(891,3,'2013-05-23 21:14:30','2013-05-23 21:14:30','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong style=\"font-size: 1.4em;\">New Strap Clamp</strong>\r\n\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(Insert drawing)</span>\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a> Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, before.[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a> Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, after.[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a>One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-13','','','2013-05-23 21:14:30','2013-05-23 21:14:30','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=891',0,'revision','',0),(882,3,'2013-05-23 21:06:57','2013-05-23 21:06:57','','Sensor Testing May 17','','inherit','open','open','','sensor-testing-may-17-3','','','2013-05-23 21:06:57','2013-05-23 21:06:57','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-171.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(883,3,'2013-05-23 21:07:35','2013-05-23 21:07:35','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-6','','','2013-05-23 21:07:35','2013-05-23 21:07:35','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(884,3,'2013-05-23 21:10:02','2013-05-23 21:10:02','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-7','','','2013-05-23 21:10:02','2013-05-23 21:10:02','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(885,3,'2013-05-23 20:59:22','2013-05-23 20:59:22','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(Insert drawing)</span>\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, before.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n(Picture of roof test)\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n(Insert chart)\r\n\r\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-10','','','2013-05-23 20:59:22','2013-05-23 20:59:22','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=885',0,'revision','',0),(893,3,'2013-05-29 14:10:28','2013-05-29 14:10:28','','Tuller','','inherit','open','open','','tuller','','','2013-05-29 14:10:28','2013-05-29 14:10:28','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tuller.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(887,3,'2013-05-23 21:14:15','2013-05-23 21:14:15','','Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica','','inherit','open','open','','riu_guanacaste_costa_rica','','','2013-05-23 21:14:15','2013-05-23 21:14:15','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(886,3,'2013-05-23 21:12:20','2013-05-23 21:12:20','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong style=\"font-size: 1.4em;\">New Strap Clamp</strong>\r\n\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(Insert drawing)</span>\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a> Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, before.[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a> Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, after.[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,876,874,875,877,878\" orderby=\"rand\"]\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a>One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> <img class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.honeymoonsinc.com/Portals/0/Images/Riu/Guanacaste/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.JPG\" width=\"326\" height=\"218\" /></strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-11','','','2013-05-23 21:12:20','2013-05-23 21:12:20','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=886',0,'revision','',0),(888,3,'2013-05-23 21:13:13','2013-05-23 21:13:13','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong style=\"font-size: 1.4em;\">New Strap Clamp</strong>\r\n\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(Insert drawing)</span>\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a> Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, before.[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a> Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, after.[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a>One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> <img class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.honeymoonsinc.com/Portals/0/Images/Riu/Guanacaste/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.JPG\" width=\"326\" height=\"218\" /></strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-12','','','2013-05-23 21:13:13','2013-05-23 21:13:13','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=888',0,'revision','',0),(892,3,'2013-05-29 13:41:43','2013-05-29 13:41:43','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be a perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped, so new pools weren’t being built. Also, folks weren’t moving, adding insult to injury with less new systems installed, and more warranty claims from system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page legible! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a>. Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong style=\"font-size: 1.4em;\">New Strap Clamp</strong>\r\n\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the Hold-Down Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011). If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_890\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-890 \" alt=\"10011 - ISO\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO-300x231.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" /></a> Revised Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011)[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices on our stainless components may go up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"865,864,866\"]\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they had imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of a unique upsell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and had passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, a light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_881\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a> Click to enlarge[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.</p>\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates, please give Pat or myself a call. If you want to check for airfare, the local airport is Liberia (LIR).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-14','','','2013-05-29 13:41:43','2013-05-29 13:41:43','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=892',0,'revision','',0),(890,3,'2013-05-29 13:24:32','2013-05-29 13:24:32','','10011 - ISO','','inherit','open','open','','10011-iso','','','2013-05-29 13:24:32','2013-05-29 13:24:32','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(899,3,'2013-06-11 15:55:11','2013-06-11 15:55:11','Good news – Dawn returned to work yesterday and with that, we have made a few changes in order to help serve you better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDawn is now our Customer Service and Order Processing Clerk. Other than entering your sales orders and answering light technical questions, her primary responsibilities will include:\n<ul>\n<ul>\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">Notifying you of shipping dates</li>\n</ul>\n</ul>\n<em id=\"__mceDel\">\n<ul>\n	<li></li>\n	<li>Upon shipment, will notify you of your shipment details and scheduled date of delivery</li>\n	<li>In case of any backorders, will notify you when the backorder is to be shipped</li>\n</ul>\n</em>\n\nJanet will back-up Dawn in regard to entering sales orders and Pati will pick up on the above notification process when Dawn is out.\n\nIn addition, Dawn will now be handling all warranty related questions from consumers and Dealers as well as processing warranty claim decisions and issuing labor warranty coverage letters.\n\nPati will continue to be our Administrative Assistant / Receptionist and process export sales quotes and orders as well as handle all international shipping. Dawn will back up Pati on our international business.\n\nAgain, we welcome Dawn back and hope that these changes will make your experience with Aquatherm an enjoyable one.','Welcome Back Dawn & Some Changes Moving Forward','','inherit','open','open','','898-revision','','','2013-06-11 15:55:11','2013-06-11 15:55:11','',898,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=899',0,'revision','',0),(894,3,'2013-05-29 14:12:18','2013-05-29 14:12:18','','Flashings','','inherit','open','open','','flashings','','','2013-05-29 14:12:18','2013-05-29 14:12:18','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Flashings.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(895,3,'2013-05-29 14:07:45','2013-05-29 14:07:45','<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.</span></h3>\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be a perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped, so new pools weren’t being built. Also, folks weren’t moving, adding insult to injury with less new systems installed, and more warranty claims from system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>CSI-Thermal Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program</h3>\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3>Online RMR / LAR</h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page legible! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a>. Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n<h3>New Strap Clamp</h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the Hold-Down Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011). If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_890\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-890 \" alt=\"10011 - ISO\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO-300x231.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" /></a> Revised Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011)[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices on our stainless components may go up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>Donations</h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"865,864,866\"]\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3>QuickMount PV Flashing</h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they had imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of a unique upsell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3>New Ratings / ISO 9806</h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3>IAPMO vs. SRCC</h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and had passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, a light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_881\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a> Click to enlarge[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.</p>\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3>Last Call for Paradise</h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates, please give Pat or myself a call. If you want to check for airfare, the local airport is Liberia (LIR).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-15','','','2013-05-29 14:07:45','2013-05-29 14:07:45','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=895',0,'revision','',0),(897,3,'2013-05-23 13:30:50','2013-05-23 13:30:50','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </strong>last week in Las Vegas! It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. I will review the meeting highlights in the next sales report, but I wanted to take the time to recognize all of the award winners this month.\r\n\r\nNow it\'s on to a fresh start for 2013, but first let\'s wrap up the numbers for 2012.\r\n\r\nWow, what a strong finish to the year! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for December with 27 sales. Way to go, Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Congratulations Bill! Rounding out the top 3 for the second month in a row is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 18 sales for December. Nice job, Scott! A combined 37 total sales for Stilwell - awesome!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> who came out on top with 287 collectors installed for December. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2nd with 196 collectors - that\'s even more than last month Mark - Fantastic! 3rd place goes to <strong>Vasco Solar</strong> with 75 collectors for December. Way to go Rick and Maureen.\r\n\r\nWe had seven dealers hit the 100 sales mark for the year and one get really close! Also, based on your reporting, Aquatherm Master Dealers finished the year with 50 more systems installed than last year. Congratulations to you all and thank you for a great year.\r\n\r\nA big congratulations to <strong>Suncatcher of Atlanta</strong>, a Master Dealer since 1993, they officially achieved <strong>Lifetime Silver Master Dealer</strong> status in 2012. Congratulations to Gerry and his team and thank you for your years of commitment to Aquatherm Industries.\r\n\r\nHere\'s a summary of the awards from our meeting:\r\n\r\nThe <strong>2012 Top Ten Salesman</strong> in the Nation:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Mark Naylor</strong> of Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Bill Long</strong> of Stilwell Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Terry Naylor</strong> of Naylor Solar Specialists</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Bill Park</strong> of Central Florida Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Scott Bologna</strong> of Stilwell Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Brandon Chase </strong>of SunChaser, Inc.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Richard Good </strong>of Solar Services</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Jim Roark </strong>of Roark Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Dave Setter </strong>of M &amp; K Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Rick Vasquez </strong>of Vasco Solar</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Top Salesman of 2012</strong> in the Nation was presented to <strong>Mark Naylor</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Top SI Salesman </strong>in the Nation was <strong>Bill Long</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Top Ecosun Salesman </strong>in the Nation was presented to <strong>Bill Park</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Number One SI Dealer</strong> in the Nation was <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Number One Ecosun Dealer</strong> in the Nation was presented to <strong>Central Florida Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Rising Star Award</strong> for Outstanding Sales was presented to <strong>Roy Aghdam</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>The High Impact Award</strong> for Largest Percentage Increase over last year was presented to <strong>Todd Franzen</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Customer Satisfaction Awards</strong> based on submitted on-line registration comments were awarded to <strong>Solar Services, Vasco Solar and M &amp; K</strong> for Solar Industries and <strong>United Solar, Central Florida Solar and Compass Solar</strong> for Ecosun.\r\n\r\nFinally, the invitees were announced to the <strong>2013 Summer Sales Retreat</strong> which will be at the <strong>RUI Guanacaste in Costa Rica</strong>, July 29 to August 3. Attending will be Mark Naylor, Bill Long, Terry Naylor, Bill Park, Brandon Chase, Richard Good, Jim Roark and Dave Setter.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to all of our award winners and retreat invitees. Thank you again for your continued business - we are lucky to have such a talented group of individuals to call our Master Dealers!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Orlando Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 15 &amp; 16 in Orlando, Booth #1018</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','December 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','841-revision-2','','','2013-05-23 13:30:50','2013-05-23 13:30:50','',841,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=897',0,'revision','',0),(898,4,'2013-06-11 15:56:37','2013-06-11 15:56:37','<strong>Good news!</strong> Dawn returned to work yesterday and with that, we have made a few changes in order to help serve you better.\r\n\r\nDawn is now our Customer Service and Order Processing Clerk. Other than entering your sales orders and answering light technical questions, her primary responsibilities will include:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Notifying you of shipping dates</li>\r\n	<li>Upon shipment, will notify you of your shipment details and scheduled date of delivery</li>\r\n	<li>In case of any backorders, will notify you when the backorder is to be shipped</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nJanet will back-up Dawn in regard to entering sales orders and Pati will pick up on the above notification process when Dawn is out.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Dawn will now be handling all warranty related questions from consumers and Dealers as well as processing warranty claim decisions and issuing labor warranty coverage letters.\r\n\r\nPati will continue to be our Administrative Assistant / Receptionist and process export sales quotes and orders as well as handle all international shipping. Dawn will back up Pati on our international business.\r\n\r\nAgain, we welcome Dawn back and hope that these changes will make your experience with Aquatherm an enjoyable one.','Welcome Back Dawn & Some Changes Moving Forward','','publish','open','open','','welcome-back-dawn-some-changes-moving-forward','','','2013-06-11 15:56:54','2013-06-11 15:56:54','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=898',0,'post','',1),(900,3,'2013-06-11 15:55:19','2013-06-11 15:55:19','Good news – Dawn returned to work yesterday and with that, we have made a few changes in order to help serve you better.\r\n\r\nDawn is now our Customer Service and Order Processing Clerk. Other than entering your sales orders and answering light technical questions, her primary responsibilities will include:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Notifying you of shipping dates</li>\r\n	<li>Upon shipment, will notify you of your shipment details and scheduled date of delivery</li>\r\n	<li>In case of any backorders, will notify you when the backorder is to be shipped</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nJanet will back-up Dawn in regard to entering sales orders and Pati will pick up on the above notification process when Dawn is out.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Dawn will now be handling all warranty related questions from consumers and Dealers as well as processing warranty claim decisions and issuing labor warranty coverage letters.\r\n\r\nPati will continue to be our Administrative Assistant / Receptionist and process export sales quotes and orders as well as handle all international shipping. Dawn will back up Pati on our international business.\r\n\r\nAgain, we welcome Dawn back and hope that these changes will make your experience with Aquatherm an enjoyable one.','Welcome Back Dawn & Some Changes Moving Forward','','inherit','open','open','','898-revision-2','','','2013-06-11 15:55:19','2013-06-11 15:55:19','',898,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=900',0,'revision','',0),(901,3,'2013-06-11 15:56:11','2013-06-11 15:56:11','<strong>Good news!</strong> Dawn returned to work yesterday and with that, we have made a few changes in order to help serve you better.\n\nDawn is now our Customer Service and Order Processing Clerk. Other than entering your sales orders and answering light technical questions, her primary responsibilities will include:\n<ul>\n	<li>Notifying you of shipping dates</li>\n	<li>Upon shipment, will notify you of your shipment details and scheduled date of delivery</li>\n	<li>In case of any backorders, will notify you when the backorder is to be shipped</li>\n</ul>\nJanet will back-up Dawn in regard to entering sales orders and Pati will pick up on the above notification process when Dawn is out.\n\nIn addition, Dawn will now be handling all warranty related questions from consumers and Dealers as well as processing warranty claim decisions and issuing labor warranty coverage letters.\n\nPati will continue to be our Administrative Assistant / Receptionist and process export sales quotes and orders as well as handle all international shipping. Dawn will back up Pati on our international business.\n\nAgain, we welcome Dawn back and hope that these changes will make your experience with Aquatherm an enjoyable one.','Welcome Back Dawn & Some Changes Moving Forward','','inherit','open','open','','898-revision-3','','','2013-06-11 15:56:11','2013-06-11 15:56:11','',898,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=901',0,'revision','',0),(902,3,'2013-06-11 15:56:37','2013-06-11 15:56:37','<strong>Good news!</strong> Dawn returned to work yesterday and with that, we have made a few changes in order to help serve you better.\r\n\r\nDawn is now our Customer Service and Order Processing Clerk. Other than entering your sales orders and answering light technical questions, her primary responsibilities will include:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Notifying you of shipping dates</li>\r\n	<li>Upon shipment, will notify you of your shipment details and scheduled date of delivery</li>\r\n	<li>In case of any backorders, will notify you when the backorder is to be shipped</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nJanet will back-up Dawn in regard to entering sales orders and Pati will pick up on the above notification process when Dawn is out.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Dawn will now be handling all warranty related questions from consumers and Dealers as well as processing warranty claim decisions and issuing labor warranty coverage letters.\r\n\r\nPati will continue to be our Administrative Assistant / Receptionist and process export sales quotes and orders as well as handle all international shipping. Dawn will back up Pati on our international business.\r\n\r\nAgain, we welcome Dawn back and hope that these changes will make your experience with Aquatherm an enjoyable one.','Welcome Back Dawn & Some Changes Moving Forward','','inherit','open','open','','898-revision-4','','','2013-06-11 15:56:37','2013-06-11 15:56:37','',898,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=902',0,'revision','',0),(903,3,'2013-05-30 13:08:23','2013-05-30 13:08:23','<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.</span></h3>\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be a perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped, so new pools weren’t being built. Also, folks weren’t moving, adding insult to injury with less new systems installed, and more warranty claims from system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>CSI-Thermal Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program</h3>\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3>Online RMR / LAR</h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page legible! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a>. Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n<h3>New Strap Clamp</h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the Hold-Down Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011). If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_890\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-890 \" alt=\"10011 - ISO\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO-300x231.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" /></a> Revised Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011)[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices on our stainless components may go up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>Donations</h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"865,864,866\"]\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3>QuickMount PV Flashing</h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they had imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of a unique upsell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3>New Ratings / ISO 9806</h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3>IAPMO vs. SRCC</h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and had passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, a light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_881\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a> Click to enlarge[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.</p>\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3>Last Call for Paradise</h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates, please give Pat or myself a call. If you want to check for airfare, the local airport is Liberia (LIR).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-17','','','2013-05-30 13:08:23','2013-05-30 13:08:23','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=903',0,'revision','',0),(904,3,'2013-05-23 13:42:27','2013-05-23 13:42:27','Its official - the busy season is here! In my conversations with all of you it’s clear that this year is out pacing last year and the numbers agree. So far year to date you are reporting 162 systems and 1000 panels more than last year during the same time. A good sign that the economy is starting to recover and you are taking advantage of the pent up demand.\r\n\r\nThis pent up demand it is probably causing your voicemail and email boxes to fill up – a lot! But what about all the homeowners you reached out to over the last few years that you pitched and missed, or the ones who never called you back at all? Where are they now? Many of them are probably ripe for the picking! Well, you’re in luck!\r\n\r\nAquatherm keeps a database of all the past <strong>Internet sales leads</strong> we have forwarded to you, and we would be happy to share with you a spreadsheet of those in your market. These are warm leads – pool owners who have reached out to us at least once, requesting a Dealer in their area. Please let me know if you are interested, and I will make sure to get them in your hands quickly. They could be swimming in a warm pool by Memorial Day!\r\n\r\nSometimes, good things bear repeating: Aquatherm regularly sends out <strong>Press Releases</strong> – usually two each month – announcing new products and happenings in the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to get you some “free press” by promoting any noteworthy commercial projects. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release, so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for an upcoming release.\r\n\r\nLet’s see the numbers for April. Congratulations to <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA </strong>who dominated the top dealer spot with 420 collectors sold for April. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <strong>Stilwell Solar, FL</strong> with 308 collectors for April. Way to go Bill! And it’s a tie for 3<sup>rd</sup> between <strong>Central Florida Solar, FL</strong> and <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV</strong> with 182 collectors each - nice job Bill and Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> from Mark Naylor Solar Specialists is the top salesman in the country with 57 sales for April. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 31 sales for April - fabulous job Bill. And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar with 26 sales. Well done Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm\'s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup> in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28<sup>th</sup> – August      2<sup>nd</sup> at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed on Monday, May 27<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend and reopen on Tuesday, May 28<sup>th</sup>.</strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','April 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','850-revision-3','','','2013-05-23 13:42:27','2013-05-23 13:42:27','',850,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=904',0,'revision','',0),(905,3,'2013-05-23 13:42:37','2013-05-23 13:42:37','Earlier this year at the Aquatherm National Dealer meeting Eric Howarth, from EGIA, presented an opportunity for all of you to sign up for their financing programs. Not only is financing a great way to offer homeowners additional options for payment with the CSI program looming in California, there are thousands of smaller commercial pools that could benefit from financing options.\r\n\r\nEric spoke about the <strong>Geosmart Financing Program</strong> that is available to all of you. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs including unsecured loan programs with financing of up to $40,000. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nAquatherm regularly sends out <strong>press releases</strong> to promote new projects, announce new products and happenings to the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to promote your noteworthy commercial projects as well. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for a future release.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers, amazingly enough the top three in each category were the same!<strong> Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman and Dealer in the country for March with 52 sales and 392 collectors sold! Amazing month Mark! Coming in 2nd with 25 sales and 294 collectors is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar. Fabulous job Bill and the entire team at Stilwell! Rounding out the top three is a tie between <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar and <strong>Dennis Esposito</strong> from Performance Solar with 23 sales and 161 collectors each for March. Marvelous March, Bill and Dennis!!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Stakeholders Meeting, April 23rd in San Francisco</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco</li>\r\n	<li>International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, November 12th - 14th in Las Vegas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','March 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','848-revision-3','','','2013-05-23 13:42:37','2013-05-23 13:42:37','',848,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=905',0,'revision','',0),(906,3,'2013-05-23 13:42:45','2013-05-23 13:42:45','Happy first day of Spring everyone! Many of you are reporting that you\'ve already started to feel the season \"spring\" into action early this year. It is certainly a sign that we are starting to see glimmers in the economy coming back to life.\r\n\r\nWhen the recession hit five years ago, new pool construction abruptly stopped. Now that the economy is starting to recover, backhoes and workers are starting to fill backyards again and new pools are going in. Many of you know about Construction Monitor and more than likely stopped subscribing to the service after the economic downturn. For those of you who are not familiar with Construction Monitor, they are a web based company that has been in business since 1989 providing weekly building permit information to industry professionals. It is a subscription service and the reports are compiled by county. You can subscribe to one or all of the counties you service and compile a list of homeowners with pools for marketing purposes.\r\n\r\nI have heard many positive stories from those that already use the service. Getting this list gives them early access to those building a pool and the opportunity to sell the benefits of solar pool heating to them before their competition. Even if they don\'t buy initially, this same potential customer is perfect to market to after owning the pool for 2 -5 years since they are probably not enjoying it as much as they thought they would because the pool is just too cold.\r\n\r\nFor those of you interested in subscribing to Construction Monitor or learning more about their services their website is <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001BG74qGV779iNa1vaHjYKELy7u5_SDZyvxFBz2t-E1VLskggRux2DQUF1viTc6wH-wc4Iu7mYHAVgxRdFDCwIewRmtN2Jx3jZisRxtUrj4g_7ymG7jztuCBTggrxcj-6xyjyAEWeQwb0=\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.constructionmonitor.com/</a>\r\n\r\nNow for the numbers! First off - I try to get this memo and report out to you complete in a timely manner every month, but often find myself waiting weeks for just one or two more sales numbers. In the future, if I don\'t have your numbers by the 15th of the month I\'ll be using DNR, which will stand for DID NOT REPORT instead of a \"0\" from this point forward. Let\'s hope I\'ll never have to use it!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for February with 29 sales. Another great month Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 26 sales. Outstanding Bill! Rounding out the top 3 is <strong>Dennis Esposito</strong> from Performance Solar with 19 sales for February. Welcome back Dennis!!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> is the number one dealer with 301 collectors installed for the month. Congratulations to Bill and the entire team at Stilwell! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> Solar Specialists came in 2nd with 217 collectors. Nice job, Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Performance Solar</strong> with 133 collectors for the month. Fabulous February, Dennis!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Solar Power International, October 21st - 24th in Chicago, Illinois</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAs a reminder, Aquatherm will be closed on Friday, March 29th for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, April 1st.\r\n\r\nLastly, Dawn is out for eight weeks until mid-May. In her absence, Pati, Janet, Carol, Dan and I will all be doing their best to cover for her. Please be patient if we just don\'t get to something as quick as you\'re accustomed to. Dawn should be back just in time for the thick of the season.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','February 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','846-revision-3','','','2013-05-23 13:42:45','2013-05-23 13:42:45','',846,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=906',0,'revision','',0),(907,3,'2013-05-23 13:42:58','2013-05-23 13:42:58','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting in Las Vegas</strong>! Since we all made it through the Mayan \"the end is near\", we decided the theme for our meeting should be \"The Beginning is Here\" and focused on a fresh start for a new year. It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. We covered many topics during the fast-paced meeting, so I wanted to take the time to review for those who may have missed something during this fast-paced event, and for those who were unable to attend.\r\n\r\nThe meeting started with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at the hotel on Wednesday evening. We had Quickmount PV and Pentair representatives on-hand to discuss the latest in pumps, controls, and collector mounting. The evening found many old friends catching up after time apart and some new faces in the crowd as well. As usual, three hours just isn\'t enough and many stayed on well after the event to chat.\r\n\r\nThursday, we kicked-off with introductions by Dave that led into industry and Aquatherm updates. Dave discussed the new dual-durometer couplings and that there have only been two reported failures to date with over 200,000 in the field since the product\'s introduction in 2009. He also mentioned that a completely serviceable version of our 2\" VRV with the locking retainer design has begun shipping.\r\n\r\nDave also shared with us a bit about Aquatherm\'s \"why\". What is that, you ask? Well it is about why we get up every day and do what we do. Dave recently had the chance to spend a day with Simon Sinek, author of \"Start with Why\" and digs deep into the \"whys\" of Aquatherm. Since then, we have updated our Company Overview to include a letter from Dave that encompasses more of the \"why\" regarding Aquatherm. If you haven\'t had a chance to see the new version yet you can <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjhyI7l_FSxRu9PMjBjUZ5pw4X5vB5csV4MEaehKbTsGX\" target=\"_blank\">download it here</a>.\r\n\r\nIn Kevin\'s Engineering update, he reviewed the differences in standard organizations, accredited laboratories and certification bodies that are used in the industry and updated us on Aquatherm\'s ISO quality statistics. He presented a new online commercial survey form that is available for use now by going to <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjnjXWHSSJJu_td2VQWiI2FfprfkARDKPfqDRGdINdVtptd71l6PtakY=\" target=\"_blank\">www.aquathermindustries.com/survey</a> and previewed the new on-line RMR / LAR form, which will be introduced in March. Aquatherm has also released a new installation manual that was presented and is available in PDF or in iBooks format. Kevin also showed us some new projects that Aquatherm is working on including a new polypropylene \"flashing base\" for the 50006 and 50069 mounting brackets; a collector rack that will be specifically designed with our mounting hardware in mind, and the concept of a ballast mounting system for those times when roof penetrations are not desirable.\r\n\r\nWe were treated to several \"Fifteen Minutes of Fame\" by a few of our dealers during the meeting. They included Ethan Horvitz from Solar Living who shared a presentation on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and how the Aquatherm systems fared far better than the competition during the storm; Daniel Garcia of Modulo Solar shared some of their recent large commercial projects that they have done; and Mark Turnbull of Ecosun Australia talked about his market and goals for the future. And, lastly, as a stand in for Rich Bonte, Ethan spoke about the Red Lion High School project that was done in Pennsylvania - a unique glycol based design. Thank you to all who participated in sharing your insights with us and some of the lessons you have learned along the way.\r\n\r\nIn the Sales breakout we spent time reviewing the sales presentation and we unveiled the updated Lessons Learned section for the presentation. The updates include new formatting and the information condensed to one sheet. We also reviewed the Heliocol BTU comparison sheets and handed out the new comparison showing the Eco-Spark from UMA. Should you need a copy of any of this information you will find it on the portal.\r\n\r\nWe continued the sales breakout with a rundown of the Master Dealer Status and levels for both yearly and lifetime status. We also covered the Master Dealer Coop Program and thank you and referrals gifts for homeowners. Lastly, we offered up the return of the Bounty Hunter Program for the month of February to start the year off right! Should you need additional information on any of the above please don\'t hesitate to reach out to me directly.\r\n\r\nDuring the Marketing Breakout, Dan reviewed some of the more popular social media and networking tools available today, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ (formerly Google Places), and YouTube. One key take away is to make sure you run a Google search for \"your business name here google plus\". You might be surprised to find your business already has a Google+ page, in which case you should claim it immediately by clicking the \"Manage this page\" button in the bottom right. Once you\'ve claimed your page, you\'ll unlock some features like the ability to add an \"About Us\" section and some photos. More importantly, claiming your page ensures you will be notified by email if a review is posted on your page.\r\n\r\nThere will always be a new social media tool popping up and generating hype - some of which may be helpful to your marketing efforts. However, there are also only so many hours in a day. By first researching a service\'s key user demographics, then considering potential marketing reach compared with time invested, you can maximize the effectiveness of social in your marketing plan. Dan went on to discuss current website best practices, such as making sure your website is \"mobile-friendly\" by pulling it up on your own smart phone and tablet. He also touched on how best to integrate social tools into your existing website, including the use of the Facebook \"Like\" and \"Share\" buttons.\r\n\r\nFinally, Dan and the groups discussed online review sites, including Yelp, Angie\'s List, Google+, and Facebook. These sites have the greatest potential to help or harm your businesses, and it\'s important to be aware of any reviews. Dan recounted a phone conversation with an exasperated Rick Vasquez of Vasco Solar last year, after Rick had just lost an all-but-closed sale due to a last minute search that turned up a negative review on Yelp. Unfortunately, much like Google+, businesses can often be listed on Yelp without any consent or knowledge from the business owner. It\'s a good idea to run a Google search for your business, as well as search on each of these sites individually. Claiming your listing on these sites allows you to respond to any reviews, whether positive or negative. If you have received a negative review for your business, Dan suggests the following: 1) Respond professionally by apologizing for their experience and asking them to call or email you directly. This response can benefit you two ways: you will have an opportunity to get your reviewer offline to resolve the conflict (many times they will agree to remove or edit their review if you resolve the issue; others will see you as an accountable business owner who doesn\'t hide from their problems.  2) Reach out to your best customers - start with those who have given you business through referrals - and ask them to leave a review on the site. When there are at least three or four positive reviews of your business, that one negative review is much less likely to scare away a potential customer.\r\n\r\nFeel free to contact Dan directly for any help with websites and social media.\r\n\r\nWe had several representatives from the industry come in to present and answer questions from the group. Tom from Pentair spoke about the Solar Touch control while Marshall from Quick Mount PV talked to us about the new flashing they will be offering to use with our systems. Lastly, Eric from EGIA spoke on the Geosmart financing program. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nThat evening we met for some fun, camaraderie, and our annual Dealer Awards Ceremony at the Brio Restaurant. After a great dinner, we culminated our time together with the awards ceremony, where our Master Dealers and Salesmen were recognized for the outstanding sales performances in 2012. Our guest speaker, Ed Murray, Treasurer of CalSEIA and Board Member of National SEIA updated us on what is happening on the national and California solar thermal scenes. Lastly, invitees were announced to the 2013 Summer Sales Retreat, which will be in Guanacaste, Costa Rica in late July.\r\n\r\nFriday morning the California dealers, along with Ed Murray, met for a special breakfast meeting to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program. Although the program has yet to be instituted dealers were able to learn more about the California commercial market and the potential opportunities once the program is online.\r\n\r\nThank you to all who participated in the meeting and making it a great start to 2013!\r\n\r\nWell, this year is off to a great start for many of you! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for January with 26 sales. Way to start the year Mark! <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Nice job Scott! Rounding out the top 3 for the January is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 16 sales for January. Great month Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> came out on top with 259 collectors installed for January. What a nice way to start the year for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2nd with 182 collectors. Well done Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 105 collectors for the month. Way to start the year off with a bang, Jim!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, March 2nd - 3rd in Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nThis year is off to a great start. Now let\'s keep up the momentum!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','January 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','843-revision-4','','','2013-05-23 13:42:58','2013-05-23 13:42:58','',843,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=907',0,'revision','',0),(908,3,'2013-05-30 13:15:43','2013-05-30 13:15:43','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </strong>last week in Las Vegas! It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. I will review the meeting highlights in the next sales report, but I wanted to take the time to recognize all of the award winners this month.\r\n\r\nNow it\'s on to a fresh start for 2013, but first let\'s wrap up the numbers for 2012.\r\n\r\nWow, what a strong finish to the year! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for December with 27 sales. Way to go, Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Congratulations Bill! Rounding out the top 3 for the second month in a row is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 18 sales for December. Nice job, Scott! A combined 37 total sales for Stilwell - awesome!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> who came out on top with 287 collectors installed for December. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2nd with 196 collectors - that\'s even more than last month Mark - Fantastic! 3rd place goes to <strong>Vasco Solar</strong> with 75 collectors for December. Way to go Rick and Maureen.\r\n\r\nWe had seven dealers hit the 100 sales mark for the year and one get really close! Also, based on your reporting, Aquatherm Master Dealers finished the year with 50 more systems installed than last year. Congratulations to you all and thank you for a great year.\r\n\r\nA big congratulations to <strong>Suncatcher of Atlanta</strong>, a Master Dealer since 1993, they officially achieved <strong>Lifetime Silver Master Dealer</strong> status in 2012. Congratulations to Gerry and his team and thank you for your years of commitment to Aquatherm Industries.\r\n\r\nHere\'s a summary of the awards from our meeting:\r\n\r\nThe <strong>2012 Top Ten Salesman</strong> in the Nation:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Mark Naylor</strong> of Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Bill Long</strong> of Stilwell Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Terry Naylor</strong> of Naylor Solar Specialists</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Bill Park</strong> of Central Florida Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Scott Bologna</strong> of Stilwell Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Brandon Chase </strong>of SunChaser, Inc.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Richard Good </strong>of Solar Services</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Jim Roark </strong>of Roark Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Dave Setter </strong>of M &amp; K Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Rick Vasquez </strong>of Vasco Solar</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Top Salesman of 2012</strong> in the Nation was presented to <strong>Mark Naylor</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Top SI Salesman </strong>in the Nation was <strong>Bill Long</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Top Ecosun Salesman </strong>in the Nation was presented to <strong>Bill Park</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Number One SI Dealer</strong> in the Nation was <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Number One Ecosun Dealer</strong> in the Nation was presented to <strong>Central Florida Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Rising Star Award</strong> for Outstanding Sales was presented to <strong>Roy Aghdam</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>The High Impact Award</strong> for Largest Percentage Increase over last year was presented to <strong>Todd Franzen</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Customer Satisfaction Awards</strong> based on submitted on-line registration comments were awarded to <strong>Solar Services, Vasco Solar and M &amp; K</strong> for Solar Industries and <strong>United Solar, Central Florida Solar and Compass Solar</strong> for Ecosun.\r\n\r\nFinally, the invitees were announced to the <strong>2013 Summer Sales Retreat</strong> which will be at the <strong>RUI Guanacaste in Costa Rica</strong>, July 29 to August 3. Attending will be Mark Naylor, Bill Long, Terry Naylor, Bill Park, Brandon Chase, Richard Good, Jim Roark and Dave Setter.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to all of our award winners and retreat invitees. Thank you again for your continued business - we are lucky to have such a talented group of individuals to call our Master Dealers!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Orlando Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 15 &amp; 16 in Orlando, Booth #1018</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','December 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','841-revision-3','','','2013-05-30 13:15:43','2013-05-30 13:15:43','',841,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=908',0,'revision','',0),(909,3,'2013-05-23 13:43:12','2013-05-23 13:43:12','Happy Holidays everyone!\r\n\r\nLast year it took<strong> </strong>until December for <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar to knock Mark Naylor off the number one salesman perch. Bill is the top salesman for November in the country with 31 sales. Way to go Bill! Staying strong in California is <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> in that 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 23 sales - great finish to November Mark. Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> for the month of is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar<strong>. </strong>Well done, Scott!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to<strong> Stilwell Solar</strong> who claimed the top dealer spot two months in a row with 336 collectors installed for November. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 175 collectors - Mark, great job! And in 3<sup>rd</sup> place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 77 collectors for November. Back in the top three two months in a row – Go Jim!\r\n\r\nSix members of the Top 10 Club have already hit 100 sales for the year and three more are within striking distance. Dave hasn’t divulged the location of our 2012 Summer Sales Retreat yet, but he’s hinted that it’s one of the locations he visited during his international travels this year.\r\n\r\nI recently spoke with Rob Shepherd from Daystar Energy and he shared a new marketing technique he tried in Canada. Rob’s season normally comes to a halt in early October but this year has been particularly tough in his market. Rob tried to think outside the box to do something that would add additional installs before winter kicked-in up in Canada. He ran an ad in his local newspaper for under $50 that offered <strong>“Free Installation”</strong> with the purchase of a system. Well, it worked! Rob has sold 6 systems from this ad and received additional referrals as well from this one advertisement. He has priced the systems in such a way that he is still profiting well from each sale and is extremely excited to do this again next year. He stated, “This was just one newspaper imagine the sales opportunities once I try five or six of my area papers!” Thanks for sharing your success story Rob.\r\n\r\nOur <strong>Distribution Center and</strong> <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-Off Meeting</strong> is fast approaching and we’re excited for the opportunity for you to connect with other dealers and distributors from throughout the Aquatherm Network. Be on the look-out for the formal agenda and memo with additional travel details shortly. The Distribution Center Meeting will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup> with a reception for all that evening; the National Dealer Kick-Off Meeting is from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24th with an Awards Dinner and speaker to follow. There will be also be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25th from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd - 25th at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th- 31st in Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>MiaGreen Expo and Conference, January 31<sup>st</sup> – February 1<sup>st</sup> in Miami Beach, Booth #428</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm will be closed</strong> on Monday, December 24<sup>th</sup> and Tuesday, December 25<sup>th</sup> for the Christmas holiday and Monday, December 31<sup>st</sup> and Tuesday, January 1<sup>st</sup> for New Year’s. We wish you all a fabulous holiday season with your friends and families! We thank you for your continued relationship with Aquatherm and appreciate your business. Here’s to a strong start to 2013!\r\n\r\nBest to you all,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','November 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','814-revision-4','','','2013-05-23 13:43:12','2013-05-23 13:43:12','',814,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=909',0,'revision','',0),(910,3,'2013-05-23 13:43:17','2013-05-23 13:43:17','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-8','','','2013-05-23 13:43:17','2013-05-23 13:43:17','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=910',0,'revision','',0),(911,3,'2013-05-23 13:43:22','2013-05-23 13:43:22','Fall is officially upon us and with the change in the air we finally have a shake up in the top three numbers this month. With 27 sales, <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> remains at the top Salesperson spot for September. Way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 14 sales for the month – nice job Terry. In 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Gerry Kilgore</strong> of Suncatcher of Atlanta with 13 sales for September. Gerry shared with me that he had one of his best months ever in business in September. Fantastic job Gerry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> stayed in the top spot for September with 217 collectors sold. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>took the 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 126 collectors sold for September. Great month Bill and Scott – your fall season is just about to rev up! And rounding out the top three with 113 collectors sold is <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong>. Excellent September Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Richard Good</strong> and his team at <strong>Solar Services</strong> recently participated in the 2012 National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society. In the last two years of participation, they have had more than 80 visitors tour their facility, his home and the homes of his employees that have installed solar technologies.  Now in its 17<sup>th</sup> year, the ASES National Solar Tour offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how homeowners can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills. This is a <strong>FREE</strong> open house to all homeowners and each business is able to be the expert on-hand to answer questions and set the stage for a follow up appointment with all interested leads.\r\n\r\nMore than 165,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S. Most tours occur on a Saturday in early October, but be sure to check for earlier dates and even some week-long celebrations in your community! There are also sponsorship opportunities and promotion help for those that participate and wave the solar flag to make this a successful event for everyone involved. For more information on how you can participate in this event in the future please visit <a href=\"http://www.nationalsolartour.org/\">www.nationalsolartour.org</a>.\r\n\r\nThe <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas </strong>is starting to take shape and we are getting excited to share the details with you. Look for my detailed memo the week of October 22<sup>nd</sup> that will include the agenda and particulars for this event. As a reminder the dates of the meeting will be <strong>January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>, <strong>2013 </strong>and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>. We look forward to seeing you all there and starting 2013 off with a bang!\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the following upcoming shows:\r\n\r\n<strong>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th\r\n</sup></strong>New Orleans, LA - Booth #1051\r\n\r\n<strong>Piscine 2012 Show Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 16th\r\n</strong>Lyon, France - Stand # 5B32\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all have a safe and fun Halloween!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','September 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','759-revision-6','','','2013-05-23 13:43:22','2013-05-23 13:43:22','',759,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=911',0,'revision','',0),(912,3,'2012-10-22 18:45:38','2012-10-22 18:45:38','<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Solar heating systems installed on California commercial pools will now qualify for the states current solar rebate incentive program. Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law Assembly Bill 2249, an expansion on the Solar Water heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for solar water heating systems throughout the state. The bill, which had previously excluded swimming pools from eligibility under the program, redefines \"solar water heating systems\" to include solar pool heating systems at multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit facilities.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n</div>\r\nAquatherm Industries, U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters, applauds the California State Legislature\'s successes in the introduction and subsequent passing of a Bill that will qualify commercial pool facilities to earn a rebate for the installation of a solar pool heating system.\r\n\r\n“Swimming pools at businesses such as hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs, camps, waterparks, and schools often have no choice but to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature,\" says Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO of Aquatherm.\r\n\r\n\"This makes commercial pools perfect candidates for solar pool heating systems. Solar can provide a clean, domestic and affordable way to reduce the monthly energy bill for heating these facilities. It\'s been said, \'As California goes, so goes the country.\' We certainly hope that the California program will serve as a roadmap for other States to follow in the future.”\r\n\r\nHaving passed the California State Legislature in early September, Assembly Bill Number 2249 (AB2249) – which will extend eligibility for solar thermal incentives to public and semi-private commercial swimming pool solar heating– has been signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) was instrumental in aiding the state Legislature’s efforts to introduce and pass the bill.\r\n\r\nAs part of the larger California Solar Initiative Thermal program, AB2249 is an amendment to the existing Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.\r\n\r\nWhile the exact amount of the rebate has not yet been determined, early estimates among the industry indicate it will be between 35 and 50% of the cost of the system. Since performance of solar thermal systems is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), actual rebate figures will be determined by a price per averted therm.\r\n\r\nThough the Act specifically had excluded solar pool heaters in its definition of eligible solar water heating systems, AB2249 expands the current definition to include “multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit solar pool heating systems.” Single-family residential solar pool heating systems will continue to be excluded from the definition, and consequently, the rebate program.\r\n\r\nAccording to PK Data – which keeps statistics on the U.S. pool industry – there are over 186,000 heated commercial pools nationwide (approximately 45,000 in California – the most of any state). Of these pools, approximately 39%, or 115,540 are indoor; meaning they must be heated twelve months per year. Most of these pools are heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, or heat pumps. This increases the U.S. dependence on imported fuels and pollutes the air. Assuming natural gas is used to heat these pools, the annual load of 261 trillion BTU’s is the equivalent CO2 of 6.6 millions of cars on the road per year.\r\n\r\nBased on the findings of the Legislature, “solar water heating systems represent the largest untapped natural gas saving potential remaining in California. The state is heavily dependent on natural gas, importing more than 80 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost entirely on natural gas and accounts for a significant percentage of the state’s natural gas consumption. Rising worldwide demand for natural gas and a shrinking supply create rising and unstable prices that can harm California consumers and the economy. Lastly, growing demand for these technologies will create jobs in California as well as promote greater energy independence, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and result in cleaner air.”\r\n\r\nRead the full text of Assembly Bill 2249 <a title=\"AB2249_Full_Text.pdf\" href=\"http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/10/09/9997362/AB2249_Full_Text.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.','PRESS RELEASE: California\'s New Commercial Solar Pool Rebate Legislation (AB2249)','','inherit','open','open','','764-revision-4','','','2012-10-22 18:45:38','2012-10-22 18:45:38','',764,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=912',0,'revision','',0),(914,2,'2013-06-15 14:06:27','2013-06-15 14:06:27','This month, we are very excited to announce the addition of three Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network. Having displayed their commitment to quality and dedication to the solar pool heating industry, we proudly welcome the following companies into our Master Dealer Network:\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Bortman</b> is the owner of <b>Exact Solar</b> located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Mark founded Exact Solar and moved his family to Costa Rica for a year to learn more about alternative energy options. During that year, Mark worked with and learned with a pioneer in the solar thermal field, Bruce Carey, who’d been active in the solar industry since the 1970s. When he returned to the Philadelphia area, Mark started Exact Solar, and has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and pool heating ever since. Mark’s website is <a href=\"http://www.exactsolar.com/\">www.exactsolar.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Patrick Gallagher</b> is the owner of <b>Gallagher Solar Thermal</b> located in Warwick, New York. Pat has been the local solar expert in New York’s Hudson Valley since 2005, and added solar pool heating to his services offered in 2007. Pat’s company installs both solar domestic water and pool heating systems, and also services and replaces existing systems. In 2010, at the AHRC Camp Loyaltown Summer Camp in Hunter, NY, Gallagher designed and installed what would become the largest solar water heating system in the region – over 4,800 square foot of solar collector area to heat the camp’s 9,000 square foot swimming pool. Pat’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarthermalsolution.com/\">www.solarthermalsolution.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Jesse Christink</b> is the owner of <b>Solar Wave</b> located in Burlington, Ontario. Founded in 2005 by Jesse, Solar Wave specializes in the niche market of solar pool and domestic hot water heating. As a former employee of another solar pool heater manufacturer, it didn\'t take long for Jesse to realize the power of solar heating. As a finance graduate, Jesse was immediately drawn to the cost savings from solar, especially pool heating. After a six-year tenure with that manufacturer, Jesse started his own company selling, installing, and servicing solar water and pool heaters, as well as ancillary pool products like salt water chlorinators and automation systems. Jesse’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarwaveenergy.com/\">www.solarwaveenergy.com</a>.\r\n\r\nMark and Patrick are handling the Solar Industries line and Jesse Ecosun. Please join me in welcoming all three of our new Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network!\r\n\r\nI also wanted to give a nod to <b>Matt Mitera</b> from <b>Tenco Solar</b> who shared with me last week that he is installing the <b>largest solar water heating project</b> to date in the State of California on the USC campus in Southern California. Expected to open after the winter break at the end of this year, the students will return to find their dormitory’s hot water heated by the sun. Matt and his team are just about half way done with the project and have just six more months to complete the project. We will post some photos in the new year of the completed project. Congratulations Matt on this huge achievement!\r\n\r\nNow, on to the numbers for May.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA</b> who had an impressive month and claimed the top dealer spot with 413 collectors sold for May. Fabulous job Mark! A strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>Stilwell Solar, FL</b> with 224 collectors for May. Way to go Bill and the team at Stilwell! With 211 collectors for May, <b>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>came in 3<sup>rd</sup> for May - nice job Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> from <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> is the top salesman in the country with 56 sales for May. You are on fire Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from<b> Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 28 sales for the month of May. Fabulous job Terry, he tells me this is a record month for him - congrats! And, <b>Bill Long</b> from <b>Stilwell Solar</b> is 3<sup>rd</sup> with 23 sales for May. Impressive finish for May Bill!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th  in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28th - August 2nd at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12th - 14th in Las Vegas, Nevada<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed Thursday July 4<sup>th</sup> and Friday July 5<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, July 8<sup>th</sup>.</b><b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>ATTENTION:</b>  We are currently looking for a project to feature as our “Gold Medal Installation” in the <b>Summer 2013 Solstice</b>. These feature articles always make a great first impression on your customers during your sales presentations – don’t miss out on the opportunity!  If you have a noteworthy commercial project that you have completed in the last year please contact me for more information at 732-905-9002, ext 226 or <a href=\"mailto:mfriar@warmwater.com\">mfriar@warmwater.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Best,</span>\r\n\r\nMolly','May 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','may-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-11-20 14:17:04','2013-11-20 14:17:04','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=914',0,'post','',0),(915,3,'2013-09-10 14:07:46','2013-09-10 14:07:46','This month, we are very excited to announce the addition of three Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network. Having displayed their commitment to quality and dedication to the solar pool heating industry, we proudly welcome the following companies into our Master Dealer Network:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Mark Bortman</b> is the owner of <b>Exact Solar</b> located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Mark founded Exact Solar and moved his family to Costa Rica for a year to learn more about alternative energy options. During that year, Mark worked with and learned with a pioneer in the solar thermal field, Bruce Carey, who’d been active in the solar industry since the 1970s. When he returned to the Philadelphia area, Mark started Exact Solar, and has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and pool heating ever since. Mark’s website is <a href=\"http://www.exactsolar.com/\">www.exactsolar.com</a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Patrick Gallagher</b> is the owner of <b>Gallagher Solar Thermal</b> located in Warwick, New York. Pat has been the local solar expert in New York’s Hudson Valley since 2005, and added solar pool heating to his services offered in 2007. Pat’s company installs both solar domestic water and pool heating systems, and also services and replaces existing systems. In 2010, at the AHRC Camp Loyaltown Summer Camp in Hunter, NY, Gallagher designed and installed what would become the largest solar water heating system in the region – over 4,800 square foot of solar collector area to heat the camp’s 9,000 square foot swimming pool. Pat’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarthermalsolution.com/\">www.solarthermalsolution.com</a>.<b></b>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Jesse Christink</b> is the owner of <b>Solar Wave</b> located in Burlington, Ontario. Founded in 2005 by Jesse, Solar Wave specializes in the niche market of solar pool and domestic hot water heating. As a former employee of another solar pool heater manufacturer, it didn\'t take long for Jesse to realize the power of solar heating. As a finance graduate, Jesse was immediately drawn to the cost savings from solar, especially pool heating. After a six-year tenure with that manufacturer, Jesse started his own company selling, installing, and servicing solar water and pool heaters, as well as ancillary pool products like salt water chlorinators and automation systems. Jesse’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarwaveenergy.com/\">www.solarwaveenergy.com</a>.<b></b>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMark and Patrick are handling the Solar Industries line and Jesse Ecosun. Please join me in welcoming all three of our new Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also wanted to give a nod to <b>Matt Mitera</b> from <b>Tenco Solar</b> who shared with me last week that he is installing the <b>largest solar water heating project</b> to date in the State of California on the USC campus in Southern California. Expected to open after the winter break at the end of this year, the students will return to find their dormitory’s hot water heated by the sun. Matt and his team are just about half way done with the project and have just six more months to complete the project. We will post some photos in the new year of the completed project. Congratulations Matt on this huge achievement!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, on to the numbers for May.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA</b> who had an impressive month and claimed the top dealer spot with 413 collectors sold for May. Fabulous job Mark! A strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>Stilwell Solar, FL</b> with 224 collectors for May. Way to go Bill and the team at Stilwell! With 211 collectors for May, <b>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>came in 3<sup>rd</sup> for May - nice job Terry!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> from <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> is the top salesman in the country with 56 sales for May. You are on fire Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from<b> Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 28 sales for the month of May. Fabulous job Terry, he tells me this is a record month for him - congrats! And, <b>Bill Long</b> from <b>Stilwell Solar</b> is 3<sup>rd</sup> with 23 sales for May. Impressive finish for May Bill!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th  in San Francisco, California</li>\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28th - August 2nd at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12th - 14th in Las Vegas, Nevada<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n<b>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed Thursday July 4<sup>th</sup> and Friday July 5<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, July 8<sup>th</sup>.</b><b> </b>\n\n<b>ATTENTION:</b>  We are currently looking for a project to feature as our “Gold Medal Installation” in the <b>Summer 2013 Solstice</b>. These feature articles always make a great first impression on your customers during your sales presentations – don’t miss out on the opportunity!  If you have a noteworthy commercial project that you have completed in the last year please contact me for more information at 732-905-9002, ext 226 or <a href=\"mailto:mfriar@warmwater.com\">mfriar@warmwater.com</a>.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Best,</span>\n\nMolly','May 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','914-revision','','','2013-09-10 14:07:46','2013-09-10 14:07:46','',914,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=915',0,'revision','',0),(916,2,'2013-07-15 14:08:27','2013-07-15 14:08:27','What a year so far! Many of you are sharing stories of installation lead times in terms of weeks and not days for your customers. As a group, you are up 15% over last year! I thought I would call out a few of our Dealers that are having a banner year:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Performance Solar is up 222% - amazing year so far Dennis</li>\r\n	<li>The Solar Guys are 213% over last year – great job Sean and company</li>\r\n	<li>United Solar Energy is 51% over last year – congrats to Al and team</li>\r\n	<li>Energy Conservation Services are 38% ahead of last year – fabulous Tom</li>\r\n	<li>M &amp; K Solar is 33% ahead of last year – way to go Dave</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI would also like to acknowledge each level of Master Dealers and how they are trending:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Platinum Master Dealers are up 10%</li>\r\n	<li>Gold Master Dealers are up 12%</li>\r\n	<li>Silver Master Dealers are on pace with last year</li>\r\n	<li>Master Dealers are up 87%</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOverall, a great six months for everyone and your hard work out there is certainly paying dividends. Thank you for your continued business and being the best at what you do. For those of you joining us at the Summer Sales Retreat in Coast Rica, a well deserved break is just a few days away.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>for a great month with 420 collectors sold in June! Another fabulous month Mark! <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> had an impressive month with 235 collectors - strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place showing Terry! <b>Sunchaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 127 collectors sold for a 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish. Excellent job Brandon!\r\n\r\nAnd in typical 1-2-3 fashion, 57 sales landed <b>Mark Naylor</b> in the Top Salesman spot for August – nice job Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from Naylor Solar Specialists came in second for the month with 29 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <b>Brandon Chase</b> from Sunchaser, Inc. with 18 sales. Congratulations Brandon!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 27<sup>th</sup> – August 2<sup>nd</sup> in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, Nov. 12</span><sup>th</sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> – 14</span><sup>th </sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">in Las Vegas</span></li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting, January 2013 in Florida</span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information or are in need of a badge for the Pool &amp; Spa Expo, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','June 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','june-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-11-20 14:17:19','2013-11-20 14:17:19','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=916',0,'post','',0),(917,3,'2013-09-10 14:09:16','2013-09-10 14:09:16','What a year so far! Many of you are sharing stories of installation lead times in terms of weeks and not days for your customers. As a group, you are up 15% over last year! I thought I would call out a few of our Dealers that are having a banner year:\n<ul>\n	<li>Performance Solar is up 222% - amazing year so far Dennis</li>\n	<li>The Solar Guys are 213% over last year – great job Sean and company</li>\n	<li>United Solar Energy is 51% over last year – congrats to Al and team</li>\n	<li>Energy Conservation Services are 38% ahead of last year – fabulous Tom</li>\n	<li>M &amp; K Solar is 33% ahead of last year – way to go Dave</li>\n</ul>\nI would also like to acknowledge each level of Master Dealers and how they are trending:\n<ul>\n	<li>Platinum Master Dealers are up 10%</li>\n	<li>Gold Master Dealers are up 12%</li>\n	<li>Silver Master Dealers are on pace with last year</li>\n	<li>Master Dealers are up 87%</li>\n</ul>\nOverall, a great six months for everyone and your hard work out there is certainly paying dividends. Thank you for your continued business and being the best at what you do. For those of you joining us at the Summer Sales Retreat in Coast Rica, a well deserved break is just a few days away.\n\nCongratulations to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>for a great month with 420 collectors sold in June! Another fabulous month Mark! <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> had an impressive month with 235 collectors - strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place showing Terry! <b>Sunchaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 127 collectors sold for a 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish. Excellent job Brandon!\n\nAnd in typical 1-2-3 fashion, 57 sales landed <b>Mark Naylor</b> in the Top Salesman spot for August – nice job Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from Naylor Solar Specialists came in second for the month with 29 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <b>Brandon Chase</b> from Sunchaser, Inc. with 18 sales. Congratulations Brandon!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 27<sup>th</sup> – August 2<sup>nd</sup> in Costa Rica</li>\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, Nov. 12</span><sup>th</sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> – 14</span><sup>th </sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">in Las Vegas</span></li>\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting, January 2013 in Florida</span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information or are in need of a badge for the Pool &amp; Spa Expo, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\nBest,\n\nMolly','June 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','916-revision','','','2013-09-10 14:09:16','2013-09-10 14:09:16','',916,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=917',0,'revision','',0),(918,3,'2013-09-10 14:09:24','2013-09-10 14:09:24','What a year so far! Many of you are sharing stories of installation lead times in terms of weeks and not days for your customers. As a group, you are up 15% over last year! I thought I would call out a few of our Dealers that are having a banner year:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Performance Solar is up 222% - amazing year so far Dennis</li>\r\n	<li>The Solar Guys are 213% over last year – great job Sean and company</li>\r\n	<li>United Solar Energy is 51% over last year – congrats to Al and team</li>\r\n	<li>Energy Conservation Services are 38% ahead of last year – fabulous Tom</li>\r\n	<li>M &amp; K Solar is 33% ahead of last year – way to go Dave</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI would also like to acknowledge each level of Master Dealers and how they are trending:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Platinum Master Dealers are up 10%</li>\r\n	<li>Gold Master Dealers are up 12%</li>\r\n	<li>Silver Master Dealers are on pace with last year</li>\r\n	<li>Master Dealers are up 87%</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOverall, a great six months for everyone and your hard work out there is certainly paying dividends. Thank you for your continued business and being the best at what you do. For those of you joining us at the Summer Sales Retreat in Coast Rica, a well deserved break is just a few days away.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>for a great month with 420 collectors sold in June! Another fabulous month Mark! <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> had an impressive month with 235 collectors - strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place showing Terry! <b>Sunchaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 127 collectors sold for a 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish. Excellent job Brandon!\r\n\r\nAnd in typical 1-2-3 fashion, 57 sales landed <b>Mark Naylor</b> in the Top Salesman spot for August – nice job Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from Naylor Solar Specialists came in second for the month with 29 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <b>Brandon Chase</b> from Sunchaser, Inc. with 18 sales. Congratulations Brandon!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 27<sup>th</sup> – August 2<sup>nd</sup> in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, Nov. 12</span><sup>th</sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> – 14</span><sup>th </sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">in Las Vegas</span></li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting, January 2013 in Florida</span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information or are in need of a badge for the Pool &amp; Spa Expo, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','June 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','916-revision-2','','','2013-09-10 14:09:24','2013-09-10 14:09:24','',916,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=918',0,'revision','',0),(919,2,'2013-08-15 14:09:42','2013-08-15 14:09:42','I am pleased to announce that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting its <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando<b> </b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> - 24<sup>th</sup> and will tentatively take place at the <b>Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World. </b>We will be updating you with a detailed agenda as the date gets closer, but we wanted to reach out early to all of you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nAquatherm Industries celebrated its <b>21<sup>st</sup> Summer Sales Retreat</b> this year in beautiful Costa Rica. Attendees stayed at the RIU Guanacaste for five nights and took advantage of all Costa Rica had to offer. Some chose body surfing for hours in the water in Tamarindo, a local surfing village. Others plastered themselves at the mud baths and enjoyed the hot springs among the lush surroundings. Most notably, half of the group decided to go whitewater rafting only to spend more time in the water than in the boat! Our farewell night was spent having dinner together at the Octal Restaurant where everyone exchanged stories about their week and enjoyed one last night together. Another great retreat in the books!\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers! The top dealer spot for the month goes to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists</b> with 357 collectors sold in July - congratulations Mark! In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> who had a great month with 164 collectors. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>SunChaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 155 collectors sold for a solid 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish for the month. Way to go Brandon!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor </b>is the Top Salesman for the month with 47 sales. Amazing month Mark!\r\n\r\n<b>Terry Naylor </b>and <b>Brandon Chase</b> tied for 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 22 sales each. Congratulations gentleman! And, in 3rd place is <b>Bill Park</b> with 12 sales for July. Nice job Bill!\r\n\r\nOn a sad note, we were very sorry to hear of the loss of John Dunn, owner of Discount Solar in Orlando, who passed away earlier this month. John had been in the solar industry for the past 8 years selling and installing Solar Industries and was just appointed a Master Dealer this past year. Discount Solar was a great company and John will be missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo, Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  2014 Kick-off Meetings, Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAlso, Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 26th.\r\n\r\nDuring this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal business hours.\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','July 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','july-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-11-20 14:16:51','2013-11-20 14:16:51','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=919',0,'post','',0),(920,3,'2013-09-10 14:10:39','2013-09-10 14:10:39','','July 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','919-revision','','','2013-09-10 14:10:39','2013-09-10 14:10:39','',919,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=920',0,'revision','',0),(921,3,'2013-09-10 14:13:50','2013-09-10 14:13:50','I am pleased to announce that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting its <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando<b> </b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> - 24<sup>th</sup> and will tentatively take place at the <b>Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World. </b>We will be updating you with a detailed agenda as the date gets closer, but we wanted to reach out early to all of you so you can add this information to your calendars.\n\nAquatherm Industries celebrated its <b>21<sup>st</sup> Summer Sales Retreat</b> this year in beautiful Costa Rica. Attendees stayed at the RIU Guanacaste for five nights and took advantage of all Costa Rica had to offer. Some chose body surfing for hours in the water in Tamarindo, a local surfing village. Others plastered themselves at the mud baths and enjoyed the hot springs among the lush surroundings. Most notably, half of the group decided to go whitewater rafting only to spend more time in the water than in the boat! Our farewell night was spent having dinner together at the Octal Restaurant where everyone exchanged stories about their week and enjoyed one last night together. Another great retreat in the books!\n\nOn to the numbers! The top dealer spot for the month goes to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists</b> with 357 collectors sold in July - congratulations Mark! In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> who had a great month with 164 collectors. Well done Terry!\n\n<b>SunChaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 155 collectors sold for a solid 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish for the month. Way to go Brandon!\n\n<b>Mark Naylor </b>is the Top Salesman for the month with 47 sales. Amazing month Mark!\n\n<b>Terry Naylor </b>and <b>Brandon Chase</b> tied for 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 22 sales each. Congratulations gentleman! And, in 3rd place is <b>Bill Park</b> with 12 sales for July. Nice job Bill!\n\nOn a sad note, we were very sorry to hear of the loss of John Dunn, owner of Discount Solar in Orlando, who passed away earlier this month. John had been in the solar industry for the past 8 years selling and installing Solar Industries and was just appointed a Master Dealer this past year. Discount Solar was a great company and John will be missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo, Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  2014 Kick-off Meetings, Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\nAlso, Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 26th.\n\nDuring this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal business hours.\n\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.\n\nBest,\n\nMolly','July 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','919-autosave','','','2013-09-10 14:13:50','2013-09-10 14:13:50','',919,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=921',0,'revision','',0),(922,3,'2013-09-10 14:11:23','2013-09-10 14:11:23','I am pleased to announce that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting its <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando<b> </b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> - 24<sup>th</sup> and will take place at the <b>Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World. </b>We will be updating you with a detailed agenda as the date gets closer, but we wanted to reach out early to all of you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nAquatherm Industries celebrated its <b>21<sup>st</sup> Summer Sales Retreat</b> this year in beautiful Costa Rica. Attendees stayed at the RIU Guanacaste for five nights and took advantage of all Costa Rica had to offer. Some chose body surfing for hours in the water in Tamarindo, a local surfing village. Others plastered themselves at the mud baths and enjoyed the hot springs among the lush surroundings. Most notably, half of the group decided to go whitewater rafting only to spend more time in the water than in the boat! Our farewell night was spent having dinner together at the Octal Restaurant where everyone exchanged stories about their week and enjoyed one last night together. Another great retreat in the books!\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers! The top dealer spot for the month goes to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists</b> with 357 collectors sold in July - congratulations Mark! In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> who had a great month with 164 collectors. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>SunChaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 155 collectors sold for a solid 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish for the month. Way to go Brandon!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor </b>is the Top Salesman for the month with 47 sales. Amazing month Mark!\r\n\r\n<b>Terry Naylor </b>and <b>Brandon Chase</b> tied for 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 22 sales each. Congratulations gentleman! And, in 3rd place is <b>Bill Park</b> with 12 sales for July. Nice job Bill!\r\n\r\nOn a sad note, we were very sorry to hear of the loss of John Dunn, owner of Discount Solar in Orlando, who passed away earlier this month. John had been in the solar industry for the past 8 years selling and installing Solar Industries and was just appointed a Master Dealer this past year. Discount Solar was a great company and John will be missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo, Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  2014 Kick-off Meetings, Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAlso, Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 26th.\r\n\r\nDuring this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal business hours.\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','July 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','919-revision-2','','','2013-09-10 14:11:23','2013-09-10 14:11:23','',919,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=922',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (923,3,'2013-09-10 14:12:46','2013-09-10 14:12:46','I am pleased to announce that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting its <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando<b> </b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> - 24<sup>th</sup> and will tentatively take place at the <b>Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World. </b>We will be updating you with a detailed agenda as the date gets closer, but we wanted to reach out early to all of you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nAquatherm Industries celebrated its <b>21<sup>st</sup> Summer Sales Retreat</b> this year in beautiful Costa Rica. Attendees stayed at the RIU Guanacaste for five nights and took advantage of all Costa Rica had to offer. Some chose body surfing for hours in the water in Tamarindo, a local surfing village. Others plastered themselves at the mud baths and enjoyed the hot springs among the lush surroundings. Most notably, half of the group decided to go whitewater rafting only to spend more time in the water than in the boat! Our farewell night was spent having dinner together at the Octal Restaurant where everyone exchanged stories about their week and enjoyed one last night together. Another great retreat in the books!\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers! The top dealer spot for the month goes to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists</b> with 357 collectors sold in July - congratulations Mark! In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> who had a great month with 164 collectors. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>SunChaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 155 collectors sold for a solid 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish for the month. Way to go Brandon!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor </b>is the Top Salesman for the month with 47 sales. Amazing month Mark!\r\n\r\n<b>Terry Naylor </b>and <b>Brandon Chase</b> tied for 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 22 sales each. Congratulations gentleman! And, in 3rd place is <b>Bill Park</b> with 12 sales for July. Nice job Bill!\r\n\r\nOn a sad note, we were very sorry to hear of the loss of John Dunn, owner of Discount Solar in Orlando, who passed away earlier this month. John had been in the solar industry for the past 8 years selling and installing Solar Industries and was just appointed a Master Dealer this past year. Discount Solar was a great company and John will be missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo, Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  2014 Kick-off Meetings, Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAlso, Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 26th.\r\n\r\nDuring this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal business hours.\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','July 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','919-revision-3','','','2013-09-10 14:12:46','2013-09-10 14:12:46','',919,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=923',0,'revision','',0),(924,3,'2013-09-10 14:09:37','2013-09-10 14:09:37','What a year so far! Many of you are sharing stories of installation lead times in terms of weeks and not days for your customers. As a group, you are up 15% over last year! I thought I would call out a few of our Dealers that are having a banner year:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Performance Solar is up 222% - amazing year so far Dennis</li>\r\n	<li>The Solar Guys are 213% over last year – great job Sean and company</li>\r\n	<li>United Solar Energy is 51% over last year – congrats to Al and team</li>\r\n	<li>Energy Conservation Services are 38% ahead of last year – fabulous Tom</li>\r\n	<li>M &amp; K Solar is 33% ahead of last year – way to go Dave</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI would also like to acknowledge each level of Master Dealers and how they are trending:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Platinum Master Dealers are up 10%</li>\r\n	<li>Gold Master Dealers are up 12%</li>\r\n	<li>Silver Master Dealers are on pace with last year</li>\r\n	<li>Master Dealers are up 87%</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOverall, a great six months for everyone and your hard work out there is certainly paying dividends. Thank you for your continued business and being the best at what you do. For those of you joining us at the Summer Sales Retreat in Coast Rica, a well deserved break is just a few days away.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>for a great month with 420 collectors sold in June! Another fabulous month Mark! <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> had an impressive month with 235 collectors - strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place showing Terry! <b>Sunchaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 127 collectors sold for a 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish. Excellent job Brandon!\r\n\r\nAnd in typical 1-2-3 fashion, 57 sales landed <b>Mark Naylor</b> in the Top Salesman spot for August – nice job Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from Naylor Solar Specialists came in second for the month with 29 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <b>Brandon Chase</b> from Sunchaser, Inc. with 18 sales. Congratulations Brandon!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 27<sup>th</sup> – August 2<sup>nd</sup> in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, Nov. 12</span><sup>th</sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> – 14</span><sup>th </sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">in Las Vegas</span></li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting, January 2013 in Florida</span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information or are in need of a badge for the Pool &amp; Spa Expo, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','June 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','916-revision-3','','','2013-09-10 14:09:37','2013-09-10 14:09:37','',916,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=924',0,'revision','',0),(925,3,'2013-09-10 14:08:21','2013-09-10 14:08:21','This month, we are very excited to announce the addition of three Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network. Having displayed their commitment to quality and dedication to the solar pool heating industry, we proudly welcome the following companies into our Master Dealer Network:\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Bortman</b> is the owner of <b>Exact Solar</b> located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Mark founded Exact Solar and moved his family to Costa Rica for a year to learn more about alternative energy options. During that year, Mark worked with and learned with a pioneer in the solar thermal field, Bruce Carey, who’d been active in the solar industry since the 1970s. When he returned to the Philadelphia area, Mark started Exact Solar, and has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and pool heating ever since. Mark’s website is <a href=\"http://www.exactsolar.com/\">www.exactsolar.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Patrick Gallagher</b> is the owner of <b>Gallagher Solar Thermal</b> located in Warwick, New York. Pat has been the local solar expert in New York’s Hudson Valley since 2005, and added solar pool heating to his services offered in 2007. Pat’s company installs both solar domestic water and pool heating systems, and also services and replaces existing systems. In 2010, at the AHRC Camp Loyaltown Summer Camp in Hunter, NY, Gallagher designed and installed what would become the largest solar water heating system in the region – over 4,800 square foot of solar collector area to heat the camp’s 9,000 square foot swimming pool. Pat’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarthermalsolution.com/\">www.solarthermalsolution.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Jesse Christink</b> is the owner of <b>Solar Wave</b> located in Burlington, Ontario. Founded in 2005 by Jesse, Solar Wave specializes in the niche market of solar pool and domestic hot water heating. As a former employee of another solar pool heater manufacturer, it didn\'t take long for Jesse to realize the power of solar heating. As a finance graduate, Jesse was immediately drawn to the cost savings from solar, especially pool heating. After a six-year tenure with that manufacturer, Jesse started his own company selling, installing, and servicing solar water and pool heaters, as well as ancillary pool products like salt water chlorinators and automation systems. Jesse’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarwaveenergy.com/\">www.solarwaveenergy.com</a>.\r\n\r\nMark and Patrick are handling the Solar Industries line and Jesse Ecosun. Please join me in welcoming all three of our new Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network!\r\n\r\nI also wanted to give a nod to <b>Matt Mitera</b> from <b>Tenco Solar</b> who shared with me last week that he is installing the <b>largest solar water heating project</b> to date in the State of California on the USC campus in Southern California. Expected to open after the winter break at the end of this year, the students will return to find their dormitory’s hot water heated by the sun. Matt and his team are just about half way done with the project and have just six more months to complete the project. We will post some photos in the new year of the completed project. Congratulations Matt on this huge achievement!\r\n\r\nNow, on to the numbers for May.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA</b> who had an impressive month and claimed the top dealer spot with 413 collectors sold for May. Fabulous job Mark! A strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>Stilwell Solar, FL</b> with 224 collectors for May. Way to go Bill and the team at Stilwell! With 211 collectors for May, <b>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>came in 3<sup>rd</sup> for May - nice job Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> from <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> is the top salesman in the country with 56 sales for May. You are on fire Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from<b> Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 28 sales for the month of May. Fabulous job Terry, he tells me this is a record month for him - congrats! And, <b>Bill Long</b> from <b>Stilwell Solar</b> is 3<sup>rd</sup> with 23 sales for May. Impressive finish for May Bill!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th  in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28th - August 2nd at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12th - 14th in Las Vegas, Nevada<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed Thursday July 4<sup>th</sup> and Friday July 5<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, July 8<sup>th</sup>.</b><b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>ATTENTION:</b>  We are currently looking for a project to feature as our “Gold Medal Installation” in the <b>Summer 2013 Solstice</b>. These feature articles always make a great first impression on your customers during your sales presentations – don’t miss out on the opportunity!  If you have a noteworthy commercial project that you have completed in the last year please contact me for more information at 732-905-9002, ext 226 or <a href=\"mailto:mfriar@warmwater.com\">mfriar@warmwater.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Best,</span>\r\n\r\nMolly','May 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','914-revision-2','','','2013-09-10 14:08:21','2013-09-10 14:08:21','',914,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=925',0,'revision','',0),(926,3,'2013-09-10 14:19:16','2013-09-10 14:19:16','This month, we are very excited to announce the addition of three Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network. Having displayed their commitment to quality and dedication to the solar pool heating industry, we proudly welcome the following companies into our Master Dealer Network:\n\n<b>Mark Bortman</b> is the owner of <b>Exact Solar</b> located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Mark founded Exact Solar and moved his family to Costa Rica for a year to learn more about alternative energy options. During that year, Mark worked with and learned with a pioneer in the solar thermal field, Bruce Carey, who’d been active in the solar industry since the 1970s. When he returned to the Philadelphia area, Mark started Exact Solar, and has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and pool heating ever since. Mark’s website is <a href=\"http://www.exactsolar.com/\">www.exactsolar.com</a>.\n\n<b>Patrick Gallagher</b> is the owner of <b>Gallagher Solar Thermal</b> located in Warwick, New York. Pat has been the local solar expert in New York’s Hudson Valley since 2005, and added solar pool heating to his services offered in 2007. Pat’s company installs both solar domestic water and pool heating systems, and also services and replaces existing systems. In 2010, at the AHRC Camp Loyaltown Summer Camp in Hunter, NY, Gallagher designed and installed what would become the largest solar water heating system in the region – over 4,800 square foot of solar collector area to heat the camp’s 9,000 square foot swimming pool. Pat’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarthermalsolution.com/\">www.solarthermalsolution.com</a>.\n\n<b>Jesse Christink</b> is the owner of <b>Solar Wave</b> located in Burlington, Ontario. Founded in 2005 by Jesse, Solar Wave specializes in the niche market of solar pool and domestic hot water heating. As a former employee of another solar pool heater manufacturer, it didn\'t take long for Jesse to realize the power of solar heating. As a finance graduate, Jesse was immediately drawn to the cost savings from solar, especially pool heating. After a six-year tenure with that manufacturer, Jesse started his own company selling, installing, and servicing solar water and pool heaters, as well as ancillary pool products like salt water chlorinators and automation systems. Jesse’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarwaveenergy.com/\">www.solarwaveenergy.com</a>.\n\nMark and Patrick are handling the Solar Industries line and Jesse Ecosun. Please join me in welcoming all three of our new Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network!\n\nI also wanted to give a nod to <b>Matt Mitera</b> from <b>Tenco Solar</b> who shared with me last week that he is installing the <b>largest solar water heating project</b> to date in the State of California on the USC campus in Southern California. Expected to open after the winter break at the end of this year, the students will return to find their dormitory’s hot water heated by the sun. Matt and his team are just about half way done with the project and have just six more months to complete the project. We will post some photos in the new year of the completed project. Congratulations Matt on this huge achievement!\n\nNow, on to the numbers for May.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA</b> who had an impressive month and claimed the top dealer spot with 413 collectors sold for May. Fabulous job Mark! A strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>Stilwell Solar, FL</b> with 224 collectors for May. Way to go Bill and the team at Stilwell! With 211 collectors for May, <b>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>came in 3<sup>rd</sup> for May - nice job Terry!\n\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> from <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> is the top salesman in the country with 56 sales for May. You are on fire Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from<b> Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 28 sales for the month of May. Fabulous job Terry, he tells me this is a record month for him - congrats! And, <b>Bill Long</b> from <b>Stilwell Solar</b> is 3<sup>rd</sup> with 23 sales for May. Impressive finish for May Bill!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th  in San Francisco, California</li>\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28th - August 2nd at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12th - 14th in Las Vegas, Nevada<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n<b>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed Thursday July 4<sup>th</sup> and Friday July 5<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, July 8<sup>th</sup>.</b><b> </b>\n\n<b>ATTENTION:</b>  We are currently looking for a project to feature as our “Gold Medal Installation” in the <b>Summer 2013 Solstice</b>. These feature articles always make a great first impression on your customers during your sales presentations – don’t miss out on the opportunity!  If you have a noteworthy commercial project that you have completed in the last year please contact me for more information at 732-905-9002, ext 226 or <a href=\"mailto:mfriar@warmwater.com\">mfriar@warmwater.com</a>.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Best,</span>\n\nMolly','May 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','914-autosave','','','2013-09-10 14:19:16','2013-09-10 14:19:16','',914,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=926',0,'revision','',0),(928,2,'2013-09-20 14:13:09','2013-09-20 14:13:09','Have you ever logged on to a company’s website and become frustrated that you have to hunt, and sometimes never find, a phone number to call them? It may seem trivial, but, personally, if I can’t find a number quickly and efficiently on a website, I go back to my search and try the next one on the list.\r\n\r\nRecently, Jim Roark has been getting compliments from his customers on how easy it was to find his phone number on his website. It is up at the top right hand corner in large font along with his email address. And, it is in the exact same spot on every single page of his website! To take a look, go to <a href=\"http://www.roarksolar.com/\">www.roarksolar.com</a>. According to a recent poll done by BIA/Kelsey\'s (<a href=\"http://www.bia.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.bia.com</a> and <a href=\"http://www.kelseygroup.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.kelseygroup.com</a>) User View Wave VII, more than 90% of all consumers are using the internet to research products or find services in their local area. Making it easy for customers to contact you is the most important step when you are a service provider. Is your phone number easy to find on your website?\r\n\r\nI announced last month that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014 Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings</b> in Orlando January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup>.<b> </b>We’ll keep you updated as the date gets closer, but I just wanted to remind you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nLet’s see the numbers for August.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </b>who claimed the top dealer spot with 266 collectors sold for the month. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>SunChaser, Inc.</b> with 161 collectors for August. Way to go Brandon! Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for August is <b>Stilwell Solar </b>with 154 collectors - nice job Bill!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 36 sales for August. Congratulations Mark! <b>Brandon Chase</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month. Fabulous job Brandon! And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 21 sales. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">If you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.</span>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','August 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','august-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-11-20 14:16:25','2013-11-20 14:16:25','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=928',0,'post','',0),(929,3,'2013-11-20 14:13:05','2013-11-20 14:13:05','Have you ever logged on to a company’s website and become frustrated that you have to hunt, and sometimes never find, a phone number to call them? It may seem trivial, but, personally, if I can’t find a number quickly and efficiently on a website, I go back to my search and try the next one on the list.\n\nRecently, Jim Roark has been getting compliments from his customers on how easy it was to find his phone number on his website. It is up at the top right hand corner in large font along with his email address. And, it is in the exact same spot on every single page of his website! To take a look, go to <a href=\"http://www.roarksolar.com/\">www.roarksolar.com</a>. According to a recent poll done by BIA/Kelsey\'s (<a href=\"http://www.bia.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.bia.com</a> and <a href=\"http://www.kelseygroup.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.kelseygroup.com</a>) User View Wave VII, more than 90% of all consumers are using the internet to research products or find services in their local area. Making it easy for customers to contact you is the most important step when you are a service provider. Is your phone number easy to find on your website?\n\nI announced last month that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014 Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings</b> in Orlando January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup>.<b> </b>We’ll keep you updated as the date gets closer, but I just wanted to remind you so you can add this information to your calendars.\n\nLet’s see the numbers for August.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </b>who claimed the top dealer spot with 266 collectors sold for the month. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>SunChaser, Inc.</b> with 161 collectors for August. Way to go Brandon! Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for August is <b>Stilwell Solar </b>with 154 collectors - nice job Bill!\n\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 36 sales for August. Congratulations Mark! <b>Brandon Chase</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month. Fabulous job Brandon! And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 21 sales. Well done Terry!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\n</ul>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">If you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.</span>\n\nBest,\n\nMolly','August 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','928-revision','','','2013-11-20 14:13:05','2013-11-20 14:13:05','',928,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=929',0,'revision','',0),(930,2,'2013-10-20 14:14:32','2013-10-20 14:14:32','Trust. It can take years to earn it and only seconds to lose. You have to be careful with it; if you don’t maintain, nurture, and build on it, it can be extremely costly to get it back. As I talk with all of you and gather numbers every month, I am often struck by the sheer magnitude of the sales numbers reported.  You have sold over 10,000 systems since I started with Aquatherm in 2010.  When you sit back and look at each sale you make, it really boils down to trust.  The homeowner trusted you enough to say yes.  Whether they want to pay less every month for heating their pool, want to swim for therapeutic reasons, or just want to make the kids happy, they trusted you to do the job and trusted that our products will perform as expected.  The more trusted you are, the more referrals you receive, the more jobs you sell.  Is it really that simple?  I believe it is.\r\n\r\nJust a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando, January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup><b> </b>at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>We will be sending out a detailed memo with additional details in the coming week so be on the lookout for that in your inboxes.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers for September.<b> Stilwell Solar </b>claimed the top dealer spot with 252 collectors sold for the month.  Congratulations to Bill and the team at Stilwell!  In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> with 210 collectors for September.  Excellent job, Mark!  Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for September is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists </b>with 117 collectors - way to go Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 27 sales for September.  Nice job Mark!  <b>Scott Bologna</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month.  Fabulous job Scott!  And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 15 sales.  Another great month Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!</b>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','September 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','september-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-11-20 14:16:38','2013-11-20 14:16:38','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=930',0,'post','',0),(931,3,'2013-11-20 14:14:28','2013-11-20 14:14:28','Trust. It can take years to earn it and only seconds to lose. You have to be careful with it; if you don’t maintain, nurture, and build on it, it can be extremely costly to get it back. As I talk with all of you and gather numbers every month, I am often struck by the sheer magnitude of the sales numbers reported.  You have sold over 10,000 systems since I started with Aquatherm in 2010.  When you sit back and look at each sale you make, it really boils down to trust.  The homeowner trusted you enough to say yes.  Whether they want to pay less every month for heating their pool, want to swim for therapeutic reasons, or just want to make the kids happy, they trusted you to do the job and trusted that our products will perform as expected.  The more trusted you are, the more referrals you receive, the more jobs you sell.  Is it really that simple?  I believe it is.\n\nJust a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando, January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup><b> </b>at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>We will be sending out a detailed memo with additional details in the coming week so be on the lookout for that in your inboxes.\n\nOn to the numbers for September.<b> Stilwell Solar </b>claimed the top dealer spot with 252 collectors sold for the month.  Congratulations to Bill and the team at Stilwell!  In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> with 210 collectors for September.  Excellent job, Mark!  Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for September is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists </b>with 117 collectors - way to go Terry!\n\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 27 sales for September.  Nice job Mark!  <b>Scott Bologna</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month.  Fabulous job Scott!  And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 15 sales.  Another great month Terry!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n<ul>\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\n</ul>\n</ul>\n<em id=\"__mceDel\">\n<ul>\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\n</ul>\n</em>\n\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n<b>I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!</b>\n\nBest,\n\nMolly','September 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','930-revision','','','2013-11-20 14:14:28','2013-11-20 14:14:28','',930,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=931',0,'revision','',0),(932,3,'2013-11-20 14:15:35','2013-11-20 14:15:35','Trust. It can take years to earn it and only seconds to lose. You have to be careful with it; if you don’t maintain, nurture, and build on it, it can be extremely costly to get it back. As I talk with all of you and gather numbers every month, I am often struck by the sheer magnitude of the sales numbers reported.  You have sold over 10,000 systems since I started with Aquatherm in 2010.  When you sit back and look at each sale you make, it really boils down to trust.  The homeowner trusted you enough to say yes.  Whether they want to pay less every month for heating their pool, want to swim for therapeutic reasons, or just want to make the kids happy, they trusted you to do the job and trusted that our products will perform as expected.  The more trusted you are, the more referrals you receive, the more jobs you sell.  Is it really that simple?  I believe it is.\n\nJust a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando, January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup><b> </b>at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>We will be sending out a detailed memo with additional details in the coming week so be on the lookout for that in your inboxes.\n\nOn to the numbers for September.<b> Stilwell Solar </b>claimed the top dealer spot with 252 collectors sold for the month.  Congratulations to Bill and the team at Stilwell!  In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> with 210 collectors for September.  Excellent job, Mark!  Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for September is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists </b>with 117 collectors - way to go Terry!\n\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 27 sales for September.  Nice job Mark!  <b>Scott Bologna</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month.  Fabulous job Scott!  And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 15 sales.  Another great month Terry!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n<ul>\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\n</ul>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n<b>I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!</b>\n\nBest,\n\nMolly','September 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','930-autosave','','','2013-11-20 14:15:35','2013-11-20 14:15:35','',930,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=932',0,'revision','',0),(933,3,'2013-11-20 14:14:32','2013-11-20 14:14:32','Trust. It can take years to earn it and only seconds to lose. You have to be careful with it; if you don’t maintain, nurture, and build on it, it can be extremely costly to get it back. As I talk with all of you and gather numbers every month, I am often struck by the sheer magnitude of the sales numbers reported.  You have sold over 10,000 systems since I started with Aquatherm in 2010.  When you sit back and look at each sale you make, it really boils down to trust.  The homeowner trusted you enough to say yes.  Whether they want to pay less every month for heating their pool, want to swim for therapeutic reasons, or just want to make the kids happy, they trusted you to do the job and trusted that our products will perform as expected.  The more trusted you are, the more referrals you receive, the more jobs you sell.  Is it really that simple?  I believe it is.\r\n\r\nJust a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando, January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup><b> </b>at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>We will be sending out a detailed memo with additional details in the coming week so be on the lookout for that in your inboxes.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers for September.<b> Stilwell Solar </b>claimed the top dealer spot with 252 collectors sold for the month.  Congratulations to Bill and the team at Stilwell!  In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> with 210 collectors for September.  Excellent job, Mark!  Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for September is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists </b>with 117 collectors - way to go Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 27 sales for September.  Nice job Mark!  <b>Scott Bologna</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month.  Fabulous job Scott!  And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 15 sales.  Another great month Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em id=\"__mceDel\">\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</em>\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!</b>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','September 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','930-revision-2','','','2013-11-20 14:14:32','2013-11-20 14:14:32','',930,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=933',0,'revision','',0),(934,3,'2013-11-20 14:13:09','2013-11-20 14:13:09','Have you ever logged on to a company’s website and become frustrated that you have to hunt, and sometimes never find, a phone number to call them? It may seem trivial, but, personally, if I can’t find a number quickly and efficiently on a website, I go back to my search and try the next one on the list.\r\n\r\nRecently, Jim Roark has been getting compliments from his customers on how easy it was to find his phone number on his website. It is up at the top right hand corner in large font along with his email address. And, it is in the exact same spot on every single page of his website! To take a look, go to <a href=\"http://www.roarksolar.com/\">www.roarksolar.com</a>. According to a recent poll done by BIA/Kelsey\'s (<a href=\"http://www.bia.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.bia.com</a> and <a href=\"http://www.kelseygroup.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.kelseygroup.com</a>) User View Wave VII, more than 90% of all consumers are using the internet to research products or find services in their local area. Making it easy for customers to contact you is the most important step when you are a service provider. Is your phone number easy to find on your website?\r\n\r\nI announced last month that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014 Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings</b> in Orlando January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup>.<b> </b>We’ll keep you updated as the date gets closer, but I just wanted to remind you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nLet’s see the numbers for August.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </b>who claimed the top dealer spot with 266 collectors sold for the month. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>SunChaser, Inc.</b> with 161 collectors for August. Way to go Brandon! Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for August is <b>Stilwell Solar </b>with 154 collectors - nice job Bill!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 36 sales for August. Congratulations Mark! <b>Brandon Chase</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month. Fabulous job Brandon! And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 21 sales. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">If you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.</span>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','August 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','928-revision-2','','','2013-11-20 14:13:09','2013-11-20 14:13:09','',928,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=934',0,'revision','',0),(935,3,'2013-11-20 14:15:46','2013-11-20 14:15:46','Trust. It can take years to earn it and only seconds to lose. You have to be careful with it; if you don’t maintain, nurture, and build on it, it can be extremely costly to get it back. As I talk with all of you and gather numbers every month, I am often struck by the sheer magnitude of the sales numbers reported.  You have sold over 10,000 systems since I started with Aquatherm in 2010.  When you sit back and look at each sale you make, it really boils down to trust.  The homeowner trusted you enough to say yes.  Whether they want to pay less every month for heating their pool, want to swim for therapeutic reasons, or just want to make the kids happy, they trusted you to do the job and trusted that our products will perform as expected.  The more trusted you are, the more referrals you receive, the more jobs you sell.  Is it really that simple?  I believe it is.\r\n\r\nJust a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando, January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup><b> </b>at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>We will be sending out a detailed memo with additional details in the coming week so be on the lookout for that in your inboxes.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers for September.<b> Stilwell Solar </b>claimed the top dealer spot with 252 collectors sold for the month.  Congratulations to Bill and the team at Stilwell!  In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> with 210 collectors for September.  Excellent job, Mark!  Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for September is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists </b>with 117 collectors - way to go Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 27 sales for September.  Nice job Mark!  <b>Scott Bologna</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month.  Fabulous job Scott!  And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 15 sales.  Another great month Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!</b>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','September 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','930-revision-3','','','2013-11-20 14:15:46','2013-11-20 14:15:46','',930,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=935',0,'revision','',0),(936,3,'2013-11-20 14:15:56','2013-11-20 14:15:56','Have you ever logged on to a company’s website and become frustrated that you have to hunt, and sometimes never find, a phone number to call them? It may seem trivial, but, personally, if I can’t find a number quickly and efficiently on a website, I go back to my search and try the next one on the list.\r\n\r\nRecently, Jim Roark has been getting compliments from his customers on how easy it was to find his phone number on his website. It is up at the top right hand corner in large font along with his email address. And, it is in the exact same spot on every single page of his website! To take a look, go to <a href=\"http://www.roarksolar.com/\">www.roarksolar.com</a>. According to a recent poll done by BIA/Kelsey\'s (<a href=\"http://www.bia.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.bia.com</a> and <a href=\"http://www.kelseygroup.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.kelseygroup.com</a>) User View Wave VII, more than 90% of all consumers are using the internet to research products or find services in their local area. Making it easy for customers to contact you is the most important step when you are a service provider. Is your phone number easy to find on your website?\r\n\r\nI announced last month that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014 Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings</b> in Orlando January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup>.<b> </b>We’ll keep you updated as the date gets closer, but I just wanted to remind you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nLet’s see the numbers for August.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </b>who claimed the top dealer spot with 266 collectors sold for the month. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>SunChaser, Inc.</b> with 161 collectors for August. Way to go Brandon! Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for August is <b>Stilwell Solar </b>with 154 collectors - nice job Bill!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 36 sales for August. Congratulations Mark! <b>Brandon Chase</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month. Fabulous job Brandon! And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 21 sales. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">If you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.</span>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','August 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','928-revision-3','','','2013-11-20 14:15:56','2013-11-20 14:15:56','',928,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=936',0,'revision','',0),(937,3,'2013-11-20 14:16:08','2013-11-20 14:16:08','Trust. It can take years to earn it and only seconds to lose. You have to be careful with it; if you don’t maintain, nurture, and build on it, it can be extremely costly to get it back. As I talk with all of you and gather numbers every month, I am often struck by the sheer magnitude of the sales numbers reported.  You have sold over 10,000 systems since I started with Aquatherm in 2010.  When you sit back and look at each sale you make, it really boils down to trust.  The homeowner trusted you enough to say yes.  Whether they want to pay less every month for heating their pool, want to swim for therapeutic reasons, or just want to make the kids happy, they trusted you to do the job and trusted that our products will perform as expected.  The more trusted you are, the more referrals you receive, the more jobs you sell.  Is it really that simple?  I believe it is.\r\n\r\nJust a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting our <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando, January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup><b> </b>at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>We will be sending out a detailed memo with additional details in the coming week so be on the lookout for that in your inboxes.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers for September.<b> Stilwell Solar </b>claimed the top dealer spot with 252 collectors sold for the month.  Congratulations to Bill and the team at Stilwell!  In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> with 210 collectors for September.  Excellent job, Mark!  Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> place for September is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists </b>with 117 collectors - way to go Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> is the top salesman in the country with 27 sales for September.  Nice job Mark!  <b>Scott Bologna</b> is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 23 sales for the month.  Fabulous job Scott!  And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <b>Terry Naylor </b>with 15 sales.  Another great month Terry!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"display: inline !important;\">International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  National Dealer Meeting Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!</b>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','September 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','930-revision-4','','','2013-11-20 14:16:08','2013-11-20 14:16:08','',930,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=937',0,'revision','',0),(938,3,'2013-09-10 14:17:46','2013-09-10 14:17:46','I am pleased to announce that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting its <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando<b> </b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> - 24<sup>th</sup> and will tentatively take place at the <b>Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World. </b>We will be updating you with a detailed agenda as the date gets closer, but we wanted to reach out early to all of you so you can add this information to your calendars.\r\n\r\nAquatherm Industries celebrated its <b>21<sup>st</sup> Summer Sales Retreat</b> this year in beautiful Costa Rica. Attendees stayed at the RIU Guanacaste for five nights and took advantage of all Costa Rica had to offer. Some chose body surfing for hours in the water in Tamarindo, a local surfing village. Others plastered themselves at the mud baths and enjoyed the hot springs among the lush surroundings. Most notably, half of the group decided to go whitewater rafting only to spend more time in the water than in the boat! Our farewell night was spent having dinner together at the Octal Restaurant where everyone exchanged stories about their week and enjoyed one last night together. Another great retreat in the books!\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers! The top dealer spot for the month goes to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists</b> with 357 collectors sold in July - congratulations Mark! In 2<sup>nd</sup> place is <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> who had a great month with 164 collectors. Well done Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>SunChaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 155 collectors sold for a solid 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish for the month. Way to go Brandon!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor </b>is the Top Salesman for the month with 47 sales. Amazing month Mark!\r\n\r\n<b>Terry Naylor </b>and <b>Brandon Chase</b> tied for 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 22 sales each. Congratulations gentleman! And, in 3rd place is <b>Bill Park</b> with 12 sales for July. Nice job Bill!\r\n\r\nOn a sad note, we were very sorry to hear of the loss of John Dunn, owner of Discount Solar in Orlando, who passed away earlier this month. John had been in the solar industry for the past 8 years selling and installing Solar Industries and was just appointed a Master Dealer this past year. Discount Solar was a great company and John will be missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo, Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n	<li>Aquatherm’s  2014 Kick-off Meetings, Jan. 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, Jan. 28<sup>th</sup> – 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAlso, Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 26th.\r\n\r\nDuring this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal business hours.\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','July 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','919-revision-4','','','2013-09-10 14:17:46','2013-09-10 14:17:46','',919,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=938',0,'revision','',0),(939,3,'2013-09-10 14:18:00','2013-09-10 14:18:00','What a year so far! Many of you are sharing stories of installation lead times in terms of weeks and not days for your customers. As a group, you are up 15% over last year! I thought I would call out a few of our Dealers that are having a banner year:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Performance Solar is up 222% - amazing year so far Dennis</li>\r\n	<li>The Solar Guys are 213% over last year – great job Sean and company</li>\r\n	<li>United Solar Energy is 51% over last year – congrats to Al and team</li>\r\n	<li>Energy Conservation Services are 38% ahead of last year – fabulous Tom</li>\r\n	<li>M &amp; K Solar is 33% ahead of last year – way to go Dave</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI would also like to acknowledge each level of Master Dealers and how they are trending:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Platinum Master Dealers are up 10%</li>\r\n	<li>Gold Master Dealers are up 12%</li>\r\n	<li>Silver Master Dealers are on pace with last year</li>\r\n	<li>Master Dealers are up 87%</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOverall, a great six months for everyone and your hard work out there is certainly paying dividends. Thank you for your continued business and being the best at what you do. For those of you joining us at the Summer Sales Retreat in Coast Rica, a well deserved break is just a few days away.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>for a great month with 420 collectors sold in June! Another fabulous month Mark! <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> had an impressive month with 235 collectors - strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place showing Terry! <b>Sunchaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 127 collectors sold for a 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish. Excellent job Brandon!\r\n\r\nAnd in typical 1-2-3 fashion, 57 sales landed <b>Mark Naylor</b> in the Top Salesman spot for August – nice job Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from Naylor Solar Specialists came in second for the month with 29 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <b>Brandon Chase</b> from Sunchaser, Inc. with 18 sales. Congratulations Brandon!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 27<sup>th</sup> – August 2<sup>nd</sup> in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, Nov. 12</span><sup>th</sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> – 14</span><sup>th </sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">in Las Vegas</span></li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting, January 2013 in Florida</span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information or are in need of a badge for the Pool &amp; Spa Expo, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','June 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','916-revision-4','','','2013-09-10 14:18:00','2013-09-10 14:18:00','',916,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=939',0,'revision','',0),(940,3,'2013-09-10 14:18:13','2013-09-10 14:18:13','This month, we are very excited to announce the addition of three Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network. Having displayed their commitment to quality and dedication to the solar pool heating industry, we proudly welcome the following companies into our Master Dealer Network:\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Bortman</b> is the owner of <b>Exact Solar</b> located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Mark founded Exact Solar and moved his family to Costa Rica for a year to learn more about alternative energy options. During that year, Mark worked with and learned with a pioneer in the solar thermal field, Bruce Carey, who’d been active in the solar industry since the 1970s. When he returned to the Philadelphia area, Mark started Exact Solar, and has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and pool heating ever since. Mark’s website is <a href=\"http://www.exactsolar.com/\">www.exactsolar.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Patrick Gallagher</b> is the owner of <b>Gallagher Solar Thermal</b> located in Warwick, New York. Pat has been the local solar expert in New York’s Hudson Valley since 2005, and added solar pool heating to his services offered in 2007. Pat’s company installs both solar domestic water and pool heating systems, and also services and replaces existing systems. In 2010, at the AHRC Camp Loyaltown Summer Camp in Hunter, NY, Gallagher designed and installed what would become the largest solar water heating system in the region – over 4,800 square foot of solar collector area to heat the camp’s 9,000 square foot swimming pool. Pat’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarthermalsolution.com/\">www.solarthermalsolution.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Jesse Christink</b> is the owner of <b>Solar Wave</b> located in Burlington, Ontario. Founded in 2005 by Jesse, Solar Wave specializes in the niche market of solar pool and domestic hot water heating. As a former employee of another solar pool heater manufacturer, it didn\'t take long for Jesse to realize the power of solar heating. As a finance graduate, Jesse was immediately drawn to the cost savings from solar, especially pool heating. After a six-year tenure with that manufacturer, Jesse started his own company selling, installing, and servicing solar water and pool heaters, as well as ancillary pool products like salt water chlorinators and automation systems. Jesse’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solarwaveenergy.com/\">www.solarwaveenergy.com</a>.\r\n\r\nMark and Patrick are handling the Solar Industries line and Jesse Ecosun. Please join me in welcoming all three of our new Master Dealers to the Aquatherm Network!\r\n\r\nI also wanted to give a nod to <b>Matt Mitera</b> from <b>Tenco Solar</b> who shared with me last week that he is installing the <b>largest solar water heating project</b> to date in the State of California on the USC campus in Southern California. Expected to open after the winter break at the end of this year, the students will return to find their dormitory’s hot water heated by the sun. Matt and his team are just about half way done with the project and have just six more months to complete the project. We will post some photos in the new year of the completed project. Congratulations Matt on this huge achievement!\r\n\r\nNow, on to the numbers for May.<b> </b>Congratulations to<b> Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA</b> who had an impressive month and claimed the top dealer spot with 413 collectors sold for May. Fabulous job Mark! A strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <b>Stilwell Solar, FL</b> with 224 collectors for May. Way to go Bill and the team at Stilwell! With 211 collectors for May, <b>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>came in 3<sup>rd</sup> for May - nice job Terry!\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Naylor</b> from <b>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</b> is the top salesman in the country with 56 sales for May. You are on fire Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from<b> Naylor Solar Specialists, NV </b>is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 28 sales for the month of May. Fabulous job Terry, he tells me this is a record month for him - congrats! And, <b>Bill Long</b> from <b>Stilwell Solar</b> is 3<sup>rd</sup> with 23 sales for May. Impressive finish for May Bill!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th  in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28th - August 2nd at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12th - 14th in Las Vegas, Nevada<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<b>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed Thursday July 4<sup>th</sup> and Friday July 5<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, July 8<sup>th</sup>.</b><b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>ATTENTION:</b>  We are currently looking for a project to feature as our “Gold Medal Installation” in the <b>Summer 2013 Solstice</b>. These feature articles always make a great first impression on your customers during your sales presentations – don’t miss out on the opportunity!  If you have a noteworthy commercial project that you have completed in the last year please contact me for more information at 732-905-9002, ext 226 or <a href=\"mailto:mfriar@warmwater.com\">mfriar@warmwater.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Best,</span>\r\n\r\nMolly','May 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','914-revision-3','','','2013-09-10 14:18:13','2013-09-10 14:18:13','',914,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=940',0,'revision','',0),(941,3,'2013-11-20 14:16:57','2013-11-20 14:16:57','What a year so far! Many of you are sharing stories of installation lead times in terms of weeks and not days for your customers. As a group, you are up 15% over last year! I thought I would call out a few of our Dealers that are having a banner year:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Performance Solar is up 222% - amazing year so far Dennis</li>\r\n	<li>The Solar Guys are 213% over last year – great job Sean and company</li>\r\n	<li>United Solar Energy is 51% over last year – congrats to Al and team</li>\r\n	<li>Energy Conservation Services are 38% ahead of last year – fabulous Tom</li>\r\n	<li>M &amp; K Solar is 33% ahead of last year – way to go Dave</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI would also like to acknowledge each level of Master Dealers and how they are trending:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Platinum Master Dealers are up 10%</li>\r\n	<li>Gold Master Dealers are up 12%</li>\r\n	<li>Silver Master Dealers are on pace with last year</li>\r\n	<li>Master Dealers are up 87%</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOverall, a great six months for everyone and your hard work out there is certainly paying dividends. Thank you for your continued business and being the best at what you do. For those of you joining us at the Summer Sales Retreat in Coast Rica, a well deserved break is just a few days away.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>for a great month with 420 collectors sold in June! Another fabulous month Mark! <b>Naylor Solar Specialists</b> had an impressive month with 235 collectors - strong 2<sup>nd</sup> place showing Terry! <b>Sunchaser, Inc. </b>ended the month with 127 collectors sold for a 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish. Excellent job Brandon!\r\n\r\nAnd in typical 1-2-3 fashion, 57 sales landed <b>Mark Naylor</b> in the Top Salesman spot for August – nice job Mark! <b>Terry Naylor</b> from Naylor Solar Specialists came in second for the month with 29 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <b>Brandon Chase</b> from Sunchaser, Inc. with 18 sales. Congratulations Brandon!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 27<sup>th</sup> – August 2<sup>nd</sup> in Costa Rica</li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, Nov. 12</span><sup>th</sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> – 14</span><sup>th </sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">in Las Vegas</span></li>\r\n	<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting, January 2013 in Florida</span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information or are in need of a badge for the Pool &amp; Spa Expo, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','June 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','916-revision-5','','','2013-11-20 14:16:57','2013-11-20 14:16:57','',916,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=941',0,'revision','',0),(942,3,'2013-11-20 14:19:10','2013-11-20 14:19:10','<strong>Good news!</strong> Dawn returned to work yesterday and with that, we have made a few changes in order to help serve you better.\n\nDawn is now our Customer Service and Order Processing Clerk. Other than entering your sales orders and answering light technical questions, her primary responsibilities will include:\n<ul>\n	<li>Notifying you of shipping dates</li>\n	<li>Upon shipment, will notify you of your shipment details and scheduled date of delivery</li>\n	<li>In case of any backorders, will notify you when the backorder is to be shipped</li>\n</ul>\nJanet will back-up Dawn in regard to entering sales orders and Pati will pick up on the above notification process when Dawn is out.\n\nIn addition, Dawn will now be handling all warranty related questions from consumers and Dealers as well as processing warranty claim decisions and issuing labor warranty coverage letters.\n\nPati will continue to be our Administrative Assistant / Receptionist and process export sales quotes and orders as well as handle all international shipping. Dawn will back up Pati on our international business.\n\nAgain, we welcome Dawn back and hope that these changes will make your experience with Aquatherm an enjoyable one.','Welcome Back Dawn & Some Changes Moving Forward','','inherit','open','open','','898-autosave','','','2013-11-20 14:19:10','2013-11-20 14:19:10','',898,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=942',0,'revision','',0),(943,4,'2013-11-11 14:22:10','2013-11-11 14:22:10','<p align=\"left\">I remember in the early 1980\'s when Solar Age or one of the very few solar periodicals would arrive in the mail, it quickly became a treasured connection to the rest of a fledgling industry. In a time when we were hungry for knowledge and everything in our industry was new, these tidbits of news were required reading for everyone.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">Over the years, I\'ve tried to continue this connection by keeping you informed of what\'s new at Aquatherm and in our industry with our AI Network newsletter every quarter. Due to the speed of business today, I occasionally fall behind and the timeliness of some of the articles lag.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">So instead of trying to accumulate several articles at a time (a harken back to the days of a printed version of the AI Network), I\'m going to try and to write one at least one article every few weeks.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This first one is being written on my way back from the ISES World Congress, held every two years and the first Congress hosted by Latin America. Attendees from 66 countries met for four days to discuss the latest developments in solar technologies by attending over 250 workshops, plenary talks and individual presentations.  There were thought provoking discussions which included pool heating, the use of polymers in domestic water heating collectors, methods of flow balancing and pumping / control strategies and much, much more. Yea, I was like a kid in a candy store.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I was also able to meet with an Ecosun dealer in the area and he briefed me on a recently completed 600 collector installation at a resort located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. For me though, the biggest take-away from the Congress were the sessions regarding climate change and sustainability. The vast majority of counties in the Americas have accepted that our current climate change issues are man-made and have committed to implementing long-term solutions including measurable goals to address the issues. Sadly, the most notable country of all that continues to ignore the facts that the rest of the world is accepting, is the United States.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This is just another reason why the diversity of Aquatherm\'s international business is so important us, not to mention the connections and exchange of ideas that come along with it.Along these lines, I\'m happy to announce that at least three of our international customers will again be joining us at this year\'s Distribution and National Master Dealer Meeting in Orlando this January; Daniel Garcia from Modulo Solar in Mexico, Ricardo Sarti from Solarpool in Argentina and Wells Gilbert from Ecosun Australia. Theirs, and your attendance are what continues the long legacy of connection between yourselves and Aquatherm.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I also want to take a moment and thank all of you for ongoing patience as we continue to reinvest in Aquatherm and upgrade our computer and phone systems. Today, we\'ll begin the process of converting over to an in-house exchange server for our email system. This may mean that your emails to us during the time of conversion may get hung up or you could potentially receive an undeliverable message. There\'s never a good time to do this, but doing it now is certainly better than waiting till the spring. The crackly phone calls should come to an end very shortly as well. When we installed the new phone system, we decided to split internet access and phone service between a fiber optic line for internet and a T-1 for the phone. The advantage was in case one went down, either system would automatically switch over to the other temporarily. The only flaw in the plan was waiting for Verizon to show up with the new T-1. Some behemoths you can move, and some you cannot.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">-Dave</p>','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','publish','open','open','','the-buck-stops-here-november-2013','','','2013-11-20 14:26:32','2013-11-20 14:26:32','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=943',0,'post','',0),(944,3,'2013-11-20 14:21:21','2013-11-20 14:21:21','','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','inherit','open','open','','943-revision','','','2013-11-20 14:21:21','2013-11-20 14:21:21','',943,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=944',0,'revision','',0),(945,3,'2013-11-20 14:24:12','2013-11-20 14:24:12','<p align=\"left\">I remember in the early 1980\'s when Solar Age or one of the very few solar periodicals would arrive in the mail, it quickly became a treasured connection to the rest of a fledgling industry. In a time when we were hungry for knowledge and everything in our industry was new, these tidbits of news were required reading for everyone.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Over the years, I\'ve tried to continue this connection by keeping you informed of what\'s new at Aquatherm and in our industry with our AI Network newsletter every quarter. Due to the speed of business today, I occasionally fall behind and the timeliness of some of the articles lag.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">So instead of trying to accumulate several articles at a time (a harken back to the days of a printed version of the AI Network), I\'m going to try and to write one at least one article every few weeks.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">This first one is being written on my way back from the ISES World Congress, held every two years and the first Congress hosted by Latin America. Attendees from 66 countries met for four days to discuss the latest developments in solar technologies by attending over 250 workshops, plenary talks and individual presentations.  There were thought provoking discussions which included pool heating, the use of polymers in domestic water heating collectors, methods of flow balancing and pumping / control strategies and much, much more. Yea, I was like a kid in a candy store.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I was also able to meet with an Ecosun dealer in the area and he briefed me on a recently completed 600 collector installation at a resort located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. For me though, the biggest take-away from the Congress were the sessions regarding climate change and sustainability. The vast majority of counties in the Americas have accepted that our current climate change issues are man-made and have committed to implementing long-term solutions including measurable goals to address the issues. Sadly, the most notable country of all that continues to ignore the facts that the rest of the world is accepting, is the United States.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">This is just another reason why the diversity of Aquatherm\'s international business is so important us, not to mention the connections and exchange of ideas that come along with it.Along these lines, I\'m happy to announce that at least three of our international customers will again be joining us at this year\'s Distribution and National Master Dealer Meeting in Orlando this January; Daniel Garcia from Modulo Solar in Mexico, Ricardo Sarti from Solarpool in Argentina and Wells Gilbert from Ecosun Australia. Theirs, and your attendance are what continues the long legacy of connection between yourselves and Aquatherm.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I also want to take a moment and thank all of you for ongoing patience as we continue to reinvest in Aquatherm and upgrade our computer and phone systems. Today, we\'ll begin the process of converting over to an in-house exchange server for our email system. This may mean that your emails to us during the time of conversion may get hung up or you could potentially receive an undeliverable message. There\'s never a good time to do this, but doing it now is certainly better than waiting till the spring. The crackly phone calls should come to an end very shortly as well. When we installed the new phone system, we decided to split internet access and phone service between a fiber optic line for internet and a T-1 for the phone. The advantage was in case one went down, either system would automatically switch over to the other temporarily. The only flaw in the plan was waiting for Verizon to show up with the new T-1. Some behemoths you can move, and some you cannot.-Dave</p>','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','inherit','open','open','','943-autosave','','','2013-11-20 14:24:12','2013-11-20 14:24:12','',943,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=945',0,'revision','',0),(946,3,'2013-11-20 14:22:10','2013-11-20 14:22:10','<div align=\"left\">\r\n\r\nI remember in the early 1980\'s when Solar Age or one of the very few solar periodicals would arrive in the mail, it quickly became a treasured connection to the rest of a fledgling industry. In a time when we were hungry for knowledge and everything in our industry was new, these tidbits of news were required reading for everyone.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Over the years, I\'ve tried to continue this connection by keeping you informed of what\'s new at Aquatherm and in our industry with our AI Network newsletter every quarter. Due to the speed of business today, I occasionally fall behind and the timeliness of some of the articles lag.</span>\r\n\r\nSo instead of trying to accumulate several articles at a time (a harken back to the days of a printed version of the AI Network), I\'m going to try and to write one at least one article every few weeks.\r\n\r\nThis first one is being written on my way back from the ISES World Congress, held every two years and the first Congress hosted by Latin America. Attendees from 66 countries met for four days to discuss the latest developments in solar technologies by attending over 250 workshops, plenary talks and individual presentations.  There were thought provoking discussions which included pool heating, the use of polymers in domestic water heating collectors, methods of flow balancing and pumping / control strategies and much, much more. Yea, I was like a kid in a candy store.\r\n\r\nI was also able to meet with an Ecosun dealer in the area and he briefed me on a recently completed 600 collector installation at a resort located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. For me though, the biggest take-away from the Congress were the sessions regarding climate change and sustainability. The vast majority of counties in the Americas have accepted that our current climate change issues are man-made and have committed to implementing long-term solutions including measurable goals to address the issues. Sadly, the most notable country of all that continues to ignore the facts that the rest of the world is accepting, is the United States.\r\n\r\nThis is just another reason why the diversity of Aquatherm\'s international business is so important us, not to mention the connections and exchange of ideas that come along with it.\r\n\r\nAlong these lines, I\'m happy to announce that at least three of our international customers will again be joining us at this year\'s Distribution and National Master Dealer Meeting in Orlando this January; Daniel Garcia from Modulo Solar in Mexico, Ricardo Sarti from Solarpool in Argentina and Wells Gilbert from Ecosun Australia. Theirs, and your attendance are what continues the long legacy of connection between yourselves and Aquatherm.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI also want to take a moment and thank all of you for ongoing patience as we continue to reinvest in Aquatherm and upgrade our computer and phone systems. Today, we\'ll begin the process of converting over to an in-house exchange server for our email system. This may mean that your emails to us during the time of conversion may get hung up or you could potentially receive an undeliverable message. There\'s never a good time to do this, but doing it now is certainly better than waiting till the spring. The crackly phone calls should come to an end very shortly as well. When we installed the new phone system, we decided to split internet access and phone service between a fiber optic line for internet and a T-1 for the phone. The advantage was in case one went down, either system would automatically switch over to the other temporarily. The only flaw in the plan was waiting for Verizon to show up with the new T-1. Some behemoths you can move, and some you cannot.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">-Dave</span>\r\n\r\n</div>','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','inherit','open','open','','943-revision-2','','','2013-11-20 14:22:10','2013-11-20 14:22:10','',943,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=946',0,'revision','',0),(947,3,'2013-11-20 14:25:22','2013-11-20 14:25:22','<p align=\"left\">I remember in the early 1980\'s when Solar Age or one of the very few solar periodicals would arrive in the mail, it quickly became a treasured connection to the rest of a fledgling industry. In a time when we were hungry for knowledge and everything in our industry was new, these tidbits of news were required reading for everyone.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">Over the years, I\'ve tried to continue this connection by keeping you informed of what\'s new at Aquatherm and in our industry with our AI Network newsletter every quarter. Due to the speed of business today, I occasionally fall behind and the timeliness of some of the articles lag.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">So instead of trying to accumulate several articles at a time (a harken back to the days of a printed version of the AI Network), I\'m going to try and to write one at least one article every few weeks.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This first one is being written on my way back from the ISES World Congress, held every two years and the first Congress hosted by Latin America. Attendees from 66 countries met for four days to discuss the latest developments in solar technologies by attending over 250 workshops, plenary talks and individual presentations.  There were thought provoking discussions which included pool heating, the use of polymers in domestic water heating collectors, methods of flow balancing and pumping / control strategies and much, much more. Yea, I was like a kid in a candy store.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I was also able to meet with an Ecosun dealer in the area and he briefed me on a recently completed 600 collector installation at a resort located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. For me though, the biggest take-away from the Congress were the sessions regarding climate change and sustainability. The vast majority of counties in the Americas have accepted that our current climate change issues are man-made and have committed to implementing long-term solutions including measurable goals to address the issues. Sadly, the most notable country of all that continues to ignore the facts that the rest of the world is accepting, is the United States.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This is just another reason why the diversity of Aquatherm\'s international business is so important us, not to mention the connections and exchange of ideas that come along with it.Along these lines, I\'m happy to announce that at least three of our international customers will again be joining us at this year\'s Distribution and National Master Dealer Meeting in Orlando this January; Daniel Garcia from Modulo Solar in Mexico, Ricardo Sarti from Solarpool in Argentina and Wells Gilbert from Ecosun Australia. Theirs, and your attendance are what continues the long legacy of connection between yourselves and Aquatherm.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I also want to take a moment and thank all of you for ongoing patience as we continue to reinvest in Aquatherm and upgrade our computer and phone systems. Today, we\'ll begin the process of converting over to an in-house exchange server for our email system. This may mean that your emails to us during the time of conversion may get hung up or you could potentially receive an undeliverable message. There\'s never a good time to do this, but doing it now is certainly better than waiting till the spring. The crackly phone calls should come to an end very shortly as well. When we installed the new phone system, we decided to split internet access and phone service between a fiber optic line for internet and a T-1 for the phone. The advantage was in case one went down, either system would automatically switch over to the other temporarily. The only flaw in the plan was waiting for Verizon to show up with the new T-1. Some behemoths you can move, and some you cannot.-Dave</p>','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','inherit','open','open','','943-revision-3','','','2013-11-20 14:25:22','2013-11-20 14:25:22','',943,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=947',0,'revision','',0),(948,3,'2013-11-20 14:25:39','2013-11-20 14:25:39','<p align=\"left\">I remember in the early 1980\'s when Solar Age or one of the very few solar periodicals would arrive in the mail, it quickly became a treasured connection to the rest of a fledgling industry. In a time when we were hungry for knowledge and everything in our industry was new, these tidbits of news were required reading for everyone.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">Over the years, I\'ve tried to continue this connection by keeping you informed of what\'s new at Aquatherm and in our industry with our AI Network newsletter every quarter. Due to the speed of business today, I occasionally fall behind and the timeliness of some of the articles lag.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">So instead of trying to accumulate several articles at a time (a harken back to the days of a printed version of the AI Network), I\'m going to try and to write one at least one article every few weeks.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This first one is being written on my way back from the ISES World Congress, held every two years and the first Congress hosted by Latin America. Attendees from 66 countries met for four days to discuss the latest developments in solar technologies by attending over 250 workshops, plenary talks and individual presentations.  There were thought provoking discussions which included pool heating, the use of polymers in domestic water heating collectors, methods of flow balancing and pumping / control strategies and much, much more. Yea, I was like a kid in a candy store.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I was also able to meet with an Ecosun dealer in the area and he briefed me on a recently completed 600 collector installation at a resort located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. For me though, the biggest take-away from the Congress were the sessions regarding climate change and sustainability. The vast majority of counties in the Americas have accepted that our current climate change issues are man-made and have committed to implementing long-term solutions including measurable goals to address the issues. Sadly, the most notable country of all that continues to ignore the facts that the rest of the world is accepting, is the United States.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This is just another reason why the diversity of Aquatherm\'s international business is so important us, not to mention the connections and exchange of ideas that come along with it.Along these lines, I\'m happy to announce that at least three of our international customers will again be joining us at this year\'s Distribution and National Master Dealer Meeting in Orlando this January; Daniel Garcia from Modulo Solar in Mexico, Ricardo Sarti from Solarpool in Argentina and Wells Gilbert from Ecosun Australia. Theirs, and your attendance are what continues the long legacy of connection between yourselves and Aquatherm.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I also want to take a moment and thank all of you for ongoing patience as we continue to reinvest in Aquatherm and upgrade our computer and phone systems. Today, we\'ll begin the process of converting over to an in-house exchange server for our email system. This may mean that your emails to us during the time of conversion may get hung up or you could potentially receive an undeliverable message. There\'s never a good time to do this, but doing it now is certainly better than waiting till the spring. The crackly phone calls should come to an end very shortly as well. When we installed the new phone system, we decided to split internet access and phone service between a fiber optic line for internet and a T-1 for the phone. The advantage was in case one went down, either system would automatically switch over to the other temporarily. The only flaw in the plan was waiting for Verizon to show up with the new T-1. Some behemoths you can move, and some you cannot.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">-Dave</p>','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','inherit','open','open','','943-revision-4','','','2013-11-20 14:25:39','2013-11-20 14:25:39','',943,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=948',0,'revision','',0),(949,3,'2013-11-20 14:26:21','2013-11-20 14:26:21','<p align=\"left\">I remember in the early 1980\'s when Solar Age or one of the very few solar periodicals would arrive in the mail, it quickly became a treasured connection to the rest of a fledgling industry. In a time when we were hungry for knowledge and everything in our industry was new, these tidbits of news were required reading for everyone.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">Over the years, I\'ve tried to continue this connection by keeping you informed of what\'s new at Aquatherm and in our industry with our AI Network newsletter every quarter. Due to the speed of business today, I occasionally fall behind and the timeliness of some of the articles lag.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">So instead of trying to accumulate several articles at a time (a harken back to the days of a printed version of the AI Network), I\'m going to try and to write one at least one article every few weeks.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This first one is being written on my way back from the ISES World Congress, held every two years and the first Congress hosted by Latin America. Attendees from 66 countries met for four days to discuss the latest developments in solar technologies by attending over 250 workshops, plenary talks and individual presentations.  There were thought provoking discussions which included pool heating, the use of polymers in domestic water heating collectors, methods of flow balancing and pumping / control strategies and much, much more. Yea, I was like a kid in a candy store.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I was also able to meet with an Ecosun dealer in the area and he briefed me on a recently completed 600 collector installation at a resort located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. For me though, the biggest take-away from the Congress were the sessions regarding climate change and sustainability. The vast majority of counties in the Americas have accepted that our current climate change issues are man-made and have committed to implementing long-term solutions including measurable goals to address the issues. Sadly, the most notable country of all that continues to ignore the facts that the rest of the world is accepting, is the United States.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">This is just another reason why the diversity of Aquatherm\'s international business is so important us, not to mention the connections and exchange of ideas that come along with it.Along these lines, I\'m happy to announce that at least three of our international customers will again be joining us at this year\'s Distribution and National Master Dealer Meeting in Orlando this January; Daniel Garcia from Modulo Solar in Mexico, Ricardo Sarti from Solarpool in Argentina and Wells Gilbert from Ecosun Australia. Theirs, and your attendance are what continues the long legacy of connection between yourselves and Aquatherm.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">I also want to take a moment and thank all of you for ongoing patience as we continue to reinvest in Aquatherm and upgrade our computer and phone systems. Today, we\'ll begin the process of converting over to an in-house exchange server for our email system. This may mean that your emails to us during the time of conversion may get hung up or you could potentially receive an undeliverable message. There\'s never a good time to do this, but doing it now is certainly better than waiting till the spring. The crackly phone calls should come to an end very shortly as well. When we installed the new phone system, we decided to split internet access and phone service between a fiber optic line for internet and a T-1 for the phone. The advantage was in case one went down, either system would automatically switch over to the other temporarily. The only flaw in the plan was waiting for Verizon to show up with the new T-1. Some behemoths you can move, and some you cannot.</p>\r\n<p align=\"left\">-Dave</p>','The Buck Stops Here - November 2013','','inherit','open','open','','943-revision-5','','','2013-11-20 14:26:21','2013-11-20 14:26:21','',943,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=949',0,'revision','',0),(950,2,'2013-11-26 14:05:30','2013-11-26 14:05:30','Happy Thanksgiving everyone!\r\n\r\nI’m pleased to be able to announce the addition of another Master Dealer to the Aquatherm network!  Please help me welcome <b>Jason Stringham</b> of <b>SolarTech International</b> in San Diego as our newest SI Master Dealer.  He found the pool and spa industry while he was attending college and even worked for Mark Naylor for a short while.  Once he was hooked, Jason decided to found SolarTech International and forge out on his own in 2000.  SolarTech has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and Aquatherm solar pool heating, ever since. Jason’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solartechonline.com/\">www.solartechonline.com</a>.  Welcome to the Aquatherm family, Jason!\r\n\r\nBefore we get to the numbers I want to take a moment and give a quick update on the overall standings YTD.  <b>Brandon Chase</b> of <b>SunChaser Solar</b> has tipped the 1000 collector mark to move back up to Gold Level status.  Congratulations Brandon!  <b>Al Accurso</b> from <b>Alcor Sola</b>r has moved up to Silver Level status.  Way to go Al!  And a special mention goes out to hard working <b>Dave Setter</b> at <b>M &amp; K Solar</b> who is within striking distance of returning to Gold Level status – his first time since 2006.  Keep up the great work Dave.  We also have a tight race this year in the Top 10 with a tie for 10<sup>th</sup> this month, but watch out for <b>Jim Roark</b> coming down the homestretch.\r\n\r\nAnd now for the numbers. <b>Stilwell Solar </b>took the 1st place spot with 483 collectors sold for October. Amazing month Bill and the entire team at Stilwell - thank you all so much! <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 196 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark!  And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 119 collectors sold is <b>Roark Solar</b>.  Excellent October Jim!\r\n\r\nWith 41 sales, <b>Bill Long </b>ruled the top Salesperson spot for October.  What a month Bill!  In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> place, with 26 sales each, are <b>Mark Naylor</b> and <b>Scott Bologna</b>.  Great job, gentlemen!  In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October is <b>Jim Roark</b> of Roark Solar with 17 sales for the month.  Fantastic job, Jim!\r\n\r\nThe <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando this January<b> </b>are fast approaching.  The dates of the meeting will be <b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup></b>, <b>2014</b> and will take place at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>I will be following up in December with an agenda and memo detailing the event.  In the meantime, should you have any questions please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.  We look forward to seeing you all there and having a productive few days together!\r\n\r\nAquatherm’s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Program Meeting, December 6th in San Diego, California</li>\r\n	<li>2014 Distribution Center and National Dealer Kick-off Meetings, January 22nd – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 28th– 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n	<li>Florida Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 21<sup>st </sup>&amp; 22<sup>nd</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, February 24<sup>th</sup> &amp; 25<sup>th</sup>, Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>MIAGreen 2014, February 27<sup>th</sup> &amp; 28<sup>th</sup>, Miami Beach, Florida</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the tradeshows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nPlease note that <b>Aquatherm will be</b> <b>closed</b> <b>on</b> <b>November 28<sup>th</sup> and 29<sup>th</sup></b> in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday and will reopen on Monday, December 2<sup>nd</sup>.\r\n\r\nI hope you all have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and that you all will be able to spend some time with your family and friends!\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','October 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','october-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-11-26 14:06:37','2013-11-26 14:06:37','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=950',0,'post','',0),(951,3,'2013-11-26 14:04:43','2013-11-26 14:04:43','','October 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','950-revision','','','2013-11-26 14:04:43','2013-11-26 14:04:43','',950,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=951',0,'revision','',0),(952,3,'2013-11-26 14:05:30','2013-11-26 14:05:30','Happy Thanksgiving everyone!\r\n\r\nI’m pleased to be able to announce the addition of another Master Dealer to the Aquatherm network!  Please help me welcome <b>Jason Stringham</b> of <b>SolarTech International</b> in San Diego as our newest SI Master Dealer.  He found the pool and spa industry while he was attending college and even worked for Mark Naylor for a short while.  Once he was hooked, Jason decided to found SolarTech International and forge out on his own in 2000.  SolarTech has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and Aquatherm solar pool heating, ever since. Jason’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solartechonline.com/\">www.solartechonline.com</a>.  Welcome to the Aquatherm family, Jason!\r\n\r\nBefore we get to the numbers I want to take a moment and give a quick update on the overall standings YTD.  <b>Brandon Chase</b> of <b>SunChaser Solar</b> has tipped the 1000 collector mark to move back up to Gold Level status.  Congratulations Brandon!  <b>Al Accurso</b> from <b>Alcor Sola</b>r has moved up to Silver Level status.  Way to go Al!  And a special mention goes out to hard working <b>Dave Setter</b> at <b>M &amp; K Solar</b> who is within striking distance of returning to Gold Level status – his first time since 2006.  Keep up the great work Dave.  We also have a tight race this year in the Top 10 with a tie for 10<sup>th</sup> this month, but watch out for <b>Jim Roark</b> coming down the homestretch.\r\n\r\nAnd now for the numbers. <b>Stilwell Solar </b>took the 1st place spot with 483 collectors sold for October. Amazing month Bill and the entire team at Stilwell - thank you all so much! <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 196 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark!  And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 119 collectors sold is <b>Roark Solar</b>.  Excellent October Jim!\r\n\r\nWith 41 sales, <b>Bill Long </b>ruled the top Salesperson spot for October.  What a month Bill!  In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> place, with 26 sales each, are <b>Mark Naylor</b> and <b>Scott Bologna</b>.  Great job, gentlemen!  In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October is <b>Jim Roark</b> of Roark Solar with 17 sales for the month.  Fantastic job, Jim!\r\n\r\nThe <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando this January<b> </b>are fast approaching.  The dates of the meeting will be <b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup></b>, <b>2014</b> and will take place at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>I will be following up in December with an agenda and memo detailing the event.  In the meantime, should you have any questions please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.  We look forward to seeing you all there and having a productive few days together!\r\n\r\nAquatherm’s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Program Meeting, December 6th in San Diego, California</li>\r\n	<li>2014 Distribution Center and National Dealer Kick-off Meetings, January 22nd – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 28th– 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n	<li>Florida Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 21<sup>st </sup>&amp; 22<sup>nd</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, February 24<sup>th</sup> &amp; 25<sup>th</sup>, Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>MIAGreen 2014, February 27<sup>th</sup> &amp; 28<sup>th</sup>, Miami Beach, Florida<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the tradeshows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nPlease note that <b>Aquatherm will be</b> <b>closed</b> <b>on</b> <b>November 28<sup>th</sup> and 29<sup>th</sup></b> in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday and will reopen on Monday, December 2<sup>nd</sup>.\r\n\r\nI hope you all have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and that you all will be able to spend some time with your family and friends!\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','October 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','950-revision-2','','','2013-11-26 14:05:30','2013-11-26 14:05:30','',950,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=952',0,'revision','',0),(953,3,'2013-11-26 14:05:41','2013-11-26 14:05:41','Happy Thanksgiving everyone!\r\n\r\nI’m pleased to be able to announce the addition of another Master Dealer to the Aquatherm network!  Please help me welcome <b>Jason Stringham</b> of <b>SolarTech International</b> in San Diego as our newest SI Master Dealer.  He found the pool and spa industry while he was attending college and even worked for Mark Naylor for a short while.  Once he was hooked, Jason decided to found SolarTech International and forge out on his own in 2000.  SolarTech has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and Aquatherm solar pool heating, ever since. Jason’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solartechonline.com/\">www.solartechonline.com</a>.  Welcome to the Aquatherm family, Jason!\r\n\r\nBefore we get to the numbers I want to take a moment and give a quick update on the overall standings YTD.  <b>Brandon Chase</b> of <b>SunChaser Solar</b> has tipped the 1000 collector mark to move back up to Gold Level status.  Congratulations Brandon!  <b>Al Accurso</b> from <b>Alcor Sola</b>r has moved up to Silver Level status.  Way to go Al!  And a special mention goes out to hard working <b>Dave Setter</b> at <b>M &amp; K Solar</b> who is within striking distance of returning to Gold Level status – his first time since 2006.  Keep up the great work Dave.  We also have a tight race this year in the Top 10 with a tie for 10<sup>th</sup> this month, but watch out for <b>Jim Roark</b> coming down the homestretch.\r\n\r\nAnd now for the numbers. <b>Stilwell Solar </b>took the 1st place spot with 483 collectors sold for October. Amazing month Bill and the entire team at Stilwell - thank you all so much! <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 196 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark!  And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 119 collectors sold is <b>Roark Solar</b>.  Excellent October Jim!\r\n\r\nWith 41 sales, <b>Bill Long </b>ruled the top Salesperson spot for October.  What a month Bill!  In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> place, with 26 sales each, are <b>Mark Naylor</b> and <b>Scott Bologna</b>.  Great job, gentlemen!  In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October is <b>Jim Roark</b> of Roark Solar with 17 sales for the month.  Fantastic job, Jim!\r\n\r\nThe <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando this January<b> </b>are fast approaching.  The dates of the meeting will be <b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup></b>, <b>2014</b> and will take place at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>I will be following up in December with an agenda and memo detailing the event.  In the meantime, should you have any questions please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.  We look forward to seeing you all there and having a productive few days together!\r\n\r\nAquatherm’s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Program Meeting, December 6th in San Diego, California</li>\r\n	<li>2014 Distribution Center and National Dealer Kick-off Meetings, January 22nd – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 28th– 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n	<li>Florida Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 21<sup>st </sup>&amp; 22<sup>nd</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, February 24<sup>th</sup> &amp; 25<sup>th</sup>, Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>MIAGreen 2014, February 27<sup>th</sup> &amp; 28<sup>th</sup>, Miami Beach, Florida<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </span></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the tradeshows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nPlease note that <b>Aquatherm will be</b> <b>closed</b> <b>on</b> <b>November 28<sup>th</sup> and 29<sup>th</sup></b> in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday and will reopen on Monday, December 2<sup>nd</sup>.\r\n\r\nI hope you all have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and that you all will be able to spend some time with your family and friends!\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','October 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','950-revision-3','','','2013-11-26 14:05:41','2013-11-26 14:05:41','',950,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=953',0,'revision','',0),(954,3,'2013-11-26 14:06:21','2013-11-26 14:06:21','Happy Thanksgiving everyone!\r\n\r\nI’m pleased to be able to announce the addition of another Master Dealer to the Aquatherm network!  Please help me welcome <b>Jason Stringham</b> of <b>SolarTech International</b> in San Diego as our newest SI Master Dealer.  He found the pool and spa industry while he was attending college and even worked for Mark Naylor for a short while.  Once he was hooked, Jason decided to found SolarTech International and forge out on his own in 2000.  SolarTech has been designing and installing solar photovoltaic, as well as domestic water and Aquatherm solar pool heating, ever since. Jason’s website is <a href=\"http://www.solartechonline.com/\">www.solartechonline.com</a>.  Welcome to the Aquatherm family, Jason!\r\n\r\nBefore we get to the numbers I want to take a moment and give a quick update on the overall standings YTD.  <b>Brandon Chase</b> of <b>SunChaser Solar</b> has tipped the 1000 collector mark to move back up to Gold Level status.  Congratulations Brandon!  <b>Al Accurso</b> from <b>Alcor Sola</b>r has moved up to Silver Level status.  Way to go Al!  And a special mention goes out to hard working <b>Dave Setter</b> at <b>M &amp; K Solar</b> who is within striking distance of returning to Gold Level status – his first time since 2006.  Keep up the great work Dave.  We also have a tight race this year in the Top 10 with a tie for 10<sup>th</sup> this month, but watch out for <b>Jim Roark</b> coming down the homestretch.\r\n\r\nAnd now for the numbers. <b>Stilwell Solar </b>took the 1st place spot with 483 collectors sold for October. Amazing month Bill and the entire team at Stilwell - thank you all so much! <b>Mark Naylor</b> <b>Solar Specialists </b>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 196 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark!  And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 119 collectors sold is <b>Roark Solar</b>.  Excellent October Jim!\r\n\r\nWith 41 sales, <b>Bill Long </b>ruled the top Salesperson spot for October.  What a month Bill!  In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> place, with 26 sales each, are <b>Mark Naylor</b> and <b>Scott Bologna</b>.  Great job, gentlemen!  In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October is <b>Jim Roark</b> of Roark Solar with 17 sales for the month.  Fantastic job, Jim!\r\n\r\nThe <b>2014</b> <b>Distribution Center and National Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </b>in Orlando this January<b> </b>are fast approaching.  The dates of the meeting will be <b>January 22<sup>nd</sup> – 24<sup>th</sup></b>, <b>2014</b> and will take place at the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista<b>.  </b>I will be following up in December with an agenda and memo detailing the event.  In the meantime, should you have any questions please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.  We look forward to seeing you all there and having a productive few days together!\r\n\r\nAquatherm’s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Program Meeting, December 6th in San Diego, California</li>\r\n	<li>2014 Distribution Center and National Dealer Kick-off Meetings, January 22nd – 24<sup>th</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 28th– 30<sup>th</sup> in Atlantic City, New Jersey</li>\r\n	<li>Florida Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 21<sup>st </sup>&amp; 22<sup>nd</sup> in Orlando, Florida</li>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, February 24<sup>th</sup> &amp; 25<sup>th</sup>, Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>MIAGreen 2014, February 27<sup>th</sup> &amp; 28<sup>th</sup>, Miami Beach, Florida</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the tradeshows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nPlease note that <b>Aquatherm will be</b> <b>closed</b> <b>on</b> <b>November 28<sup>th</sup> and 29<sup>th</sup></b> in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday and will reopen on Monday, December 2<sup>nd</sup>.\r\n\r\nI hope you all have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and that you all will be able to spend some time with your family and friends!\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly','October 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','950-revision-4','','','2013-11-26 14:06:21','2013-11-26 14:06:21','',950,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=954',0,'revision','',0),(955,3,'2013-11-26 20:33:43','2013-11-26 20:33:43','','CSI Meeting Agenda','','inherit','open','open','','csi-meeting-agenda','','','2013-11-26 20:33:43','2013-11-26 20:33:43','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/CSI-Meeting-Agenda.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(959,3,'2014-03-26 21:15:35','2014-03-26 21:15:35','','label','','inherit','open','open','','label','','','2014-03-26 21:15:35','2014-03-26 21:15:35','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/label.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(960,3,'2014-03-26 21:15:39','2014-03-26 21:15:39','','clamp','','inherit','open','open','','clamp','','','2014-03-26 21:15:39','2014-03-26 21:15:39','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/clamp.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(961,3,'2014-03-26 21:20:37','2014-03-26 21:20:37','','clamps','','inherit','open','open','','clamps','','','2014-03-26 21:20:37','2014-03-26 21:20:37','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/clamps.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(964,3,'2014-05-05 16:11:10','2014-05-05 16:11:10','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735.png\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-975 \" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735-230x300.png\" alt=\"SI-19735\" width=\"189\" height=\"247\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727.png\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-974\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727-230x300.png\" alt=\"ES-19727\" width=\"188\" height=\"245\" /></a>\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/strap-clamp.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"290\" /></p>\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VRV-e1395928874208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"144\" />A</strong> <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"241\" height=\"181\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-976\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Headers\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>By now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','publish','open','open','','the-buck-stops-here-march-2014','','','2014-05-05 17:48:11','2014-05-05 17:48:11','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=964',0,'post','',0),(965,3,'2014-05-05 14:23:13','2014-05-05 14:23:13','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\n\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\n\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\n\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\n\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\n\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\n\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\n\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\n\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\n\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\n\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\n\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\n<h2> IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\n\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\n\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\n\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\n\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\n\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\n\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\n\n<b>Product Quality</b>\n\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\n\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\n\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\n\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\n\n<b>Two new brochures...</b>\n\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\n\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\n\n<b>Three new products...</b>\n\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\n\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\n\nA <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\n\n<strong>Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\n\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">And more to come!</b>\n\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\n\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\n\n<b>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</b>\n\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Green labels / Serial no. label change</b>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\n\n&nbsp;\n<p align=\"center\"></p>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</b>\n\n<b> </b>\n\nWith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.\n\n<b> </b>\n\n<b> </b>\n\n<b>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</b>\n\n<b> </b>\n\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 14:23:13','2014-05-05 14:23:13','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=965',0,'revision','',0),(966,3,'2014-05-05 14:23:36','2014-05-05 14:23:36','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n<h2> IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>Product Quality</b>\r\n\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>Two new brochures...</b>\r\n\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<b>Three new products...</b>\r\n\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\nA <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong>Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n\r\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">And more to come!</b>\r\n\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</b>\r\n\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n\r\n<b>Green labels / Serial no. label change</b>\r\n\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n\r\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</b>\r\n\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 14:23:36','2014-05-05 14:23:36','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=966',0,'revision','',0),(967,3,'2014-05-05 14:23:39','2014-05-05 14:23:39','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n<h2> IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>Product Quality</b>\r\n\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>Two new brochures...</b>\r\n\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<b>Three new products...</b>\r\n\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\nA <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong>Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n\r\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">And more to come!</b>\r\n\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</b>\r\n\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n\r\n<b>Green labels / Serial no. label change</b>\r\n\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n\r\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</b>\r\n\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 14:23:39','2014-05-05 14:23:39','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=967',0,'revision','',0),(968,3,'2014-05-05 14:24:07','2014-05-05 14:24:07','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>Product Quality</b>\r\n\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>Two new brochures...</b>\r\n\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<b>Three new products...</b>\r\n\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\nA <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong>Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n\r\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">And more to come!</b>\r\n\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</b>\r\n\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n\r\n<b>Green labels / Serial no. label change</b>\r\n\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n\r\n<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n\r\n<b>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</b>\r\n\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 14:24:07','2014-05-05 14:24:07','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=968',0,'revision','',0),(969,3,'2014-05-05 14:44:44','2014-05-05 14:44:44','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\nA <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 14:44:44','2014-05-05 14:44:44','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=969',0,'revision','',0),(970,3,'2014-05-05 16:09:59','2014-05-05 16:09:59','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Ecosun-6pg-19727-Rev-9-13-low-res.pdf\"><img class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ES-19727.png\" width=\"191\" height=\"249\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SI-6pg-19735-Rev-3-14-low-res.pdf\"><img class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SI-19735.png\" width=\"193\" height=\"252\" /></a>\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/strap-clamp.png\" width=\"406\" height=\"290\" /></p>\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VRV-e1395928874208.jpg\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" />A</strong> <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" width=\"315\" height=\"237\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 16:09:59','2014-05-05 16:09:59','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=970',0,'revision','',0),(971,3,'2014-05-05 17:48:00','2014-05-05 17:48:00','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735.png\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-975 \" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735-230x300.png\" alt=\"SI-19735\" width=\"189\" height=\"247\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727.png\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-974\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727-230x300.png\" alt=\"ES-19727\" width=\"188\" height=\"245\" /></a>\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/strap-clamp.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"290\" /></p>\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VRV-e1395928874208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"144\" />A</strong> <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"241\" height=\"181\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-976\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Headers\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>By now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-autosave-v1','','','2014-05-05 17:48:00','2014-05-05 17:48:00','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=971',0,'revision','',0),(974,3,'2014-05-05 17:43:35','2014-05-05 17:43:35','','ES-19727','','inherit','open','open','','es-19727','','','2014-05-05 17:43:35','2014-05-05 17:43:35','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(975,3,'2014-05-05 17:43:37','2014-05-05 17:43:37','','SI-19735','','inherit','open','open','','si-19735','','','2014-05-05 17:43:37','2014-05-05 17:43:37','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(972,3,'2014-05-05 16:12:28','2014-05-05 16:12:28','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Ecosun-6pg-19727-Rev-9-13-low-res.pdf\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ES-19727.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"249\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SI-6pg-19735-Rev-3-14-low-res.pdf\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SI-19735.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"253\" /></a>\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/strap-clamp.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"290\" /></p>\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VRV-e1395928874208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" />A</strong> <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"315\" height=\"237\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 16:12:28','2014-05-05 16:12:28','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=972',0,'revision','',0),(973,3,'2014-05-05 16:13:09','2014-05-05 16:13:09','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Ecosun-6pg-19727-Rev-9-13-low-res.pdf\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ES-19727.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"110\" height=\"143\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SI-6pg-19735-Rev-3-14-low-res.pdf\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SI-19735.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"109\" height=\"142\" /></a>\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/strap-clamp.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"290\" /></p>\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VRV-e1395928874208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" />A</strong> <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"315\" height=\"237\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\nBy now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 16:13:09','2014-05-05 16:13:09','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=973',0,'revision','',0),(976,3,'2014-05-05 17:47:10','2014-05-05 17:47:10','','Headers','','inherit','open','open','','headers','','','2014-05-05 17:47:10','2014-05-05 17:47:10','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(977,3,'2014-05-05 17:48:11','2014-05-05 17:48:11','<h2><strong>The Buck Stops Here </strong></h2>\r\nby Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO\r\n<h2><b>Girl Scout Cookies</b></h2>\r\n<b></b>I want to start by sharing a recent <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VZnuSTeQvCzywDXU36vksbLH6iutPTcGrJBFRsFru6AqlrGjvRhjNvHVr8x7V9lXekKlNwWFFGYARD-cPMl9r_wpomXOjjFlQ-DhaN4d5wsrcw-wWmjbnHhgYYbloW6eKbucsH80cM7RYKalUDe9a3ZNoWMqeDcyH090JQaP1v-4rLuKRH-FbWA==&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">blog post</a> by internet guru Seth Godin that caught my attention and got me thinking.\r\n\r\n<i>I thought I\'d share a simple sales approach that in my experience consistently doubles the sales rate for Girl Scouts, at the same time it permits a more natural, humanistic engagement. Most Scouts are taught to memorize a fairly complicated spiel, one that involves introducing themselves, talking in detail about the good work that the Scouts do, and finishing with how the money raised goes for this and for that.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This is difficult work even for a professional, but for a kid talking to an adult, it\'s frightening and unlikely to lead to a positive experience. The alternative to asking someone if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?</i>\r\n\r\n<em><b>\"What\'s your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?\"</b></em>\r\n\r\n<i>In less than ten words, all your memories of previous cookie experiences are summoned up. In one simple question, the power in the transaction shifts, with the Scout going from supplicant to valued supplier. And that\'s the universal lesson here: A question that avoids a \'no\', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion... those are the questions that build careers and create value.</i>\r\n\r\nSo what are some questions you can ask that start a conversation and open the door to emotion?\r\n\r\n<b><i>\"What temperature do you and your family like to swim in?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What do you and your family enjoy most about your pool?\"</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i></i></b><b><i>\"What would a heated pool mean to you (and your family)?</i></b>\r\n\r\nSummoning up an emotion, a positive experience from someone\'s past is often the key to unlocking a conversation, and ultimately a positive purchasing decision. Why did the customer invest in a pool or buy a home with a pool in the first place; was it the feeling they get when their family and friends are all gathered together? Did they see themselves getting up early in the morning to exercise or come home to a relaxing evening swim?\r\n\r\nThis reminds me of my favorite Mad Men episode when the lead character, Don Draper is pitching Kodak on a campaign for its revolutionary new \"wheel\" style projector.\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>IAPMO vs. SRCC vs. FSEC</h2>\r\nFor over 30 years, there have only been a handful of solar thermal certification agencies in the US. Two survived and the rest, like TIPSE, ARI and the TVA have faded into the memories of Tom Lane, Dave Burrows and myself. FSEC has survived as an extension of the University of Central Florida, mandated by Florida law. The other, SRCC has since had a lock on any national solar thermal certifications for nearly three decades. If you happened to disagree with the rating you received, their response would remind me of an old boss of mine when a decision of his was questioned, \"I\'m right - you\'re wrong,\" he would say, \"and I don\'t want to talk about it anymore.\"\r\n\r\nWell, push came to shove and I had to make a decision that I know would have ramifications, but in the end was the right thing to do. It started in the fall of 2012 when we tested a collector at TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ to the new ISO 9806 Standard. The 9806 standard has been steadily replacing the long-standing ASHRAE 96-80. The main difference between the two is the effect of wind on an unglazed collector. With the 96-80 Standard, as long as the majority of your test data points were at a wind speed of 3mph or under, the results were considered certifiable. If you were unlucky enough to test on a day where the wind speed hovered around 3 mph, your rating could suffer by 5% or more. The new ISO Standard tests with three predetermined wind speeds by controlling the velocity of the air over the surface of the collector with blowers at different test points. Though no test can perfectly predict real world conditions, the ISO Standard gives us a more \"apples to apples\" comparison than 96-80 ever could.\r\n\r\nAfter the test was completed, we submitted the results to SRCC and the new kid on the performance certification block, IAPMO. We expected good numbers - our intercept efficiency on the Y axis, where the inlet and ambient temperatures are the same, was over 92% compared to our previous curve at 85%. So you can imagine our shock when SRCC issued our new rating matrix and our Category B / 1500 BTU rating dropped by 50%! When I questioned the results - well, my old boss could tell you the answer.\r\n\r\nOur next step was to apply to IAPMO for certification with the same test results. Their certification at Category B / 1500 had us coming in 11% higher than our previous SRCC rating. There were accusations of incompetence and business being bought by one certification body issuing a rating higher than another. Validation finally arrived when we submitted the test to FSEC and our performance at their Low Temperature Rating (95 degree inlet) increased by 9% - actually a record for an unglazed collector certified by FSEC. SRCC quickly became the \"odd man out.\" The final straw was when SRCC implemented an annual inspection and associated fee of $2,000. We\'re already inspected annually by ISO, NSF, IAPMO and semi-annually by CSA. To that end, I had no choice but to voluntarily drop our SRCC listings in favor of IAPMO.\r\n\r\nIAPMO is a 162 person strong certification body with offices in 18 states and Washington, DC, and 10 countries including India, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Fiji Islands and the Virgin Islands. SRCC is a handful of staff with one office in Cocoa, Florida.\r\n<h2>Performance Record</h2>\r\nAquatherm\'s Ultrasun and Ecosun collectors have set a performance record of 1,100 BTU\'s per square foot after being certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center based on ISO 9806 testing. FSEC summary sheets can be downloaded <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3VpBeDzaik6sRZvU_zEHH5n8bYGkRzXd-ATnd445vaqPNGM_W4-TYYHvwta1SGNMQvRaPY0XXGI0MAOWoujHVVBS7v5kqURUkmsvGB7Bg1UIBu3YfO1mgUMDIjKsMmZt5ZieoEMcBKHb_0_QY2xZ8qbXfD3jjx0_pqzHN86fIrACKPD1_cf8Yv5Tj5h3LGatEWFrP1ITQtZh8-6KbES1YYlj9vuSWDTUjGhiOkwgvcDQj2_PCoK2TYVCz8SgvhN02q0QgU_aR2MYri790f6aIU7yeEW8e-BE4fQ9HJGybXnfCPanE7O4zJfFRzbCMAUIcg&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">here</a>. In a related story which involves the Florida Solar Energy Center, legislation has been introduced in Florida (SB1044 Simpson) that would eliminate the requirement for solar products sold in Florida to be certified by FSEC. The exact language of the bill reads as follows:\r\n\r\n(b) The center may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> establish criteria for testing the performance of solar energy systems and may <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">shall</span> maintain the necessary capability for testing or evaluating the performance of solar energy systems.<b> </b>\r\n\r\nI\'ll be very interested in our industry\'s position on this. It would be the end of an era if FSEC certification joins the likes of TIPSE, ARI and the TVA.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Product Quality</h2>\r\nIt used to be in most industries that a manufacturers experience and history was a great measure of product quality. But the pressure to increase profit margins has led companies, new and old alike, to increase efficiencies. In turn, this has led some to claim that manufacturers are cutting corners when it comes to quality.\r\n\r\nWe heard that at a recent competitor\'s annual dealer meeting it was announced that the manufacturer was switching their collector material from polypropylene to polyethylene. If polyethylene (PE) is such a good idea today, then why wasn\'t it years ago? Maybe because today, PE is generally less expensive then polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has been the material of choice for our industry for 40 years because of its inherent resistance to chemicals, heat and UV light. The battery case in your car, as well as other plastic components under the hood are made from PP, telephone wires are coated with PP and plastic roofing materials are made from PP, not PE - all for good reason.\r\n\r\nOther than price, PE has an initial advantage that it is more flexible, or forgiving, but that is soon lost. The melting temperature of PE is lower than PP, which means the closer that a stagnating collector gets to the melting temperature, the more quickly the material degrades.\r\n\r\nWhen determining product quality in today\'s market, it\'s important to let your customers know to what standards a manufacturer is being held accountable. At a minimum, products should be IAPMO or SRCC certified, NSF-50 and CSA listed, as well as manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>Two new brochures...</h2>\r\nTwo sleek new six-page brochures are now available for the Ecosun (pt. no. 19727) and Solar Industries ( pt. no. 19735) product lines, which now incorporate elements of the Specification / Data Sheets. In a further effort to consolidate brochures, leaving less for you to inventory, we\'ve decided to discontinue the \"Evolution of Solar Collector Design\" brochure for Ecosun and \"The Original Innovator\" for Solar Industries. Instead, we\'ve integrated these pieces into their respective six-page brochures. The Solar Industries brochure also includes a timeline spanning nearly 40 years of the brand\'s history, and we\'ve already talked about a variation on that theme with the next Ecosun revision - a sort of \"innovations through the generations,\" if you will. Can you believe Ecosun has gone through five generations of product enhancements since 1993?\r\n\r\nClick on the thumbnails below to view the brochures in their entirety as PDFs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735.png\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-975 \" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SI-19735-230x300.png\" alt=\"SI-19735\" width=\"189\" height=\"247\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727.png\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-974\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ES-19727-230x300.png\" alt=\"ES-19727\" width=\"188\" height=\"245\" /></a>\r\n<h2>Three new products...</h2>\r\nThe new <strong>Strap Clamp</strong> has begun shipping. This design is even stronger than the previous one and, because of the redesign, is cost-effectively made right here in New Jersey. The pt. no and pricing remain the same.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/strap-clamp.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"290\" /></p>\r\nIt\'s always been important to us to have as many of our components and raw materials made as close to home as possible - about 95% are made within 1,000 miles of Aquatherm. Our five extruders were made in Rhode Island and our three molders in Ontario, Canada; our resin comes from either Washington, Pennsylvania or Jackson, Tennessee; our hoses from Ohio; and our stainless steel stampings and strapping and all our tooling is made here in New Jersey. Not only does it reduce our carbon footprint and incoming shipping costs, but we also believe the old axiom, <em>if our neighbors don\'t have a job, pretty soon we won\'t have jobs either</em>.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VRV-e1395928874208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"144\" />A</strong> <strong>Heavy-duty Vacuum Relief Valve</strong> is now available for installations where the collectors are mounted in an unusually high location or the flow of the system is borderline low due to the use of a variable-speed or two-speed pump. The pt. nos. are 10127-1 for 1 ½\" and -2 for 2\", and will be differentiated from the regular using a white \"HD\" sticker next to the serial number label. List Prices are $25.00 and $30.00 each respectively.\r\n\r\n<strong><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/INLET-OFFSET-e1395928945735.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"241\" height=\"181\" />Inlet Header Offset Spacers</strong> can be used at the inlet header when changing collector lengths in row of collectors. These Spacers are perfectly sized to match the distance that two offsetting 90\'s require at the top header. You no longer have to use two pipe adapters glued to two PVC couplings and a short piece of pipe. The pt. nos. are 30117-5 for 1 ½\" and 30159-5 for 2\". List Prices are $12.00 and $18.00 respectively.\r\n<h2>And more to come!</h2>\r\nThe innovative, patented <strong>Flashing Bases and Covers</strong> will be available in May. The pt. no. for the set of three (one Outlet Header Bracket Flashing Base and two Strap Bracket Flashing Bases) will be 30341 and the List Price is $4.50 per set. The Flashing Bases will come standard with all stainless steel mounting kits. Flashing Bases will also be available individually and in bulk as pt. nos. 30341-1 for the Outlet Header Base and 30341-2 for the Strap Mounting Base, at a List Price of $1.50 each.\r\n\r\nThe molded version of the <strong>2\" System Connector Hose</strong> will be available in mid to late May. The part no. will be 60691-2 and the List Price will increase from $13.50 to $15.00.<b style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> </b>\r\n<h2>New Quick-Start Installation Manual</h2>\r\nOur new online Product Guide and Installation Manual, available in PDF or in iBooks has quickly grown from a simple installation manual to become more of a repository of knowledge with over 100 pages. To that end, and to address requests from some of you, we\'ve paired down a version to the basics that can be used for permit applications or other uses when you don\'t want to print a tree. They appear on a back page of the Aquatherm web site at <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OoIrjUJO8rLUUn4nkOh5qqImuAWyAnXOwvxSvM-DlaW0hBmOBt2mgC9LCXxOkm3V4I5h5E2toMZEjrzaWo69jOSQe4bO26fyORiS0t5BVdEwK7Bhm_YFH_k34cvIFOkaYoRqmyX7YvK_5eTrqrzGskBKfpGzRX_5JowOR29rdCUCbyQZ2bgLKTgDxpvna0d6&amp;c=2e4eA5c_1k4DZvSk2AW4p40YbnH_TNRgdG7QvNp4LF7moVGtkO-5hw==&amp;ch=zcmN_0r5PutAsrdvh7kdNkp02mOjZLvICaliYaSfRgd0ghwGq4qqfQ==\" target=\"_blank\" shape=\"rect\">www.aquathermindistries.com/manual</a>. If you have some time on your hands, save the extended version to your iPad or Kindle device and read away - as always, we welcome your input, thoughts and suggestions.\r\n<h2>Green labels / Serial no. label change</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-976\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Headers-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Headers\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>By now you may have noticed the green QC label on each collector is sporting a new look with a large number \"5\" recycling symbol, which indicates polypropylene. You\'ll also be seeing a change with the serial no. labels - new ones are more translucent than the old. This new style has a much stronger adhesive, but will still leave the word \"void\" if it is removed from the collector. And just a reminder, the header with the collector serial no. should always be used as the top (outlet) header and face down. By locating the labels here, it minimizes the possibility of damage to the labels from expansion and contraction plus gives us starting point if the collector is ever turned in under warranty.\r\n<h2>Natural gas Prices / resin prices have been stable</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">W</span>ith thanks, or no thanks to fracking, natural gas prices have remained fairly stable recently. But that\'s been a double-edged sword for the solar pool heating industry and the entire solar thermal industry for that matter. Relatively low and stable natural gas prices have also stabilized the price of polypropylene, which in today\'s raw material market is being made exclusively using natural gas. The good / bad news is that our glut of natural gas, estimated to last a century at current consumption levels, is being targeted for export to Europe and Asia. Gas, now at $4.33 per million BTU\'s was just $2 per million in 2012 and is expected to rise to $6 by 2017, though still less than the $9 per million BTU\'s we saw in 2008.<b> </b>\r\n<h2>2014 Summer Sales Retreat</h2>\r\nThe 2013 Summer Sales Retreat in Costa Rica definitely went down as one of the best ever. Thanks to all who attended that made it a success. In 2014, we\'re returning to the high seas with a cruise from Port Liberty in New Jersey to the island of Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean\'s Explorer of the Seas on July 26th. As always, we\'ve made sure to book a few extra staterooms at our group rate just in case you\'d like to join in on the fun and camaraderie. If you\'re interested, please feel free to call Pat or myself.','The Buck Stops Here - March 2014','','inherit','open','open','','964-revision-v1','','','2014-05-05 17:48:11','2014-05-05 17:48:11','',964,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=977',0,'revision','',0);

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