HVAC News, February 2021

Johnson Controls, the front-runner for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, announced new Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, science-based targets as well as a net zero carbon pledge to support a healthy, more sustainable planet over the next two decades. The company’s and customers’ emissions reduction will be driven by Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue technologies and innovations which leverage big data and artificial intelligence to optimize buildings s...

Panasonic Corporation has developed VIXELL, a vacuum-insulated box that can store items in -70ºC environment for up to 18 days, using refrigerants such as dry ice. The transport of vaccines and other medical supplies requires strict temperature control. Up until now, conventional insulated boxes have been manufactured by joining vacuum-insulated panels (VIPs) together, but a drawback of this structure has been that cool air leaks through the gaps where the panels join. Panasonic has long b...

During the coronavirus pandemic, UV-C systems have surged from a niche market to mass production capable of meeting historic demand levels. As a result, UV lamp manufacturers, as well as their component providers (e.g., glass suppliers), have struggled to meet the growing demand. Because of UV-C’s historic proven effectiveness, interest in and orders for UV disinfection equipment have increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in July, lighting manufacturer Signify...

Among companies in Japan, Panasonic is well-known for its long-term commitment to environmental sustainability. This commitment is underlined by Panasonic Corporation’s Founder, Konosuke Matsushita's belief that ‘a company is a public entity of society’. It would be nonsensical for industrial activities to wreak havoc on the environment and as a result, detract from people's happiness. The founder's philosophy continues to live on. Panasonic Environment Vision 2050 In June 2...

Panasonic Corporation has announced, in collaboration with Grab Holdings Inc. (Grab), the international superapp creator in Southeast Asia, to further raise GrabCar Premium standards by providing cleaner and more comfortable traveling experience for GrabCar Premium passengers, using nanoe X. The initiative will see 5,500 GrabCar Premium vehicles in five cities across four countries, including Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi (Vietnam), and Jakarta (Indonesia), to b...

At Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021, Panasonic Corporation announced the future opening of AkeruE, a new center dedicated to providing creative learning experiences for children. AkeruE is an expansion of RiSuPia, the science museum for the next generation of leaders, located in the Panasonic Center Tokyo (3-5-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo), a Corporate Global Communications Hub for Panasonic and is set to open April 3, 2021 RiSuPia museum In 2006, Panasonic opened RiSuPia, a hands-on museum, w...

As a countermeasure against Japan's increasingly hot summers, Panasonic has introduced to the market a cooling mist solution to create cool spaces in outdoor environments. The Silky Fine Mist is a super fine dry mist that does not feel wet to the touch. Also recently, this cooling mist solution has begun to go beyond simply relieving heat stress and is being utilized for various applications, such as to create unique spaces for art, entertainment, and exquisite guest rooms in hotels and spa res...

Tunnel ventilation systems are essential to the infrastructure of tunnels, which serve to connect people around Japan. Panasonic's solution is driven by a complex network of jet fans, electrostatic precipitators that clean the air, large exhaust fans, ventilation towers, and silencers. Together these components ventilate vehicle emissions, limit noise, and ensure a safe exit in case of fire. When driving through tunnels, they've probably seen what looks like a jet engine hanging from the ceilin...

The Federation of German Heating Industry (BDH) has expanded its organizational structure to include the new Energy Management Systems (EMS) department. On the agenda is the support of technological and market-relevant developments, as well as the political framework conditions in this topic area. “The expansion reflects the dynamic growth of networked systems, especially in single and two-family houses, but also in neighborhood solutions. The BDH member companies have been intensively in...

With effect from September 1st, 2021, the BDH (Federation of German Heating Industry) Board of Directors appointed Markus Staudt as the new General Manager at a board meeting. Markus Staudt succeeds Andreas Lücke, who has held the position of General Manager since 1993. “We are pleased about the order from Markus Staudt. We see this as a good basis for the successful continuation of the association work,” emphasizes BDH (Federation of German Heating Industry), President Uwe Glo...

Panasonic Corporation announces that it has marked the 30th anniversary of its 200 V IH cooking heater business in 2020 after launching the mass production of the 200 V built-in induction hob (KZ-DHC31) in September 1990, an industry first. The cumulative production quantity exceeded seven million units in November. Panasonic's IH cooking heater business originated from the launch of the Cool Top Wagon (KZ-1W) IH cooking heater in 1974. It was the first product in Japan to adopt the high-freque...

As part of its efforts to promote carbon neutrality, Panasonic Corporation has turned its flagship corporate showroom, the Panasonic Center Tokyo (PC Tokyo), carbon neutral. The facility in Tokyo’s Ariake area is the first non-manufacturing site for the company to achieve zero-carbon status. In June 2017, Panasonic formulated a long-term vision for its environmental management—the Panasonic Environment Vision 2050. The vision seeks to achieve a better life and a sustainable global e...

Panasonic has been active in Costa Rica for more than 50 years. Now it operates Costa Rica's first factory powered entirely by renewable energy. Thanks to a joint venture with the national government and state-run electric company, Panasonic and the country of Costa Rica are making great strides in reducing their environmental burden to reach their goals of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Multi-Sector collaboration Costa Rica plans to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and it is already...

Bosch Thermotechnology’s H2-ready boiler shows how green hydrogen can secure tomorrow’s heat supply of buildings. The demonstration boiler was presented at the Bosch Thermotechnology site in Worcester. Although hydrogen is increasingly being seen as an environmentally friendly energy carrier, also in Europe’s building sector, its implementation has so far been rather slow. By developing a hydrogen-compatible boiler, the developers at Bosch Thermotechnology are proving that boi...

A total of 14 associations from the field of technical building equipment (TGA) have presented an updated version of the position paper on Building Information Modeling (BIM). In the paper, last published in January 2018, with the title, ‘Electronic product data exchange in technical building equipment (TGA) and its integration in Building Information Modeling (BIM)’, the authors formulate two key requirements: Electronic product data are used worldwide. Therefore, the German sta...

Panasonic is currently working on developing technology for cold chain solutions that can deliver freshly picked fruits and vegetables from production sites to selling areas more efficiently and as fresh as possible. Safety, reliability, and freshness are the core of the food supply chain. What achieves freshness, in particular, is a technology that quickly pre-cools the fruits and vegetables during the pre-transportation stage after being harvested in the production areas. Panasonic's end-to-e...

Year after year, air pollution caused by haze, smog, and exhaust gas continues to worsen in Malaysia. In order to avoid polluted air, people go about their lives keeping the windows closed. In light of the challenging situation, Panasonic Corporation has introduced the Quality Air for Life (QAFL) Solution, which creates a comfortable environment with clean air even while the windows remain shut. An average person breathes in 18 kg of air each day. This is 60% of the substances that one consumes...

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced that the company's new EcoAdviser data-analysis and diagnostic software (MES3-EAP1-AI) for increased energy savings at manufacturing facilities will be released on October 26, 2020. Maisart AI technology The innovative new software uses Mitsubishi Electric's Maisart Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for highly effective energy-saving functions, such as identifying energy losses, diagnosing potential energy-loss factors and quantifying the exp...

The Federal Association of the German Heating Industry is involved as a cooperation partner in the Mittelstand 4.0 competence center for planning and building. The association is thus promoting its activities around the topic of Building Information Modeling (BIM). The competence center is a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy that supports small and medium-sized companies and craft businesses in digitization and in getting started with BIM. Specifically, the...

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced that the construction of its SUSTIE net zero energy building (ZEB) test facility, located on the premises of the company's Information Technology R&D Center in Kamakura, Japan, will be completed on October 14, 2020. In line with the company's support for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the facility will facilitate accelerated development and testing of increasingly common ZEB-compliant energy -conservation technologies, as well as contribu...

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announces that it surpassed a historic milestone with the production of its 500,000th elevator/escalator unit in Japan in September. The company has been developing and producing elevators and escalators for 85 years, since launching integrated production at its Kobe Works in Hyogo Prefecture in 1935. Since establishing its Inazawa Works as a dedicated elevator and escalator plant in Aichi Prefecture in 1964, Mitsubishi Electric has been a pioneer supplier of ele...

“As a co-sponsor of the ISH, the BDH supports Messe Frankfurt's decision to hold the ISH 2021 digitally,” said BDH President Uwe Glock. “The critical development of the corona pandemic at the end of the summer holidays, especially in important European target countries and in the USA, is the reason for Messe Frankfurt's responsible decision.” ISH Digital 2021 offers exhibitors digital formats with the ISH logo. In this way, innovative products and technical solutions for...

In response to the COVID-19 crisis and an attempt to address the triple threat of crop waste, rising food insecurity, and food industry lay-offs, a rural food hub, and a local community organization joined forces to bring sustainable, locally grown food packages to households facing hunger in rural Northern New York State. Emergency Food Package (EFP) Program In late March, the Hub on the Hill partnered with AdkAction to create an Emergency Food Package (EFP) program. The program is on pace to...

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announces its coming launch of second-generation full-SiC (Silicon Carbide) power modules featuring a newly developed SiC chip for industrial use. The low power loss characteristics and high carrier frequency operation of the SiC-MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) and SiC-SBD (Schottky Barrier Diode) chips in the modules are expected to facilitate the development of more efficient, smaller, and lighter-weight power equipment in various ind...

One might have heard of a creative DIYer converting an old 40-foot shipping container into a tiny house, but has anyone heard of using the container as a farm? Vertical Roots, a Charleston-based company in SC, uses retired shipping containers to create indoor hydroponic lettuce farms. Hydroponics is a soilless cultivation practice that uses nutrient-rich water to grow plants. The company is able to use this process to create high functioning farms within the metal containers. Lettuce producing...

The ‘Heating with Renewable Energies’ funding scheme that came into effect at the beginning of the year as part of the climate package is taking effect on the market. According to the responsible Federal Office for Economics and Export Control (BAFA), a total of 130,697 funding applications were received in the first half of 2020. In the same period last year, the number of applications was 42,355. “The amended incentive program is a success model. It shows that people are rea...

Jan Brockmann will join the Bosch Group on November 1, 2020, and will take over as Chairman of the Bosch Thermotechnology Division on January 1, 2021. Jan Brockmann is currently serving as the Chief Operations and Technology Officer of AB Electrolux, based in Stockholm, Sweden. He will succeed Uwe Glock, who will change to the Supervisory Board of Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH on January 1, 2021, and will continue to serve as President of the Federation of German Heating Industry (BDH). De-fossiliz...

Big goals and high expectations of the economy characterize the Green Deal of the European Union. "The key to the success of the Green Deal lies not least in the consistent development of the high CO2 reduction potential in the heating market," said Uwe Glock, President of the BDH. “At ISH 2021, the German heating industry will be showing technological innovations and solutions for the successful implementation of the Green Deal. The fair gets right to the point in the hot phase of the Gre...

In the context of the current developments at the meat manufacturer Tönnies in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, there is currently a public discussion as to whether the ventilation system in operation could have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus. Martin Exner, professor at the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at the University of Bonn, is quoted in a WDR report from June 24th, 2020. There it says: Exner has identified a ‘previously overlooked risk factor’ in his invest...

The BDH welcomes twelve new member companies to its ranks. The BDH's general assembly had previously spoken out in favor of admission at an extraordinary meeting. The new members produce ceramic chimneys or elements for such systems. The BDH is thus expanding the exhaust technology department, in which up until now only the manufacturers of stainless steel exhaust systems were represented. “It is expedient to bundle the interests of the producers of exhaust systems in one organization. In...