Working hard to Protect, Promote & Educate our Profession

(866) 269-8486
602 W. Ionia, Ste 209
Lansing, MI  48933

info@miacca.org

  • 01/30/2021 12:36 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    MI COVID-19 Safer Dining Program

    On January 22, the Governor announced the state would gradually open restaurants across Michigan as safely as possible. Part of this effort is a voluntary program called “MI COVID-19 Safer Dining” where restaurants can work with a licensed HVAC inspector who will recommend changes to air ventilation to improve circulation and reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. Restaurants will also abide by safety protocols, including mask wearing, social distancing, and regular disinfection and cleaning.

    PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

    • Restaurants must have a licensed HVAC contractor inspect their ventilation systems and make recommended changes, if necessary to improve circulation and further mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spread. Complete these two steps to participate in COVID-19 Safer Dining. 

    • STEP 1: Download the restaurant HVAC checklist for your licensed to contractor to complete during your inspection. 

    For Further Information CLICK HERE

    MIACCA applauds the State in requiring our HVACR contractors services and expertise to help provide safer indoor eating environments during this pandemic.   MIACCA encourages you to take care of your current customers and reach out to new ones to see how you can be of assistance with these new requirements.


  • 01/19/2021 11:46 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    Smart home technology is changing how residential trade companies navigate demand spikes and off-seasons. Surprisingly, even in 2021, only the most-forward thinking contractor adds this revenue stream to their business.

    On January 21st, (1 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. EST) Dan Goodman of Building36 joins Service Nation 101 to share how you can improve customer service, generate new leads, and increase the lifetime value of existing customers by offering smart home services!



    This webinar discusses:

    • Current growth and trends in the smart home market and where residential contractors can meet these demands
    • Best practices for incorporating smart home subscription fees into a maintenance plan
    • How residential contractors can deliver this technology to create a predictable revenue stream while improving the performance and value of their business

    Dan Goodman is co-founder and CEO of Building36 with nearly 20 years of engineering and technology experience. Dan founded Building36 to create smart home solutions that make homes safer, more comfortable, and energy-efficient by designing them with both the homeowner and service provider in mind. Before Building36, Dan was an applications engineer at Texas Instruments, founded a company that created the first Wi-Fi thermostat, and was head of sales for a startup company that helped pioneer Zigbee Wireless Technology. Dan graduated from MIT with a degree in electrical engineer and computer science.

    Join Service Nation 101 with Building36 to learn how to increase revenue and customer experience through smart home technology.


    Don't forget: If you can't attend the webinar, register below and we'll send the recording right to you!
    Register Now!


  • 01/05/2021 11:49 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    MIACCA's Efforts on Bill SB-827 Passes House of Ways and Means Committee but did not get Voted on at the End of the Year

    SB 827 was passed by Senate roll call on September 30th with 38 yeas and 0 nays  It was passed through the House of Ways and Means Committee and was on it's way to full House vote.  Due to lack of in person meetings, and too many agenda items to vote on,  the bill did not make it on the special session agenda and did not move into law.  We are confident that the bill will move quickly in this New Year, as it had made it so far in 2020.  

    This bill is important to the HVAC industry as it will continue the long standing safety practice of having employers attest to an applicant's mechanical work experience; and provide for a reasonable work experience credit for those who go to school to learn a skilled trade and successfully completes a recognized HVAC trade school, community college, or university program.  

    MIACCA will continue to keep you posted on the bills progress.


  • 01/01/2021 11:50 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    January is National Radon Awareness Month

    Remind your customers to test their homes.

    Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that can seep into a home from underground. If radon accumulates, it may lead to lung cancer – in fact, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. According to Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, radon can be found in every state in the country, and elevated radon levels occur in as many as one in 15 homes.

    "Testing for radon is an easy and important step in protecting the health of your family," McCarthy stressed.

    EPA offered information on how residents can protect themselves from radon:

    Test. EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes, both with and without basements, be tested for radon. Affordable do-it-yourself radon test kits are available at home improvement and hardware stores and online. A qualified radon tester also can be hired.

    Fix. EPA recommends taking action to fix radon levels above 4 Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L). Addressing high radon levels often costs the same as other minor home repairs.

    Save a Life. Testing and fixing elevated levels of radon in the home can help prevent lung cancer while creating a healthier home and community.

    Read Full Article Here


  • 12/21/2020 3:47 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    The ACIP Votes on COVID-19 Vaccination Phases 1b and 1c

    MIACCA's Executive Director, M.J. D'Smith, attended The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC)  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Hearing on Sunday, December 20th regarding proposed allocation of the COVID-19 vaccinations.

    MIACCA submitted this letter requesting that the committee move HVACR workers to Phase 1b, however they did not. Phase 1a is already underway providing vaccinations to Health Care Providers and Long Term Care Facility seniors ages 75+.

    Important highlights are summarized below, however, you can view the complete presentation here

    THE PASSED VOTE

    ESSENTIAL WORKERS

    THE APPROVED PHASES


  • 12/10/2020 10:47 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    ACCA Town Hall Meeting

    A virtual, post-election town hall event for ACCA members to learn about the political landscape heading into 2021 as well as the issues that ACCA has been working on over the past year. BIPAC's Senior Political Analyst Jim Ellis will be joining to discuss the election results and what they mean for small business owners. ACCA members will also have the opportunity to make their voices heard and let ACCA know what issues matter most to them. The event will be hosted by ACCA President and CEO Barton James.

    Time

    Dec 15, 2020 11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

    Register Here



  • 12/05/2020 1:25 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    MIACCA's Efforts on Bill, Which Would Allow Contractors Reasonable Work Experience Credit, Passes House of Regulatory and Reform Committee and is in the House of Ways and Means Committee 

    SB 827 was passed by Senate roll call on September 30th with 38 yeas and 0 nays  It was passed through the House Regulatory Reform Committee and is at the House of Ways and Means Committee..  

    This bill is important to the HVAC industry as it will continue the long standing safety practice of having employers attest to an applicant's mechanical work experience; and provide for a reasonable work experience credit for those who go to school to learn a skilled trade and successfully completes a recognized HVAC trade school, community college, or university program.  

    MIACCA encourages you to reach out to these House of Ways and Means Committee Members, in your district and let them know you support this bill and would like to see it passed into law by the end of this year.

    Brandt Iden (R) Committee Chair, 61st District

    Jim Lilly (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 89th District

    Eric Leutheuser (R), 58th District

    Beth Griffin (R), 66th District

    Roger Hauck (R), 99th District

    Bronna Kahle (R), 57th District

    Luke Meerman (R), 88th District

    Rebekah Warren (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 55th District

    Wendell Byrd (D), 3rd District

    Kevin Hertel (D), 18th District

    Kyra Bolden (D), 35th District


  • 11/17/2020 10:15 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)


    Resources and Details for the New Epidemic Order 

    Construction remains open

    Sunday night, the MDHHS issued a new epidemic order that establishes a targeted three-week pause on indoor social gatherings and other group activities in an effort to curb rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rates starting later this week. The order is intended to save lives and protect our frontline heroes.


    It is absolutely critical that every resident do their part by following these orders and taking precautions such as wearing a mask, physically distancing and washing hands frequently. That is why we need your help.


    Here is a link to Sunday's  press release as well as a link to MDHHS Director Robert Gordon's slide from last night's press conference. Below you will find three graphics—a quick guide to the order, ideas to reduce risk associated with two-household gatherings and tips to stay protected in your social "pod." Please share on social media, on your website, in newsletters and more. We can and will get through this together.


  • 11/16/2020 12:47 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    MDHHS issues three-week epidemic order to save lives, protect frontline heroes during fall COVID-19 surge

    New order limits indoor and outdoor gatherings where COVID-19 is more likely to spread from person to person

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    November 15, 2020
    Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

    LANSING, MICH. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a new emergency order today that enacts a three-week pause targeting indoor social gatherings and other group activities in an effort to curb rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rates.

    Under this order, indoor residential gatherings are limited to two households at any one time. However, MDHHS strongly urges families to pick a single other household to interact with over the next three weeks, consistent with new guidance released by the department. The order is aimed at limiting residential and non-residential gatherings where COVID-19 spreads rapidly. Bars and restaurants will be open for outdoor dining, carry-out and delivery only. Gyms will remain open for individual exercise with strict safety measures in place. Casinos, movie theaters and group exercise classes will be closed. Professional and college sports meeting extraordinary standards for risk mitigation may continue without spectators, however all other organized sports must stop. Colleges and high schools may proceed with remote learning, but must end in-person classes.

    Continue Reading Here


  • 11/12/2020 1:32 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

    MDHHS and DTMB Roll Out COVID-19 Exposure Alert App Statewide

    To: LARA Licensees & Stakeholders

    LANSING, MICH. – As part of the state's continued efforts to slow the increasing spread of COVID-19, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) yesterday announced the statewide rollout of the COVID-19 exposure notification app MI COVID Alert

    The anonymous, no cost and voluntary app, piloted in Ingham County and on the campus of Michigan State University last month, lets users know whether they may have recently been exposed to COVID-19.  Users can confidentially submit a positive test result into the app and alert others in recent proximity that they may have also been exposed to the virus. 

    "COVID cases and deaths are now rising fast," said Robert Gordon, director of MDHHS. "Using MI COVID Alert on your cell phone is a simple, safe step that everyone can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. It's free, it's easy, and it protects your privacy." 

    Every Michigander is encouraged to download MI COVID Alert. Research from Oxford University found a potential to reduce infections and deaths, even if just 15% of a population uses an exposure notification app like MI COVID Alert. In the initial weeks of the MSU-Ingham County pilot alone, 46,704 people downloaded the app. The number is the equivalent of approximately 23% of Ingham County residents ages 18- to 64-years-old and nearly 16% of the total Ingham County population. 

    "This app has the potential to provide the kind of early exposure notification that is critical to preventing the spread of the virus," said Michigan State University Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, Dr. Norman J. Beauchamp Jr. "In addition to wearing a mask, social distancing and getting tested, downloading the app is one of the most important steps we can take to help keep our communities safe." 

    When a person tests positive for COVID-19, they receive a randomly generated PIN from the local health department or State of Michigan case investigators that allows them to share their test results anonymously on the app. MI COVID Alert uses randomly generated phone codes and low energy Bluetooth technology instead of GPS location to protect privacy while looking back in time to determine close contact with other phones that have the app. If someone was in close contact with another person who submitted a positive COVID-19 test result, the close contact will receive a push notification once the positive test result is entered into the system. A notification means the app user was possibly within six feet for at least 15 minutes of someone who tested positive. Michigan worked with Apple and Google to make MI COVID Alert compatible with similar apps in other states. The app works in conjunction with traditional contact tracing, mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing, but is not a replacement for these precautions or participation in contact tracing. 

    People who are exposed to COVID-19 should get tested and consider quarantining, including watching for symptoms for 14 days from the date of possible exposure. Individuals in need of testing may visit the COVID-19 website to find a testing location near them. They may also contact the Michigan COVID-19 hotline by calling 888-535-6136 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or dialing 2-1-1 on their mobile phone to locate and schedule an appointment at a nearby, off-campus testing location. 

    The exposure notification feature included in recent iOS and Android operating system updates only works with a companion app like MI COVID Alert. The app is available in the Apple and Google app stores.

    Other states, including Virginia, Arizona, New York, Alabama and New Jersey, recently launched similar exposure notifications apps statewide. Additional states have apps in development.

    Information around the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.



Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software