Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems (VRF or VRV) News & Trends

GE Profile™ (part of GE Appliances) continues to bring superior features and smarter innovation with the launch of the GE Profile 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with Dual-Dispense AutoFill Pitcher. In 2022, more than 44% of consumers purchasing 3+ door refrigerators chose a model with no external dispenser, signaling an appetite for a refrigerator that has a clean exterior aesthetic without sacrificing convenient access to premium filtered water in the fridge. New GE Profile 4-Door Refr...

Johnson Controls International plc (JCI, the ‘Company’ or ‘Johnson Controls’) has announced that it has commenced tender offers to purchase for cash the debt securities issued by the Company. The tender offers consist of offers to purchase for cash, on the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated August 7, 2023 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the ‘Offer to Purchase’), up to US$ 100,000,000 aggregate principal amo...

The 27th International Passive House Conference will be held in April 2024 in Innsbruck, Austria! The focal theme of the conference will be "Retrofit. Have an impact.”  In order to effectively bring the building sector on course towards climate protection, reliable energy retrofits are indispensable. The conference will take place at the University of Innsbruck. The Call for Papers is open until the beginning of September 2023.  Passive House projects The dates are set: The 27...

The National Education Association cites that nearly 57.5 million students and school employees enter the doors of the nation’s schools every day. According to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, half of these adults and children spend their school days breathing air polluted with toxic chemicals, mold, viruses, bacteria, asbestos, pesticides, smog and particulates from vehicle pollution, and more. While the threat of severe illness from viruses such as COVID may have...

Forrest Anderson Plumbing and Air Conditioning Inc., a Glendale-based, family-owned business serving the greater Phoenix metro area since 1961, has been named a finalist for the 2023 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics.  The annual program from the Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB) recognizes outstanding businesses that maintain a solid commitment to ethics and trust in the marketplace. Author's quote “My grandfather started this company in 1961 with...

Danfoss Climate Solutions invites HVAC consulting engineers, contractors, OEMs, and end-users to attend expert-led sessions exploring "The Journey to Net Zero Buildings" on September 7 and 14, 2023. This year's RETHINK Live North America edition is dedicated to unpacking the ability to create smarter and more energy-efficient buildings by focusing on key drivers behind future-proof cities — the trends, insights, and solutions helping us build a more sustainable future. RETHINK Live event...

Fieldpiece Instruments, the manufacturer of HVACR tools pros trust, announced two key achievements: the Fieldpiece CAT85K2 Combustion Analyzer HC was a Gold Winner in the 2023 Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration (ACHR) Dealer Design Awards, and the privately-held company was honored as one of 83 companies named in the 2023 Best Places to Work SoCal list. Dealer Design Awards Program The Dealer Design Awards Program, sponsored by ACHR the News magazine, recognizes product d...

DENSO Corporation has announced that it has acquired the full stake in Certhon Group, a Dutch horticultural facility operator, to accelerate the global expansion of its agricultural production business. In recent years, climate change and a decrease in the number of people taking up farming have led to unstable agricultural production, and the need to develop a stable and sustainable agricultural production system through the establishment of a climate-independent cultivation environment and th...

As the summer break comes to a close, it’s time to prepare the primary school for the much-awaited back-to-school opening. One of the most critical aspects of this preparation is creating a safe and healthy learning environment for the students and staff. One key factor that often goes unnoticed but has a significant impact on the well-being of everyone in the school is indoor air quality (IAQ) and the proper functioning of the HVAC system. This article will provide facility managers...

The EPA AIM Act 2023 Update The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending existing regulations to implement certain provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act. The AIM Act HFC phasedown rule establishes the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons: allowance allocation methodology for 2024 and later years. Understanding The HFC Phasedown Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) used in a variety of applications such as refrigeration and air condition...

The Chemours Company (“Chemours”), a chemistry company with pioneering market positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal and Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials, recently announced important achievements in the development and manufacture of Opteon™ 2P50, a new heat-transfer fluid for two-phase immersion cooling (2-PIC). The proprietary fluid is currently in the final testing stages for manufacturing capability, with initial commercialization targeted fo...

Lennart Ostergaard is the Eurovent Commission Chairperson and Senior Manager of VELTEK Ventilation. In the ‘Faces of the Eurovent Commission’ series, he shares with us what the Eurovent Commission looks forward to working on. Lennart Ostergaard graduated from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and has held various job positions as Project Manager and Business Development Manager for different companies. He has been part of Eurovent over the past years and is also a member of...

ABS issued approval in principle to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for its new ammonia-based ship HVAC refrigeration system. Eco-friendly refrigerant HHI developed the system in response to shipowners’ requests for refrigeration of HVAC systems using ammonia, a more eco-friendly refrigerant with a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a Global Warming Potential of zero per the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). ABS used i...

Hoshizaki America, Inc. expands its sales team with three new manufacturers’ representative groups that will be representing their refrigeration lines. Preferred Source, Gabriel Group, and Elevate Foodservice Group will serve as agents in the Northern Texas, the Midwest, and the Northeast territories respectively. “Each of these manufacturers’ representative firms have outstanding reputations in the industry,” says VP of Regional Sales, Scott Meyer, “And will help...

Following the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) latest Progress Report to Parliament stating the United Kingdom (UK) is falling behind on its building decarbonization goals, Elta Fans have been calling on the building solutions supply chain to utilize available resources, such as TM65 reports and take measures to decarbonize current construction processes. The Climate Change Committee states the industry lacks urgency in its pace of reaching 2050 targets and needs more help to decarbonize...

Armstrong Fluid Technology has relocated its sales office from Mannheim, Germany, to a larger site in Frankfurt, in order to support the company’s European expansion. Armstrong has had a dedicated European HQ since 2018, following its acquisition of the Circulator Pump Business Unit of German-based HALM Circulators. New Frankfurt office Having outgrown its current site, the company has moved to larger offices to make possible the next stage in its European expansion. The new Frankfurt o...

Airedale by Modine, the critical cooling specialists, recently announced the results of a new study showing that a 44% energy saving can be achieved in data center cooling operations by the deployment of advanced cooling technologies. The study is based on a 10MW data center in London, and evidences the savings available at full and part load against a standard and recognizable data center cooling specification, detailing the methodology, technology and assumptions applied. Free cooling techno...

Bosch Home Comfort (formerly Bosch Thermotechnology), a global source of high-quality heating, cooling, and hot water systems, recently launched Bosch Home Comfort PRO, HVAC contractors’ new one-stop shop for their every servicing need.  Benchmark User Interface This new portal improves upon the features offered by Bosch’s previous ABC program, brandishing a host of valuable new tools and rewards for loyal installers. Its industry benchmark user interface (UI) is designed for...

Cubic feet per minute (CFM) is a measurement used to quantify the flow rate of air or gas in a system. It represents the volume of air that passes through a specific point in the system in one minute. CFM is commonly used in various industries, including HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, to assess airflow rates and ensure proper ventilation. CFM in HVAC systems plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of the ventilation process. Proper ventil...

Reinforcing its reputation for excellence in product design, Weil-McLain® was recognized for its exceptional manufacturing of HVAC technology in the 20th annual Dealer Design Awards Program sponsored by The Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration (ACHR) News magazine. An independent panel of HVACR contractors acted as judges in the contest that had more than 100 entries. ProTools™ App Weil-McLain’s ProTools™ App was the silver winner in the Contractor Services &...

Grandville Public Schools is pleased to announce a long-term partnership with Bradford White Corporation, an industry-renowned manufacturer of water heaters, boilers, and storage tanks, for naming rights to the robotics fabrication lab at the district’s new Robotics Competition Center. Grandville Academic Team Charitable grant funds from Bradford White Corporation’s signature charitable giving program, Industry Forward®, are targeted to support the new Robotics Fabrication Lab...

As heat alerts affected nearly 110 million people, a third of the U.S. population across 15 states, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a new report on July 13 called "Enhancing Resilience in Buildings Through Energy Efficiency." The report – which followed a study by a team of energy experts from DOE’s Building Energy Codes Program, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – outlines...

Intelligent power management company - Eaton has announced the release of a new digital product targeting the healthcare sector. Leveraging Eaton’s smart breaker technology, the smart ambient monitoring Application Programming Interface (API) enhances energy usage data using proprietary machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. Application Programming Interface (API) API access can be granted on a subscription basis to owners/users of Eaton’s smart circuit brea...

Modine, a technology provider in the HVAC industry, remains dedicated to providing healthy, clean air in commercial facilities. With the announcement of the Napps Technology acquisition, the company has introduced additional innovative products that will further empower facility managers and school leaders to equip their facilities with high-efficiency heating and cooling solutions. Author's quote “At Modine, we are committed to providing HVAC solutions that create excellent, h...

Air conditioning distributor Cool Designs Ltd has installed a mega-array of solar photovoltaic panels at its UK headquarters, to support the company's net-zero carbon status. PV system The installation, which includes 132 PV panels mounted on the roof of its distribution warehouse and offices in Gateshead, can produce around 39,148kWh of renewable, carbon-free electricity a year, saving an estimated 9,126kg of CO2 emissions.  The PV system will power on-site electric vehicle chargers a...

During the 2023 Eurovent Annual meeting in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the Eurovent Commission appointed Britta Permats, Managing Director at Svensk Ventilation, as its new Vice-Chairperson. Britta Permats succeeds Ilkka Salo, Managing Director at Talteka in the position of the Eurovent Commission Vice-Chairperson. She will be supporting the continuing Chairperson Lennart Ostergaard, Senior Manager at VELTEK Ventilation. Britta Permats elected Eurovent Commission Vice-Chairperson As Commission Vi...

A new survey from digital identity security specialists, ID Crypt Global, reveals that 75% of people in the UK would feel safer and more comfortable allowing strangers, such as tradespeople and estate agents, into the home if their identity and credentials were available on a digital identity platform. A person’s digital identity is made up of various pieces of personal information that are collected and stored online. It is estimated that 66% of people in the UK have a digital trail...

Interplay Learning, the provider of online skilled trades training, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Southern Home Services Corporation, a residential home services provider specializing in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and generator service, replacement, and maintenance. This important collaboration names Interplay Learning the exclusive content engine for technical training and the designated LMS provider across Southern Home Services' growing network of 25+ locations. trai...

Thermo King, a strategic brand of global climate innovator Trane Technologies, is pleased to announce that its e1000 all-electric transport refrigeration unit (TRU) for battery-electric Class 5-7 trucks has been honored with the prestigious Top Product of the Year Award in the Environment + Energy Leader Awards program.  This accolade recognizes the e1000 TRU as a pioneer in its class, making great strides in energy or environmental management. Reducing environmental impact “We are...

Airedale by Modine, the critical cooling specialists, has announced the launch of MultiChill, a modular, low-GWP, free-cooling heat pump chiller range to join its new series of cooling solutions, as they continue to strive for a more sustainable future for all. MultiChill offers flexibility and efficiency as a smaller capacity heat pump chiller with modularity built into its design. With individual unit capacities between 53kW and 103kW, up to 16 MultiChill heat pump chillers can be connected o...