On March 14, Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) and Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) announced a new partnership agreement that includes goals of strengthening the relationship between the associations and “promoting profitable, high-quality two-step growth in the North American HVACR industry.”

“The decision to enter into a formal partnership will help unify efforts previously being made independently by each association into targeted and cohesive strategies designed to deliver enhanced energy efficiency services and training to contractors, distributors and manufacturers,” HARDI CEO Talbot Gee said.

In an announcement highlighting the partnership, HARDI said the two associations have served the HVACR industry in different capacities — with HARDI being focused on serving wholesale distribution companies and EGIA primarily serving a contractor constituency.

According to HARDI, goals of the partnership include advocacy for incentive programs for the products the memberships sell and install and successful execution of mutually-beneficial incentive programs for those products. The two associations also are seeking growth in contractor utilization and effectiveness of consumer financing programs, as well as increasing the number of high-performing contractor businesses and the growth of those high-performing contracting businesses. (Read more about the goals here.)

“As HVACR incentives and regulation policy become increasingly complex to navigate, a collaboration of our respective Government Affairs teams will positively influence the use and distribution of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentive funding; allow us to maximize advocacy through the regulatory process; and optimize our participation in advisory meetings regarding IRA program design and implementation with State Energy offices,” said Bruce Matulich, EGIA CEO.