The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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36 MAY 2016 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com HVAC/HYDRONICS NEWS U.S. Department of Energy to periodically determine whether more stringent stan- dards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. DOE has tentatively concluded that more stringent standards are technologi- cally feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant additional conservation of energy. Therefore, DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for commercial packaged boilers. NORA RELEASES PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY NOTICE The National Oilheat Research Alliance Board of Directors, in its budgets for 2015 and 2016, has authorized funds to be spent on the project areas listed below. Successful research, development and demonstrations grants in the past ranged from $20,000 to $350,000. All projects will be managed by NORA's Liquid Fuels Research Center. NORA PON No. 2016-001 se eks proposals to support the development, demonstration and commercialization of Oilheat technologies and systems in the following categories: Category A: System Level Controls Category B: New Appliances Category C: Other New Ideas Under PON No.2016-001, NORA plans to award multiple cost-shared contracts in Categories A through C up to a total of $350,000 for each award. This funding allocation may be adjusted based upon the quantity and quality of the proposals received. There is no minimum project funding amount per project award. Proposals are due June 15, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time NORA REVISES GOLD TECHNICIANS' CERTIFICATION Oilheat service technicians wishing to upgrade their NORA Silver Certification to the Gold level now have a revised and updated Gold program to follow. To achieve Gold Certification status, a Silver Certification is a prerequisite and the technician must successfully com- plete four of eight Gold certification topic modules. Cu r r e n t l y, s i x of the eight mod- ules are available for credit includ- ing four brand new releases by NORA: Advanced Air Flow, Advanced Hydronics, Advanced Efficiency and Advanced Venting. Additionally, N O R A w i l l b e re l e a s i n g Ad v a n ce d Controls and Advanced Steam in the near future. The remaining two, Oil Tank Installation and Maintenance and BPI's program Building Science Principles Reference Guide are already in place. As noted, as well as successfully com- pleting four of the eight courses, the technician must already hold a Silver Certification and have an additional two years field experience (beyond the three years required for the Silver Certification). The four newest modules, Advanced Warm Airflow, Advanced Hydronics, Advanced Efficiency and Advanced Venting are presented through live classes and will also be presented as on-line classes in the future. Each of the modules carries six continuing education credits that may be used for Silver Certification renewal or the classes may be applied towards the Gold Certification upgrade. An accompanying training manual for each has been pub- lished and can be purchased as part of the certification program or as a stand-alone self-learning guide. The manuals are available for purchase at the NORA Marketplace at NORAstore.org. Technicians currently holding Gold sta- tus will not be affected by the new program and their certification will remain valid. To obtain a renewal, the requirement for 24 CEUs during the five year life-span of the certification will remain in effect. The four new modules have been developed by NORA with partnerships with some of the industry's most knowl- edgeable trainers, technical exper ts a n d t h e O i l a n d E n e r g y S e r v i c e Professional trade association. J o h n H u b e r , N O R A' s p r e s i - dent, commented, "NORA's mission, a s def i n e d i n t h e NORA statute and through its manage- ment, is to provide the best technical education possible to those technicians serving the millions of Americans heating their homes with oil. The NORA certification programs not only do this, they also give technicians goals to achieve and certifications to proudly carry while offering the best service to their cus- tomers. The Gold Program raises the bar to a very high standard of excellence." l F O N