Japan HVAC News & Trends

With the increase in climate protests and UN reports highlighting future net-zero challenges, industries are trying to focus their business practices on principles of sustainable development and responsible investment. In the building sector specifically, landlords are gravitating towards certification schemes such as BREAM, LEED, and WELL (among others) to promote the sustainability of their assets and boost green credentials. Tenants are now demanding that the spaces they live and work in ar...

The Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders employs more than 8 million people worldwide and represents some of the largest companies on the planet. All members have committed to set or have already set Paris-aligned targets across their value chains, which would mitigate over 1 Gigaton of emissions annually by 2030. Kim Fausing will be participating at the COP26 in Glasgow, UK. Alliance Proposal To The Government The CEO Climate Alliance proposes governments take the following actions at COP26: P...

Busy careers, bustling families, engrossing hobbies, and overwhelming responsibilities keep most people busy day in and day out. It’s understandable why worrying about the air filter in user heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is probably way down at the bottom of the priority list.  maintenance However, the team at Tassio Temp Control wants to pass along a gentle reminder about the importance of this small maintenance task.  It takes only a minute or tw...

As part of its ambition to make buildings smarter, safer, and more secure, while also improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, ABB (ABB Group) has announced an investment in Montreal-based building technology startup, BrainBox AI. Investing in BrainBox AI Launched in 2019, BrainBox AI has pioneered the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions from Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings. Financia...

Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions has reported that its IFS Remote Assistance solution has had a positive impact on improving customer service efficiency across Europe. The company reports that the initial response times have been improved, the remote diagnostic and fault resolution has been increased, and a higher customer satisfaction level was achieved. As the HVAC+R support teams throughout Europe have taken up the use of this tool, the appreciation for the benefits this technolog...

If users are a do-it-yourselfer in the house, they may be the type who wants to remove an old water heater, as opposed to having a plumber do it for them. Fortunately, it’s not all that complicated, and can be done. While it’s fairly easy to disconnect everything and get the heater ready to be moved, they’re often quite heavy. Sediment that has built up in the tank might make it even heavier, so be prepared to have help removing it, if need be. Removing an Old Water Heater...

Britain’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity, EDF, has been tasked by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to help guide the public sector organization to significantly improve its energy efficiency. In accordance with the Scottish government’s target to achieve net zero by 2045, EDF will be helping it reduce the emissions associated with the energy used to power its buildings, as well as its extensive fleet of emergency vehicles. Zero-Carbon source The ongoing ca...

QM Power and the SPARK Lab at the University of Kentucky shared the combined results of a large-scale, multi-objective design optimization study, and lab testing of a prototype motor designed to meet the ambitious 2025 power density goals set by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The research demonstrated the high torque and speed capability of QM Power’s innovative permanent magnet motor technology. This, combined with advanced manufacturing and cooling technologies, achieved a record-hi...

Hiplus Aire Acondicionado (HITECSA), one of Spain's foremost manufacturers of HVAC equipment for the commercial sector, has been formally approved to join the Eurovent family during a recent online meeting of the association’s Board of Directors. Since 1982, HITECSA has been one of the Spanish market leaders in the design and manufacture of medium- and high-powered climate control equipment. Its range of products includes, for example, air-air and water-air packaged units, rooftop units,...

Eurovent Recommendation 4/23 (2021) is a comprehensive set of guidelines on the selection of air filters for general ventilation applications, which makes full use of potential EN ISO 16890 offers in terms of Indoor Air Quality. The document, which was jointly developed by the participants of the Eurovent Product Group ‘Air Filters’ (PG-FIL), is based on a deep technical understanding of filtration and the experience of global air filter manufacturers. It is addressed to all HVAC...

Proposals for a new solar farm across farmland south of the M20 and northeast of Aldington will be the subject of a second public consultation from Tuesday, 26 October to Monday, 29 November 2021. The proposed East Stour Solar Farm is being brought forward by EDF Renewables UK. It has the potential to generate up to 49.9MW of renewable electricity, enough to meet the equivalent needs of approximately 17,000 homes in the Borough of Ashford every year. Second public consultation This second pub...

American Coolair has named Bobby Graves Jr. as a Sales Representative in the Agriculture Sales Division. In this role, Graves will work with American Coolair customers in the greenhouse, poultry, and dairy industries. Experience and qualification  Bobby Graves Jr. has been with the company since 2017, starting as an Inventory Clerk while attending college. He has worked in the production and assembly departments, as well as in the onsite research and development facility to le...

The best way to maintain a healthy drainage system in the home is through prevention. As a rule of thumb, if users are watchful about what they put down the drains, it’s likely they won’t need to clear them too often. However, drains can still get blocked now and again and it’s important to know what to look out for and how to keep the drains in good working order. Healthy drainage system The first step to preventing clogged drains is to clean them as regularly as possible -...

A historic Art Deco icon meets cutting-edge luxury at The Sinclair, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel. Built during the early 20th Century oil boom of Texas, the Sinclair Building has stood as one of the most recognizable landmarks of downtown Fort Worth, since 1929. The Sinclair, a historic hotel Designed to reflect the Gilded Age Art Deco style of the roaring 1920s, the Sinclair Building served the surrounding business community and employed thousands of Texans over the decades before un...

The owner of a 107-year old home sought an advanced hydronic heating solution for a major basement finishing project and to alleviate his existing heating woes on the first and second floors of the residence. The installation of an innovative and highly efficient boiler from Weil-McLain helped make the basement remodel a success and the family's home comfortably warm throughout. Hydronic heating solution Michael Bartholomay-Berreth, owner of the 2,700 square-foot, two-story Craftsman residenc...

Danfoss has been recognized in multiple categories in the 2022 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. The annual awards competition honors the most inventive and original products, systems, and technologies showcased at the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) in the categories of building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation.  In the Cooling category, Danfo...

Natural gas heating and cooking are coming under more scrutiny, especially their negative impact on indoor air quality. In particular, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emitted from gas stoves and furnaces aggravate childhood asthma. The issue has been obvious for years but is now getting renewed attention of regulators. Gas heating and cooking are popular throughout the United States and Europe. One estimate is that a third of U.S. homes use natural gas for cooking, which has been promoted for decades as...

Businesses and organizations across the UK are under pressure to implement commitments and actions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But, to truly commit to a carbon-neutral (or even a carbon-negative) future, cutting down on emissions is not enough. That's why technologies for energy reuse are beginning to receive a lot of attention from governments and other stakeholders. Over the last decade, the UK has been developing technological options to remove carbon dioxide from the atmos...

The Eurovent Product Group ‘Air Handling Units’ (PG-AHU) has published the second release of its Guidebook on Air Handling Units. The publication provides additional information in the control systems chapter and more. The Eurovent AHU Guidebook provides information on application areas, functions and components, energy efficiency and life cycle costs, and updated information on control systems which clearly elaborates on their importance, key tasks as well as essential control fu...

To provide confidence in the indoor air environment and to help protect the wellbeing of students, school teachers, and staff returning to K-12 classrooms, Metro Atlanta’s Cherokee County School District (CCSD) became an early adopter of Abound, Carrier’s smart building platform. Abound surfaces data from indoor air quality (IAQ) sensors and displays a live rating on a dashboard located in the lobby of some CCSD buildings so that staff has visibility into the health of the space....

CoolAutomation is proud to announce that its Service Provision App has made it to the Software Category finalists, in the AHR Expo 2022 Innovation Award! About the AHR Expo Innovation Award The AHR Expo Innovation Awards is an annual competition that honors the most inventive and original products, systems, and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo.  Products go head-to-head in the following categories: building automation; cooling; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; r...

For schools, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) is a basic function of HVAC systems, which also ensures a high comfort level for students, teachers and staff. Schools can be a lucrative market for HVAC systems, but there are challenges, such as long sales cycles and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges for HVAC in serving the education/schools market?

Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy and sustainable building solutions, has introduced an all-in-one solution that empowers building operators to track sustainability, health and wellness metrics, while also reducing energy use, water use, waste, and carbon footprint. OpenBlue Performance Advisor The new OpenBlue Performance Advisor application expands on the rich capabilities of Johnson Controls OpenBlue Enterprise Manager solution, supporting organizations seek...

Newmarket research has revealed more support is needed to design and construct healthy buildings in the UK education sector.  Conducted by REHAU, the research analyses the insights of M&E professionals and architects working across the nation’s schools and universities. It uncovers areas where small adjustments in building design can not only support academic attainment but also equip estates with services fit for future needs, such as low-carbon heating and cooling. Market real...

ActivePure, the global pioneer in 24/7 surface and air purification technology, will present best practices for air conditioning professionals in the face of rising COVID-19 mutations, including the highly transmissible Delta variant, at the International Air Conditioning Congress, also known as CIC 2021.  ActivePure will address the best practices to mitigate the COVID-19 virus, including smart investments, to make interior air safer. Navigating COVID-19 challeng...

Sharply rising energy prices, the carbon tax on fossil fuels, and inflation are driving up heating costs. But good news! Taking the right steps before winter can save a lot by the end of the heating season. Tracking energy thieves All it takes is one quick glance around the home for tenants and homeowners to spot “energy thieves.” Top of the list: keeping windows tilted open to constantly ventilate the home. It is far better to air out homes several times a day using a &ldquo...

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed many weaknesses in school buildings across the country. According to a recent report from the American Society of Civil Engineers, 53 percent of the public schools in the United States have building systems in need of replacement or upgrades. Forty-one percent of these schools report problems with their HVAC system. Half of those schools report systems that are either in poor or fair condition. Until these issues are addressed, students and staff remain at risk. W...

RectorSeal, a globally renowned manufacturer of quality HVAC/R and plumbing tools and accessories, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSW Industrials, Inc., has announced the release of PRO-Fit Precision Flaring and Swaging Kits with hardened, forged steel bits for added durability. Brian Ilagan, the Product Manager at RectorSeal, said “HVAC technicians depend on top-quality tools that allow them to work quickly, accurately, and stand up to the rigors of frequent use. Our PRO-Fit kits allow...

The Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy is a welcome development in decarbonizing the UK heating sector but must be supported by the further policy if net-zero is to be achieved, according to polymer pipework specialist, REHAU. UK’s Heat and Buildings Strategy The long-awaited strategy was launched in October 2021, by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), with the £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme being the centerpiece of the development. Fr...

A group of healthcare professionals and ventilation experts were called for various groups, including the Center for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Education, and the leading ventilation standards-making organization (ASHRAE), to focus on new approaches to improving indoor air quality for decreasing the risk of COVID and influenza outbreaks in schools, offices, and other indoor environments. Existing methods, including upgrades to existing ventilation systems, have proven somewhat...