United States of America (USA) HVAC News & Trends

The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) warn that the proposals in the Government consultation for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO3) threaten the livelihoods of thousands of heating and plumbing businesses. The consultation is seeking views on proposed changes to the current ECO3 scheme. This includes: Incorporating the TrustMark Government Endorsed Quality scheme (a result of Each Home Counts) into ECO3, as a route to demonstrating compliance with the most up-to-date relevant PA...

Reliable Controls® announces the release of the MACH-ProAir™ (MPA) version 8 controller. Engineered to exceed the specifications for a wide variety of Variable Air Volume (VAV) applications, the Reliable Controls MACH-ProAir is a fully programmable BACnet® Building Controller (B-BC) with numerous downloadable standard codes and flexible I/O options, all priced to meet a modest budget. The new revision F hardware for the MACH-ProAir and version 8 firmware, adds significantly more...

South Dakota’s beauty and significance is often betrayed by its lack of mentions in the national news. Largely comprised of rolling prairie, pothole lakes and crystal clear streams, South Dakota is host to many natural wonders and historically significant landmarks. The Mount Rushmore State is bookended by its two largest population centers. Rapid City lies to the west, near the iconic Black Hills and Badlands National Park, while Sioux Falls, in the southeast, is just minutes from the Mi...

When it is published later this quarter, the 2019 edition of ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, will be the first standard, code, or regulation to use the new fan energy index (FEI) as the metric for efficiency provisions for commercial and industrial fans and blowers, Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International Inc., the developer of FEI, announces. Determined in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 208-18, Calculation of the Fan E...

Panasonic has introduced Voice Control with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa interfaces, to its air conditioning portfolio. Panasonic’s solutions that are compatible with the Comfort Cloud app, including all its domestic air-conditioners and PACi systems, can now be voice-activated to provide simple and convenient control. Voice activation control This new functionality offers a wide variety of benefits for both the commercial and residential markets. For example, homeowners who are...

Resideo Technologies, Inc. announced that Bob Appleby will join its ADI Global Distribution business as vice president and general manager of ADI North America, effective immediately. In his new role, Appleby will oversee all of ADI North America’s business operations across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and will help ADI deliver on financial commitments, modernize operations and continue to reinforce its commitment to customer service excellence. Appleby will be based in Mel...

Johnson Controls announces a new addition to its line of pressure independent valves that deliver stable temperature flow regardless of pressure fluctuations. The new compact VP140 Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICVs) provides a small footprint valve with robust performance. Its patented cartridge is designed for maximum resistance to dirty water, ensuring performance does not degrade, even in less than ideal water conditions. Traditional systems are balanced at full-flow positions; howe...

Reliable Controls® announced a new partnership with IR-TEC®. The IR-TEC product line consists of Passive Infrared (PIR), High Frequency Doppler (HFD) and Ambient Light Sensors (ALS) among others. These sensors are combined to make up a variety of ceiling and wall mount occupancy sensors, light sensors, and wall switching/sensing stations. IR-TEC offers products that are complementary to Reliable Control’s lighting controls line and will assist dealers to complete their lighting con...

Enjoying more fresh fruit and vegetables is a great way to stay fit and healthy, but eating fresher can take a bit more effort to prevent food from spoiling when stored. With Bauknecht’s new Total No Frost fridge freezer, there’s no need to buy less and shop more often, as its remarkable “Fresh Zone+” compartment with humidity control slider lets you keep fruit and vegetables perfectly fresh for up to 15 days. Part of an all-new range of 60cm bottom mount fridge freezers...

The Big Ass Fans family continues to grow. The company announces Fontanesi & Kann Company as the distributor of Big Ass Fans products for the design and new construction market in Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Fontanesi & Kann started as an air distribution company in 1957 and has evolved into an award-winning company built on success by combining more than 50 engineers, electrical contractors, designers, programmers, and sales representatives. Solutions for comfortable customer spaces...

The Manufacturing Institute estimates that there could be as many as 2.4 million vacant skilled trade positions in industry across the country by 2018. This is a huge gap that can only be overcome by partnering with other organizations and companies to make a meaningful difference. GE Appliances, a Haier company, believes that partnerships matter and the industry would do better together. That idea has never been more important as they tackle workforce development issues going forward. So, when...

Although women fill nearly half of all jobs in the U.S., they hold less than 25 percent of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Nonprofit organization, Project Scientist is helping to close this gender gap by exposing a diverse population of young girls to STEM education. Project Scientist in partnership with Trane, globally renowned provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, hosted a group of...

Registration is open for the 2020 ASHRAE Winter Conference, to be held February 1-5 at the Hilton Orlando. Registration for the conference provides entry to the co-sponsored AHR Expo, held February 3-5 at the Orange County Convention Center. The ASHRAE Winter Conference features eight conference tracks, tours, social events and a keynote speech from retired NFL referee Ed Hochuli. The conference presents the latest topics in the HVAC&R industry through a technical program featuring more than...

Heat Transfer Products Group, LLC (HTPG), manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment sold under the recognized brands of Russell, Witt, Kramer, and ColdZone, was recognized for excellence in product design in the 16th annual Dealer Design Awards Program sponsored by The Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News magazine. An independent panel of contractors acted as judges in the contest that had 79 entries. HTPG’s EcoNet® Enabled Unit Cooler with EcoNet Command Ce...

Heat Transfer Products Group, LLC (HTPG), manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment sold under the recognized brands of Russell, Witt, Kramer and ColdZone, was recognized for excellence in product design in the 16th annual Dealer Design Awards Program sponsored by The Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News magazine. An independent panel of contractors acted as judges in the contest that had 79 entries. HTPG’s EcoNet Enabled Unit Cooler with EcoNet Command Center won th...

Heat Transfer Products Group, LLC (HTPG), manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment sold under the recognized brands of Russell, Witt, Kramer and ColdZone, was recognized for excellence in product design in the 16th annual Dealer Design Awards Program sponsored by The Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News magazine. An independent panel of contractors acted as judges in the contest that had 79 entries. HTPG’s EcoNet Enabled Unit Cooler with EcoNet Command Center won th...

ECR International has announced the release of a new video technical support tool to assist contractors in the field. This powerful new tool, called Rescue Lens, will enable ECR Technical Support advisors to see in real time exactly what the technician is seeing on the job site. ECR Rescue Lens The only requirement for the dealer is to have a smartphone with internet access either over cellular data or Wi-Fi Occasionally, a technical issue comes along that isn’t identified immediately....

Two Goodman brand products were recognized for excellence in product design in the 16th annual Dealer Design Awards (DDA) Program sponsored by The Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News (The NEWS) magazine. A panel of independent contractors acted as judges in the contest. The AlumaFin7 evaporator coil design won the Gold DDA for HVAC Residential Equipment, while ComfortBridge technology received a Bronze in the highly competitive Residential Controls category. A system with ComfortB...

Whirlpool Corporation is recognized among the top companies engaging in effective practices of diversity and inclusion on the 2019 Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index. The annual index is intended to help identify gaps in representation within the workplace and creates a road map to drive internal change. Whirlpool Corporation is one of 15 organizations named as a Leading Inclusion Index Company out of 148 participating organizations. “We are proud and grateful for this recognition o...

A 100 percent Thermo King refrigerated trailer fleet since 2003, Frock Bros. Trucking understands how protecting its assets can lead to ongoing success – for both itself and its customers. Thermo King’s SVC Guaranteed Maintenance Program was a big contributor to the company’s fleet transformation (Frock Bros. was an all-competitor fleet in 1997). Business Evolvement “The focus on preventive maintenance increased our odds of delivering customers’ products on-time,&...

The Big Ass Fans family continues to grow. The HVAC solutions company is excited to announce Watts Engineering Sales, Inc. as the distributor of Big Ass Fans products for the design and new construction market in Alabama. HVAC solutions expert WES Inc., a 100 percent employee-owned business, has provided expertise in the HVAC industry for more than six decades. From its creation in 1959 up till now, Watts has grown to exceed customer expectations by providing the highest quality products and c...

Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International Inc. welcomes Tim Mathson to its staff in the role of principal engineer. Mathson, the primary developer of AMCA’s new fan-efficiency metric, fan energy index (FEI), joins AMCA after more than 30 years with a major fan manufacturer and AMCA member. His experience includes both engineering and test-laboratory management. Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating He has been very active with AMCA, serving as chair of the Fan Committ...

Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) announces that John T. Nesser III has been appointed to succeed Charles A. Sorrentino as the non-executive chairperson of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) in order to provide for an orderly succession for the Board’s leadership. Mr. Sorrentino will continue to serve as a member of the Board. “We want to thank Chuck for his contributions to the company as chairman. His leadership, insights, and gu...

Good news for building owners, engineers/architects, and HVAC contractors who can now save energy, construction costs, and space in commercial facilities with this approved code addition. Doorway air curtains were approved as alternatives to vestibules on most commercial building entries in the upcoming ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings. The professional association’s approved addition requires that the air curtain performance b...

Airedale International, the British-based air conditioning solutions provider, has announced the launch of a new range of R32-optimized air conditioning products. Azure range The Azure range, which has been under development for almost two years at Airedale International’s state-of-the-art research and development facility, is the latest technological innovation from the UK manufacturer which was founded in 1974. The range has been optimized to operate at the same high level of output a...

Significant changes to refrigerant container color protocol will commence in January 2020, as outlined in the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) Guideline N, Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors. Guideline revisions, first published in 2015, specify that all refrigerant containers should have the same paint color, RAL 7044, to reduce confusion among similarly colored refrigerant containers. Preventing safety issues “Misidentifying refrigeran...

Around the world, people are flocking from rural areas to cities. By 2050, there will be more than six billion people living in megacities, twice as many as now. Over the same period, the volume of urban traffic is set to increase threefold, not least because the continuing boom in online commerce will feed further growth in delivery traffic. A denser population and more traffic mean deteriorating air quality. Across the globe, from Paris to Shanghai, major cities face an enormous challenge, wh...

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) attended an event at the White House with President Trump to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Pledge to America’s Workers. This initiative recognizes the crucial role companies play in educating and training the American workforce. Representing ACCA at the event were, Barton James, ACCA President and CEO, Eric Knaak, ACCA Chairman of the Board and Vice President and General Manager, Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, and Luis Serrano...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have been evaluating energy use and environmental trends for many years. Although legislative organization began nearly a dozen years ago, trends have largely remained consistent. R-22, or HCFC-22, along with other refrigerants, is being phased out because of its impact on the environment, contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer. Shortly after the current president took office in 2017, the DOE established...

Following a successful service delivery for the past three years, Adcock won a tender for the service and maintenance contract for all hospital’s air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The engineers provide care for a wide range of systems from roof topwater to small split air conditioning units and kitchen fridges and are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support the smooth hospital’s operation. reactive support services By providing ongoing maintenance and reacti...