News
November 2009
ARC's General Manager Achieves 3rd NATE Certification
ARC Mechanical Contractors is proud to announce that our general manager, Wayne Vanasse, a Corinth, Vermont resident has achieved an additional NATE certification. Wayne, who already holds two NATE certifications, is now NATE-certified as an Installation Technician for Commercial Refrigeration. Wayne’s other NATE certifications include Service and Installation Technician for Gas Furnaces and Service and Installation Technician for Hydronics – Gas.
Wayne has worked for ARC in various capacities for 9 years and manages our HVAC apprenticeship program with the states of Vermont and New Hampshire. ARC often hires high school seniors from both Riverbend Technical Center (Bradford, VT) and the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (White River Junction, VT) programs to provide them with actual HVAC and plumbing experience. Wayne is also a proctor for the NATE and CETP (Certified Employee Training Program) testing programs. A test proctor is required to administer and monitor the testing process. Proctors complete a formal training and testing process.
CETP (pronounced "SEE-tep") is a formal structure for training, testing and documentation to assure that workers in the propane industry have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work safely and effectively. In 1988, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) launched CETP for employees in the propane industry.
NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is an independent organization that develops and promotes excellence in the installation and service of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment by recognizing high-quality industry technicians through voluntary testing and certification.
There is not a single NATE test--there are 21 NATE tests. The knowledge areas of technician expertise are divided into tests for installation, service and senior technicians. To earn NATE certification you must pass both a core and a specialty exam
The NATE test is not simple and not all technicians pass the first time. NATE certification verifies that the technicians who pass are the best in the trade when it comes to knowledge and experience installing or servicing a heating or cooling system. To become certified installation and/or service technicians, these technicians must pass both core and specialty parts of either an installation or service test with a score of 70 or better.
October 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractor’s Service Manager Achieves 2nd NATE Certification
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. is proud to announce that our service manager, Jody Perkins has successfully achieved another NATE certification. Jody, already NATE-certified in service and installation of hydronics - gas, is now NATE-certified in service and installation of light commercial refrigeration.
NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is an independent organization that certifies installation or service technicians with a knowledge-based test.
There is not a single NATE test - there are 21 NATE tests. The knowledge areas of technician expertise are divided into tests for installation, service and senior technicians. To earn NATE certification you must pass both a core and a specialty exam
The NATE test is not simple and not all technicians pass the first time. NATE certification verifies that the technicians who pass are the best in the trade when it comes to knowledge and experience installing or servicing a heating or cooling system. To become certified installation and/or service technicians, these technicians must pass both core and specialty parts of either an installation or service test with a score of 70 or better.
September 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractors Receives 5x5x5 Growth Award
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. has been recognized by Vermont Business Magazine and KeyBank as one of the five fastest growing companies in the construction industry in Vermont. The 5x5x5 Growth Awards acknowledge five Vermont businesses that have experienced the greatest growth over the past five years over five business categories: technology, construction, wholesale, business services and manufacturing. ARC had a growth rate of 76% during the five year period covered. This is the second time ARC has received this award.
“We attribute our growth to quality workmanship developed by the constant review and improvement of our internal processes, as well as a commitment to the technical education of our workforce. These factors have firmly established our reputation as a reliable company with quality products and services,” said Wilton Buskey, owner.
The 7th Annual 5x5x5 Growth Awards will be presented on Tuesday, September 15, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington. In addition to recognizing the impressive growth of the honorees, the event serves as a celebration of Vermont business, particularly small business.
August 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractors Become Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer/Designer
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. announced that Lee Parry, a Cornish, NH, resident and Travis Chamberlain, a Claremont, NH, resident, recently completed an intensive, three-day service course. The course, centered on Mitsubishi Electric’s CITY MULTI R410A system, covered specifications, system design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and troubleshooting.
The completion of this course is one of the steps ARC has taken to become a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, which allows us to offer longer warranties on select Mitsubishi Electric products. Mitsubishi Diamond Dealers are independent contractors that have reached the highest level of accreditation from Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Division. They have successfully completed factory training in the areas of design, applications, sales and service.
The CITY MULTI System recently received a Gold Award in the HVAC/R category for Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s (CSE) 2009 Product of the Year contest. CITY MULTI is a fully-customizable heating and cooling solution for providing comfort conditioning inside a building with precision control. CITY MULTI’s comprehensive network of Variable Refrigerant Flow Zoning (VRFZ) technology products integrated with the advanced CITY MULTI Controls Network (CMCN) is the only one of its kind. With the CITY MULTI system, the building owner has the ability to define the temperature for every room on every floor, even if 10 different temperature zones are required on the same floor. It even makes it possible to measure the entire building’s HVAC energy consumption and separate air-conditioning usage in various rooms for billing purposes! Plus, it’s so intuitive and easy to operate that you won’t need to call a technician every time you need to make a change.
July 2009
Three ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Attain LEED AP Status
ARC Mechanical Contractors, Inc. is excited to announce the successful completion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional exam in New Construction and Major Renovation by Michael R. Cook, a Jericho, VT resident, and Brian C. Sager, a Bradford, VT resident. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Michael and Brian join John Hollinrake, the first member of the company to achieve the LEED Accredited Professional status. ARC may be the only HVAC contractor in Vermont and New Hampshire with 3 LEED APs on staff.
As of March 31 this year, there were 101,165 LEED APs in the US, with California in the lead with 14,942. The majority of LEED professionals are architects (nearly 27%), with the next largest group in the construction management field (just over 8%). New Hampshire has 258 LEED professionals, while Vermont has 218. North Dakota has the fewest with only 40. (Source: www.gbci.org, Green Building Certification Institute)
The LEED for New Construction exam track provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings.
As LEED APs, Brian, John and Michael possess the knowledge and skills necessary to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the application and certification process. The exam was launched in 2001 to recognize, through accreditation, individuals’ understanding of green building practices and principles, and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes.
Michael Cook, a project manager and field engineer for ARC, has 26 years experience in the building and construction industry. He has also been elected to the office of vice president for the Champlain Valley Chapter (Vermont) of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Michael received his education at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College.
Vice President at ARC and manager of the estimating and design department, Brian Sager has 23 years experience in the HVAC industry. Brian also received his education at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College.
John Hollinrake, a designer and estimator for ARC, has 31 years experience in building design and facilities management. John received his education at Northeastern University and New Hampshire Vocational Tech.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types – commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
Founded by the USGBC in 2008, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) develops and administers credentialing programs aimed at improving green building practice. GBCI administers the LEED Professional Accreditation exam. The USGBC is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.
June 2009
ARC Project Manager Elected VP of Champlain Valley Chapter of ASHRAE
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. is proud to announce that Michael R. Cook, a Jericho, Vermont resident, has been elected to the office of Vice President for the Champlain Valley Chapter (Vermont) of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for 2009 - 2010.
Michael Cook, a project manager and field engineer for ARC, has 26 years experience in the building and construction industry. Michael received his education at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College. He recently completed the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) exam in New Construction and Major Renovation.
ASHRAE advances technology to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standard writing, publishing and continuing education.
ASHRAE is the world’s foremost technical society in the fields of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. The society helps ensure energy-efficient buildings, keep indoor environments comfortable and productive, and preserve the outdoor environment. ASHRAE members are in the forefront of the building community to provide guidance and technical leadership on key sustainability issues which help building owners, facility managers, architects, contractors and engineers learn the benefits of innovative technolgoies and energy-efficient designs and operations.
ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Successfully Complete Certified Employee Training Program (CETP)
ARC Mechanical Contractors announce the successful completion of the Certified Employee Training Program, or CETP (pronounced "SEE-tep") by Raymond Welch, a Wentworth, NH resident; Harry Savage, a Bath, NH resident; Brad Roy, a Woodsville, NH resident; Jason Joseph, a Lisbon, NH resident; Stephen Ingalls, a Thetford, VT resident; Richard Cutone, a Groton, VT resident; and Robert Ingalls, a Thetford, VT resident.
In 1988, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) launched CETP - a comprehensive, nationwide training and skills certification program for employees in the propane industry. The program was established to provide third-party confirmation of the candidate’s knowledge and skills. CETP provides up-to-date, task-specific technical training that eliminates guesswork. Combining hands-on practice with written activities, CETP assures that workers have the knowledge and skills needed to do their job safely.
May 2009
John Hollinrake Successfully Completes LEED AP Exam
ARC Mechanical Contractors announce the successful completion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional exam in New Construction and Major Renovation by John Hollinrake, a Warren, NH resident. The LEED for New Construction exam track provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings.
LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types - commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle - design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
As a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), John possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the design process, to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the application and certification process. The exam was launched in 2001 to recognize, through accreditation, individuals’ understanding of green building practices and principles, and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes.
Founded by the USGBC in 2008, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) develops and administers credentialing programs aimed at improving green building practice. GBCI administers the LEED Professional Accreditation exam. The USGBC is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.
March 2009
Harness the Earth’s Energy with a Ground Source Heat Pump
Stillwater, OK - Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems use modern technologies to harness the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the earth. Greg Stone and John Hollinrake, of ARC Mechanical Contractors in Bradford, VT, are now accredited by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) to harness the earth’s energy for you. Hard work and extensive preparation have allowed these two individuals to give the community the opportunity to experience GSHP technology.
An IGSHPA-accredited installer is a benefit to the Bradford community because of his or her ability to offer the only qualified renewable energy system available today. These systems are perfect for homes, apartment complexes, businesses, schools, and more. In addition to heating and cooling, GSHPs also create free hot water in the summer and deliver substantial hot water savings in the winter.
Installation trainees learn about the design and installation of ground heat exchangers, which are the basis of GSHP systems. During the winter, water or an anti-freeze solution is circulated through buried pipe, collecting heat from the earth and transporting it into the building. During the summer, the system cools the building by reversing itself; collecting heat from the building and transporting it back into the earth.
For more information on this durable, low-maintenance, economic, and environment-friendly alternative to conventional heating and A/C, contact ARC Mechanical Contractors at 802-222-9255 or call IGSHPA at 800-626-4747.
Contact: International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, John Clapp, Training Coordinator, 374 Cordell South, Stillwater, OK 74078; 405-744-5175, j.clapp@okstate.edu.
Geothermal Design And Installation Training
ARC Mechanical Contractors has announced that four employees recently finished a three-day geothermal course at Water Furnace, a manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps.
Greg Stone, a Bradford, VT resident, and John Hollinrake, a Warren, NH resident, attended the Geothermal Piping “Loop” Design course. This course covered the design and installation of geothermal closed loop systems in residential applications. Topics include site surveys, soil classifications, header design, loop types, grouting vertical bores, fusion certification, building penetration, pressure drop, pump sizing, flushing and purging.
Brad Roy, a Woodsville, NH resident, and Brent Knapp, a Hartford, VT resident, attended the Service and Installation course. Topics include the basics of water-side analysis, troubleshooting, heat of extraction/rejection.
Geothermal energy has been used to heat and cool buildings for many years, and, during that time, these geothermal systems have been called a variety of names. Some of the more popular variations include geo-thermal, geoexchange, ground-water, ground-water assisted, ground-water-source, water-to-water, water furnace heating and cooling.
All of these terms, though, convey the same thought: use of geothermal heat pump technology to tap the energy in the earth's surface and drive a heating and air conditioning system for both residential and commercial uses. The result is a green or natural heat pump that saves energy and benefits the environment.
The investment to send its design and installation personnel through the Water Furnace program demonstrates ARC’s commitment to ensuring its employees are up to speed on the latest industry products and technology. As a Water Furnace dealer, ARC has exclusive access to Water Furnace’s products and programs.
About Water Furnace
Water Furnace is the leading manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps. Products from WaterFurnace include energy-efficient and environmentally friendly geothermal comfort systems, indoor air quality products and pool heaters. WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. (TSX: WFI) was founded in 1983, the company is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind.
ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Successfully Complete Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program
ARC Mechanical Contractors has announced that Nicholas Carbee, a North Haverhill, NH resident, and James Fontaine, a Corinth, VT resident, have successfully completed the classroom instruction and on-the-job training of the Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program
for plumbing. This achievement means that both may now take the journeymen plumber’s examination. The graduation ceremony will take place April 4th at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center.
Vermont Registered Apprenticeship is an employer-sponsored training program that includes both supervised work experience and related instruction. There are more than 800 active apprentices in Vermont in over 30 different occupations.
Employers participate in Registered Apprenticeship by "sponsoring" individuals as apprentices. The employer sets a progressive wage scale, agrees to provide supervised OJT, and helps financially support the related instruction component of the program. ARC Mechanical Contractors presently sponsors 11 individuals in this program, and has graduated 10 plumbers through the program over the last 4 years.
Related instruction in apprenticeship can be delivered in a variety of formats. In plumbing and electrical, most apprentices attend classes through Vermont Technical College at a number of sites around the state. In other occupations, students may attend classes delivered by the company. Union sponsors provide related instruction through classes at union training centers.
ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Play in Freezing Fun for Families Softball Tournament
For the second year, ARC Mechanical Contractor employees and their families played in the
Freezing Fun for Families 11th Annual Winter Coed Softball Tournament held at the Barre Town Recreation Fields March 6,7,& 8th. The tournament is 1 pitch, wooden bat, and played in the snow. This year the fundraising group applied to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most teams involved in a winter softball tournament. They will know in the next few weeks whether or not they were accepted.
Over 60 teams played this year and raised over $25,000 to help the families of 9 yr old Emma McGeorge and 15 yr old Austin Joslin. Both children have Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Teams needed to include 5 men and 5 women. ARC’s team included Willie and Robin Bonser of Corinth, Jim and Sara Cressey of Barre, Tom and Jodi Meyette of Corinth, Mark Kingsbury of West Topsham and Ken Libby of Bradford. ARC played two games on Friday, March 6, with a first game loss of 3-0. The second game went 10 innings although ARC lost the game 1-0. The team had a great time and plan to play again next year.
ARC Mechanical Contractor Employees Complete Trane Boot Camp
ARC Mechanical Contractors, a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration company serving the Upper Valley area of central Vermont and New Hampshire, has announced that James Cressey and Paul Luciw recently graduated from the Trane Company's TraneAir ExperienceTM. training program. Trane is the leader in indoor air quality (IAQ) in the residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning market.
Held at Trane facilities in Tyler, Texas, the TraneAir Experience is two weeks of intensive technical and sales training designed to help sales professionals develop a greater understanding of consumers’ changing needs relative to indoor air quality and learn how Trane’s family of premium HVAC products are able to meet those needs.
The first week of the program includes five days of product and retail sales training. Participants get a first-hand look at the stringent testing Trane products undergo at the company’s manufacturing plant before being released to the consumer. During the second week, participants take part in the Trane Boot Camp where they are exposed to real-life consumer IAQ challenges, from inefficient heating and air conditioning systems to allergens in the home. At the completion of the training, participants are equipped to design energy efficient comfort systems that meet their customers’ individual needs and budget.
The investment to send its sales personnel through the TraneAir Experience program demonstrates ARC’s commitment to ensuring its employees are up to speed on the latest industry products and technology. As a Trane dealer, ARC has exclusive access to Trane’s revolutionary new HVAC products and programs, including CleanEffects, a whole house air cleaner that removes up to 99.98% of allergens and more than 99% of the common flu virus from the air it heats or cools.
JANUARY, 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractor Hires Marketing Manager
Kimberly Seymore, a resident of Bradford, Vermont, recently joined ARC Mechanical Contractors, Inc., as marketing manager. Ms. Seymore has lived in Vermont for over 10 years, but is originally from Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Immediately following graduation, she worked for Los Alamos National Laboratory for four years where she coordinated industry visits to the laboratory and managed technology commercialization projects.
ARC Mechanical Contractors provides plumbing, mechanical piping, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, ductwork, and controls for commercial, residential, institutional, industrial and municipal buildings/facilities. In business since 1947, many examples of our work may be found all over Vermont and New Hampshire, including Dartmouth College’s Alumni Gym and Whittemore Hall, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Woodstock Inn, King Arthur Flour, and the Southern Vermont Recreation Center.
November 2009
ARC's General Manager Achieves 3rd NATE Certification
ARC Mechanical Contractors is proud to announce that our general manager, Wayne Vanasse, a Corinth, Vermont resident has achieved an additional NATE certification. Wayne, who already holds two NATE certifications, is now NATE-certified as an Installation Technician for Commercial Refrigeration. Wayne’s other NATE certifications include Service and Installation Technician for Gas Furnaces and Service and Installation Technician for Hydronics – Gas.
Wayne has worked for ARC in various capacities for 9 years and manages our HVAC apprenticeship program with the states of Vermont and New Hampshire. ARC often hires high school seniors from both Riverbend Technical Center (Bradford, VT) and the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (White River Junction, VT) programs to provide them with actual HVAC and plumbing experience. Wayne is also a proctor for the NATE and CETP (Certified Employee Training Program) testing programs. A test proctor is required to administer and monitor the testing process. Proctors complete a formal training and testing process.
CETP (pronounced "SEE-tep") is a formal structure for training, testing and documentation to assure that workers in the propane industry have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work safely and effectively. In 1988, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) launched CETP for employees in the propane industry.
NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is an independent organization that develops and promotes excellence in the installation and service of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment by recognizing high-quality industry technicians through voluntary testing and certification.
There is not a single NATE test--there are 21 NATE tests. The knowledge areas of technician expertise are divided into tests for installation, service and senior technicians. To earn NATE certification you must pass both a core and a specialty exam
The NATE test is not simple and not all technicians pass the first time. NATE certification verifies that the technicians who pass are the best in the trade when it comes to knowledge and experience installing or servicing a heating or cooling system. To become certified installation and/or service technicians, these technicians must pass both core and specialty parts of either an installation or service test with a score of 70 or better.
October 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractor’s Service Manager Achieves 2nd NATE Certification
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. is proud to announce that our service manager, Jody Perkins has successfully achieved another NATE certification. Jody, already NATE-certified in service and installation of hydronics - gas, is now NATE-certified in service and installation of light commercial refrigeration.
NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is an independent organization that certifies installation or service technicians with a knowledge-based test.
There is not a single NATE test - there are 21 NATE tests. The knowledge areas of technician expertise are divided into tests for installation, service and senior technicians. To earn NATE certification you must pass both a core and a specialty exam
The NATE test is not simple and not all technicians pass the first time. NATE certification verifies that the technicians who pass are the best in the trade when it comes to knowledge and experience installing or servicing a heating or cooling system. To become certified installation and/or service technicians, these technicians must pass both core and specialty parts of either an installation or service test with a score of 70 or better.
September 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractors Receives 5x5x5 Growth Award
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. has been recognized by Vermont Business Magazine and KeyBank as one of the five fastest growing companies in the construction industry in Vermont. The 5x5x5 Growth Awards acknowledge five Vermont businesses that have experienced the greatest growth over the past five years over five business categories: technology, construction, wholesale, business services and manufacturing. ARC had a growth rate of 76% during the five year period covered. This is the second time ARC has received this award.
“We attribute our growth to quality workmanship developed by the constant review and improvement of our internal processes, as well as a commitment to the technical education of our workforce. These factors have firmly established our reputation as a reliable company with quality products and services,” said Wilton Buskey, owner.
The 7th Annual 5x5x5 Growth Awards will be presented on Tuesday, September 15, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington. In addition to recognizing the impressive growth of the honorees, the event serves as a celebration of Vermont business, particularly small business.
August 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractors Become Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer/Designer
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. announced that Lee Parry, a Cornish, NH, resident and Travis Chamberlain, a Claremont, NH, resident, recently completed an intensive, three-day service course. The course, centered on Mitsubishi Electric’s CITY MULTI R410A system, covered specifications, system design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and troubleshooting.The completion of this course is one of the steps ARC has taken to become a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, which allows us to offer longer warranties on select Mitsubishi Electric products. Mitsubishi Diamond Dealers are independent contractors that have reached the highest level of accreditation from Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Division. They have successfully completed factory training in the areas of design, applications, sales and service.
The CITY MULTI System recently received a Gold Award in the HVAC/R category for Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s (CSE) 2009 Product of the Year contest. CITY MULTI is a fully-customizable heating and cooling solution for providing comfort conditioning inside a building with precision control. CITY MULTI’s comprehensive network of Variable Refrigerant Flow Zoning (VRFZ) technology products integrated with the advanced CITY MULTI Controls Network (CMCN) is the only one of its kind. With the CITY MULTI system, the building owner has the ability to define the temperature for every room on every floor, even if 10 different temperature zones are required on the same floor. It even makes it possible to measure the entire building’s HVAC energy consumption and separate air-conditioning usage in various rooms for billing purposes! Plus, it’s so intuitive and easy to operate that you won’t need to call a technician every time you need to make a change.
July 2009
Three ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Attain LEED AP Status
ARC Mechanical Contractors, Inc. is excited to announce the successful completion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional exam in New Construction and Major Renovation by Michael R. Cook, a Jericho, VT resident, and Brian C. Sager, a Bradford, VT resident. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Michael and Brian join John Hollinrake, the first member of the company to achieve the LEED Accredited Professional status. ARC may be the only HVAC contractor in Vermont and New Hampshire with 3 LEED APs on staff.
As of March 31 this year, there were 101,165 LEED APs in the US, with California in the lead with 14,942. The majority of LEED professionals are architects (nearly 27%), with the next largest group in the construction management field (just over 8%). New Hampshire has 258 LEED professionals, while Vermont has 218. North Dakota has the fewest with only 40. (Source: www.gbci.org, Green Building Certification Institute)
The LEED for New Construction exam track provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings.
As LEED APs, Brian, John and Michael possess the knowledge and skills necessary to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the application and certification process. The exam was launched in 2001 to recognize, through accreditation, individuals’ understanding of green building practices and principles, and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes.
Michael Cook, a project manager and field engineer for ARC, has 26 years experience in the building and construction industry. He has also been elected to the office of vice president for the Champlain Valley Chapter (Vermont) of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Michael received his education at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College.
Vice President at ARC and manager of the estimating and design department, Brian Sager has 23 years experience in the HVAC industry. Brian also received his education at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College.
John Hollinrake, a designer and estimator for ARC, has 31 years experience in building design and facilities management. John received his education at Northeastern University and New Hampshire Vocational Tech.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types – commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
Founded by the USGBC in 2008, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) develops and administers credentialing programs aimed at improving green building practice. GBCI administers the LEED Professional Accreditation exam. The USGBC is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.
June 2009
ARC Project Manager Elected VP of Champlain Valley Chapter of ASHRAE
ARC Mechanical Contractors Inc. is proud to announce that Michael R. Cook, a Jericho, Vermont resident, has been elected to the office of Vice President for the Champlain Valley Chapter (Vermont) of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for 2009 - 2010.
Michael Cook, a project manager and field engineer for ARC, has 26 years experience in the building and construction industry. Michael received his education at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College. He recently completed the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) exam in New Construction and Major Renovation.
ASHRAE advances technology to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standard writing, publishing and continuing education.
ASHRAE is the world’s foremost technical society in the fields of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. The society helps ensure energy-efficient buildings, keep indoor environments comfortable and productive, and preserve the outdoor environment. ASHRAE members are in the forefront of the building community to provide guidance and technical leadership on key sustainability issues which help building owners, facility managers, architects, contractors and engineers learn the benefits of innovative technolgoies and energy-efficient designs and operations.
ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Successfully Complete Certified Employee Training Program (CETP)
ARC Mechanical Contractors announce the successful completion of the Certified Employee Training Program, or CETP (pronounced "SEE-tep") by Raymond Welch, a Wentworth, NH resident; Harry Savage, a Bath, NH resident; Brad Roy, a Woodsville, NH resident; Jason Joseph, a Lisbon, NH resident; Stephen Ingalls, a Thetford, VT resident; Richard Cutone, a Groton, VT resident; and Robert Ingalls, a Thetford, VT resident.
In 1988, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) launched CETP - a comprehensive, nationwide training and skills certification program for employees in the propane industry. The program was established to provide third-party confirmation of the candidate’s knowledge and skills. CETP provides up-to-date, task-specific technical training that eliminates guesswork. Combining hands-on practice with written activities, CETP assures that workers have the knowledge and skills needed to do their job safely.
May 2009
John Hollinrake Successfully Completes LEED AP Exam
ARC Mechanical Contractors announce the successful completion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional exam in New Construction and Major Renovation by John Hollinrake, a Warren, NH resident. The LEED for New Construction exam track provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types - commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle - design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
As a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), John possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the design process, to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the application and certification process. The exam was launched in 2001 to recognize, through accreditation, individuals’ understanding of green building practices and principles, and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes.
Founded by the USGBC in 2008, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) develops and administers credentialing programs aimed at improving green building practice. GBCI administers the LEED Professional Accreditation exam. The USGBC is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.
March 2009
Harness the Earth’s Energy with a Ground Source Heat Pump
Stillwater, OK - Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems use modern technologies to harness the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the earth. Greg Stone and John Hollinrake, of ARC Mechanical Contractors in Bradford, VT, are now accredited by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) to harness the earth’s energy for you. Hard work and extensive preparation have allowed these two individuals to give the community the opportunity to experience GSHP technology.
An IGSHPA-accredited installer is a benefit to the Bradford community because of his or her ability to offer the only qualified renewable energy system available today. These systems are perfect for homes, apartment complexes, businesses, schools, and more. In addition to heating and cooling, GSHPs also create free hot water in the summer and deliver substantial hot water savings in the winter.
Installation trainees learn about the design and installation of ground heat exchangers, which are the basis of GSHP systems. During the winter, water or an anti-freeze solution is circulated through buried pipe, collecting heat from the earth and transporting it into the building. During the summer, the system cools the building by reversing itself; collecting heat from the building and transporting it back into the earth.
For more information on this durable, low-maintenance, economic, and environment-friendly alternative to conventional heating and A/C, contact ARC Mechanical Contractors at 802-222-9255 or call IGSHPA at 800-626-4747.
Contact: International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, John Clapp, Training Coordinator, 374 Cordell South, Stillwater, OK 74078; 405-744-5175, j.clapp@okstate.edu.
Geothermal Design And Installation Training
ARC Mechanical Contractors has announced that four employees recently finished a three-day geothermal course at Water Furnace, a manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps.
Greg Stone, a Bradford, VT resident, and John Hollinrake, a Warren, NH resident, attended the Geothermal Piping “Loop” Design course. This course covered the design and installation of geothermal closed loop systems in residential applications. Topics include site surveys, soil classifications, header design, loop types, grouting vertical bores, fusion certification, building penetration, pressure drop, pump sizing, flushing and purging.
Brad Roy, a Woodsville, NH resident, and Brent Knapp, a Hartford, VT resident, attended the Service and Installation course. Topics include the basics of water-side analysis, troubleshooting, heat of extraction/rejection.
Geothermal energy has been used to heat and cool buildings for many years, and, during that time, these geothermal systems have been called a variety of names. Some of the more popular variations include geo-thermal, geoexchange, ground-water, ground-water assisted, ground-water-source, water-to-water, water furnace heating and cooling.
All of these terms, though, convey the same thought: use of geothermal heat pump technology to tap the energy in the earth's surface and drive a heating and air conditioning system for both residential and commercial uses. The result is a green or natural heat pump that saves energy and benefits the environment.
The investment to send its design and installation personnel through the Water Furnace program demonstrates ARC’s commitment to ensuring its employees are up to speed on the latest industry products and technology. As a Water Furnace dealer, ARC has exclusive access to Water Furnace’s products and programs.
About Water Furnace
Water Furnace is the leading manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps. Products from WaterFurnace include energy-efficient and environmentally friendly geothermal comfort systems, indoor air quality products and pool heaters. WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. (TSX: WFI) was founded in 1983, the company is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind.
ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Successfully Complete Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program
ARC Mechanical Contractors has announced that Nicholas Carbee, a North Haverhill, NH resident, and James Fontaine, a Corinth, VT resident, have successfully completed the classroom instruction and on-the-job training of the Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program
for plumbing. This achievement means that both may now take the journeymen plumber’s examination. The graduation ceremony will take place April 4th at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center.
Vermont Registered Apprenticeship is an employer-sponsored training program that includes both supervised work experience and related instruction. There are more than 800 active apprentices in Vermont in over 30 different occupations.
Employers participate in Registered Apprenticeship by "sponsoring" individuals as apprentices. The employer sets a progressive wage scale, agrees to provide supervised OJT, and helps financially support the related instruction component of the program. ARC Mechanical Contractors presently sponsors 11 individuals in this program, and has graduated 10 plumbers through the program over the last 4 years.
Related instruction in apprenticeship can be delivered in a variety of formats. In plumbing and electrical, most apprentices attend classes through Vermont Technical College at a number of sites around the state. In other occupations, students may attend classes delivered by the company. Union sponsors provide related instruction through classes at union training centers.
ARC Mechanical Contractors Employees Play in Freezing Fun for Families Softball Tournament
For the second year, ARC Mechanical Contractor employees and their families played in the
Freezing Fun for Families 11th Annual Winter Coed Softball Tournament held at the Barre Town Recreation Fields March 6,7,& 8th. The tournament is 1 pitch, wooden bat, and played in the snow. This year the fundraising group applied to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most teams involved in a winter softball tournament. They will know in the next few weeks whether or not they were accepted.
Over 60 teams played this year and raised over $25,000 to help the families of 9 yr old Emma McGeorge and 15 yr old Austin Joslin. Both children have Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.Teams needed to include 5 men and 5 women. ARC’s team included Willie and Robin Bonser of Corinth, Jim and Sara Cressey of Barre, Tom and Jodi Meyette of Corinth, Mark Kingsbury of West Topsham and Ken Libby of Bradford. ARC played two games on Friday, March 6, with a first game loss of 3-0. The second game went 10 innings although ARC lost the game 1-0. The team had a great time and plan to play again next year.
ARC Mechanical Contractor Employees Complete Trane Boot Camp
ARC Mechanical Contractors, a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration company serving the Upper Valley area of central Vermont and New Hampshire, has announced that James Cressey and Paul Luciw recently graduated from the Trane Company's TraneAir ExperienceTM. training program. Trane is the leader in indoor air quality (IAQ) in the residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning market.Held at Trane facilities in Tyler, Texas, the TraneAir Experience is two weeks of intensive technical and sales training designed to help sales professionals develop a greater understanding of consumers’ changing needs relative to indoor air quality and learn how Trane’s family of premium HVAC products are able to meet those needs.
The first week of the program includes five days of product and retail sales training. Participants get a first-hand look at the stringent testing Trane products undergo at the company’s manufacturing plant before being released to the consumer. During the second week, participants take part in the Trane Boot Camp where they are exposed to real-life consumer IAQ challenges, from inefficient heating and air conditioning systems to allergens in the home. At the completion of the training, participants are equipped to design energy efficient comfort systems that meet their customers’ individual needs and budget.The investment to send its sales personnel through the TraneAir Experience program demonstrates ARC’s commitment to ensuring its employees are up to speed on the latest industry products and technology. As a Trane dealer, ARC has exclusive access to Trane’s revolutionary new HVAC products and programs, including CleanEffects, a whole house air cleaner that removes up to 99.98% of allergens and more than 99% of the common flu virus from the air it heats or cools.
JANUARY, 2009
ARC Mechanical Contractor Hires Marketing Manager
Kimberly Seymore, a resident of Bradford, Vermont, recently joined ARC Mechanical Contractors, Inc., as marketing manager. Ms. Seymore has lived in Vermont for over 10 years, but is originally from Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Immediately following graduation, she worked for Los Alamos National Laboratory for four years where she coordinated industry visits to the laboratory and managed technology commercialization projects.
ARC Mechanical Contractors provides plumbing, mechanical piping, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, ductwork, and controls for commercial, residential, institutional, industrial and municipal buildings/facilities. In business since 1947, many examples of our work may be found all over Vermont and New Hampshire, including Dartmouth College’s Alumni Gym and Whittemore Hall, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Woodstock Inn, King Arthur Flour, and the Southern Vermont Recreation Center.