O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder à questão.

Why is it called the Avenue of Volcanoes?

The "Avenue of Volcanoes" is a term used to describe a geographical feature in South America, specifically in Ecuador. This name is due to a long stretch of the Andes Mountain range in Ecuador, where several volcanoes are located near each other, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle you should visit. The Avenue of the Volcanoes is a geological wonder and significant. It is part of Ecuador's natural beauty and biodiversity. It attracts tourists and mountaineers from all over the world who come to explore the volcanoes, their surrounding landscapes, and the rich ecosystems that thrive in this region.

Predominant Volcanoes

The "Avenue of the Volcanoes" in Ecuador is characterized by numerous volcanoes, some very prominent and easily visible from the road. Discover some of the predominant volcanoes that Ecuador has for you.

Cayambe

Volcan Cayambe is a stratovolcano that is part of the Andes Mountain range. It is situated in the province of Pichincha, in the north-central region of Ecuador. The volcano is famous for its unique double summit, with the main panel located at 5,790 meters above sea level and the secondary summit just slightly lower. The volcanic cone of Cayambe is composed of alternating layers of lava, ash, and volcanic materials. Its last eruption resulted in a lava flow and ash that covered the surrounding area.

Antisana

Volcan Antisana sits at an impressive 18,891 feet above sea level. Located in the Andes mountains, it is surrounded by stunning wilderness and unique ecosystems for a breathtaking view. From the highest points, it is possible to catch glimpses of the surrounding glaciers, lava landscapes, and stunning birds and animals that call this area their home.

Los Illinizas

Los Ilinizas is a composite volcano comprised of layers of lava, ash, and debris built up over time. The mountain is part of the Andes Mountain range and is located between the provinces of Cotopaxi and Pichincha. The volcano's height is roughly 17,267 ft (5,260 m). The Illinizas are two volcanoes located in the Andes region of Ecuador; the two central volcanoes in this area are Illiniza Norte (also known as Illiniza Falsa) and Illiniza Sur (Illiniza Verdadero).

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador's best-known and most prominent volcanoes and is part of the "Avenue of theVolcanoes," a chain of volcanoes in the Andean region of the country. It has an altitude of approximately 5,897 meters above sea level. Its summit is covered with snow and ice for much of the year. Cotopaxi has significant cultural and mythological importance for the indigenous peoples of the Andean region of Ecuador. In Andean cosmology, the Cotopaxi volcano is associated with divinities and legends.

Quilotoa

The Volcan Quilotoa is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular destinations for tourists from all around the world. Quilotoa is a caldera that sits at an altitude of 3,914 meters above sea level, and visitors can find a small, emerald-green lake inside the crater, surrounded by the most stunning scenery you can imagine. However, its caldera and the lagoon are evidence of its volcanic past and past activities.

Tungurahua

The Tungurahua volcano in the Cordillera Central of the Ecuadorian Andes is notable for its imposing altitude of approximately 5,023 meters above sea level. The Tungurahua volcano has been significant in local mythology and culture. Its name translates as "Throat of Fire" in the Quechua language, and nearby communities have developed a cultural and spiritual connection with the volcano over the years.

Chimborazo

Chimborazo is the highest mountain in Ecuador and one of the highest volcanoes in the world, with an altitude of approximately 6,310 meters above sea level. Its summit is covered with snow and ice all year round, making it a popular destination for mountaineers and climbers.

Altar

El Altar is a volcanic complex composed of several peaks and craters, which gives it an impressive and unique appearance. Some of the most prominent peaks include El Obispo, El Fraile, El Monja, La Virgen, and others. The volcanic complex resembles a considerable fortress or altar, hence its name.

Sangay

It is in the Andes region, specifically in the province of Morona Santiago, in the south-central part of the country. Sangay is approximately 5,230 meters above sea level and is one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador and the world. It has had frequent eruptions throughout history, with almost constant eruptive activity during the 20th and early 21st century.

https://www.casagangotena.com/blog/activities/avenue-of-the-volcanoe s-in-Ecuador/

TEXTO 01

O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder às questões de 01 a 04.

¿ El Fin Justifica los Medios?

Una de las características de la juventud es la voluntad de cambiar el mundo, que encontramos imperfecto e injusto.

En la década del 70, John Lennon tradujo esa voluntad en la letra de Imagine y los jóvenes, por esos mismos años, produjeron el movimento hippie. Eran los jóvenes que proclamaban y profesaban Paz y Amor, los que iban a los conciertos de rock y exteriorizaban su deseo de libertad.

Pero, en verdad, lo que hubo por detrás de eso para algunos de ellos fue La liberración sexual y un consumo excesivo de drogas, además de la ruptura de los valores familiares. Esos jóvenes pidieron libertad a costa de su identidad y seguridad.

Al mismo tiempo, habia jóvebes que veían el mundo con una postura político-social. Estaban en contra de las guerras y los gobiernos autoritários. Muchos desaparecieron luchando por su ideal democrático, algunos usando armas, otros usando solo la palavra. Esos jóvenes pidieron paz y consiguiron violência.

Claro que nosotros, los jóvenes de hoy, no pudimos presenciar esos movimentos, pero de igual forma vivimos o somos testigos de outro: el movimiento ecológico.

De nuevo nosotros, los jóvenes, estamos intentando cambiar el mundo, preocupados con el futuro del planeta, que ya se anuncia sombrio. La desvatación de las florestas, rios, mares, de La naturaleza en general, en nombre del progreso, ? es el resultado de las exigências de un gigantesco crescimiento demográfico?, ? o es el de una desmedida ganância?

Pero hay algunas acciones que a muchos de nosotros nos dejan confusos. Entre los tantos movimientos ecológicos en defesa de los animales, hay algunos que van contra la matanza de estos seres para comerciar sus pieles en la fabricacion de abrigos y calzado y también hay algunos que van contra la matanza para obtener alimentos. Podemos ver movimientos que van contra el uso de animales en laboratórios para experimentos o para producir medicamentos contra enfermedades que victiman a seres humanos.

Para alcanzar los objetivos de defensa de los animales, algunos de los integrantes de estos movimientos no se imponen limites: llegan a amenazar con la muerte a los científicos y lanzan bombas en locales públicos. ? No deberían ser movimientos pacíficos?

?La preservación de la naturaleza no incluye entre sus fines preservar la espécie humana y lograr una mejor calidad de vida?

No juzgo, soy apenas un adolescente, pero con estas interrogantes traduzco mi incomprensión delante de las incongruências de un mundo que estoy emprezando a conocer.

Creo que muchos, como yo, desean tener las respuestas a esas perguntas.

Libro 2, obra Español completo. Página 85.

O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder à questão 15.

Como o que pensamos antes de dormir afeta a qualidade do sono

Você está na cama, tentando dormir, mas seus pensamentos não param.

Seu cérebro está ocupado fazendo planos detalhados para o dia seguinte, repetindo momentos vergonhosos ("por que eu disse isso ou aquilo?") ou produzindo pensamentos aleatórios ("onde está minha certidão de nascimento?").

Muitas pessoas compartilharam vídeos nas redes sociais sobre como dormir mais rápido, evocando "cenários falsos", como uma história romântica na qual você é o protagonista.

Mas o que a ciência diz sobre isso? O que pensamos antes de dormir tem alguma influência nas nossas noites de sono?

Diferenças importantes

Acontece que pessoas que dormem bem e aquelas que têm sono de má qualidade têm diferentes tipos de pensamentos antes de dormir.

Pessoas que dormem bem dizem ter principalmente imagens sensoriais visuais ao adormecer (elas veem pessoas e objetos e têm experiências semelhantes às de um sonho).

Elas podem ter menos pensamentos organizados e mais experiências alucinatórias, como imaginar que estão participando de eventos do mundo real.

Para pessoas com insônia, os pensamentos antes de dormir tendem a ser menos visuais e mais focados no planejamento e na resolução de problemas reais.

Esses pensamentos são geralmente menos agradáveis e menos aleatórios em comparação com os de pessoas que dormem bem.

Pessoas com insônia também têm maior probabilidade de ficar estressadas com o sono quando tentam dormir, o que leva a um ciclo vicioso, já que fazem um esforço para tentar dormir e ficam ainda mais acordadas. Q

uem tem insônia frequentemente relata preocupação, planejamento ou pensamento em coisas importantes na hora de dormir. Elas também se concentram em problemas ou ruídos no ambiente e têm uma preocupação geral por não dormir.

Infelizmente, toda essa atividade mental prévia pode impedir que você adormeça. U

m estudo revelou que pessoas que normalmente dormem bem podem ter problemas para cair no sono se estiverem estressadas com alguma coisa ao se deitar (como ter que fazer um discurso na manhã seguinte).

Mesmo níveis moderados de estresse na hora de dormir podem afetar seu sono naquela noite.

Maratonando séries

Outro estudo com 400 jovens adultos investigou como programas e séries de TV podem afetar o sono.

Os pesquisadores descobriram que níveis mais elevados de compulsão alimentar estão associados a uma pior qualidade do sono, mais fadiga e um aumento nos sintomas de insônia.

A "excitação cognitiva", ou ativação mental, desencadeada por uma narrativa interessante e identificação com personagens, também podem desempenhar um papel nesse sentido.

A boa notícia é que existem técnicas que você pode usar para mudar o estilo e o conteúdo dos seus pensamentos antes de dormir.

Isso pode ajudá-lo a reduzir a excitação cognitiva noturna ou substituir pensamentos indesejados por outros mais agradáveis. Essas técnicas são chamadas de "reorientação cognitiva".

O que é reorientação cognitiva?

A reorientação cognitiva, desenvolvida pelo psicólogo e pesquisador americano Les A. Gellis, consiste em se distrair com pensamentos agradáveis antes de dormir.

São como os "cenários falsos" que as pessoas publicam nas redes sociais, mas o truque é pensar em uma situação que não seja tão interessante.

Decida antes de ir para a cama o que você vai pensar quando estiver deitado, esperando dormir.

Escolha uma tarefa cognitiva envolvente, com alcance e amplitude suficientes para manter seu interesse e atenção, sem causar excitação física ou emocional. Portanto, nada muito assustador, excitante ou estressante.

Por exemplo, se você gosta de decoração de interiores, pode se imaginar redesenhando um cômodo da sua casa. Se você é um amante do futebol, pode repetir mentalmente uma parte do jogo ou planejar uma nova tática.

Um fã de música pode recitar mentalmente as letras de seu álbum favorito. Quem gosta de tricotar pode se imaginar fazendo uma manta.

Não importa o que você escolha, certifique-se de que é algo que se adapta a você e aos seus interesses. A tarefa precisa ser prazerosa, sem ser muito estimulante.

A reorientação cognitiva não é a solução perfeita, mas pode ajudar.

Um estudo feito com pessoas que têm insônia descobriu que aqueles que tentaram fazer uma reorientação cognitiva demonstraram uma melhora significativa nos sintomas de insônia, em comparação com o grupo de controle.

Meditação e atenção plena

Outra técnica antiga é a meditação ou atenção plena.

Praticar meditação pode aumentar nossa autoconsciência e nos tornar mais conscientes de nossas ideias. Isso pode nos ajudar com pensamentos ruminativos (repetitivos).

Muitas vezes, quando tentamos bloquear ou interromper os pensamentos, a situação pode piorar.

O treinamento nesta prática pode nos ajudar a reconhecer quando estamos entrando em uma espiral de pensamentos ruminantes e nos ajudam a dar um passo para trás, quase como se fôssemos um espectador passivo.

Trata-se de observar seus pensamentos, sem julgá-los. Você pode até dizer "olá" aos seus pensamentos e deixá-los passar e ir embora. Deixe-os estarem lá e veja o que realmente são: apenas pensamentos, nada mais.

A pesquisa do nosso grupo mostrou que as terapias baseadas na atenção plena podem ajudar no tratamento da insônia.

Elas também podem ajudar no sono pessoas com problemas psiquiátricos, como transtorno bipolar, transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo e esquizofrenia.

https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/cgl3vpk2rdgo

O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder a questão.

HVAC Contractors Need to Adapt to Repair Market

Repair or replace is a question homeowners often need to answer, and it greatly impacts an HVAC contractor's business. During COVID, the residential HVAC industry saw a replacement market boom. But in 2023 and now the beginning of 2024, there has been a shift to a repair market that HVAC contractors need to be aware of as they run their businesses.

According to numbers from the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), shipments of unitary air conditioners and heat pumps were down 16.7% in 2023, compared to 2022. Gas furnaces were down 23%.

"The replacement market is performing worse when you strip out new construction," said industry leader Matt Michel. "Housing starts were down around 5%, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve, so the replacement market for unitary air conditioners and heat pumps was down in the low 20s."

Distributors are seeing similar numbers, according to the Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI).

"We definitely are seeing a shift here. And that shift has actually been visible for some time," said Tim Fisher, HARDI director of market intelligence.

HARDI receives data from FieldEdge on the invoice and quote trends exhibited by their users. Invoices reflect work that has been completed, whereas quotes reflect potential future work and are most often provided for new system installations. HARDI has found that, over time, the ratio of new invoices to new quotes is a useful indicator of whether a market is trending more toward repair than replace and vice versa.

The numbers show the annual growth rate bottomed out in the spring of 2022 but remained negative through most of the year, indicating that replacement trends were broadly higher in 2022 than in 2021. That figure increased through 2023, peaking in May but generally remaining positive for most of the year. While the three-month growth rate has slowed in recent months — an encouraging sign — they don't expect much of a negative drift in 2024, meaning that repair versus replace trends will broadly remain similar to where they were in 2023.

So why is this change happening? It can't be attributed to any single factor but rather a combination of items. Certainly, higher costs of both HVAC systems and housing in general play a role.

"Adapting to the economy is something contractors need to do. We can't just assume people are going to reach into their pocket and replace," said ACCA CEO Bart James. "Contractors need to help customers get through the current need. People are slowing down on theirspending. People are worried about what is coming and how they are preparing for it. Wages and other things are not keeping up with how fast prices are going up."

James said reading the numbers shows there is a shift in the home improvement market.

"Just look at the Walmart and Home Depot quarterly projections. Walmart did well with more visits but had smaller purchases, while Home Depot did not hit their numbers. That tells you that people are handling investments into housing differently. That will catch up with HVAC, too. "Contractors need to prepare by making investments in their team to meet the needs of the customer. And that need is not always a replacement option but also can be a repair option," James continued.

The sluggish home resale market is another reason for the shift towards a repair market. "Home improvement spending, in aggregate, tends to follow existing home sales totals nationally," Fisher said. "People invest more in their homes prior to selling to boost its value, and new homeowners spend more in their first year of moving than homeowners who stay put. This has major implications for HVAC replacement demand, which, historically, peaks when existing home sales are at their highest and falls off when existing home sales decline.

"Both the 3-month and 12-month growth rates bottomed out earlier in 2023, and while still negative, have slowed significantly," he continued. "We believe that home sale totals are at or nearing their trough, and over the duration of 2024 should steadily improve and finish at or ahead of 2023 totals."

The final reason is the cyclical nature of HVAC. It reflects the shipment cliff from 15 years ago, when the industry contracted 40% after peak shipments in 2005. Contractors cannot replace what was never installed.

How do HVAC contractors deal with this shift? Michel believes they should embrace the repair market.

"The money is better in replacements," he said. "It always has been and always will be. However, margins are better in service. For the next couple of years, anyway, contractors should focus on building up their service business and making money on it."

Since service involves more labor, and labor carries more overhead than equipment and material, keeping a close watch on overhead expenses is a must.

"Contractors need to build the service base, watch your marketing expenses drop, and down the road, the replacement margins and close rates to a satisfied service base will rise," Michel said. "Once we get past the shipment cliff, the replacement market will begin a decade-long run with every year being better than the year before it. We know this because it's what happened in the past, and when it comes to replacements, the past truly is a prologue."

Contractors in most parts of the country are already feeling the pinch of a slower market, and their experiences in 2024 are unlikely to be much different from their experiences in 2023 though rebounds from themilder temperatures we saw during peak months last year would go a long way in improving demand in 2024.

HARDI advises contractors should consider the following six tactics in '24:

• 
  
• •Offer financing options: Any homeowner considering a new system is likely going to feel some sticker shock if it's been a few years since they
• last bought a system. Financing a new system helps to alleviate that shock, making the big sticker prices much more palatable monthly payments.
• •Protect margins: Work to ensure that your pricing for jobs is consistent with market trends, and attempt to pass through as much of the higher system costs as possible. Likewise, now is a critical time to manage operating expenses closely. Together, good cost  management and smart pricing can help protect business margins in 2024.
• •Educate homeowners: Many homeowners may not fully understand the long-term benefits of replacing their HVAC system versus frequent repairs. Offer educational materials, such as blog posts, videos, or pamphlets, explaining the advantages of a new system 
• in terms of energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and improved IAQ. Also, be sure to make clear to your customers which incentives they may qualify for through IRA or other state-level rebate/incentive programs. 
• •Focus on value proposition: Emphasize the value proposition of a new HVAC system, highlighting its reliability, longevity, and performance. Help homeowners understand that investing in a replacement now can save  them money and hassle in the long run.
• •Offer maintenance packages: Create maintenance packages that bundle regular servicing with discounts on repairs or replacements. This can encourage homeowners to invest in preventive maintenance and build a long-term relationship with your company. 
• •Diversify services: Explore diversifying your services beyond just HVAC installations and repairs. For example, you could offer IAQ assessments, smart thermostat installations, or energy audits to provide additional value to homeowners and generate new revenue streams.

https://www.achrnews.com/articles/154324-hvac-contractors-need-to-ad apt-to-repair-market

O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder às questões de 1 a 4.

A doll to place your dreams on...

(1º§) "Someday I'm gonna be, exactly like you... till then... I'll make believe I'm you." So went the dulcet tones of Barbie's first ever TV advert in 1959. That year, what would come to be toy company Mattel's most significant and long-lasting creation, Barbie, arrived.

(2º§) She was the brainchild of Ruth Handler; the co-founder, along with her husband Eliot, of Mattel in 1945. According to one of two origin stories (the other involving an adult novelty doll called Bild Lilli, handed out at bachelor parties), Handler noticed her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls and decided she wanted to give her a doll that was not a baby, but a woman she could aspire to. Barbie, named after her daughter, was born and she premiered at the annual Toy Fair in New York in March 1959. In the first year, 300,000 Barbie dolls were sold.

(3º§) She was 'petite' as the advert chimes, with all the latest clothes and accessories. Among these was, of course, a wedding dress. Her immediate MO was clearly as a stylish and sophisticated style maven, the kind of svelte, pretty woman young girls wanted to be − at least in 1959. Her first ever outfit − as exemplified in Gerwig's initial teaser trailer for the Barbie movie − was a black and white swimsuit, with white heels and white-rimmed sunglasses. Unsurprisingly, by 1961, she was 'going steady' with Ken (oddly named after the Handlers' son).

Courting controversy

(4º§) By the 1960s, Barbie was already attracting criticism for being a 'sex symbol'. To counteract this, the Handlers gave her a little sister, Skipper (originally a child and now sold as a teenager), and a best friend, Midge − who would go to have her own chequered history. Fashioned as a 'homelier' friend for Barbie (with red hair and freckles) Midge would disappear after 1967, returning in the 1980s along with a husband, kids and a 'Happy Family Line' of toys, which even included Pregnant Midge (with a detachable womb!). The line courted scandal from every angle − among which was outrage that Midge was pregnant without a wedding ring. Cannily, Gerwig has lined up Emerald Fennell to play Midge. Yes, Pregnant Midge.

(5º§) Though to many Barbie was too conventional − with her improbable proportions and origins as a doll who aspires to, essentially, marry Ken − to many she was too progressive. Indeed, as early as 1968, nine years after Barbie's invention, Mattel introduced their first Black doll, Christie, a friend of Barbie. Christie arrived at a fecund point in American politics, just as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 − enshrining the illegality of racial discrimination − was passed.

(6º§) It would not be until 1980, however, that Mattel would produce its first Black Barbie. She was designed by Kitty Black Perkins, who was then chief designer for Barbie. She bought her first Barbie doll aged 28, when interviewing for the position, when she was asked to create a whole new wardrobe for the doll. She was chief designer for more than 30 years and, in 1979, she was asked to design the first ever Black Barbie. When she arrived, she was wearing a red disco jumpsuit and came with the tagline: "She's Black! She's beautiful! She's dynamite!"

(adapted) https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/entertainment/a44129282/

O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder a questão.

HVAC Contractors Need to Adapt to Repair Market

Repair or replace is a question homeowners often need to answer, and it greatly impacts an HVAC contractor's business. During COVID, the residential HVAC industry saw a replacement market boom. But in 2023 and now the beginning of 2024, there has been a shift to a repair market that HVAC contractors need to be aware of as they run their businesses.

According to numbers from the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), shipments of unitary air conditioners and heat pumps were down 16.7% in 2023, compared to 2022. Gas furnaces were down 23%.

"The replacement market is performing worse when you strip out new construction," said industry leader Matt Michel. "Housing starts were down around 5%, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve, so the replacement market for unitary air conditioners and heat pumps was down in the low 20s."

Distributors are seeing similar numbers, according to the Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI).

"We definitely are seeing a shift here. And that shift has actually been visible for some time," said Tim Fisher, HARDI director of market intelligence.

HARDI receives data from FieldEdge on the invoice and quote trends exhibited by their users. Invoices reflect work that has been completed, whereas quotes reflect potential future work and are most often provided for new system installations. HARDI has found that, over time, the ratio of new invoices to new quotes is a useful indicator of whether a market is trending more toward repair than replace and vice versa.

The numbers show the annual growth rate bottomed out in the spring of 2022 but remained negative through most of the year, indicating that replacement trends were broadly higher in 2022 than in 2021. That figure increased through 2023, peaking in May but generally remaining positive for most of the year. While the three-month growth rate has slowed in recent months — an encouraging sign — they don't expect much of a negative drift in 2024, meaning that repair versus replace trends will broadly remain similar to where they were in 2023.

So why is this change happening? It can't be attributed to any single factor but rather a combination of items. Certainly, higher costs of both HVAC systems and housing in general play a role.

"Adapting to the economy is something contractors need to do. We can't just assume people are going to reach into their pocket and replace," said ACCA CEO Bart James. "Contractors need to help customers get through the current need. People are slowing down on theirspending. People are worried about what is coming and how they are preparing for it. Wages and other things are not keeping up with how fast prices are going up."

James said reading the numbers shows there is a shift in the home improvement market.

"Just look at the Walmart and Home Depot quarterly projections. Walmart did well with more visits but had smaller purchases, while Home Depot did not hit their numbers. That tells you that people are handling investments into housing differently. That will catch up with HVAC, too. "Contractors need to prepare by making investments in their team to meet the needs of the customer. And that need is not always a replacement option but also can be a repair option," James continued.

The sluggish home resale market is another reason for the shift towards a repair market. "Home improvement spending, in aggregate, tends to follow existing home sales totals nationally," Fisher said. "People invest more in their homes prior to selling to boost its value, and new homeowners spend more in their first year of moving than homeowners who stay put. This has major implications for HVAC replacement demand, which, historically, peaks when existing home sales are at their highest and falls off when existing home sales decline.

"Both the 3-month and 12-month growth rates bottomed out earlier in 2023, and while still negative, have slowed significantly," he continued. "We believe that home sale totals are at or nearing their trough, and over the duration of 2024 should steadily improve and finish at or ahead of 2023 totals."

The final reason is the cyclical nature of HVAC. It reflects the shipment cliff from 15 years ago, when the industry contracted 40% after peak shipments in 2005. Contractors cannot replace what was never installed.

How do HVAC contractors deal with this shift? Michel believes they should embrace the repair market.

"The money is better in replacements," he said. "It always has been and always will be. However, margins are better in service. For the next couple of years, anyway, contractors should focus on building up their service business and making money on it."

Since service involves more labor, and labor carries more overhead than equipment and material, keeping a close watch on overhead expenses is a must.

"Contractors need to build the service base, watch your marketing expenses drop, and down the road, the replacement margins and close rates to a satisfied service base will rise," Michel said. "Once we get past the shipment cliff, the replacement market will begin a decade-long run with every year being better than the year before it. We know this because it's what happened in the past, and when it comes to replacements, the past truly is a prologue."

Contractors in most parts of the country are already feeling the pinch of a slower market, and their experiences in 2024 are unlikely to be much different from their experiences in 2023 though rebounds from themilder temperatures we saw during peak months last year would go a long way in improving demand in 2024.

HARDI advises contractors should consider the following six tactics in '24:

• 
  
• •Offer financing options: Any homeowner considering a new system is likely going to feel some sticker shock if it's been a few years since they
• last bought a system. Financing a new system helps to alleviate that shock, making the big sticker prices much more palatable monthly payments.
• •Protect margins: Work to ensure that your pricing for jobs is consistent with market trends, and attempt to pass through as much of the higher system costs as possible. Likewise, now is a critical time to manage operating expenses closely. Together, good cost  management and smart pricing can help protect business margins in 2024.
• •Educate homeowners: Many homeowners may not fully understand the long-term benefits of replacing their HVAC system versus frequent repairs. Offer educational materials, such as blog posts, videos, or pamphlets, explaining the advantages of a new system 
• in terms of energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and improved IAQ. Also, be sure to make clear to your customers which incentives they may qualify for through IRA or other state-level rebate/incentive programs. 
• •Focus on value proposition: Emphasize the value proposition of a new HVAC system, highlighting its reliability, longevity, and performance. Help homeowners understand that investing in a replacement now can save  them money and hassle in the long run.
• •Offer maintenance packages: Create maintenance packages that bundle regular servicing with discounts on repairs or replacements. This can encourage homeowners to invest in preventive maintenance and build a long-term relationship with your company. 
• •Diversify services: Explore diversifying your services beyond just HVAC installations and repairs. For example, you could offer IAQ assessments, smart thermostat installations, or energy audits to provide additional value to homeowners and generate new revenue streams.

https://www.achrnews.com/articles/154324-hvac-contractors-need-to-ad apt-to-repair-market