This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.
Today's guest is Scott Arnold, a HVAC technician and small business owner based out of New York.
With heating and cooling accounting for nearly 50% of energy costs, upgrading outdated appliances can not only save homeowners money but also provide a cleaner environment to live in and a healthier planet overall. Scott’s company is working to help customers purchase and install heat pumps as an alternative to gas furnaces. In his 22+ years of experience working in the space, Scott has built a business facilitating the transition not only with his customers, but also through his employee training and apprenticeship programs.
In this episode, Scott and Yin talk about the history of heating, what it takes to make his business run, the importance of getting more young people working in the trades, and how in his vocabulary the word cold doesn't exist. You'll have to keep listening to find out why.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:30] Scott's background and HVAC expertise
[5:47] Path to becoming a HVAC technician
[9:54] Economic mobility working in the trades
[12:40] History of HVAC space and key milestones that have changed the trajectory
[19:30] An overview of heat pumps
[20:36] Technology innovations in the past 20 years
[23:27] An overview of Scott's company, Rycor
[27:33] Scott's vision for expanding
[31:36] Mitsubishi's heat pump product
[35:23] The customer's mentality and where climate change fits in
[37:37] Different refrigerants and how they're managed
[39:41] What keeps Scott optimistic
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Episode recorded on September 15, 2022.
MCJ Skilled Labor Series: HVAC with Scott Arnold