HVAC News, May 2020

Eurovent calls for an ambitious EU green recovery package that focuses on renovating the EU‘s building stock, modernizing the energy system, and investing in digitalization and the circular economy. The next EU budget presents a unique opportunity to reboot the European economy and set it on the track to carbon-neutrality. The COVID-19 crisis will severely impact global economic activity. The International Monetary Fund projects a 6.1% contraction in advanced economies in 2020, the worst...

A renowned ventilation specialist has urged businesses to consider the role that ventilation can play in maximizing the health and safety of employees as they return to work. Alan Macklin, Technical Director at Elta Group and Chairman of the Fan Manufacturer’s Association (FMA), has drawn attention to the critical role that ventilation will play as the UK begins transitioning out of lockdown. With many workspaces having been unoccupied for a prolonged period of time, guidance has been iss...

As the UK continues to battle through the coronavirus crisis, HVAC business owners and installers can be putting some of their enforced downtime to good use. This period of subdued trading is a rare opportunity to get into better shape for when economic activity picks up. One way of doing this is by sharpening the focus on markets which promise strong growth – and few markets are growing faster than that for heat pumps.   The potential here is huge. Some 28,000 heat pumps are current...

Con Edison has invested $1.3 billion in its electric delivery systems to keep service reliable this summer while continuing to be a brand that adds new technologies to build a clean energy future. Con Edison is preparing for a typically hot New York summer and one that brings the additional challenge of protecting the public and employees during the coronavirus health emergency. The company projects summer bills for typical New York City residential customers will be higher this summer due to m...

Camfil Air Pollution Control (APC), a global manufacturer of dust, mist and fume collection equipment, has doubled the size of its testing laboratory to include a climate-controlled facility with a new full-size dust collection test rig. The new equipment is dedicated to testing in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 199-2016, Method of Testing the Performance of Industrial Pulse Cleaned Dust Collectors. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 199-2016 testing Unlike other air filter standards that focus on HV...

AgraFlora Organics International Inc. announces that Propagation Services Canada Inc. the Company’s flagship cultivation asset located in Delta British Columbia has secured a Standard Cultivation License from Health Canada. “Obtaining the License at the Delta Facility marks the end of a journey commenced in Q4 2018 and is the key milestone in beginning cannabis sales from what is the 2nd largest and one of the most advanced greenhouses in Canada” stated Brandon Boddy AgraFlora...

Which measures can lessen the spread of the novel coronavirus, and which can make it worse? As the pandemic continues to unfold, there is an overabundance of advice on the subject as it relates to HVAC systems. For example, one theory goes that air conditioning, by removing humidity from the air, may enable infectious droplets to linger longer than they would outdoors or in another space where humidity is higher. More humidity can weigh down viral droplets as they float through the air. Does i...

A fuel called “Bioheat” is made by blending biodiesel made from organic and recycled products with ultra-low sulfur heating oil. The feedstocks used to make biodiesel include vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease. About half the biodiesel produced in the United States is made from soybean oil. Blends are designated in percentages – a 5% blend of biodiesel with heating oil is B5, a 10% blend is B10, and a 20% blend is B20. Blends up to 5% are called &ldquo...

Viessmann has designed and developed a new modular, airtight intensive care unit (ICU), which could make a fundamental contribution to the care of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. The mobile, climate-controlled ICU builds on expertise within Viessmann’s Refrigeration Solutions division, which manufactures cold rooms with superior hygiene properties for a range of commercial applications. Thanks to their prefabricated and modular design, the one or two-patient portable ICUs can be transpo...

Bell & Gossett, a Xylem brand, announces free online professional learning opportunities for customers, representatives and industry professionals as part of the company’s overall shift to online and virtual training amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bell & Gossett Remote Learning Hub is a free, one-stop-shop for remote learning opportunities and resources conducted in the form of online courses, webinars, live trainings, Q&A forums and virtual guest speakers. The Bell & G...

These are unprecedented times for the cooling, heating and ventilation industries. Our ways of operating have been dramatically altered. For many organisations, the short-term focus has been on survival, but as we tentatively look towards the recovery phrase, we are being presented with the chance to embed new ways of working which offer the opportunity for our industries to lead the charge towards future growth. The impact of COVID-19 has the potential to amplify the skills shortages which we...

With the Charger Low NOx Lochivar expands their range of Low NOx atmospheric gas water heaters, with three large commercial water models. Their complete Low NOx range has been designed to provide the most practical, cost-effective solution for replacement of existing water heaters. Their Low NOx Charger range is the only series of atmospheric gas water heaters available in the UK market with an output up to 90kW. They also meet strict ErP legislative requirements for NOx emissions. Condensing...

As countries around the world work to contain the spread of COVID-19 and prepare to reopen, Trane Technologies is addressing critical needs for healthier air quality in buildings, hospitals and homes and safe transport for food and medicine. The global climate innovator has seen a growing focus on indoor air quality in buildings, including hospitals and other healthcare settings. At the same time, strain on the grocery supply chain and concerns about a pandemic-driven food supply crisis highlig...

Machine learning provides a tool to lower energy costs in a building, and Honeywell has launched a platform that incorporates the newer technology. Combining self-learning algorithms with building automation, Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization is a cloud-based system that analyzes a building’s energy consumption pattern and adjusts its settings. “We can help building portfolio owners fine-tune their energy expenditures to drive efficiencies and create more sustainable practices,&rd...

Businesses need to take a three-step approach to reoccupying their buildings after the pandemic. The first focus is on preparing the building itself – maintenance inspections and conducting any maintenance which was put on hold. The second focus should be on preparing and training the maintenance team so they’re ready for the new normal. And the third step is preparing the workforce in advance through clear communication about what to expect when they return to work and what the orga...

Mobile systems are growing in popularity across the HVAC market, driven by convenience and changing demographics of the workforce. For younger employees, smart phones are almost an extension of their hands. As they enter the HVAC workforce, they are eager to embrace mobile systems. However, the simplicity of mobile systems is also attractive to older workers, who may be less inclined to use a complex desktop computer system. In the case of mobile systems, “limitation leads to creativity,&...

To help facilitate remote HVAC management during these challenging times, Armstrong has announced that it will provide its cloud-based subscription service, Pump Manager, to new customers with three months of free service. cloud-based subscription “While we are practicing social distancing to protect ourselves and those around us, we still have to ensure that our buildings operate as effectively as possible.” said Tunji Asiwaju, Global Performance Management Services with Armstrong...

The HVAC industry has never faced anything like the coronavirus crisis. The first thought during this crisis is the safety and well-being of the extended family of service providers and communities.  At Dunkirk, the company hopes the loved ones are safe and well. The services are needed now more than ever to support joint customers during this time of crisis. Know that Dunkirk is still open for business and here to help during these unusual circumstances. If one should need technical assis...

The new Ecosable is a fully room-sealed condensing high-efficiency water heater (93%). It has a stainless steel tank which means that no anodes are needed which simplifies maintenance. The compact construction allows for easy installation in small rooms. The Plug & Play technology connects air inlet, exhaust outlet, water, electricity and gas. All one has to do is set the temperature on the touch screen display and the system functions properly. Features of EcoSable Other features of EcoS...

With the rise of veganism showing no signs of slowing down, plant-based meal provider, allplants decided to consolidate its seven sites into a single, central facility. When the contracting company, Forma London was presented with the challenge of sustainably fitting out the new building, it turned to Elta Fans to deliver an efficient ventilation solution. Vegan diets are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of different reasons, including health, climate change, and animal welfare. As p...

The task facing Donovan & Son’s, Inc., Plumbing/HVAC in Middletown, RI was to propose and install heating system boilers that allow the Preservation Society of Newport County to conserve on fuel costs, more closely match varying building heat loads, and coexist with the tremendously large water content of a gravity system. The historic mansions of Newport, RI are known for their elegance and remind its visitors of a bygone era of social and financial preeminence during the turn of the...

The new Adidas LDN flagship outlet in London, which opened late October 2019, has been specifically designed to enhance the retail experience. As the brand’s most technologically-advanced store worldwide, it required a ventilation system that would effectively deliver a fresh air supply across the four-storey, 27,000 sq. ft, site, in the most energy efficient way possible. Adidas is one of the most well-known sports brands in the world, and so it’s to be expected that when it launch...

Two new Burnham model MPC™ high efficiency commercial boilers were recently installed by The Witmer Company of New Holland, PA in the historic ‘High Point’ Mansion located in Hershey, PA. The Model MPC boilers will provide space heating for the 22-room Mansion which was built in 1908 as the home of Milton and Catherine Hershey. Mr. Hershey was the founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, now known as The Hershey Company. Today, ‘High Point’ Mansion serves as the h...

One in two ventilation contractors and distributors are unaware they are risking ErP compliance, according to a survey conducted by Elta Fans. Despite installing plate fans and roof cowls together, 53% of contractors surveyed said they did not believe themselves to be system designers. However, by combining these two products, installers are acting as a ‘manufacturer’ in the eyes of the law, and as such, are responsible for ErP compliance. The figure is similar for ventilation distr...

AleSmith Brewing Company is a San Diego based artisanal craft brewery that specializes in handcrafted ales inspired by the European classics. Deeply rooted in the amateur and craft brewing communities, AleSmith ales have continued to garner both national and international awards, as well as a loyal and rabid following among beer enthusiasts. AleSmith is home to the brewery tasting room in San Diego and is a frequent gold medal winner at International Beer Festivals. The original brewery steam p...

When Andrew Martin opened Thistle Finch Distillery in December 2013, it was the first distillery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, since Prohibition and one of only a handful of micro distilleries in the state. Martin uses a combination of traditional techniques and novel approaches to hand craft double-distilled rye whiskey that has already earned an international award. Thistle Finch relies on a Burnham Commercial 5B Series boiler to heat water in the distillery’s 300-gallon mash tun and to b...

When a visionary industrial designer turns his attention to the HVAC industry, it’s probably wise to take note. Recently, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist, Elon Musk expressed his vision for residential HVAC, based in part on a new heat pump his engineers designed for the Tesla Model Y electric compact sport utility vehicle. Efficient, quiet home HVAC system According to several reports, Musk seeks to build an efficient and quiet HVAC system for the home, piggybacking on the te...

Air conditioning and commercial refrigeration major, Blue Star Limited, has announced several important Board level changes that were approved at the Meeting of the Board of Director. The Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Mr Shailesh Haribhakti as the Chairman of Blue Star with effect from April 1, 2019. He will succeed Mr Suneel M Advani, who will be retiring from the Board on March 31, 2019 in accordance with the retirement policy for Non-Executive Directors. Listing Obligati...

Danfoss launches contractor-focused webinar series: Five Steps to Your Perfect Workday. Danfoss experts have created a series of five webinars that will provide tools to help contractors overcome typical jobsite challenges. The live webinars are free to attend and will be given in English and Spanish. webinar topics Topics include: Quick Steps to Ensure Compressor Health | May 20, 2020, 2pm EST (English); May 21, 2020, 2pm EST (Spanish) Focus on observations and measurements that identi...

Air conditioning and commercial refrigeration major, Blue Star Limited, has launched 75 new models of room air conditioners in its Platinum Jubilee year. These superior and stylish models also include energy-efficient inverter ACs capable of delivering 30% extra cooling over and above its rated capacity. This enables faster temperature pull-down even in larger rooms during peak summers thereby consuming less power and leading to significant savings on account of lower electricity bills. This su...