MAY 2008         Serving the HVACR and Plumbing Industries       Established in 1986 

God Bless America

Click Here

Page 1 Continued —

 

Our newest team members for Consultant’s Corner answer questions relating to business, marketing and sales.

 

Do you have a question you’d like to ask??  Submit your inquiries to  actodaypub@yahoo.com to obtain free advice from these experts in contractor consulting.

“The Bottom

Line"

Hunton breaks ground on Houston’s first LEED distribution center; GRA-Gulf Coast  Construction jumps at “Green” building opportunity

Houston, Texas - As worries of a dangerously warming climate dominate headlines every day, the whole world seems on a mission to go green. That includes Hunton Distribution, a Hunton Group company, who approached GRA-Gulf Coast Construction about building their new 111,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution center using strict, environmentally friendly Leading in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. GRA-Gulf Coast Construction enthusiastically accepted the challenge, breaking ground on this, the first LEED-certified project of its kind in the Houston area, on February 7, 2008.

The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. A LEED-certified building not only makes a positive impact on public health and the environment, it also reduces operating costs, enhances building and organizational marketability, and helps create a sustainable community.

“We believe in LEED buildings and have built our businesses around providing customers with optimally efficient solutions. So, it’s only fitting that Hunton Distribution’s new headquarters and state-of-the-art distribution center has LEED accreditation,” states R.O. Hunton, CEO of The Hunton Group.

“This is exciting for us,” GRA-Gulf Coast Construction president Gerald Andrews says. “We’re always interested in fresh thinking and construction trends that benefit our clients. To know we’re also among the first in Houston using the LEED approach to do something positive for the environment is very gratifying.”

Charlie Hunton, Sales Manager for Hunton Distribution’s Houston branch adds, “The new facility will give us more flexibility in working with our Trane dealers, whether it’s helping them with hands-on service training or business-related topics.

Most Hunton Distribution personnel in Houston will now be consolidated at the new headquarters on Central Greens Road, while The Hunton Group’s current Westpark location will continue to serve the southwest Houston area as a stocking location for Trane HVAC equipment and a full line of HVAC parts and supplies.

As the design/build general contractor for the Hunton LEED project, GRA-Gulf Coast Construction expects to complete the project in the fall of 2008. Plans call for 21,000 square feet of office space and a highly sophisticated theater-style training center in addition to distribution facilities. TNRG Designs is the designer for this leading-edge project; C-Airs Mechanical will handle all mechanical work, with Reihl Engineering serving as LEED consultant and commissioning agent. NAI Houston’s Joel Michael and Chris Caudill represented the owner in the land acquisition.

Century Companies purchase Johnson A/C Supply, Dallas

The Century Companies recently announced the addition of Johnson A/C Supply (Dallas TX) to their organization.  Johnson A/C Supply has been in business since 1980 and has two locations in the Dallas/Richardson area.  Century’s President, Rick Luke, said that “Johnson A/C Supply is a perfect fit with Century’s business model and plans for growth.”  Johnson A/C Supply president and founder, John Johnson, was “excited about the acquisition and feels like his team will blend well with the Century’s culture.”  The Century Companies is made up of Century A/C Supply, Major Supply and Air Management Supply and gives the Century Companies 23 locations in 6 states.  For more information about the Century Companies visit www.centuryac.com.

 

Comptroller approves

additional time to file

Texas franchise tax reports

The Comptroller’s office is giving businesses and tax practitioners an additional 30 days to submit their franchise tax reports and payments, file an extension and preserve the right to take the temporary credit without penalty. The due dates are still May 15 for annual reports, and May 1 for initial reports. However, the 5% penalty for reports filed and payments made no more than 30 days late will be automatically waived, and extensions and preservations made within the 30-day period (i.e., on or before June 16, 2008 for annual reports and June 2, 2008 for initial reports) will be considered timely.

For further details, go to

         www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/franchise

Individuals with questions about the revised Texas franchise (margins) tax are encouraged to visit the agency’s website, or call (800) 251-1381 or send an email to tax.help@cpa.state.tx.us. Due to heavy volumes of calls and written requests for assistance, response time may be slow.

 

Texas Technician Registration

to begin in early 2008

 

Passage of HB463 in the last legislative session will require the registration of Texas HVAC/R technicians.  There are many questions concerning who needs to be registered, when does the registration take effect, and what is the difference between registration and certification.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has updated its ACR Frequently Asked Questions.  The FAQs can be found on TDLR’s website at http://www.license.state.tx.us/acr/acrfaq.htm