Working hard to Protect, Promote & Educate our Profession
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info@miacca.org
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By proclamation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, July is Lakes Appreciation Month, highlighting the rich ecosystems, fresh drinking water, recreational appeal, and economic vitality that Michigan's 11,000 inland lakes and four bordering Great Lakes provide.
"In Michigan, our lakes – Great and small – define us. Every Michigander is dedicated to protecting our lakes and ensuring that we pass them on to future generations," said Gov. Whitmer. "This July, when so many of us enjoy our Pure Michigan experiences, we can reflect on how Michigan's lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater enrich our lives. Protecting them means tackling generational challenges such as aging infrastructure, invasive species, and climate change. Together, I know we will."
Michigan continues to award infrastructure grants to municipalities through the governor's $500 million bipartisan MI Clean Water Plan, ensuring Michiganders of access to clean and affordable drinking water. The governor's MI Healthy Climate Plan, meanwhile, creates a roadmap to a prosperous carbon-neutral economy by 2050 that will also protect the state's natural resources, including lakes.
Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) leads implementation of both plans. EGLE's Water Resources Division (WRD) protects and monitors Michigan's waters by establishing water quality standards, assessing the health of aquatic communities, encouraging natural shoreline practices, regulating wastewater discharges, and overseeing aquatic invasive species concerns and water withdrawals. The Office of the Great Lakes (OGL) oversees Great Lakes water policy and strategy implementation as well as representing the state at national forums. The Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) coordinates implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.
Appreciating Michigan's lakes means respecting them, too – especially the immense power of the Great Lakes. When making summer plans for time at Great Lakes beaches, always use caution, pay attention to beach flag warnings (where available), and know that the lakes are prone to dangerous rip currents, crashing waves, and quickly changing weather patterns.
Of Michigan's 100-plus state parks, 42 offer access to Great Lakes shoreline, making them popular destinations for gatherings with family and friends. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers safety tips and information everyone should know before hitting the water.
The Wisconsin-based nonprofit North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) promotes Lakes Appreciation Month internationally, with at least 25 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces joining this year's effort. NALMS encourages lakes-related activities including shoreline cleanups, educational tours, boating, swimming, birding, and photography.
Here are resources for learning more about Michigan's lakes and how to help keep them healthy:
MIACCA appreciates all of the HVAC Techs out there for keeping us cool when it's hot and comfortable all year round.
Thanks for all that you do, not just today but every day!
- Available on demand after live broadcast -
When measuring humidity, temperature, and carbon dioxide in HVAC applications, whether you are optimizing cooling towers or demand-controlled ventilation, installing the sensors correctly is just as important as the technologies you choose. Even if you have selected the perfect instrument for your operation, you will not capture reliable and accurate measurements unless you install it correctly. Precise measurement and control help optimize energy efficiency and promote conservation.
In this webinar, an expert from Vaisala will cover sensor installation best practices for monitoring in an HVAC application. The most common pitfalls to avoid and important considerations when installing HVAC sensors will be addressed.
The bureau is in the process of filling Boiler Inspector 10/11 position in the Boiler Division. The position will have an Official Work Station located in Marquette. Applicants for the position must apply online by going to the website listed below, go to job posting 6401-22-BCC-730 Boiler Inspec, click on Boiler Inspector10/E11, and then click on the "Apply" link, and follow the directions provided. (Position description and job specifications are listed on the posting.) This posting is listed on the postings for ALL applicants, you will need to follow the link below. If you have any questions, please let me know.
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/michigan/jobs/3587260/boiler-inspector-10-e11?keywords=Boiler&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
**Applications must be received by 5:00pm 6/15/2022.
June is National Safety Month
Building Safety Month is an international campaign that takes place in May to raise awareness about building safety. This campaign reinforces the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, and helps individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.
The International Code Council, its members, and a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety communities come together with corporations, government agencies, professional associations and nonprofits to promote building safety through proclamations, informational events, legislative briefings and more. We come together to support Building Safety Month because we understand the need for safe and sustainable structures where we live, work and play.
Find out More
MIACCA was in attendance at the May 23rd Skilled Trades Rules Change public hearing. We provided these written comments for consideration. We will keep you posted on the status of the changes.
On Friday, May 20th, MIACCA submitted to the Construction Codes Commission (CCC) a Request for Declaratory Ruling. The BCC had stated that the Commission had the authority to prescribe forms, but they had decided against doing so it due to lack of enforcing ability. The purpose is to have the CCC issue a declaratory ruling that all applications for permits be on a form prescribed by then. View the request here.
As you are aware, MIACCA has spearheaded this initiative since 2018. Hopefully MIACCA's request will provide success for our contractors having a uniform permit across all state municipalities.
Consumers Energy & DTE have submitted their 2021 Value Added Program and Services ("VAPS") annual reports to the Michigan Public Service Commission ("MPSC"). Visit the MIACCA Code of Conduct Page to view their Reports.
Consumers Energy's Appliance Service Plan ("ASP") gross sales amount for its breakdown insurance was $78,883,813 and the total amount of "Cost of Goods Sold" "Material & labor (including labor overheads)" was $31,243,060, leaving a gross margin of $47,640,753.
DTE's Home Protection Plus ("HPP") gross sales amount for its breakdown insurance was $92,906,468 and the total amount of "Cost of Goods Sold" "Material & labor (including labor overheads)" was $64,334,250, leaving a margin of $28,572,218.
These combined utility activities roughly represents $77,502,682 of repair business that HVAC contractors who are not affiliated with the utilities, did not do in 2021. This is a significant increase of approximately $27 million from 2020.
Originally some of the annual VAPS reports were filed confidentially and after MIACCA advocated to the MPSC that they be readily available to the public, the annual reports began to be filed non-confidentially. MIACCA will continue to provide these annual VAPS reports to our members. Current and past VAPS annual reports are both found on our Code of Conduct Page.
Virtual Tour of MIAT College of Technology
Description: To meet our industry's growing demand for talent, MIAT College of Technology in Canton, MI has programs in HVACR and other energy-related fields.Join us for a virtual tour of the MIAT training facility while Director of Community Engagement Chris Davis discusses MIAT's programs and approach, and how businesses can connect with current students and recent graduates to help fill their workforce needs. Registration is required to attend this free webinar.
This training is compliments of the Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association.
10:00-11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 25, 2022
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Skilled Trades (ORR# 2019-101 LR)
Plumbing Board (ORR# 2019-106 LR)
Electrical Administrative Board (ORR# 2019-110 LR)
Boiler Rules (ORR# 2019-115 LR)
Board of Mechanical Rules (ORR# 2019-126 LR)
Building Officials, Plan Reviewers, and Inspectors (ORR# 2019-109 LR)
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, will hold a public hearing on the Skilled Trades rules and the following repealed acts State Plumbing Board Act; Electrical Administrative Board Act ; Boiler Act; Board of Mechanical Act and Building Officials, Plan Reviewers, and Inspectors Act. The public hearing will be held on Monday May 23, 2022, at the 1st Floor Forum in the Michigan Library & Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48915.
The Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407, repeals the State Plumbing Board Act, 2002 PA733, MCL 338.3511 to 338.3569; Electrical Administrative Board Act, 1956 PA 217, MCL 338.881 to 338.892; Boiler Act, 1965 PA 290, MCL 408.751 to 408.776 ; Board of Mechanical Act, 1984 PA 192, MCL 338.971 to 338.988; and the Building Officials and Inspectors Registration Act, 1986 PA 54, MCL 338.2301 to 338.2313. The repealed Acts are outdated and do not provide uniform licensing, complaint investigation, and enforcement provisions for skilled trades licenses. This places a burden on the bureau administering the Acts and creates an inefficient use of resources. Additionally, many licensees who are cross licensed in multiple trades have expressed dissatisfaction with conflicting provisions, such as electronic communication and third-party continuing education tracking options and specifies violations for unlicensed activity as provided to other regulated professions. Because these Acts were repealed, the bureau plans to rescind the licensing rules regulated under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. The Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407, streamlines the processes for all license types included while providing for modernized provisions, such as electronic communication and third-party continuing education tracking options, and specifies violations for unlicensed activity as provided to other regulated professions. While the Skilled Trades Regulation Act repealed the five Acts that regulated certain skilled trades, this new Act includes provisions to regulate those same skilled trades
The proposed rules will be published in the May 15th, Michigan Register. You may download a free copy of the proposed amendments by visiting the Bureau's website at www.michigan.gov/bcc.
Oral or written comments may be presented in person at the hearing May 23, 2022, or submitted in writing by email no later than 5:00 p.m., May 23, 2022, to the following email address LARA-BCC-Rules@michigan.gov. If your presentation at the public hearing is in written form, please provide a copy to the Rules Analyst, at the conclusion of your testimony at the hearing.
If you have comments that you would like MIACCA to submit on your behalf, please send them to mjdsmith@miacca.org by May 20th @ 5:00 p.m.
