom expertise to help independent businesses compete and grow.