The Industry Builder

This is an industry award story, not a program update, but two details in it may be useful to know about. Dave Chatmon, a Lennox district manager, was named HVAC Legend in the trade publication's 2026 All-Star Awards for founding programs that train technicians and help homeowners get free heating and cooling systems.

One of those programs, called Feel The Love, has given free Lennox HVAC systems to families in need since 2009, installed at no charge by Lennox dealers. Since it started, more than 3,100 families across the U.S. and Canada have received a system this way. Nominations open each May, and recipients are chosen and get their new system installed during the second week of October. If you or someone you know might qualify, this is a program worth watching for when nominations open.

The other program he started, called VisionTECH, is a two-day training event in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, aimed at HVAC contractors, technicians, and students — this year it drew 872 attendees. It's mainly relevant to people entering or working in the trade rather than homeowners, but it points to a broader effort in the industry to train more technicians, which could mean more available help for installations and repairs down the line. Beyond these two programs, the story is a career profile and doesn't include new rebates, deadlines, or eligibility rules for homeowners to act on.