Can you imagine a world where connecting to an HVAC system was as easy as paying for food with your Apple Pay or credit card chip? That reality is present in this next generation equipment from Hitachi that is using near field communication (NFC) to connect to your smartphone or tablet without even taking off the covers of the unit. Every temperature thermistor, pressure transducer and system error is at your fingertips with real-time data as well as stored data logging. Sounds dreamy right? That is the future of our industry, and one of the many innovations that will attract new talent to our profession. The development of AI is threatening many career fields and causing IT professionals to consider the HVACR industry due to the job security and technological innovations. Not to mention, we are attracting young, tech-savvy women and men that look forward to the use of technology in their chosen career path. Welcome to the future of HVACR!

Technology and innovations are the driving force for efficiency. Not just in the realm of HVACR but in the entire world. It is important to stay current with the tools and techniques that make our lives easier and more efficient. Today we spend time with our good friend Tony Gonzalez from Fieldpiece tools to discuss ways to become more efficient in the things we already do, like evacuation and charging. It's never too late to teach an 'old dog' a new trick! And its always cool to try a new tool.

Let's discuss what Norman Van Johnson calls "Figuring out your HVACY" - to really get students to ask themselves “why” are they interested in HVACR. Getting students to think about why they are interested in HVAC opens dialogue into all the possible careers in HVACR and what might be the best fit for an individual’s career path. For example, being a service technician is great for people who enjoy the solitude of driving to calls and don’t mind navigating through traffic as part of their daily routine. Others may look towards the path of teaching, owning their own business or being a consultant. There are thousands of different career opportunities within our industry, we just need to assist in figuring out why they are interested, and what they would like to pursue, to help guide our students to a successful future.