Making the effort will cost customers less and make you more

It's preaching to the converted telling licensed refrigeration and air conditioning technicians that regular maintenance of cooling systems equals less long-term operating costs and more energy efficient performance for the owner.

But try telling that to a money conscious building owner worried about short term costs, a home owner who has just forked out big bucks for a new install, or a car owner who sees air conditioning as a 'free' part of their vehicle's performance.

With the help of the Australian Government, the ARC is developing handouts for you to give to your customers outlining the 'real' costs of not getting preventative maintenance done on their cooling systems - as well as the savings that can be made if they do. The added bonus is that the handouts will hopefully help to secure more regular work for you. Look out for an announcement on these promotional items in the lead up to summer. The ARC will also be working with many groups - including the Facility Management Association of Australia - to increase awareness of the importance of regular maintenance of RAC systems.

On a related note, ARC member the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) included a useful training manual on Maintenance Strategies in the Skills Workshop section of the April edition of HVAC&R Nation. The information explores the link between maintenance practices and - in this case - a building's performance, looking at a range of considerations including programs, contracts staffing and safety. Visit www.airah.org.au to access the workshop.