President's MessageLooking back at 2005… and ahead to 20062005. What a Year! Hurricanes, Energy Prices, Wood & Pellet Up, Gas Fireplaces Down.. and a new Federal government to top it all off. At least we have NHL Hockey again. The Hurricanes of 2005 showed how volatile the Energy market can be. The common reaction to rising fuel prices is to use alternative energy. Great, but try getting a Wood or Pellet Stove in peak season! Hearth Product Manufacturers simply could not foresee the impact all of this would have. Let's not have a repeat of last season, get those Dating Orders in! For consumers, the threat of shortages has also prompted a renewed interest in energy conservation. Federal and provincial governments have begun to offer incentives to upgrade older homes and - in some cases - rebates, to help offset the rising cost of energy. The future looks bright for efficient appliances. Terasen Gas in B.C. has opened discussions with HPBAC and other industry stakeholders about changing out less efficient Gas Fireplaces for higher efficiency models. They are also making noise about establishing a Minimum Efficiency in B.C. based on the EnerGuide P.4 ratings. Things are getting interesting - stay tuned. EXPO marks the end of my two year term as President. Coming in to the President's position is Kim Rodgers of Miles Industries/Valor. I wish Kim all the best and will still be around as HPBA Board Rep to help out as needed. I am pleased to have worked on changing the way HPBAC is structured, so we can get more industry people involved and get more work done for our members. Thanks to all of you who have worked with me along the way.
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