United States of America (USA) HVAC News & Trends

Hot weather can be unbearable without a reliable air conditioning system. Before temperatures rise, home owners should consider whether or not they can get another season out of their aging HVAC units. Even the most maintained HVAC system isn’t going to last much more than 20 years. As with all things mechanical, once the air conditioner gets old, its components gradually wear out. That means frequent breakdowns and expensive repair bills. Even if it manages to limp along, home owners can...

A.O. Smith Corporation announced that executive chairman Ajita Rajendra will be retiring effective May 1, 2020. The Company’s Board of Directors has elected Kevin J. Wheeler as chairman of the Milwaukee-based water technology company effective upon Rajendra’s retirement. Wheeler will continue to serve as president and chief executive officer of the company. Rajendra will remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Water technology success “Ajita has been an in...

Pure Air Control Services, Inc. announced that its Environmental Diagnostic Laboratory (EDLab) has been accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) to perform biological tests (Certificate #5594.01) on environmental and pharmaceutical samples (including bulk, swabs, wipes, water and liquids). EDLab is equipped, staffed and ready to serve the environmental or RX needs no matter the project scope. “Since 1992 EDLab has provided a high degree of expertise and an...

BC Place is an icon of British Columbia. From the water, or from the sky, views of Vancouver’s downtown skyline are punctuated by the retractable stadium roof. Ruskin and its representative in Vancouver, were deeply involved from start to finish with both the aesthetics and ventilation control of the stadium redesign. The concept was to take what at one time was a large inflatable air supported roof and convert it into a retractable dome with a large cable-supported roof. “This inve...

Headquartered in West Sacramento, California, The Money Store’s existing facilities were inadequate for its growing staff. To help with its consolidation and expansion, The Money Store contracted with E.M. Kado and Associates to design a new facility to meet their needs. Wanting to complement and enhance the West Sacramento skyline, E.M. Kado and Associates designed the new building with a distinctive tiered appearance. The mechanical systems in this unique building were designed and inst...

In order to maintain the existing classic appearance of Nordstrom’s headquarters, Ruskin modified its ELF Louver to meet the design specifications. By making alterations to the louver head and sill construction, Ruskin was able to create a louver that provided the perfect match to Nordstrom’s window openings and stone facade. The custom designed two and three inch blade spacing louvers not only complement the existing architecture, they also blend in with blinds planned to be added...

Heat Transfer Products Group, LLC (HTPG), globally renowned manufacturer of commercial refrigeration and HVAC equipment, has announced the temporary closure of its manufacturing plant in Scottsboro, Alabama, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Ensuring workers’ safety HTPG stated that are shutting the plant down to disinfect and the plan is to remain down for the remainder of the week, so as to ensure a safe working environment and ample staff to support customer needs. The...

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is the only independent intergovernmental science and technology based organization which promotes knowledge of all refrigeration fields, ranging from very low temperature applications to air conditioning via the food cold chain. With 59 member countries and its network of several hundred renowned experts on 5 continents, the IIR is empowered to speak on behalf of the refrigeration community. The IIR calls on national governments to consider th...

The Hawaiian Islands have a lot to offer – pristine beaches, natural beauty and friendly citizens. And now, with the help of Ruskin and its partner contractors, it also has a state-of-the-art middle school campus. In order to accommodate the continued growth of Kapolei, the Kapolei School District recently constructed a new middle school campus. Located on Hawaii’s most populated island, Oahu, the new Kapolei Middle School is a perfect example of how new architecture can be used to...

Hess Tower is a 29 story, 844,000 square foot mixed use building containing commercial office, retail and dining space with an adjacent parking garage. It’s located in Houston’s Inner Loop East area adjacent to Discovery Green park, a 12 acre urban green space for outdoor activities, concerts and other entertainment events. Originally named Discovery Tower, it was renamed in 2009 for the Hess Corporation, its current lessee. It was formally completed in 2010 and is Houston’s f...

To improve access into the Four Queens Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Four Queens recently added a 48 foot air curtain. Built using Ruskin’s IAQ50 air flow measuring and control dampers, the new air curtain efficiently and economically maintains the pressure in the building. Designed to satisfy the needs of a variety of applications, the IAQ50 air flow measuring and control damper provides the perfect solution to difficult challenges. Downtown Las Vegas hasn’t been the same since th...

The owners of St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma find comfort in knowing their emergency generator system is protected by Ruskin. A newly built penthouse using Ruskin’s Wind Driven Rain Resistant EME6625 Louver keeps the top-floor generator room dry and secure. Ruskin EME6625 Louver Designed to handle the severe weather conditions often found in the Midwest, the EME6625 Louver creates very low pressure drop while providing the best combination of rain protection and high airflow...

Flynt and Kallenberger Engineer, Justin Roush P.E., knew from previous experience that the non-ducted VRV systems would have trouble meeting ASHRAE Standard 62 (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality) while maintaining a comfortable environment inside the building because of the high humidity in Tahlequah. “Eastern Oklahoma is a very humid place. Humidity is the bane of our existence out here,” Roush said. He knew that the outdoor conditions in this area, 101° dry bulb, 8...

At Stanford, they inspire sustainable building solutions and the people who work in them. The Environment and Energy Building (Y2E2) continues to perform and provide a sustainable learning environment. The four-story building contains classrooms, offices, and labs that are filled with experts and students who are motivated by the efficient building in which they work, research and advance a variety of sustainable solutions for future generations to come. Passive air management system The buil...

The professionals who operate hospitals understand the importance of good air quality in maintaining a healthy environment. Unfortunately, many health care facilities don’t have the proper systems or adequate ventilation to meet current codes. That was the case for Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Upgrading HVAC system In 1965, the hospital was remodeled and expanded. This included building a new multi-story wing. In 1998, the hospital decided to do a complete retrofit of the...

Johnson Controls Ducted Systems teams continue to work quickly and efficiently in the fight against the fast-spreading novel COVID-19 pandemic that is severely affecting people across North America and the world. Most recently, the United States Military and local governments combined efforts to build field hospitals to aid local communities in response the global health crisis. The field hospitals use either existing buildings, such as local convention centers or large tents that are erected i...

Johnson Controls Ducted Systems teams continue to work quickly and efficiently in the fight against the fast-spreading novel COVID-19 pandemic that is severely affecting people across North America and the world. Providing HVAC for COVID cause Most recently, the United States Military and local governments combined efforts to build field hospitals to aid local communities in response the global health crisis. The field hospitals use either existing buildings, such as local convention centers o...

Warm weather is officially on the horizon, which for most, means it's time to install window air conditioners. Although window air conditioners are an affordable cooling option, many people find them to be a hassle. According to extensive consumer research conducted by Midea, the air treatment company, consumers are most concerned with installation, cooling performance and energy efficiency. Midea also found that more than 70 percent of consumers would like to open the window where a window air...

The newly upgraded NCC199CDV Commercial Condensing Water Heater from Noritz America offers an industry-best, 10-year warranty on its redesigned dual stainless steel heat exchangers. Now produced as a unique, single-piece structure for easier servicing, the new heat exchangers also incorporate substantial improvements in corrosion resistance (100 percent) and heat-shock durability (200 percent). The re-engineered NCC199CDV also features an industry renowned Uniform Energy Factor of 0.97 and a no...

Summer season is solely throughout the nook, which suggests it will be prolonged sooner than the first waves of sweltering heat. For those looking for a quick and cheap choice to cool down their personal residence, or explicit areas of personal residence similar to the storage or office, a window AC is an environment friendly option. Window ACs are no longer the ear-grinding energy hogs that they were in the past. Many of the window ACs in the market currently are easy to place in the house, ru...

Thermo King, a front-runner in transport temperature control solutions for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Trane Technologies, is introducing the SG-5000, the next generation generator set for marine containers. Available in both clip-on and under-mount configurations, the SG-5000 can power all ISO reefers on the market, and ensure complete temperature control and protection of the refrigerated cargo. Designed and manufactured specifically for the North American market, the new...

Ductless installation involves the use of many materials. But, what’s just as important as the Ductless Line Set?  The Power and Communication Cable. There are some important steps that one needs to take when choosing the correct wire for their Friedrich Ductless Minisplit.   They recommend that all power and communication wire for their J-Series and Floating-Air models be comprised of four, 14 Gauge wires, rated for 600 volts. Of the four, two will be for power, one f...

The newly upgraded NCC199CDV Commercial Condensing Water Heater from Noritz America offers an industry-best, 10-year warranty on its redesigned dual stainless steel heat exchangers. Produced as a unique, single-piece structure for easier servicing, the new heat exchangers also substantially improve corrosion resistance (100 percent) and heat-shock durability (200 percent). NCC199CDV features The re-engineered NCC199CDV also features a Uniform Energy Factor of 0.97 and a fully...

It is well-publicized that the NHS is crying out for personal protective equipment (PPE) for its frontline workers who are dealing with victims of the coronavirus pandemic.   On hearing this news, design engineers at the Preston-based site of boiler manufacturer Baxi Heating have taken up the baton, swapping the use of their 3D printers from making prototype boiler components to frames for protective face masks. 3D printing  Having seen an article about 3D print hobbyist Sid Lo...

It is well publicized that the NHS is crying out for personal protective equipment (PPE) for its frontline workers who are dealing with victims of the coronavirus pandemic. On hearing this news, design engineers at the Preston-based site of boiler manufacturer Baxi Heating have taken up the baton, swapping the use of their 3D printers from making prototype boiler components to frames for protective face masks. Having seen an article about 3D print hobbyist Sid Lovatt, normally working in the re...

When it comes to Hurricanes, Mother Nature usually wins. Recent advancements in Louver design, however, are leveling the playing field. Ruskin's new Hurricane Louvers hold up under pressure in severe weather by preventing wind and rain damage. These louvers are built to withstand 160 psf windloads and nearly 9" per hour rainfalls. With this engineering breakthrough, it’s no wonder Ruskin products are the most widely specified in the industry. series of test protocols As the provider of t...

One of the key attractions of Faust Park in St. Louis, MO, is the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House & Education Center. This indoor butterfly conservatory and learning center offers its visitors a shining new world that takes them on a journey filled with excitement and surprises. Home to approximately 60 different species of the world’s most beautiful butterflies and a wide variety of plant life, the Butterfly House requires a fine balance of airflow, temperature and humidity. Without...

In July 2007, National Steel Car Ltd. of Hamilton, Ontario Canada announced its plans to construct a 2.1 million square feet railcar manufacturing facility that spans nearly a mile. The $350 million facility, run by the company’s newly formed subsidiary, National Alabama Corporation, will have a production rate of 8,000-10,000 rail cars per year and employ 1,400-1,600 workers. The LEED-registered facility will not only improve the railcar manufacturing process, but also minimize impact on...

In written testimony to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the head of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) stressed that when Congress, through S. 2754, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, establishes a national structure to phase down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the result will be job creation and trade benefits while ensuring the continued availability of the chemicals for those industries and applicati...

With great anticipation and excitement, The University of Alaska in Fairbanks (UAF) began constructing their new Life Sciences Research & Teaching Facility in 2011. It will provide multiuse teaching and research labs, classrooms, and office space for life science research and academic purposes. UAF is located in the interior of Alaska and sees extreme variations in outside conditions between the summer and winter. Summer temperatures can reach up to +100F and then fall as low as -50F during...