Eric sits down with Lisa Holmberg. Lisa is the Senior Channel Market Manager for Honeywell’s Commercial/Industrial Combustion Controls Division. Honeywell is the world’s premier manufacturer of flame safeguard (burner/boiler safety) controls. Lisa’s influence and guidance help keep Honeywell on top.

Lisa and Eric discuss the  amazing new Honeywell Delphi system, the tremendous value that Honeywell’s distribution network provides customers, the potential dangers and perils of using rebuilt controls, Honeywell’s new C3 contractor program, and what the future holds for the burner/boiler control industry.

I got a chance to talk with Travis Haas from  Automation Components  Inc. (ACI ) about sensors. ACI is one of the leading manufacturers of HVAC sensors in the world. Based in Middleton, Wisconsin, they make quality temperature, humidity, pressure, and current sensors. In my interview Travis educates us on how to make the right choice when it comes to

sensor selection. Not all sensors are created equally, and the great news is that the sensors ACI makes in Wisconsin are some of the best in the world. Stromquist & Company keeps these sensors in stock in both our Atlanta and Florida locations. If you are not in Georgia or Florida, no problem; one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America can help you with your ACI sensor needs.

Click on the start button and find out how ACI can save you time and money when it comes to your temperature, humidity, pressure and current sensors.

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Johnson Controls

Eric interviews Chris Eichmann who is the director of product and systems sales North America for Johnson controls. In this interview Eric and Chris discuss everything from Johnson Controls AX DDC product offering to how the Johnson Branch, Johnson distributors and independent controls contractors can co exist in the marketplace.

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Tony Kelly is a controls contractor and trainer in New York City. Tony has created a a training series on DDC controls designed to allow the hvac technician in the field a way to learn about and become proficient on DDC controls.Eric and Kelly talk about DDC controls, open systems, and how to become a

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better controls tech. Look for Kelly’s excellent training videos and blog on Controltrends. To find out more about Kelly and his training courses please visit his website.

AIC Wireless has developed wireless products for HVAC building automation control and monitoring applications. I sat down and talked with Bryan Pike, one of the owners of AIC Wireless, about the company and the reliable products they produce. AIC wireless products are a low cost alternative to long runs of wire or Lon cable to control points in unreachable locations.  Not sure if wireless is right for your application? Just click on the play button and find out.

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What makes AIC products special is that they are very easy to set up; they truly are “plug and play.”AIC wireless is a proven product with successful installations that range from wireless communications from several feet to up to six miles. One of AIC’s higher profile projects was connecting data points at Fort Benning Georgia. Among other things, the AIC wireless control system used their bidirectional transceivers to receive and transmit data over a very hilly Fort Benning terrain. The AIC transceivers used the LonWorks protocol to communicate between a local LonWorks controller and an EMCS control room server. For more information about all the control points that the base monitors and controls check out the case studyby LonMark International.

AIC Wireless can expand any new or existing network.  The AIC Wireless transceivers operate on a point-to-multipoint architecture, which means that one server transceiver can communicate with multiple client devices. The AIC wireless transceivers work well in near and non-line-of-sight applications, and ranges can go up to forty miles. In addition to the transceivers, you need to make sure you select the proper antenna for longer distances.

Let’s take  a look at a couple of the products:

WLT 900

WLD Series

If you are a Stromquist & Company customer or are located in Georgia or Florida please contact us at www.stromquist.com for more information on AIC Wireless Products others can contact one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America.If you are a Stromquist & Company customer or are located in Georgia or Florida please contact us at www.stromquist.com for more information on AIC Wireless Products others can contact one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America.

What is social network marketing? In the HVAC controls industry, why should we care? Answers to these and other questions are explored with Mitch Joel, one of the leading digital marketers on the planet, and author of Six Pixels of Separation (2009). Social network marketing, or digital marketing, includes webtools like facebook, twitter, and  google. It is changing the way business is being done in new and exciting ways. When Google wanted to explain online marketing to the top brands in the world, they brought Mitch Joel in to the Googleplex in Mountain View, California. Marketing Magazine dubbed him the “Rock Star of Digital Marketing,” noting he is “one of North America’s leading digital visionaries.” In 2006 he was named one of the most influential authorities on Blog Marketing in the world. Mitch Joel is President of Twist Image, an award-winning Digital Marketing and Communications agency. I had the pleasure to interview Mitch about social networking in the HVAC industry. He knows his stuff and what he has to say might surprise you….

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Mitch’s book SIX PIXELS OF SEPERATION (2009) is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand how digital marketing is and will be changing the way businesses connect.

Mitch does an excellent job of explaining how to create a digital marketing strategy .

The book includes inspiring useful steps to understand and utilize internet tools and why and how you should be using them.

Only after reading this book did I begin to grasp the enormous ramifcations of digital marketing. Non-participation is not an option.

Times are changing, and as an industry we must embrace these new concepts. A stactic website is not enough; you must have an internet presence that allows for open-ended two-way conversations.

In addition to this interview, check out Mitch’s book and his website for the most up-to-date ideas.  Chris Brogan and Seth Godin are other leaders in the social network marketing movement.

Locally, we have a real talent in Judi Knight and her group at New Tricks.  She has a wonderful free newsletter with information on the latest in social network marketing ideas. New Tricks helped us design the Control Trends website and we have found them to do quality work at an affordable price.

So fellow HVAC industry partners, a whole new world of digital marketing awaits us! Let’s sign up to play!  Follow me on twitter, sign up for Control Trends and let’s enjoy the ride.  Once again, thank you, Mitch Joel !

Eric interviews the innovative Brian Turner from Control Co. Eric and Brian discuss everything from “open systems” and how a building owner can make sure they get a great integration job to the beautiful graphical interface that Control Co developed called prophetsuite. Check out this interview for the latest trends in building automation controls.

Eric interviews the very interesting Pete Baselici from Watt Stopper, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of lighting controls. Topics include: Watt Stopper’s newest products,  ”ladderless” commissioning, changes in the ASHRAE 90.1 lighting standard,the difference between ultrasonic and passive  infrared occupancy sensors, an inexpensive way to eliminate “phantom energy losses” and the new “forced on” lighting control strategy. So if you are looking for ways to save energy in your buildings or for products that can reduce your job installation time, this interview is a must listen.

Eric interviews Scott Cochrane president of Cochrane Supply & Engineering, Madison Heights, Michigan. Scott is a leader and innovator in the HVAC controls industry. Because of Scott, Cochrane Supply was one of the first HVAC controls companies to distribute Tridium software. Eric and Scott discuss open systems, building automation, and controls integration.

Select the ‘+ AUDIO MP3′ button below to listen in on the interview.

Eric continues his conversation with Roger Rebennack. In the second part of this two part interview, Roger speaks in more detail about Honeywell’s WEBS AX security offering, what it takes for a HVAC contractor to be successful as a systems integrator, and why a building owner should look to Honeywell’s product offering for all their building automation needs.

Select the ‘+ AUDIO MP3′ button below to listen in on the interview.