The Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) board of directors created a new Hydronics & Radiant Heat Council, which plans to bring together manufacturers and current distributors of such products to discuss product and system-focused issues and trends. Also, the new council may seek to forge partnerships with other industry organizations focused in this product group, including manufacturer and service associations.

The council’s first formal meeting is scheduled to be at the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional meeting in Galloway, NJ, May 6-9. It will be especially important for areas such as the Northeast, Great Lakes and Mountain regions where the residential markets rely heavily on hydronics and radiant heat. Randy Tice of APR Supply, Lebanon, PA, is the council’s chairperson, and Bill Bergamini of ILLCO Inc., Aurora, IL, will serve as vice chair.

It is estimated that nearly a third of HARDI’s 450 distributor members sells hydronic/radiant heat products. Participation is open to any distributor, manufacturer or service vendor member company.