Automation & Controls - News

Indoor air quality (also known as IAQ) has become a major public health concern. It is essential for comfort and general health. Indeed, many undesirable substances are concentrated in the homes, which are often insufficiently ventilated.  So, does this mean that air conditioning is an effective solution for improving indoor air quality? commonest pollutants in indoor air Usually, the following substances can trigger respiratory allergies and more serious diseases: Damp, which encoura...

“Stop it!” was a common phrase heard during the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors–National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s popular Essentials of Project Management boot camp. There were 22 attendees for the four-day class. The program was broadcast live online from A. O. Smith University, with instruction from Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter. Takeaway  “Don’t ever say in my company that ‘the general contractor made...

AAON, Inc. announces that Paul K. (Ken) Lackey, Jr. will retire from the company’s Board of Directors following the end of his current term at AAON’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 12, 2022. Mr. Lackey, who has served on AAON’s Board since 2007, decided to retire and not stand for re-election to the Board upon completion of his current term as he decreases his professional commitments. Gary D. Fields, AAON president, and CEO, said, “On behalf of the Board, I would...

Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions is launching its brand new, stylish Graphite Grey units to the Etherea with nanoe X technology range of air conditioners, available in capacities 2kW – 3.5kW. Designed to blend seamlessly into the most stylish homes, the latest Etherea AC units joins the existing silver matt and pure white matt units, in order to give customers a wider choice to suit more interior home décor needs. Heating and cooling to suit varied homes The high-quali...

People have been asking this question a lot more lately, and Ecotricity can completely understand why. It seems counterintuitive that the cost of clean green energy should be going up just because of the cost of polluting brown energy. Ecotricity's founder Dale Vince has addressed this in his recent podcast, here are two of the main reasons why they are in the place. Covering the cost of policy failure Ecotricity has recently been hit with additional costs of nearly &pou...

The Kensa Group (Kensa) was pleased to hear the UK Chancellor is pledging to cut VAT to zero on green measures, such as ground source heat pumps, for the next five years. Those installing heat pumps, which can cost upwards of £7,000, can expect savings of up to £2,000 on their final bill, according to the Heat Pump Federation. VAT reduction The VAT reduction is a step in the right direction to incentivize the uptake of the low carbon technology The VAT reduction is a step in the...

Even as vaccination rates increase and case numbers decline, COVID-19 remains a serious threat. The safety of workers, students, patients, and all building visitors remains a top priority for building managers. New in-building traffic patterns and room occupancy guidelines are now permanent. Increased cleaning and disinfecting are the new normal. Importance of clean HVAC systems For ventilation, clean HVAC systems play a vital role in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as well as o...

Airedale is excited to announce the launch of Airedale Cloud Diagnostics, an advanced HVAC performance management tool available on the smartphone, tablet or laptop, in response to the pressure operators and facility managers are under, when working with cooling equipment that is increasingly critical to business operations. Airedale Cloud Diagnostics Airedale, known worldwide for their critical cooling solutions, has worked with data science experts to develop a new family of cloud-enabled pr...

Johnson Controls, the provider of smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, joins over 200 forward-thinking companies as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). "We are delighted to join WBCSD," said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “The building sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of global annual CO2 emissions, so there is no tackling climate change without substanti...

Chubu University, Tokai University, Tohoku University School of Medicine, and DENSO Corporation have found that monogalactosyl diacylglyceride (MGDG), a component contained in the chloroplasts of a microalga called Coccomyxa sp. KJ has a virucidal effect against COVID-19. Coccomyxa sp. KJ Coccomyxa sp. KJ is a fast-growing, vigorous, and easy-to-cultivate microalga. The plant contains not only abundant nutrients, including vitamins and amino acids but also unique characteristics, such as...

The air conditioner has a big job every year! The unit is out of sight and can be out of mind unless users notice issues, such as higher utility bills or warm air blowing out of the vents. But there are also subtle ways that the air conditioner can speak to users that they can keep track of to make sure that the unit is at its best season after season. They have gathered some tricks to check on the efficiency during the summer season. Component running smoothly Temperature Check: A straightf...

Tero Helpiö, the Global Product Manager - IEC Low Voltage Motors at ABB, explains how IE5 synchronous reluctance motors and variable speed drive packages can improve the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, in order to help cities reach their sustainability targets. HVAC systems worldwide rely on millions of low-voltage (LV) electric motors to run pumps, fans and compressors. However, there is a price to pay, in terms of energy consumption and asso...

Carrier Commercial Refrigeration has moved to the next phase of its three-year agreement with the major wholesaler, METRO AG, which is deploying new natural refrigerant equipment to its stores across Europe to help the company achieve carbon-neutral operations. Carrier Commercial Refrigeration is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the provider of healthy, safe, sustainable, and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. “By working closely with customers such as the METRO, we can d...

Omnidirectional Mounting The spring-loaded technology allows for mounting in any orientation, increasing application flexibility. Low-Pressure Drop Its unique bore design yields a minimal pressure drop of 4 psi (0.28 bar) at maximum flow, conserving energy while maintaining desired system flow. Switch Outputs Optional single and double switch outputs allow for additional application control with high and low alarms. Increased Wetted Compatibility  These flowmeters will cost-effective...

Johnson Controls, the global pioneer for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, celebrates a milestone as the Xaap Compliance Reporting Platform surpasses one million building inspections. Since 2018, facility managers and their teams have used the Xaap compliance reporting software to test nearly 55 million individual building devices, including fire alarms, extinguishers, security devices, sprinklers, and other systems across North America.  Improving building safety and&n...

ENERGAIR, the sustainable compressed air management arm of Belgian-based compressor controls specialist, CMC, is set to enter the United Kingdom (UK) market, after building the brand in California, one of the United States of America’s most sustainable states. Working closely with CMC’s European team, which is responsible for key brands, including AIRMATICS, SCADAR and Metacentre, ENERGAIR will set out its vision for the United Kingdom, at the upcoming Air-Tech 2022 exhibition, whic...

Danfoss extends the cooling capacity range of its Optyma™ condensing units and releases A2L-compatible MLZ and LLZ scroll compressors With the extension of the Optyma™ Slim Pack and Optyma™ Plus condensing units’ cooling capacity range—and the launch of the A2L-ready MLZ and LLZ scroll compressors (evolution B)—Danfoss continues its efforts to enable the transition to ultra-low GWP refrigerants with a complete portfolio of A2L-ready components and solutions....

CIAT (ClimaCIAT) has introduced a new range of VectiosPower rooftop air conditioning units, operating on R-454B refrigerant, so as to offer customers an optimum application solution. With a GWP of 466, R-454B’s overall carbon footprint is more than 80% lower than HFC R-410A, the refrigerant it replaces. CIAT is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the renowned global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold-chain solutions. VectiosPower rooftop AC units...

For those who want to improve their ecological impact, should change the heating system in their homes. Indeed, it often happens that the heating mode of the households becomes a money sink, but also in energy expenditure. So take the plunge and discover the advantages of a heat pump. Thanks to its process using renewable energy with low greenhouse gas emissions, the heat pump is a must for heating equipment. Clean and renewable energy The outdoor environment allows residents to heat the inte...

As previously announced, Jørgen Mads Clausen has informed the Board of Directors that he will resign as Chairman of the Board of Danfoss A/S with effect from the Annual General Meeting to be held on March 25, 2022. Clausen will remain a member of the Board of Directors until the Annual General Meeting on March 25, 2022, when his current term expires. The Board of Danfoss A/S nominates the current vice chairman Jens Bjerg Sørensen to succeed Clausen as Chairman of...

Going green is all the rage. And it’s understandable why. They all have a responsibility to care for the world around them for future generations. Users probably already take at least small steps to do things like reduce, reuse, and recycle. Their team at Tassio Temp wants to provide some heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) related ideas to help users go even further. Energy-efficient equipment According to the EIA, the country has started down the right track during the...

After a two-year hiatus, the Houston ASPE Product show is back and Delta T Equipment will be there. Be sure to stop by the mega-booth (booths 74, 75, and 76) at the 2022 ASPE Product Show on Wednesday, April 6th, where visitors will find representatives from Delta T Equipment, Total Pump Solutions, and Total Tanks waiting to meet them. Visitors can connect with their team members, ask questions, learn more about amazing product lines, and don’t forget to enter for a chance to win an...

Smart Air Cooling & Heating, a family-owned and operated HVAC company serving the Austin area since 2009, announced it has completed a major rebranding to better reflect the company’s commitment to advancements in the home services industry. “While we are still dedicated to providing the same localized and professional service that we have become known for, we feel the new company name, logo, website, uniforms and truck wraps better conveys to the public the type of service we f...

Ruskin® announces three new emergency generator inlet dampers (GenSet) designed to quickly open to relieve combustion air and pressure during emergency generator start up. GenSets activate quickly to power areas without a grid, those that experience frequent outages, and in applications where outages could cause major issues or danger. The fast release of combustion air and pressure that dampers in GenSet rooms provide can prevent equipment damage and protect the surrounding area. The CD60G...

Building specifiers and contractors are advised to put healthy design principles first when adapting existing structures according to REHAU, following cautions from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) about overheating buildings. The CCC’s latest analysis of the Government’s heat and Building Strategy has noted that current overheating policy is only applicable to new buildings, and does not take existing structures into account. With this in mind, polymer supplier REHAU is highlight...

The world is changing – and everybody is seeing and experiencing the consequences of that throughout their day-to-day lives. Change has not stopped at the HVAC and plumbing industry, either. Viessmann has devised a very special way to keep its specialist installation and maintenance partners up to date: On March 31 and April 1, 2022, it will be hosting 'Viessmann.live', an event that extensively covers climate and technological change and explores Viessmann system solutions that address t...

Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) aims to encourage businesses to invest in energy saving technologies and machinery (which includes air conditioning, HVAC & refrigeration), in order to help reduce the effects on climate change. The scheme lets businesses claim 100 percent first-year allowances, i.e., tax relief, on investments in certain technologies and products. Advantages of the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) Scheme ECA scheme lets the business claim 100% first-year tax relief on inv...

A. O. Smith Corporation, a platinum sponsor for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Hot Water Forum, will participate at the only national conference focused exclusively on the water heating industry. This year’s event will highlight ways water systems can help save money, decrease building greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce harmful pathogens. The virtual conference runs March 21-23 and will bring together manufacturers, utility professionals, government of...

Americans spend on average about 90% of their time indoors, where concentrations of some pollutants are often two-to-five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Insufficient ventilation Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic switched into high gear, all eyes have been on indoor air quality. There is a good reason for this too. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to factors such as insufficient...

Facilio, a property operations platform for real estate portfolios announced that Investa, one of Australia’s largest commercial office real estate companies, has selected its applications to digitize portfolio operations. Requiring a flexible and scalable platform to power its expansion, and provide a seamless tenant and contractor experience, Investa looked to Facilio for its ability to deliver a modern, unified model of portfolio operations and maintenance (O&M) management processe...