https://members.hpba.org RSS feeds for Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) 60 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2040/With-Proper-Preparation-and-Motivation-Virtual-Hill-Meetings-Work#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=2040 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2040&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2040/With-Proper-Preparation-and-Motivation-Virtual-Hill-Meetings-Work If you had asked me a year ago whether I thought virtual congressional meetings would be as productive as in-person meetings, I would have said no way. But here we are, and I find myself pleased to be proven wrong. From April 6-8, about 50 HPBA members met with 80+ congressional offices via Zoom or phone. We met with offices who represent 22 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Even though Congress was out of session, we were lucky enough to meet directly with Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri, Congresswoman Judy Chu of California, Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont, and Congressman Mike Rogers of Alabama. When you think of meetings with congressional offices, you might think of sitting in a Congressman’s office in Washington, DC or sitting across the table from a young staffer, hashing out issues that affect the district and constituents. These meetings felt surprisingly familiar to how they would play out in-person. As everyone has moved to a virtual world, we are not the only trade group to organize virtual meetings. With crucial scheduling and meeting platform support from Advocacy Associates (a DC-based firm that specializes in organizing congressional visits), HPBA staff and members were able to seamlessly move from virtual meeting to virtual meeting, advocating on behalf of the industry. I heard multiple times from congressional staff how well prepared our members were and that they greatly appreciated how well organized and action-oriented our meetings were since many advocates often are not as well prepared. Our primary focus was promotion of the BTU Act, legislation that would extend the new Sec. 25(D) tax credit for qualifying wood and pellet heaters through 2028 (the credit is set to expire after 2023). The legislation would also increase the credit from the current level of 26% to 30% of qualifying purchase and installation costs. The legislation will be reintroduced by Senator King (D-ME) with Senator Collins (R-ME) later this week. Offices were receptive to the tax credit and were encouraged to hear how successful the credit has been for many retailers in just the past few months. Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT), who was the original sponsor of the BTU Act in the House for many years, was especially pleased to hear from retailers and manufacturers that the credit has gone a long way toward incentivizing customers to make purchases. Members also promoted the not-yet-reintroduced Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act (WHERA), which would create a grant program under EPA to replace older. Non-certified wood and pellet heaters with new, EPA-certified products. These changeout programs have seen great success over the years in improving air quality and lowering home heating bills, but the country lacks a national pool of funds to continue supporting these programs once the original funds have run out. The topic of “electrification” also came up in meetings. It is important for congressional staff and legislators to be aware of the impacts of reducing or banning use of natural gas and propane. Both natural gas and propane play an important role in our country’s home energy fuel options, reducing costs and ensuring households have a reliable source of heat. Given how successful these meetings were and the engagement we saw from our members, we will most likely continue to organize more frequent virtual meetings with congressional staff and HPBA members. It is crucial that we stay in touch with our allies on Capitol Hill and cultivate new relationships as well. Hearing from constituents is an important way for congressional staff and members of Congress to hear first-hand how federal policies are affecting small businesses. A big thank you to all of our members who participated in these virtual meetings last week. You took a leap of faith and trusted us to prepare you and ensure that any technology limitation didn’t hold us back from exercising our right to make our voices heard with elected officials. Listed below are the names of those industry leaders who participated. Thank you for demonstrating leadership and giving our industry a voice! Name Company Karen Arpino NEHPBA John Bassemier Bassemiers Fireplace and Patio, INC Dann Carnes Fireplace Editions Darryl Corey FW Webb Company Mike Delconti FW Webb Company Joel Etter Hearth & Home Technologies Grant Falco Falco's Rick Forshaw Forshaw of Saint Louis Inc Erica Geil MidStates & Midwest HPBA Larry Grogan Rocky Mountain Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Assoc. Daniel Hammer SUTTER HOME & HEARTH, INC. Todd Harkrider Harky's Chimney & Home Services LLC Bill Harris Masonry Fireplace Industries, Inc Dan Hechler HECHLERS HEARTH & HOME Cristina Henriquez HPBA-Pacific Drew Herendeen Hearth and Home Dick Hoffman RGH ENTERPRISES INC. Joseph Holland Holland & Hearth, Inc. Rodger Holland Holland & Hearth, Inc. Ben Holt Embers Custom Fireplace & Gas Products, Inc Edward Hosack Hearthworks Mark Humphrey Fireplace Warehouse Ron Kessner Fireplaces Plus David Kuhfahl Hearthstone Quality Home Heating Products Inc. Nathan Lammers Johnson Gas/Mendota Adam Lee Brownstone Distributing Carolyn Logue CA Logue Public Affairs Connie Maier Hearth and Home Shoppe Donald Murphy The Murphy Group, LLC Ronald Pihl Warmstone Fireplaces and Designs Tim Reed Reed Marketing, LLC Kris Richardson Modern Flames Amie Ryan Ryan Bros. Chimney Sweeping, Inc Peter Schoenfeld United Buyers Group Clint Severns The Woodway Jeff Simmons Top Hat chimney sweeps Karen Teske-Osborne North Central HPBA Randy Toupin Energy Distribution Systems Kaity Van Amersfort South Central HPBA Jonathan Williams Mid-Atlantic HPBA Robert Wise CVC Success Group Cindy Wise Southeast HPBA     Stephanie Gomez Wed, 14 Apr 2021 15:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2040 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2027/HPBA-Response-to-NESCAUM-Report#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=2027 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2027&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2027/HPBA-Response-to-NESCAUM-Report Are the new, ultra clean woodstoves just as bad for air quality as your grandparents’ ancient woodstove? That’s what you might think if you read the recent report released by NESCAUM. Of course, it’s utter nonsense to suggest that this is true. Any woodstove available in a store today meets the very high standards set by the Obama Administration in 2015.  A very brief history of the woodstove: Prior to 1988, the government did not certify woodstoves. Really anyone could build a metal box with a chimney and burn wood in it. However, in 1988 the EPA implemented the first New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that targeted woodburning appliances. This regulation resulted in much cleaner-burning stoves and better air quality. In 2015, the EPA updated that NSPS to bring us the familiar Step 1 and Step 2 appliances. The Step 2 requirements have been mandated since May of 2020. The difference between a non-certified stove, a 1988-certified stove, and a 2020-certified stove is extraordinary and a credit to the industry for fully embracing technological advancements to produce these incredible appliances. We take seriously any allegation that the testing and certification process is not adequate, but we haven’t seen – nor does this report expose – any indication that the regulatory process doesn’t work. The report does show that different labs can get different results, especially when using different types of wood (firewood versus lumber). In addition, fire is variable! A log may settle in a different way in one test to the next, resulting in slightly different results. This does not mean the process doesn’t work – it means that there will always be some variability between labs. A fully resourced EPA could track that. A properly funded and staffed EPA could also conduct field testing of woodburning stoves. They haven’t done that since the early 1990s. That means the EPA and NESCAUM have no idea how the newest certified stoves perform in the home. All we have to go by are lab results, which do show significant improvement from pre-2015 stoves and the stoves today that meet the standards set by the Obama Administration in 2015. And remember that the vast majority of stoves in homes today are pre-1988, uncertified (which is to say unregulated) models. So, what is going on in Alaska? There is a significant air quality issue in Fairbanks that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) is struggling to address. ADEC initially raised concerns that there is a problem in the EPA certification process. From what we have heard from member companies, part of ADEC’s problem could be that they aren’t fully reading the stove test reports. We all know how cumbersome it can be to read an EPA test report, let alone find information that you’re looking for. We’re aware of many of ADEC’s concerns and found that most of them are due to a modest data omission or a small mistake in a test report – nothing that would indicate a problem with the actual emissions level from a certified stove. However, the data they are looking for is there, just not where ADEC expected it to be. HPBA and the industry has been calling on the EPA to develop a standard template for the test labs and manufacturers to use for test reports and certification. Perhaps with a template it would be easier to report and understand what is in these reports. In recent years, communities all over the country are doing change outs to encourage consumers to get rid of their outdated woodstoves and replace them with a new, cleaner version. This must continue. In many parts of the country, a woodstove is a key part of heating a home. In some places, it is the only viable option. Changeouts and tax credits like the new federal section 25(D) make it easier for a home owner to obtain a new woodstove. It is critical that every stove in use today that predates EPA certification be replaced with a newer, cleaner option. This report from NESCAUM is an unfortunate result of individuals looking to find a problem so that they can push for their desired outcome. An outcome that will not help the public or the development of the wood and pellet heater industry. The industry has done everything that EPA has asked of it. Sometimes a little grudgingly, but ultimately, we follow the rules. If there is a problem with how EPA is certifying products, we need more than lab variability and an anti-woodstove agenda to force the removal of clean and excellent products from the store shelves. Consumers in North America deserve to have access to the heating source that best works for them and our industry will fight for that right. Stephanie Gomez Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2027 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2020/Stay-warm-and-safe-with-your-fireplace#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=2020 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2020&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2020/Stay-warm-and-safe-with-your-fireplace It’s extremely cold out there for most of North America. To make this more dangerous, many parts of the country and millions of households are also coping with power outages. It is our hope that those who are affected by this terrible combination have the comfort of a fireplace or some other back-up source of heating available to them. When we talk about the importance of energy choice and a dependable back-up to electricity, a winter storm is always top of our mind. People go to extremes to stay warm when the power is out and so many of those activities can be deadly. Don’t turn on your gas cook stop and leave it on to try to warm the house. Don’t bring your grill inside. Don’t bring your firepit or firetable inside. Don't burn anything extra in your gas fireplace. And don’t burn anything in your woodburning fireplace except seasoned wood. This week is showing everyone that a fireplace in your home can be a lifesaver, no matter where you live. This week is also showing one of the main weaknesses in going all-electric. The electrical grid in North America is an extraordinary technological achievement, but it has its drawbacks – some are built into it and some are unavoidable. Simply put, overhanging wires can be brought down by ice or wind. Electrical generating stations, whether fired by renewable sources or natural gas or nuclear, are susceptible to outages from any number of sources. That electricity we depend on can be interrupted with little notice. Fortunately, our infrastructure is designed to handle many of these threats and our engineers are able to make timely fixes, but outages do occur and can leave you and your family in the cold – often in life-threatening circumstances when the power or heat is needed most. Going all electric in your community means that you don’t have options when the winter storm takes out your power. It means that you are captive to the repair schedule of dedicated, but overworked technicians. In communities throughout North America, town and city councils are passing energy codes and regulations banning the inclusion of natural gas in new buildings in the interest of climate change. There is no doubt that reducing carbon emissions is an important goal, but over the past decades, natural gas and propane have proven to be important parts of that goal. Shortsighted bans in these communities are not based on all the facts and take away your choice to have a convenient gas fireplace in your home. Have you been coping with this storm in front of your fireplace? We hope you have that choice and we want everyone to have that same choice. Learn more about how natural gas and propane provide energy choice when you need it most.   Stephanie Gomez Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2020 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2019/Update-on-HPBA-NSPS-Litigation#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=2019 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2019&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2019/Update-on-HPBA-NSPS-Litigation The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in oral arguments in litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). HPBA argued against EPA’s revision of the audit testing provisions, used to enforce the 2015 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), which fail to account for inherent variability in test method results and the means by which EPA imposed new compliance audits in the 2015 Rule. For an industry comprised almost entirely of small businesses, the audit provision is a company killer. It allows EPA to take any product, test it in any lab, and if the product does not pass the audit test, the manufacturer may have to recall all stoves from that model line. Even the cost of challenging “failed” audit test may prove insurmountable for many manufacturers. The EPA has a standing, decades-long acknowledgement that it lacks understanding about the inherent variability of test results for woodburning appliances. This is why, historically, it has not required that a certified appliance to be tested at a different lab than the lab that had performed the original certification tests, much less make such testing the basis for an audit test. Standard procedure allows for some variability in testing precision between different laboratories. This is not allowed in the current rule. HPBA submitted comments opposing the revisions to the audit testing provision to take variability into account when the 2015 NSPS was initially opened for public comment. EPA failed to respond to the arguments against the provision, which it must do under the basic precepts of administrative law. It is our hope that the Court will vacate this provision of the 2015 NSPS and reinstate the previous audit provisions, which took variability into account. The Court will likely issue its opinion in the coming months. Stephanie Gomez Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2019 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2018/Outreach-to-your-local-elected-officials-One-Affiliates-story#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=2018 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2018&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/2018/Outreach-to-your-local-elected-officials-One-Affiliates-story Note: Northeast HPBA made the decision to email all of the newly-elected house and senate representatives in each state to congratulate them on their victory, to introduce them to the NEHPBA members in their district, and introduce them to NEHPBA and what we do. We've been getting so many wonderful responses. See an example of one of the letters we sent and some of the many responses below.    Dear Representative Kushmerek: Congratulations on being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.  The Northeast Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (NEHPBA) is a trade association representing more than 300 individual member retail and related companies throughout the Northeast. These are our region’s chimney sweeps, installers, hearth retailers, maintenance companies, and any other entity having a commercial interest in the hearth, patio and/or barbecue industry, including—but not limited to—gas utilities, publications, testing laboratories, insurance agencies, financial institutions, business systems providers, advertising agencies, public relations firms, and so much more. Specifically, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we have over 60 member companies—all of whom are independent “mom and pop” small businesses. Feens Country Living, owned by Wendy Feen in Fitchburg, is a local, family owned and operated business that has been servicing the area for over 45 years. Feens is an NEHPBA member that installs gas, wood and pellet fireplaces. They are well known in your community and we look forward to introducing you further to our member businesses. Our member businesses are community contributors. They sponsor local little leagues; they are members of school boards and PTAs; they provide a sense of vibrancy to Main Street, they know the towns and cities they represent because they live there; and the local impact they are making in the economy is needed, now more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, where so many of our small businesses are already being pushed to the limit—from North Adams to Natick and Springfield to Salisbury.  NEHPBA and our members remain committed to working with government officials and regulators at all levels to increase access to more sustainable and climate centric fuel sources throughout our homes and businesses. I look forward to getting to know you and introducing you to our members. Please do not hesitate to contact me at (978) 443-0344 or via email at Karen@NEHPBA.org with any questions. Sincerely, Karen L. Luther Executive Director Northeast Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association   Responses from the letter above:  “Thank you, Karen. I look forward to working with you, as well.” - Steven G. Xiarhos, State Representative “Thank you for your email and for reaching out. I certainly appreciate the introduction and look forward to working with you and your district members. Wendy - If my office or I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. Additionally, I’ve cc’ed my legislative aide, Brandon Robbins on this email.” - Michael P. Kushmerek, State Representative “Thanks so much for your note. Your trade organization is not one that I was familiar with, but I can imagine that with the COVID-19 pandemic and folks wanting to spend more time in comfortable outdoor settings you have been more in the spotlight. I've cc'ed my aide Emerson Gagnon.  Feel free to reach out to him if you have particular issues that you think need my office's attention.  I'm also happy to meet with any of your members who live in or have businesses based in my district so I can better understand their concerns.” - Steve Owens - State Representative “Thank you for reaching out to our office, Karen. I look forward to working with your organization.” - John Cronin, Senator “Thank you, Karen!  I have cc'd my aid as well in case you need anything at all.”  - Jake Oliveira, State Representative “Thank you for reaching out!  If you need to contact the Senator, please feel free to do so through myself especially for future urgent matters. Looking forward to working with you and your organization.  Thank you!”  - Danielle Allard, Chief of Staff/General Counsel, Office of Senator “Thank you for this communication. I’m cc’ing my Legislative Counsel, Chris Westfall, so you have his contact information as well.” - Fluker Oakley, State Representative   Stephanie Gomez Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2018 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1946/HPBA-Presidential-Transition-and-Election-Report#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1946 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1946&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1946/HPBA-Presidential-Transition-and-Election-Report As of November 25, 2020 The transition from the Trump administration to the Biden administration has officially begun. During the last week of November, President-elect Biden began to name nominees to his Cabinet, including Antony Blinken for Secretary of State and Janet Yellen for Treasury Secretary. We expect to see a steady stream of nominee announcements in the coming days on key positions for the Biden Cabinet. Biden Picks for EPA and Department of Energy  One administration announcement that HPBA will be following closely is for EPA Administrator. We are increasingly hearing that Collin O’Mara, current President of the National Wildlife Federation, is under serious consideration. O’Mara has strong Delaware ties as he headed up that state’s Department of Natural Resources and knows the President-elect personally. In addition, he has built solid bipartisan relationships on Capitol Hill in his advocacy work for NWF. Another contender is Mary Nichols, who currently heads the California Air Resources Board. In conversations we have had with individuals familiar with current internal discussions, it appears that CARB Chair Nichols may not be interested in leaving California for this position, but the situation is fluid. For Energy Secretary, Dr. Arun Majumdar is a leading contender. Dr. Majumdar served in the Obama Administration where he was the Founding Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) and also served as the Acting Under Secretary of Energy. He is currently leading the Department of Energy’s transition team. Other names under consideration for the Cabinet position are Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, who was deputy secretary under Obama and has long been a Biden adviser; Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination with a strong climate and energy focus; Ernest Moniz, Obama's second DOE secretary; and Dan Reicher, a Stanford University lecturer who had senior roles in President Clinton's DOE and served on Obama's transition team.   Control of the Senate Depends on Georgia In Congress, control of the Senate rests with two runoff races in Georgia that will occur on January 5, 2021. Republicans currently hold 50 seats in the upper chamber and Democrats hold 48. Two scenarios could unfold. Scenario One:  Democrats win both Georgia contests and the Senate would be split 50-50. Under this situation, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would break the tie on Senate votes. Scenario Two: Republicans win one or both Georgia Senate seats and maintain control of the Senate with a split of either 49-51 or 48-52. Noteworthy is the fact that Senate rules such as the filibuster will not be changed even if Democrats take both Georgia seats. The reason is that a majority of sitting Senators must vote to change Senate rules and Vice President-elect Harris would not meet that criterion. In addition, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has already announced that he would not vote for abolishing the filibuster. The bottom line is that 60 votes will remain the standard for passing legislation in the Senate next year when the 117thCongress convenes, which will require bipartisanship to move any policy through the upper chamber.   Key Senate Committee Leadership Changes Notable changes in committee leadership next year feature Sen. John Barasso (R-WY) moving over from his perch atop the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to take the gavel of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (SENR) Committee. Senator Lisa Murkowski, current Chairman of SENR, is stepping down due to committee term limits. Moving in to chair the Senate EPW Committee is Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who is a long-time champion of HPBA policy priorities including leading Hill efforts on NSPS to cosponsoring our national stove change out legislation.   House of Representatives As the vote count marches on in the House, Democrats appear to be headed for a majority of 222 or 223 seats, which represents a 10 or 11 seat loss. This outcome is a long way from the 10 to 15 seat pick up that nearly every pollster predicted Democrats would secure. While Democrats will continue to control the House, this narrow majority leaves little room for Speaker Pelosi to maneuver and will encourage House leadership to pursue legislation that attracts support from both sides of the aisle.   As always, HPBA will continue to strengthen relationships with Congressional offices and build new ones with newly-elected leaders.   Stephanie Gomez Thu, 03 Dec 2020 20:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1946 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1940/HPBA-Post-Election-2020-Report#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1940 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1940&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1940/HPBA-Post-Election-2020-Report As of 11:00 am on November 6, 2020 A scenario that many political analysts had predicted long before November 3 has played out—we do not know the outcome of the Presidential race days after Election Day and are not likely to know for at least a bit longer. Former Vice President Biden leads President Trump narrowly (253-213) in the race to secure the requisite 270 Electoral College votes need to win and appears to be inching closer to victory as more votes are counted. Most reports had President Trump leading in Alaska, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania in the days immediately after the election; the Georgia and Pennsylvania races may have tipped slightly in Vice President Biden’s favor in just the last 24 hours. Biden has many paths to 270, whereas Trump needs to carry several states where he is now trailing to be reelected. The votes that are now being counted are mail-in ballots that generally favor Biden. Even after all states have counted and certified the votes, the Trump administration has indicated that legal challenges will likely be coming. So, keep your seat belt buckled…we may not have certainty on the result for quite some time.   The following is a report on the status of Presidential, Senate, and House races. A more detailed policy impact analysis will be put together in the coming weeks as election results are finalized.   HPBA’s Public Policy Philosophy HPBA will continue to work with both sides of the aisle to develop and propose policies that impact the industry at all levels. It is important to maintain the bipartisan spirit in which we work, regardless of Administration (and possibly party) changes every four or eight years, as the work we do never ends. Overall, our industry’s legislative and regulatory efforts have garnered bipartisan support. There is no reason to end that record of success now.   Election 2020: Results as of November 6, 2020 Presidential Election: Joe Biden: 264 Electoral College votes (Popular Vote: 73.5 million votes (50.5%)) Donald Trump: 214 Electoral College votes (Popular Vote: 69.6 million votes (47.8%)) Six states have not yet been called: Alaska, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania The election really comes down to Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania Nevada will likely be won by Biden A recount will likely be called for in a few states where the apparent victor has less than one percent more votes U.S. Senate Elections: Republicans appear on track to retain control of the Senate Key races in North Carolina, Iowa, and South Carolina remained in Republican hands Iowa: Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) wins reelection with 51.8% of the vote over Theresa Greenfield (D) with 91% of the vote counted North Carolina: Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC) wins reelection with 48.7% of the vote over Cal Cunningham (D) with 94% of the vote counted South Carolina: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wins reelection with 54.5% of the vote over Jaime Harrison (D) with 99% of votes counted Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) wins reelection with 50.4% of the vote over Sara Gideon (D) with 87% of votes counted Democrats picked up seats in Arizona and Colorado, but lost in Alabama ​  Alabama: Tommy Tuberville (R) wins with 60.3% of the vote over Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) with 99% of votes counted Arizona: Mark Kelly (D) wins with 51.7% of the vote over Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) with 89% of votes counted Colorado: Former CO Governor John Hickenlooper wins with 53.3% of the vote over Senator Cory Gardner with 94% of votes counted Runoff in Georgia  There will be at least one runoff election in Georgia in January to fill the seat vacated by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) when he retired. Neither Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), who was appointed by Georgia’s Governor until this special election, or Raphael Warnock, the Democratic challenger, have been able to secure at least 50% of the vote. Senator Loeffler currently has 26.0% and Mr. Warnock has 32.7% of the vote. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) is ahead with 49.8% of the vote over Jon Ossoff (D) with 98% of the vote counted But, if the final vote tallies result in him remaining below that 50% threshold, his race would also be on the ballot for the runoff election in January. It is conceivable that Democrats could win both these races, but given the trend last night, that seems unlikely. U.S. House of Representatives Elections: Democrats will maintain control of the House as expected, but Republicans may gain a handful of seats. So far, 7 Democrat incumbents have been defeatedd. The most prominent of these from HPBA’s perspective is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN-7), who was defeated by Michelle Fischbach.   HPBA will continue to remain close to the vote counting as it continues and provide you with regular updates and our analysis.   Have questions? Please contact Rachel Feinstein.     Stephanie Gomez Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:23:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1940 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1931/Sanitary-Tips-to-Help-Protect-Your-Workspace-During-COVID-19#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1931 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1931&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1931/Sanitary-Tips-to-Help-Protect-Your-Workspace-During-COVID-19 As we continue to adapt to the changes in the current state of the world, it’s important to ensure that you and your employees are prepared for this new normal. States all across the country are now transitioning into reopening phases by increasing (but still limiting) capacity indoors, expanding in-person operations, and emphasizing the importance of public health protocols. HPBA recently held a webinar hosted by L. Joseph Orchal III of The Chimney Scientist and Alan Rush of Rush Profits/Partner of Surefire Training Academy to share sanitary techniques. With plenty of information available on the internet, we understand it can become overwhelming. The webinar shared insightful tips and information that addressed health safety concerns during the reopening periods. Based on this session, here are some takeaways to protect the public safety of your facility, employees and customers. These tips are not a guarantee of safety but are common safety precautions that all retailers should practice. For more direct guidelines, follow your individual state’s orders.   Note: A list before the list Be sure to have the following cleaning products at all times and follow basic sanitary protocols: - EPA-approved disinfectant, mask(s) and disposable gloves, (alcohol-based wipes or spray containing at least 70% alcohol can also be used as a disinfectant), - Pre-clean surface areas before applying disinfectant solution, - Remove disposable gloves first before adjusting or removing mask, - Try to dispose of gloves after each use or have one specifically for disinfecting, - Wash hands thoroughly for 20 seconds or more.   What exactly do I disinfect in the workspace? It can be overwhelming at first but to practice safety cleanliness, routinely sanitize the following: - High-touched surfaces (i.e. desks, tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, computer and other electronics). - Common areas (Kitchen, restrooms, lobby/reception area). - Commonly used items such as pens, o   Invest in contactless transactions such as disposable pamphlets, catalogs or brochures, and have documentations by virtual means. - Frequently clean the use of sale equipment (i.e. transaction devices, showroom, etc.).  What about electronics in common use? - It’s recommended to clean electronics before entering the workspace and at the end of the workday. - Such electronics include smart tablets, touch screen monitors, computers and keyboards, TV’s, remote controls, and smartphones. - Recommended: Invest in wipeable covers for commonly used electronics. Preparing the workspace For employers: - Employers should have social distancing signs or labels marked on the floor or other common areas. Employers should move workstations so that employees are six feet apart or more. - Limit customers’ ability to touch showroom displays or other items to control the spread of germs. - Practice social distancing. - Recommended: clearly label items such as commonly used ink pens stations as ‘Clean’ or ‘Dirty.’ - Clearly designate ‘Employee Only’ sanitation stations and ‘Customer Only’ sanitation areas (if any), o   These stations should include masks, disposable gloves and disinfectant solution.   For employees: - Follow your workspaces entering and existing procedures. - Follow your workspace disinfectant protocols. - Encourage the use of face coverings and practice social distancing. For more details and information, closely monitor community guidelines by following your state/local orders and regulations. For additional safety practices, refer to the CDC guidelines.  Stay safe and healthy!   Stephanie Gomez Wed, 01 Jul 2020 17:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1931 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1926/Eyes-on-the-Prize-Working-for-a-fair-and-accurate-standard-for-wood-heaters#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1926 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1926&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1926/Eyes-on-the-Prize-Working-for-a-fair-and-accurate-standard-for-wood-heaters People have said to me over the years that they don’t envy the job that my colleagues and I have at HPBA: trying to forge industry positions with members who can have very different interests and positions on a particular issue. Frankly, it’s what I enjoy – although I readily admit that it can be a challenge and be frustrating at times. The process can be difficult for our members as well, but since it is transparent and they are involved, they trust it and respect its decisions. But what is truly frustrating is to see an account that combines inaccuracies, the advantages of perfect hindsight, and “connects the dots” where they simply cannot be connected. Unfortunately, John Ackerly’s recently-published article, “EPA proposal to relax wood stove rules sows division between states and industry – and between industry factions,” an account of the long road of NSPS advocacy, is exactly that. I will not respond to each and every inaccurate assertion and conclusion in the interest of brevity. But I will address some overarching concerns caused by Mr. Ackerly’s article. First, HPBA’s positions were not the result of dominance by central heater members or favoritism towards their products. Central heaters were in the difficult position of being regulated for the first time, unlike wood stoves, which had been regulated since 1988. Ratcheting down on existing regulations is much easier for a regulatory agency than creating new emissions limits on an entirely new category of appliance. We certainly did not – and do not – agree with many of EPA’s decisions on wood stove emissions, but we were at least “talking the same language” with EPA on those regulations. More importantly, Mr. Ackerly seems to think that somehow a few companies led HPBA down a path that ignored the concerns of the majority of wood-burning appliance manufacturers. Nothing could be further from the truth. HPBA’s Solid Fuel Hearth Appliance Section, of which all of the manufacturers affected by EPA’s NSPS are members, received (and continues to receive) regular updates on all major issues and developments from our government affairs staff. In addition, the section votes on all major issues – with each company having one vote – and the decisions are reached after vigorous discussion and reaching a consensus. The idea that staff made decisions on behalf of the industry without consultation is preposterous. My colleagues and I are very aware of who pays our salaries –  our members. Our job is to represent their interests. Further, the governance of our section does not result in HPBA “working for the lowest common denominator” – decisions arrived at by consensus prevent that from happening. This does not mean that some members of the section agree with all decisions, but I am confident that the majority of our members are satisfied with the process and the results of the process. Mr. Ackerly also questions some of the decisions made by HPBA without all of the necessary facts or insight. I will raise two examples of many in his article. He faults HPBA for delaying the legal challenge to the 2015 final NSPS regulation as if it were a delaying tactic – and one motivated by what amounts to “regulatory greed,” for that matter. In actuality, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals always directs the parties to negotiate their differences. As long as all parties are negotiating, the court will delay the briefing schedule. HPBA and EPA worked for many, many months to find common ground and avoid more litigation. Further, we jointly filed motions to continue to delay the litigation. So rather than being a delaying tactic, the delay was an exercise in good faith that the parties could talk, reason, and arrive at an extrajudicial solution. And as a matter of fact, HPBA is still pursuing one issue in the litigation about which we feel strongly. Mr. Ackerly also accuses HPBA (staff) of “regulatory greed” by not supporting Senator Carper’s original 2018 changeout and sell-through legislative proposal that contained language that would also freeze NSPS regulations as promulgated by EPA in 2014. The key here is that the proposal would have totally upended the negotiations with EPA, i.e., any agreement with the Agency to change anything in the regulations would have been blocked. Given that there were (and still are) regulatory requirements that need addressing, why would HPBA agree to that? Again, the section was appraised of the risks of the proposal and agreed with staff’s recommendations. If we had had the benefit of Mr. Ackerly’s 20-20 hindsight – i.e., that we have, to date, made no substantive progress with EPA – then perhaps we would have reached a different decision on the proposal, since we truly favored the support of a national change-out program. One of the challenges of making just about any major decision is that you seldom have all of the information that you need to make that “perfect” decision. It is so much easier to be judgmental years later, when there is more information available. Another erroneous assertion in the article is that many companies resigned from membership in HPBA due to differences of opinion with our strategy. For confidentiality reasons, I will not go into any specific reasons given by our former members for their resignations. But I will say that Mr. Ackerly has confused the companies and their reasons, resulting in a narrative that sounds like there is a wholesale migration out of HPBA. That is simply untrue. I am also puzzled why Mr. Ackerly felt it necessary to predict financial troubles for HPBA because of the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on our trade show. Yes, the trade show represents a significant portion of HPBA’s annual revenues, and the show supports the association’s programs, such as government affairs, research, promotion, and education. But there is no dire circumstance overhanging HPBA – and its ability to survive. As are all organizations producing trade shows, we are planning for multiple scenarios since we do not know what the situation will be in March 2021. We continue to plan for a show in Nashville, as well as other approaches if we are unable to hold the show. Whatever scenario occurs, HPBA will survive and continue to provide valuable services to the hearth and barbecue industries in 2021, 2022, and beyond. In conclusion, I would prefer that Mr. Ackerly avoid the melodrama of disputes, favoritism, resignations, and financial ruin, and instead focus on how to keep the wood-burning appliance industry healthy so that it can continue to innovate and serve a need for the American people: to provide physical and emotional warmth to our homes with renewable fuel that has a low carbon footprint. Stephanie Gomez Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1926 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1923/Memorial-Day-Grilling#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1923 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1923&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1923/Memorial-Day-Grilling Happy Memorial Day weekend! For most of us, this probably isn’t how we thought we would spend this weekend, but we are seeing signs that more people than ever are using this time to enjoy their backyards and get back to the barbecue. Everyone is cooking from home more frequently than before and with the weather warming up, that cooking is moving outside. The flavor and convenience of a grill can’t be beat. In April, we did an online survey of grilling enthusiasts and half of them are cooking out more this year than last. That trend will probably last as more grillers are experimenting with techniques, products and recipes. If the usual cut of meat isn’t available, try a different cut or cook vegetables and fish. The possibilities are endless. What else are we hearing? We’ve heard from some of our retailers that their grill sales are surprisingly high. The pandemic has forced these specialty retailers to embrace virtual selling and marketing, more outreach over social media, and using new technologies to show consumers their products. We’re also hearing from manufacturers that their factories are operating at full capacity.  This year we launched our inaugural National Back to BBQ Day. This will be an annual event on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. In the future, we’ll be encouraging people to get out and buy that new grill and those cool new accessories, but this year we’re calling for a virtual nationwide cookout. So tomorrow, on National Back to BBQ Day, fire up your grill and join in as we grill together, but apart. Stay safe and enjoy the start of summer. And please take a few moments to think abut the true meaning of this weekend: the heroes who sacrifice everything to keep us safe. Stephanie Gomez Fri, 22 May 2020 16:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1923 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1920/Sell-Through-for-Step-1-Products-NOT-a-Done-Deal#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1920 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1920&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1920/Sell-Through-for-Step-1-Products-NOT-a-Done-Deal We initially believed EPA was considering a Direct Final Rule to extend the sell-through for 60 days immediately after May 15, 2020. Based on more recent reports, it appears that EPA is instead publishing a Proposed Rule (which is at the Office of Management and Budget right now). There are conflicting reports on the duration of any proposed sell-through; we will not know the details of the package until it is released by EPA.   Proposed Rules require a comment period and, generally, a public hearing before taking effect. This implies that sell-through relief – if there is any – would come perhaps months after the May 15, 2020 prohibition on sale of Step 1 appliances. As with any Proposed Rule, EPA may ultimately reverse course and not adopt the proposal as a Final Rule.   Going through a traditional notice-and-comment rulemaking means that dealers will not immediately know when, if ever, they will be legally able to sell these products beyond May 15, 2020. As always, we remind members that nothing is binding until a Final Rule is published in the Federal Register; industry should continue to prepare for not being able to legally sell Step 1 products after May 15, 2020. As soon as we have more information, HPBA will inform all members as quickly as possible.   As an alternative, we encourage dealers to consider donating Step 1 freestanding woodstoves to pre-approved non-profit organizations. But act fast; you must submit your donation form to a non-profit BEFORE May 15. On Thursday, May 7, HPBA will launch our Stoves to Homes Initiative. For more information, please contact Rachel Feinstein.     Stephanie Gomez Wed, 06 May 2020 20:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1920 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1903/The-True-Cost-of-Electrification#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1903 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1903&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1903/The-True-Cost-of-Electrification We are seeing an increasing number of jurisdictions seriously talking about converting their communities to all-electric homes. These efforts are failing to consider key issues. 1. Many communities reference solar energy as a viable option for homes without discussing the challenges. Solar electricity generation is great during the day, but without widespread electrical storage, taking advantage of that electricity is difficult. We don’t often see mention of the associated cost of not just the solar panels, but also necessary electrical storage. There must be a discussion about the demand curve of electricity. This curve shows the modest demand for electricity in the day (people getting ready in the morning), the demand drop-off during the middle of the day (people are away from home, but solar is plentiful, weather permitting), and then the steep ramp-up in electricity demand in the evening (people return home, preparing meals, heating homes, etc.). The fluctuations of the demand curve will become steeper with a higher demand for electricity brought on by all-electric homes. Storage options will help mitigate this demand, but they are expensive, and history has shown that most people who opt for solar do not add storage, usually due to high costs. Solar will be limited in its practicality depending on location and climate. In sunnier areas with clear lines of sight, solar is a good option for supplementing energy. In snow country, poor weather, or limited visibility (trees, nearby buildings, etc.), solar does not produce at optimal levels, if at all. 2. Electricity is not known for its resiliency during winter storms or other emergency situations. Without storage, if the power goes out, you have no power to heat, cook, or bathe if you depend on grid electricity, which the vast majority of consumers do. With natural gas or propane, you have much better resiliency for an energy source. Even if the gas-burning central furnace won’t run during a power outage because it relies on electricity to run the fan, your gas fireplaces, gas stovetops, and gas hot water heaters all continue to operate. 3. Related to the last point, we must think about the expected increased electrical rate costs. If everyone moves to a single fuel source, the demand is higher, which in-turn will very likely increase the cost. The electricity generated during the day via solar has minor value, as electricity is not in demand then. With most utilities having moved, or moving, to a Time Of Use (TOU) billing model for electricity, the highest energy in demand (during the evening) will also be the most expensive. 4. One of the primary reasons to move to all-electric homes is to lower carbon dioxide emissions. However, unless the electricity is coming directly from a renewable resource (solar panels, wind, hydro, etc.), it will be coming from a central power plant. Central power plants have very low efficiency rates – far lower than most residential furnaces or room heaters. On average, the highest efficiency rate for a natural gas-burning power plant is about 43%, with coal, oil, and nuclear efficiencies being even lower (31-33%)1. When you consider that residential gas-burning furnaces operate at a minimum of 80-82% efficiency, and then only as needed, it’s clear that fewer emissions are created from homes heated with natural gas than all-electric homes which draw from central power plants. There is a bias evident in this effort to promote electrification. We’ve seen articles that say that 45% of carbon dioxide emissions are from electricity and heat in Canada, but if you look closer at the data, we find that only 6% is from homes using natural gas. The rest is from industrial, manufacturing, municipal and commercial. These sources will certainly be affected by changing to electrification, but the impact will be seen and felt differently. Focusing on converting homes to all-electric is an expensive proposition for the homeowner and not necessarily the best choice for the environment. Studies show that electrification will cause price increases. It could be the increased cost to buy a new home due to new technologies will drive even more people out of the homebuyer market with five-figure increases. But electrification will also raise the cost for an average household by between $750 and $910 per year, just based on normal use of electricity from the grid. Consumers deserve to be able to make their own decisions on how they heat their homes and cook their meals. Electrification not only removes that consumer choice, but also could shut the door to new and promising technological advances like renewable natural gas. It’s time for everyone to understand the full cost of electrification. Stephanie Gomez Wed, 22 Jan 2020 18:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1903 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1902/The-No-Nonsense-Take-on-the-Biomass-Stove-Tax-Credit#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1902 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1902&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1902/The-No-Nonsense-Take-on-the-Biomass-Stove-Tax-Credit After the flurry of legislative activity before the holidays in between family obligations, service calls, and taking care of business, you may be asking yourself: what just happened? Fear not, you are not alone. On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law legislation that extends the 25C tax credit (this is not a new tax credit), along with dozens of other tax credits, retroactively and forward for purchases made between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. Over the years, the tax credit’s requirements have occasionally changed, but for the past five years, they have remained the same. A qualifying biomass stove must be: A stove that uses the burning of biomass fuel to heat your home or heat water for your home that has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%. Biomass fuel is any plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood waste and residues (including wood pellets), plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers. The legislation that was enacted didn’t change any of this language or specify how the efficiency should be measured. You need only rely on a manufacturer certificate stating that a model is at least 75 percent efficient. If you are in a hurry, the EPA certified stoves list is a good place to start, but understand that some products with qualifying efficiencies may not be reflected on the list. Check with your manufacturers on which products qualify for the credit. Some organizations, such as the Alliance for Green Heat, have shared inaccurate information that could lead to confusion. Read our response to their recent article. HPBA is the definitive source of information on the biomass stove tax credit for the hearth industry. We will continue to update our tax credit page with new information as we receive it. Contact Rachel Feinstein (feinstein@hpba.org) if you have any questions.   Stephanie Gomez Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1902 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1897/NJ-Master-Hearth-Specialist-Bill--From-small-mistakes-we-can-achieve-great-things-But-it-does-take-time#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1897 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1897&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1897/NJ-Master-Hearth-Specialist-Bill--From-small-mistakes-we-can-achieve-great-things-But-it-does-take-time Back in 2007, Governor Corzine signed into law the “HVACR Licensing Law.” When it was proposed, most hearth professionals didn’t see anything in the bill that would impact the hearth industry and those that did, were in the minority.  After some MAHPBA board-level discussion, it was determined that there was no need to unite in opposition.   So, we moved on with our day to day life and hoped for the best. As a result, our one chance to have our voice heard and represented in the final bill, passed us by. Unfortunately, MAHPBA didn’t realize at that time that the text of a bill would have significant consequences for member business operations. The HVACR Licensing Law was eventually interpreted by the regulatory agencies to include most if not all hearth professional work. It started when the regulatory agencies claimed that the installation of gas lines was the exclusive right of the HVACR Contractor and Licensed Plumber.  Those rights were expanded further when the HVACR Board than concluded, that a fireplace is a space heater and as such, falls under the jurisdiction of a NJ licensed HVACR Contractor and the HVACR Board. The HVACR Board also concluded that any flue pipe that removes byproducts of combustion falls under the jurisdiction of the HVACR Board and Contractor. While our installers were grandfathered in for a few years, eventually time caught up to us and the grandfathering period ended. Suddenly our livelihoods were being threatened as the HVACR Licensing Law went into effect in 2016. That year, hearth specialists began to have their permitting requests to install gas lines denied as they weren’t licensed HVACR professionals. The full reality of the impact of this law was now in effect. The full explanation of how we got here involves the concept of Scope of Practice Principle and gets a little complicated. Basically, the HVACR Licensing Law states what a NJ Licensed HVACR Contractors Scope of Practice is.  Regulatory agencies are then empowered to enforce that scope of practice as being exclusive to the HVACR Contractor because the law also declares that “no one shall do the work of a HVACR Contractor except for a NJ Licensed HVACR Contractor.”  Example – The HVACR Law states that an HVACR Contractor installs gas lines (among other things) but doesn’t note that that installation is exclusively the domain of the HVACR Contractor. However, because the HVACR Law defined the Scope of Practice of the HVACR Contractor as including this skill,  it falls into the domain of the HVACR Contractor because the Law also states,  that no one is permitted to do the work of an HVACR Contractor except for a NJ Licensed HVACR Contractor.  So, an HVACR Contractors Scope of Practice not only includes the gas line installation, it also includes many other tasks that hearth professionals do routinely. Red flag alert! We fought this method of interpretation but failed. By legal definition, an essential part of the hearth professional roles has now been defined as within the scope of practice of HVACR Contractors. And they have to be licensed to practice in New Jersey. MAHPBA, its government affairs committee, and its members finally recognized the threat and united to take action. We had made some initial efforts in 2014 to make changes to the interpretation of the bill but were unsuccessful. It was now time to get our own bill passed. Consider the challenges we faced. We are hearth guys. We’re good at helping consumers install the fireplace of their dreams, but we certainly don’t know the rules of political engagement in Trenton, NJ. The first step was to assemble our resources. We reached out to HPBA and the Government Affairs Committee for professional advice and financial assistance. With that, we hired a legal team and a lobbyist and started down the very long road of the legislative process. The Affiliate was finally united and had the resources to take on this battle. We had to get the governor on board. We had learned that due to some technical mistakes, the enforcement by the DCA was premature as the supporting regulations had not yet been signed into law. The governor needed to instruct the relevant agencies not to enforce these regulations until we’ve had the chance to act. Governor Christie was on board and gave those instructions. But then another November rolled by and New Jersey had an election. Not only did we have a new governor, but he was from the other political party, so we had to start again. Thanks to our efforts, Governor Murphy was agreeable. We now had time to act. It took several more years, but eventually we celebrated victory when Governor Murphy signed the Master Hearth Specialist (MHS) Bill into law in August of 2019. This bill creates a Scope of Practice and a License for Master Hearth Specialists. It protects our ability to install and service gas lines, hearth appliances, flue vents, and every other part of our job. The requirements to get the MHS is reasonable and achievable for hearth professionals. It gives our industry the autonomy to do their work. There is a lesson here for every hearth professional in North America. Pay attention to what the legislators are doing in your own state. We know that the unions that pushed through the original law in 2007 are trying to do the same in other states. Be united as an Affiliate and come together to push back. You have many resources available to you – not the least of which is our experience in New Jersey to show what can be done. We started late and missed early opportunities – something that you can avoid because of our adventures. We are always happy to share more of our story about how we united to protect ourselves. Reach out to MAHPBA for more information. Stephanie Gomez Mon, 09 Dec 2019 14:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1897 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1895/Congress-What-is-it-good-for#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1895 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1895&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1895/Congress-What-is-it-good-for Would you want to work for a company that had a 25 percent public favorability rating? Well, that’s what today’s current and future congressional staffers and Members of Congress face when they debate whether to apply for an internship or run for office. If an institution has failed so miserably that three quarters of the people it’s supposed to serve has rated it a failure, why work for or even with Congress? Why do we bother with congressional advocacy? Well, my friends, it all comes down to the long game. On October 24, 2019, about 30 members of HPBA’s Board of Directors, North American Government Affairs Committee, and Affiliate Staff and Leaders met with over 60 congressional offices, including members of Congress and their staff. Before our “Hill Day,” a few members asked me whether impeachment discussions would distract members of Congress and their staff from the issues we’d like to talk to them about. The truth is, members of Congress and staff are pulled in every direction every single day, and impeachment is just one more thing drawing their attention elsewhere. Our industry’s advocacy issues mostly fall within the purview of energy, environment, and/or tax policy. We aren’t just competing with industries playing in that same policy space: we’re competing with everything. This is why it is so important to communicate regularly with your elected officials and not only when you need something from them. Between Board meetings and the bi-annual HPBA Government Affairs Academy, HPBA will generally hold at least one “Hill Day” in Washington, D.C. per year. Throughout the year, HPBA staff is talking and meeting almost daily with congressional staff on behalf of all members. However, it’s your voices that mean the most to members of Congress. Whether it’s via email, phone call, or in-person in the district or in DC, they must hear from you. If you don’t voice your opinion on a matter or make yourself known, your member of Congress and their staff have no idea that you exist or what issues affect you and your business. Over time, after years of building relationships with congressional offices, HPBA has become known as the go-to resource on woodstoves, fireplaces, and barbecues. You know your strategy is working when congressional offices reach out to you for advice without being prompted – exactly what is happening now after years of making our presence known on the Hill. Most importantly, we have become known for providing reliable information and connecting members of Congress with constituents who are directly impacted by policies being discussed in DC. In a meeting with Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN-02) during HPBA’s Hill Day this year, the Congresswoman remembered holding an event at an HPBA member’s manufacturing facility back in 2016 and was happy to meet with us to discuss current policy issues.  Another example of industry’s influence can be seen in language that HPBA helped craft (back in 2016) that was enacted late last year. The language appropriated $5 million to the U.S. Department of Energy for a biomass research and development fund for developing the next generation of biomass heaters. Last year, $3 million of this fund was granted to two manufacturers, one of whom an HPBA member, to develop new technologies for use in wood heaters. Without the relationships developed in the U.S. Senate and work put in over the years, this would not have come to fruition. After this year’s Hill Day, I wonder what little nuggets of gleaned information and which relationships we’ve begun will eventually grow into something larger. Government affairs and advocacy require patience and understanding of the long game. When I talk to retailers about how important it is to reach out to elected officials and their staff, how they WANT to hear from you, I am often met with frustration and a sense of helplessness. Trust me, the staff and elected officials often feel the same. I know it is difficult to take a few minutes away from your day, let alone several hours or a few days, to spend on advocacy, but since when was anything worth the effort easy to attain? HPBA has tools to make reaching out to your elected officials easy. To start, send an email now to your Senators urging them to support legislation that would create a federal changeout program fund. Help us help you! Please contact Rachel Feinstein if you have any questions or want to get more involved in advocacy.            Stephanie Gomez Wed, 20 Nov 2019 17:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1895 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1891/Home-is-Where-the-Heart-is-or-did-you-mean-Hearth#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1891 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1891&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1891/Home-is-Where-the-Heart-is-or-did-you-mean-Hearth Imagine for a moment the vibrant orange flames, the soothing sound of the crackling fire, and the warmth that begins to surround the home. That is what it means to have a hearth in the center of your life. Picture the peaceful tranquility that the flames ignite. It’s where memories are created and bonds are built and strengthened.  As we kick-off the fall season, colder months are ahead and it was the perfect time to not only celebrate #NationalFireplaceMonth over the past month, but to remember to embrace it every single day. This time can be about more than just prepping for the holidays, it’s also a time to cherish moments indoors (or outdoors) with loved ones gathered around the hearth in your home, or even someone else’s for that matter. HPBA launched ‘Home is Where the Hearth is’ as a campaign this fall to show the artistic charm, innovation, and elegance of a fireplace and remind consumers of their sentimental and nostalgic draw. October’s National Fireplace Month tackles the meaning of the hearth from this approach, emphasizing not just the artistry feel to a fireplace, but also the ambiance. This ambiance provides a sense of relaxation that brings the entire household together to create memories that last a lifetime. With this in mind, no matter the selected style of hearth, new options continue to expand and flourish every season. If you are considering a fireplace or looking to update your existing one, contact your local retailer. This fall season be sure to gather around the hearth in your home with loved ones and appreciate the companionship it carries. Stephanie Gomez Thu, 31 Oct 2019 20:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1891 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1880/Top-10-Reasons-to-Go-to-HPBExpo-2020-in-New-Orleans#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1880 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1880&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1880/Top-10-Reasons-to-Go-to-HPBExpo-2020-in-New-Orleans Be the first retailer in your area to see the latest and greatest products hitting the market and available to purchase.   See the trends up close and personal. Simplify the buying process with all the manufacturers in one room and products in action. Meet the people who make the products and learn first-hand what makes them the must-have item of the season. How is your show room overall?  HPBExpo 2020’s Keynote Address will be delivered by Wayne Visbeen, THE expert on retail design. Learn how much better your sales can be with the right retail space layout and design.  Check out the Exclusive Education sessions only offered at Expo!  The full offerings cover everything you would want to know from how to grow your business, to social media tricks, to the technical classes you need for certification. Network with and be inspired by the wonderful people in our industry. These are important connections that will help you and your business. Chances are that someone has faced the same challenges that you have – our social events provide that opportunity to meet and share ideas. Get great ideas for showcasing products through live demos, live fire, and knowledgeable sales staff. There are so many fun events happening at Expo like the member affiliate receptions, Tailgate and Big Green Egg Cookoff, and Pit Boss/Louisiana Grill’s Barbecue Demos. Get the most up-to-date information on regulations hitting our industry – and how they’ll affect you and your business.  Find out what is going to happen on May 15 with NSPS. It’s New Orleans! The dining will be exceptional, and the fun will be everywhere. Learn more about HPBExpo 2020 and register today!   Stephanie Gomez Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:07:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1880 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1877/Your-Fireplace-in-the-Fall#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1877 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1877&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1877/Your-Fireplace-in-the-Fall Some people love the change of the seasons as the leaves turn and the nights get colder. Some people dread the upcoming snow and dreary days. Whichever group you fall into, this is the time of year to get our fireplaces ready for the upcoming winter. We all want to enjoy the ambiance of a crackling fire. You have a fireplace in your home? Great! That’s the first step. To keep it in its best shape and working as intended, here are a few tips. Gas fireplaces – Get it checked out by a certified professional each fall to give it a good cleaning, check for condensation, and make sure everything is working right. Clean the glass and adjust the glowing embers. Be alert to unusual odors or flames that might indicate something isn’t working right. Woodburning fireplaces – stock up on the right fuel – seasoned wood. Bring in the chimney sweep to give the chimney a good cleaning and make sure it is free of obstructions. Clean potential flammable materials from the area around the fireplace. You should never burn anything except the appropriate fuel in your fireplace. Don’t toss trash in there as it can produce noxious fumes or cause unpleasant buildups. Just burn the wood or gas that your fireplace was designed for. And remember that the little ones are attracted to the bright flames, so keep an eye on small children while the fireplace is going. If you don’t have a fireplace or are thinking about an upgrade, you will probably be surprised by the latest designs and technologies. Your local specialty retailer can review the newest options and help you make the best decision. As an added bonus, many stores have certified installers to make the process even easier. Home maintenance is never really exciting, but a properly maintained fireplace can minimize risks and maximize a peaceful transition from summer to winter. A few easy steps in the fall will mean a comfortable winter in front of that fire. For more tips, check this out.   Stephanie Gomez Mon, 30 Sep 2019 13:08:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1877 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1874/Ive-seen-the-futureand-its-cold-Very-cold#Comments 0 https://members.hpba.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6757&ModuleID=12903&ArticleID=1874 https://members.hpba.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1874&PortalID=26&TabID=6757 https://members.hpba.org/Resources/HPBA-Blog/ID/1874/Ive-seen-the-futureand-its-cold-Very-cold Last month the city council of Berkeley, California voted unanimously to ban natural gas piping in new residential construction in their community in an effort to decrease the town’s carbon footprint. This was not an impulsive decision, but one that had been in the planning stages for many months.  It was also not unique, as the idea of limiting the spread of new natural gas piping is probably being considered in many communities in both the U.S. and Canada, perhaps in a town near you – or even your own. This is why the debate over how to decarbonize our lives is going to be a battle.  Folks have to speak up about the incredible changes that will be facing us as we move to a lower carbon future. Of course, if those of us who like gas don’t show up for the debate, it will be easy to legislate an end to gas lines.  It’s not just in California, the debate over ‘zero-net-energy-homes’ is cropping up everywhere. Some states such as Massachusetts are seriously studying the steps to decarbonization.  Pay attention to local green and sustainability programs.  I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t care what heats up the hot water in my shower in the morning, as long as it’s hot!  I also don’t have a personal relationship with the fuel my furnace uses to keep me warm in the winter.  I do, however, care about cooking with gas and about gas fireplaces. But you can’t have a house with just a little bit of natural gas, because you either have the pipes or you don’t.  Gas is such a convenient, low cost energy source that it would be crazy not to use it for your water or heat.  Your ability to have those gas appliances is under threat from regulations that ban gas hook-ups, or at least make it very expensive. The last 20 years have proven to a lot of families that it’s always wise to have more than one way to heat your house in an emergency, or even just to have an alternative if the price of one particular energy source goes crazy. In rural areas you may see wood and pellet back-ups. Propane can also be popular in the suburbs. In the city, however, homeowners may increasingly be forced into electric-only offerings and all the associated risk of interrupted supply and sky-high prices. So the key question is: Are we going to show up?  Are we going to raise our voices?  Or are we just going to watch this process play out and settle for a future without natural gas?  It’s up to each one of us to get involved.  Get involved in your community, join the local business associations and get to know the homebuilders, and pay attention to the activities of the city council. And get to know your local politicians so they see what your business brings to the community. At HPBA, we have the tools to help you, but we need your ears and eyes on the ground, monitoring your local government activity.  The future of your store and our freedom to choose natural gas is hanging in the balance. Stephanie Gomez Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1874