Onsite - June 2009

Mid-Year Meeting of NDHA’s Executive
Committee and Chairmen of the Standing
Committees in Greenville, Ohio

“Mr. Engle reported concerning incorporating the NDHA,

stating the cost of incorporation would be between Two

Hundred and Fifty and Three Hundred Dollars, depending upon

the laws of the State in which the incorporation should be made.

Recommendation was made that the Association be incorporated

as soon as finances would permit. Moved, seconded and carried

that we adopt the report of Mr. Engle.”

“HOT WATER COMMITTEE. Mr. F. L. Witsell, Chairman, reported

and stated that since little hot water heat was sold, perhaps the

committee should be abolished, but the Executive Committee

asked him to keep his finger on the pulse of the work and make

a short report at the convention.”

“SALES DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. Mr. R.J.J. Tennant,

Chairman, reported and asked that the committee be given

from one and one-half to two hours for its report, discussion

and an inspirational speaker. He stated further that the committee

report would probably cover the following subjects:

1. Fuel Price Change.

2. Measure of Intangibles.

3. Training of Employees.

The committee is doing a great amount of preliminary work on

the Sales Manual. Mr. J. E. Seiter made a sales talk on this feature

of the Sales Development Committee work and convincingly

related the merits of the Manual in making successful salesmen.

The idea is to have a group meeting, discussion groups with expert

teaching personnel. The Sales Manual will be available only to

those companies participating in the ‘school.’ Members of the

Association will be kept informed of the progress of this work.

Amendment made that the school be financed by the sale of

the service to members companies with the exception of the

Association doing some miscellaneous printing not to exceed

IDEA archives.

NDHA held a trade show in a grand hall in 1941 during its annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. At the far end of the hall, exhibitors were a company promoting Unibestos, Warren Webster Co. (steam traps and repair parts), and Ric-Wil piping company (back right). Other 1941 exhibitors included E.B. Badger & Sons (acquired by Stone & Webster in 1948), Wright Austin Co. from Detroit, and the American District Steam Co. (founded in 1881).

COOL FACTS

1931 – R- 12 introduced as commercial refrigerant, ushering in the fluorocarbon age.

1932 – R- 11 introduced as commercial refrigerant.

1936 – R- 22 introduced as commercial refrigerant.

1938 – A study of Detroit Edison workers shows that productivity increases 51 percent after comfort cooling is installed.

– Centrifugal compressor introduced by Trane. This was the forerunner of the modern water chiller, which combined a centrifugal compressor, condenser and evaporator into a single unit.

1945 – R- 13 introduced as commercial refrigerant.

1950 – Sales of room air conditioners surpass 100,000. – R-500 introduced as commercial refrigerant.

– The father of air conditioning, Willis Carrier, dies.

1955 – R- 14 introduced as commercial refrigerant.

1957 – The first rotary compressor is manufactured replacing the less efficient reciprocating compressor allowing for the construction of small, lighter and quieter chillers.

1959 – The emergence of ASHRAE as we know it today, with the merger of two societies – American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) and the

American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE).

Sources: ASHRAE Centennial; “A History of Modular Chillers,” Tandem Chillers; www.DuPont.com.

NDHA marked the organization’s 50th

anniversary with a special edition of

District Heating magazine. For more

information about the history of
district heating and IDEA, please see

“The History of District Heating,” by John F. Collins, Jr.,

NDHA held its 42nd annual meeting at the Hotel Statler in Detroit, Mich., in 1951. Located in the Foxtown neighborhood, the 18-story structure was demolished in 2005 after standing vacant for 30 years.