While I was in town, my HVAC contractor cousin invited me to attend a trade show for HVAC and air conditioning manufacturers. My expectations were low, and I figured we’d just stand around and listen to representatives from various brands tout their HVAC replacement systems as the best on the market and how they’ll make everyone more comfortable indoors. I was planning on visiting my cousin who owns an HVAC company just to look around; however, she assured me that I would have a good time and might even learn something useful for my environmental activism. Due to my inherent skepticism, I always assumed that HVAC salespeople would use a different language as a ploy. I knew I wouldn’t like it, but I followed him anyway because she had promised drinks if I didn’t. She was initially introduced to a team of HVAC specialists from a competing local business; however, she found them to be cordial and cooperative. Until my friend and I got to the exhibition area, I was afraid she would start greeting everyone, so I went off to explore on my own. Although the thermostat and ductless heat pump displays were intriguing, it was the ductless heat pump displays from other brands that really piqued my interest. Every vendor knew its potential, but they all said it was for the best for the planet. I was so relieved to have enough material for my Instagram story, and I was even more relieved to hear from people who are already using heat pumps that they do save energy and that HVAC service is not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be. In light of what I discovered, I decided to buy the local HVAC technician a round of drinks in the hopes that he would invite me to join him in his work.