Variable Refrigerant Flow/Volume (VRF/VRV) News & Trends

Many organizations face the dual challenge of optimizing their building environments, while improving operational efficiency. Building on a 2023 commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Johnson Controls, a recently released report focused on healthy buildings sheds light on the state of smart buildings and the critical need for integrating health-focused strategies into building optimization efforts. The report includes insights from more than 1,500 business pioneers re...

Industries such as lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, and automotive show a strong demand for sustainable heating solutions to help them achieve higher efficiency and reach their decarbonization targets.  To meet the increased need, Kanthal will expand its production capacity in Sakura, Japan, with an investment of approximately SEK 100 million. The aim is to capture mid- and long-term market growth in Asia. Kanthal’s heating solutions At the Kanthal production site in Sakura,...

Daikin Applied, a renowned global commercial and industrial HVAC manufacturer, has announced plans for the construction of a new energy-efficient manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico. In partnership with its subsidiary Alliance Air Products, the San Diego-based major in custom air-handling equipment design and manufacturing, Daikin Applied is expanding its manufacturing capabilities to support sustainable data center growth across North America. HVAC and CRAH equipment The new 460,000-sq...

Global technology and engineering pioneer - Regal Rexnord partners with the region’s HVACR Industry Association, in support of joint initiatives in regulatory development, education, and raising awareness on energy efficiency and sustainability. The decision reinforces Eurovent Middle East’s position as an influential factor in shaping industry standards and providing technical guidance to regional markets. Creating solutions for its clients Established over fifty years ago, Regal...

Interplay Learning, the pioneering provider of immersive skilled trades training, and Peterman Brothers Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, an employee and customer-centric provider of essential home services, are excited to announce their strategic partnership to deliver a systematic, scalable career development platform to ten Peterman service branches. Peterman Brothers, based in Indianapolis, offers a range of residential services through its growing network of branches, including...

The SkillPLUMB competition has named Ideal Heating as its new headline sponsor. Under a 3-year partnership agreement, Ideal Heating will provide support and equipment for the UK’s major plumbing skills event. Ideal Heating has been an established partner of competition organizer - BPEC for a number of years via its training centers across the country. Now as part of this new relationship to support SkillPLUMB, Ideal will be providing boilers, unvented hot water cylinders and heat pump tes...

Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC (METUS), a major supplier of Ductless and Ducted Mini-split and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump and air-conditioning systems, has become the first manufacturer to receive the Energy Skilled recognition from the Department of Energy (DOE) for its Residential Heat Pump Installation and Comfort Advising training program. workforce training recognition The DOE launched the workforce training recognition program to support the development of a robust...

Convoy of Hope is an international nonprofit based in Springfield, Missouri. Founded in 1994 by Hal Donaldson, the humanitarian organization strives to feed the world and end intergenerational poverty. Programs include training and equipping local farmers to create food security, feeding more than 533,000 children every school day worldwide, U.S. and international disaster response, and empowering women as entrepreneurs and in the workforce. Since its founding, Convoy of Hope has served mo...

Tucked into the rolling hills of northern Kentucky just 15 miles south of bustling Cincinnati, the city of Independence offers its 28,000 residents access to urban amenities in a picturesque, rural setting. The landscape is dotted with farmhouses, but one 200-year-old home on a sprawling 150-acre property has a unique story.  Originally a log cabin in the 1700s, the house has been transformed over the centuries, with structural elements, updates, and modern comforts added along t...

ATMOsphere, the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has finalized the program for the ATMOsphere (ATMO) America Summit 2024 on natural refrigerant-based cooling and heating, with sessions on refrigeration and heat pump case studies, end users, market trends, project funding, training, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and policy; famed environmental attorney Robert Bilott will deliver the keynote.  13th ATMO America This 13th annual edition of ATMO America will be held Monday,...

This year alone, Daikin UK, the country’s pioneering air-source heat pump manufacturer, has opened the doors of four brand-new Sustainable Home Centers, as part of its continued drive to help accelerate the UK’s adoption of renewable forms of home heating. In 2023, Daikin UK expanded its Sustainable Home Network by opening nine centers growing its network by almost 40% year-on-year. Now, just two and a half months into 2024, it’s already added four and there are plans to open...

Friedrich Air Conditioning, a major U.S. manufacturer of premium HVAC solutions, welcomes Greater Northwest Reps as the company’s newest manufacturers’ representation group. The strategic alliance between these two industry leaders will significantly increase Friedrich’s distribution network, encompassing five new states including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.  Greater Northwest Reps Greater Northwest Reps will leverage its extensive network to call up...

Taconova, a major provider of intelligent comfort heating solutions, has opened a new production plant with warehousing facilities in Boršov, Czech Republic. With the ever-increasing demands for sustainability and energy management in the private and commercial spheres, Taconova is continuously investing in its production facilities, automation, and digitization production processes and planning to increase capacity to meet demand. Its main European production plant, Taconova Production...

Friedrich Air Conditioning, a major U.S. manufacturer of premium HVAC solutions, welcomes Greater Northwest Reps as the company’s newest manufacturers’ representation group. The strategic alliance between these two industry leaders will significantly increase Friedrich’s distribution network, encompassing five new states, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.  efficiency, quality, and innovation Commercial customers in the Northwest region can...

To address growing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability, regulatory bodies, consumers and other stakeholders have placed an increased focus on the reduction of potent greenhouse gas emissions, such as traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, to the atmosphere. In the U.S., several states have introduced measures curtailing the use of these products, including the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) global warming potential (GWP) limit of 750,...

The Ferguson-Florissant School District is on track to save more than $190,000 per year after recently completing 44 energy efficiency projects through Ameren Missouri’s BizSavers program. In addition to the annual savings in electric and operating costs, these upgrades project to save the school district 1.94 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. energy efficiency upgrades “Ameren Missouri worked closely with us to identify smart investments that will ultimately l...

CAREL and SECO S.p.A., major provider of end-to-end technological solutions for industrial digitalization, have signed an agreement to develop a new solution to support the digital transformation of the infrastructures in the segments where CAREL operates. powerful supervision system CAREL and SECO have started the design of an innovative and powerful supervision system, a fundamental device for controlling refrigeration and air conditioning processes, allowing real-time data collection and re...

Eurovent has released its 2024-2029 Manifesto, which means to unlock the potential of the European HVACR industry to contribute to a sustainable future, quality of life, decarbonization, and sustainable growth and employment in Europe. Eurovent Manifesto The Eurovent Manifesto rests on three essential recommendation pillars to policymakers from the European Commission, European Parliament, and 27 Member States for the 2024-2029 legislative term. Frictionless Single Market Firstly, Eurove...

With the rising energy costs and more extreme weather patterns, it's more important than ever to have an energy-efficient home. But where do users start? Look no further than an energy audit. What is an energy audit? An energy audit is a comprehensive evaluation that will identify areas where energy is being wasted and provide recommendations for improvements that will have the biggest impact on the home's efficiency. Not only will the user be able to pinpoint where the energy dollars are go...

The Filtration Division of power management company - Eaton, has launched its line of WPL spin-on filters that protect pumps, valves, compressors, and hydraulic systems from contamination, as per ISO 2941, ISO 3723, and ISO 2942 standards. The filters are designed to provide one of the highest cleanliness levels for hydraulic systems, featuring cartridges that are engineered to fit into many leading filter systems on the market. They help provide trouble-free operations for power generation, oi...

Lochinvar, an industry pioneer in high-efficiency boilers and water heaters, proudly celebrates 50 years of partnership with manufacturer's representative, Cummins-Wagner. The partnership, which was first established on February 1, 1974, has resulted in one of Lochinvar’s longest-standing relationships. Best-performing representatives Cummins-Wagner, based out of Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is a manufacturers’ representative for Lochinvar’s full line of water and space he...

Innodisk, a global pioneer in AI solutions, has taken a pivotal step forward in environmental sustainability with the launch of its latest innovation, the 'iCAP Air' air quality management solution. This solution empowers businesses worldwide to enhance air quality, sustainability, and human health. Additionally, businesses can benefit from monthly AI-generated air quality data reports, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making. Air quality management solution Leveraging its ex...

TSI Incorporated, a pioneer in data-driven solutions, is proud to announce the expansion of the TSI OmniTrak™ Solution – a game-changer in the areas of occupational and industrial hygiene investigation surveys, and indoor air quality (IAQ) assessments for hospitals, schools, and other indoor environments. This ecosystem - comprised of a handheld device, interchangeable modules, and reporting software - which was introduced earlier this year, now has six additional modules available...

WHAT: Trane Technologies’ residential HVAC brands (Trane Residential and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning) will expand Trane and American Standard Link Compatibility starting May 20th, 2024. The addition of a Link Relay Panel allows Trane Link Communicating Systems to pair with non-communicating 24V variable speed indoor units and provides customers with more flexibility and a lower-cost alternative to a communicating air handler or furnace, while still getting the comfort...

Interplay Learning, the pioneering provider of immersive skilled trades training, announced the launch of Interplay Enterprise. Shaped by customer insights, this immersive career development platform introduces exciting new features designed to help enterprises elevate the skills of their entire workforce, streamline operations, and improve retention. Interplay Enterprise simplifies career development by providing an all-in-one platform for company-wide learning. It includes nearly 500 hours of...

After the Environmental Audit Committee labeled the Government’s responses on adapting to heatwaves a 'missed opportunity', Kensa Heat Pumps Technical Director, Dan Roberts, has urged for more to be made of how heat pumps can provide cooling for buildings, stating “It’s no secret that the world is getting warmer, and in the UK, our homes are not prepared to deal with heat waves." Dan Roberts adds, "The Environmental Audit Committee has even cited in its Heat Resilience and Sus...

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning announced the launch of its first cold-climate variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump available in North America. The high-efficiency air365 Max with HeatForce is a top-flow VRF heating and cooling system that delivers seamless comfort, best-in-class energy efficiency, and easy installation and maintenance for professionals, architects, and commercial building owners looking to reduce operational costs and carbon footprint. heating and cooling solut...

Kidde Commercial, an industry-renowned company in fire and life safety for over a century, announces the launch of the Optica Duct Smoke Detector, which features a revolutionary new design, specifically created to address unique HVAC System smoke detection challenges, while reducing nuisance alarms. Optica’s new Duct Smoke Detector design is built to address the moisture and dust challenges found in the HVAC environment, and provide best-in-class detection that customers can trust. Optic...

Johnson Controls, the global major for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, has announced the launch of the YORK® YMAE 575 V Air-to-Water Inverter Scroll Modular Heat Pump for use in Canada. The high-efficiency heat pump is now available in a 575-volt model and is compliant with the Canadian Registration Number (CRN) requirements for pressurized equipment in certain provinces. YMAE heat pump “The YORK® YMAE heat pump has achieved exceptional results around the world, and w...

To support refrigeration OEMs in their green transition, ABB has successfully tested its key refrigeration drives to assure conformity with safety standards, when using the new A2L and A3 refrigerants. This means that surface temperatures in the specified drives – HVACR ACH180 and ACH580, General Purpose ACS580 and Machinery ACS180 – have now been examined and found to be within safe limits, as described in the standard, and no arcs or sparks are produced during operation in normal...