3 Big Things:
Challenges, Opportunities as we move into 2023
Moving into the midterm elections and beyond, there are a number of issues, challenges and exciting opportunities facing the HVAC and construction industry. Among them: Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, the Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment and measures to improve indoor air quality. We checked in with local labor and management leaders to see what issues they’re paying attention to as we move into 2023.
Tony Adolfs, SMACNA Greater Chicago
In 2023, contractors will be able to take advantage of several generous energy efficiency tax credits and deductions through the Inflation Reduction Act. These incentives will help stimulate the launch of energy efficient retrofits and new construction, a huge benefit to our industry.
• At least $500 million in grants will provide funding for the modernization of critical public buildings, like libraries, museums and municipal government buildings.
• The General Services Administration will be able to distribute $3.25 billion to invest in various projects, like converting federal buildings into high-performance green buildings.
• The framework for a two- year, $12 billion climate bank will be created to award competitive grants that provide capital for quick deployment of efficiency upgrades, low and zero-emission products, technologies and services.
Ray Suggs, Local 73
The key issue for the fall campaign is the Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment. Management and labor are stronger when we work together toward common goals. Right to Work unnecessarily divides us and only leads to more non-union competition. Some contractors might view the Workers’ Rights Amendment as benefiting only unions but that’s not the case. Passing this amendment helps protect our contractors’ market share by keeping workers’ rights strong, and keeping our members - your employees - safe. In fact, studies show that wages and benefits are not only lower in Right to Work states, but jobsites are more dangerous. Weaker unions lead to less training, which means more on-the-job injuries. More jobsite injuries mean higher workers’ compensation costs for our contractors.
The Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment is our opportunity to protect our common market share, protect sheet metal workers on the job, guarantee the right to collectively bargain and continue working collaboratively to keep the industry strong for ourselves and generations to come.
John Daniel, Local 265
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a piece of historic legislation, investing billions of dollars in our nation’s infrastructure — including improving ventilation and indoor air quality in residential and commercial buildings — and creating millions of jobs. The Department of Energy will award $1.8 billion in grants and loans for energy audits, ventilation verification and HVAC energy efficiency upgrades. These grants have strong pro-union labor workforce standards and will help SMACNA contractors successfully secure these work opportunities.
The National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) has also created BetterAirInBuildings.org, which includes educational resources for Ventilation Verification and any available federal funding. The site also features a handy “Find a Contractor” tab for contractors who specialize in Ventilation Verification. For more information on how to be listed as a Ventilation Verification Contractor in your area, visit NEMIonline.org.