Japan HVAC News & Trends

VironAire announced the successful test, implementation and deployment of its innovative purification technology. The patent-pending filter, named iNOX19, will now be utilized in all VironAire's current line of next-generation portable air purifiers. This supports direct efforts in providing additional tools to the fight against coronavirus. iNOX19 filters 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. COVID-19 is about 1 micron in non-aerosolized viral droplet form. With the addition of other technol...

For HVAC installers, serving the needs of pet owners provides both challenges and opportunities. The consequences of pet ownership can take a toll on the operation and good health of a home’s HVAC system. Addressing that negative impact represents enhanced business opportunities, but maximizing those business prospects may involve scratching a few canine bellies and/or appreciating finicky felines. Just showing up at a service call might translate into a nightmare encounter with a protect...

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is moving forward with rulemaking that sets limits and deadlines to decrease the use of refrigerants with global warming potential (GWP) in the commercial refrigeration market and in the residential and commercial stationary air conditioning equipment markets. California regulations are widely expected to influence the direction of other states seeking to regulate GWP of refrigerants. Declining to delay planned deadlines because of the novel coronavirus...

Global climate innovator Trane Technologies announced the launch of the Sintesis™ Balance CMAF, a fully electric single unit to heat and cool buildings. The air-cooled multi-pipe solution is the latest model in the Sintesis portfolio of high-performance indoor climate systems by Trane®, the company’s HVAC brand. It is initially available for customers in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Sintesis Balance is a fully electric unit that delivers hot and chilled water for heating and...

Recently the spiral case of Unit 4 in Changlongshan Pumped Storage Power Station has passed a water pressure test. To date all the four spiral cases developed by DEC. have passed water pressure tests in a once-through way without any leakage, to create the best record for water pressure tests of spiral cases of high-water-head pumped storage units in China. Changlongshan Pumped Storage Power Station has the characteristic of ultra high water head, high rotating speed and large capacity. With a...

Building HVACR systems rely increasingly on variable speed drives (VSDs) – known sometimes as variable frequency drives (VFDs) - to optimize the energy efficiency of their electric motors. However, it makes sense to pay attention to the significant impact that VSDs and other equipment can have on the network’s power quality. Here, we look at how ultra-low harmonic VSDs can improve the power quality in buildings by eliminating troublesome harmonics at their source. Typical examples o...

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have developed a 50-page report titled ‘Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report: Benefits of cooling efficiency and the Kigali Amendment’. The report highlights the growth of cooling appliances in numbers, addresses the COVID-19 estimated impacts and outlines six important opportunities identified under the K-CEP program. According to the report, there are an estimated 3.6 billion cooling a...

Aggreko, the provider of portable modular power, temperature control, and energy services, is set to power the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, which tees off at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. Supplementary power Aggreko will be providing supplementary power to the three-day event, which sees 156 players compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize fund. The services that Aggreko provides will support the smooth running of the event, powering critica...

As tribal casinos reopen amid the ongoing pandemic, some are utilizing ultra-violet light systems in their ventilation ducts to help neutralize the coronavirus. The Sokaogon Chippewa Community recently installed such a system made by the California-based company UltraViolet Devices, Inc., at its Mole Lake casino and lodge in Crandon. enhanced safety measures “Tribal leadership is committed to enhanced measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and employees as we reo...

Munters, a global renowned company in energy efficient air treatment and climate solutions, has received an order for a desiccant dehumidification solution, providing a climate with very low humidity, for a U.S.-based lithium battery production facility. dehumidification solutions The lithium battery manufacturing market segment is one of Munters’ prioritized areas for growth and expansion. The order for the dehumidification solution has a value of approximately US$ 12 million. Munters...

PFHxA is considered to be the final degradation end point of any substance containing the C6F13-moiety. Up to now it is not registered under REACH. In early 2018, PFHxA was considered for inclusion in the list of substances of very high concern for authorization, but the possible inclusion was withdrawn at the end of 2018. The motives for inclusion were that PFHxA would be carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic for human reproduction and would remain in the environment. PFHxA is now proposed for...

Small business entrepreneurs have felt the pandemic’s financial burden especially hard as 30 million small businesses accounting for nearly half of the U.S employment. However, HVAC companies have proven particularly resilient due to their essential nature. While the Contracting segment saw a deep decline that bottomed out in April, by June year-over-year growth in new jobs scheduled and revenue rebounded by June, according to the Home Service Economic Report: Spring Edition. Even with th...

Johnson Controls, the globally renowned provider of for smart and sustainable building solutions, has announced the completion of phase one of its project with Gunnison County, in Colorado, USA, which included the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and LED lighting in five County buildings. PV panels and LED lighting The phase one improvements are the continuation of the Gunnison County’s long-standing commitment to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from its fa...

TN Fireplace & Chimney, East Tennessee's chimney care company and a proud supporter of Tennessee football, encourages homeowners in the area to maintain healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) by making sure their chimney air circulates properly and isn't drawing outside dust, pollen, and other outside pollutants inside. Air drawn in by the chimney can contribute to odors, allergies, mold, and poor performance of the fireplace or stove. Chimney safety and performance issues "This is a situation...

Recently, China's first 10MW offshore wind turbine, jointly developed by Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) and China Three Gorges Corporation, was connected to the grid at a wind farm (Phase II) in Xinghua Bay, Fujian Province.  As Asia Pacific's largest and the world's second-largest offshore wind turbine was independently developed and put into operation in China, it created a new record for Chinese offshore wind turbines in terms of unit capacity. offshore wind turbine The unit is a...

In these times, solidarity within society is more important than ever. It is particularly important to maintain activities that benefit the public and support state public services. In this situation, WILO RUS as one of the companies in the industry, which is included in the list of strategic enterprises in Russia, cannot stand aside from joint efforts and actions aimed at combating COVID-19. The management of the company made a decision to donate and financially assist in the acquisition of ur...

When employees at Thermo King of Roanoke finished installing multi-temp evaporator units in refrigerated semi-truck trailers for a customer, they realized that they had nearly 1,500 pounds of leftover copper pipe. The team decided to turn in the scrap metal for money and make a donation to their local food bank, Feeding Southwest Virginia. The donation totaled $3,477.72. As they were preparing to send the donation, Peter Hollett, the owner of the dealership, decided to match the donation, bring...

One year on from the launch of Airedale International’s Azure range of R32 products, DeltaChill R32 air cooled chillers are now eligible for 3 BREEAM credits, highlighting the range’s energy efficient qualities and helping contractors achieve environmental targets on new build projects. BREEAM aims to reduce the life cycle impact of new buildings on the environment by awarding credits for products used within the building’s design which reduce the building’s carbon footp...

The new Green Homes Grant is due to come into effect for a seven-month period lasting from September 2020 to the end of March 2021. Residents will be able to claim two-thirds of the cost of energy efficient home improvements up to the value of £5,000 in the form of vouchers (with those on low income who are owner occupiers and in receipt of income-based or disability benefits, getting 100% subsidy up to a maximum government contribution of £10,000). This grant includes the installat...

The Berner PureAir Package complements the built environment’s indoor air quality (IAQ) and disinfection efforts by: Deactivating viruses and killing bacteria Neutralizing a space’s airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as allergens and other biological contaminants such as mold spores The air curtain includes needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology, enabling users to safely disinfect and purify the air in the space, beginning at the doorway. AHD10 air c...

When the heatwaves start heading in, everyone wants to have a cool place to retreat indoors. Of course, the user would rather not drive up their energy bills to keep things comfortable A little common sense can help them manage the cooling costs this summer. Use these tricks to get the most out of the AC unit—especially during triple-digit days outside. One way to better regulate the indoor temperature is to change how the ceiling fan blades rotate throughout the year. In the winter, they...

Panasonic has embraced next generation technology, in a new approach designed to provide a consistent customer service experience for Heating & Cooling Solutions across Europe. This new initiative harnesses the power of merged reality and reinvigorates the company’s focus on delivering excellent customer service. The program is headed up by Karl Lowe, who joined Panasonic earlier in the year 2020 as Head of Service at Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions Europe. An experienced gl...

AirLock389 Inc. is entering the global air purification market with its patented purification technology backed by over 30 years of research and development for NASA and the U.S. military. Founded and led by Chief Science Officer and CEO Christopher H. Cooper, the company is focused on developing products using its Airlock™ Anti-Pathogen Purification Technology, an air purification media capable of removing airborne pathogens and contaminants, including weapons-grade biological and chemic...

During July’s mini-budget, the Chancellor pledged £2bn for a “Green Homes Grant” scheme designed to improve the energy efficiency of up to 600,000 homes. At face value, this was positive and welcome news, however, the detail of how the scheme would operate, eligible measures, and other critical details were missing. In a subsequent series of press releases on August 4th some, but not all, of this uncertainty has been removed. The funding will be split to serve two discr...

Merchavia Holdings and Investments Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its first investment in the Aura Smart Air, a company that deals with purification and air quality management using artificial intelligence technology. According to the MoU, Merchavia will invest $250,000 and will receive preference shares, which constitute approximately 1.93% of Aura Air's issued and fully diluted capital for its investment. Merchavia's investment will be made at a $10 Million valuation...

A University of Oregon study has found viral RNA from SARS-CoV-2 in the air handling units (AHUs) of a healthcare facility, thus raising new questions about the possible role of HVAC systems in spreading the novel coronavirus. The study collected 56 samples from three different air handling units at the Oregon Health and Science University hospital in Portland, Ore., on four days in May and June 2020. Three areas along the path of airflow were sampled, including pre-filters, finals filters, and...

Lower prices in the oil and gas industry have led to job losses as the sector has contracted recently, and that was even before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked additional havoc on the national and world economies. The COVID-19 crisis is accelerating what was already shaping up to be one of the oil industry’s most challenging years. More than a dozen oil companies have declared bankruptcy so far in the United States alone, and widespread industry layoffs are expected to continue. Oil field...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published guidance for businesses seeking to return to work during the coronavirus pandemic. Guidelines include instructions for businesses to ‘improve central air filtration to MERV-13 or the highest [standard] compatible with the filter rack, and to seal edges of the filter to limit bypass.’ MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. A MERV-13 rating means a filter is able to catch 90% of particles in the 3-10 micro...

The LSAH 44.3 has been designed to be packaged into small natural gas generator sets built for combined production of heat and electricity. The main application of these gensets are residential and public buildings central heating. In order to maximize the heat recovery process, the LSAH 44.3 has been designed with a high-performance liquid cooling circuit that connects directly to the heating piping system. The LSAH 44.3 has therefore also been optimized and qualified to operate at high temper...

As schools and universities prepare to reopen, proper ventilation is of utmost concern.  To reduce airborne transmission of viruses, the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force recommends educational facilities have air handling systems capable of achieving 150% of current minimum ventilation airflow standards. Airxchange Energy Recovery Wheels Airxchange Energy Recovery Wheels are built with interchangeable segments that allow schools to easily modify their ventilator systems and increase ventilation...