Samsung Broadens Southeast Asia Focus with AI Home and Climate Solutions Southeast Asia: Samsung Electronics presented its AI-enabled home appliances and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions at a technology seminar held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 14 October 2026. The event showcased refrigerator features such as AI Vision for food inventory management, Food Note for consumption tracking and recipe recommendations based on available ingredients. The company al

Arkema Adds R-134a Replacement to Refrigeration and HVAC Range Global: Arkema has announced the commercial availability of Forane 516A, a hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) refrigerant blend developed as an alternative to R-134a in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The refrigerant has a global warming potential (GWP) below 150, an A2L safety classification and zero temperature glide. It is approved under the US Environmental Protection Agency's Significa

Siemens and Invertek Partner on Integrated HVAC-R Control Solutions Germany: Siemens and Invertek Drives formalised a partnership at Chillventa 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany, to develop integrated control solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) applications. The agreement combines Siemens' Climatix application controllers with Invertek Drives' Optidrive Coolvert variable frequency drives (VFDs) for brushless DC compressor systems. The comb

Haier India Sets Festive Sales Growth Target Amid Plans to Expand Its Retail Footprint India: Haier Appliances India expects sales growth of approximately 30% by volume and 35% by value during the 2026 festive season, according to CEO N S Satish. The company reported annual growth of 28–30%, while sales during the Navratri period increased by 60–70% year-on-year. Demand for refrigerators, televisions and air conditioners has supported sales, with consumer financing options su

Spain's Annual Inflation Reaches 5% Amid Rising Fuel and Travel Costs Spain: Spain's annual inflation rate reached 5.0% in September 2026, its highest level since February 2023, according to data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) on 14 October. The European Union-harmonised consumer price index recorded a 5.0% year-on-year increase, driven by rising fuel and air travel costs. The figure was consistent with the preliminary estimate and forecasts from economis

China's Producer Prices Rise 5% as Energy Costs Drive Annual Inflation China: China's producer price index (PPI) increased by 5.0% year-on-year in September 2026, marking its highest annual growth rate since June 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The increase exceeded the 4.5% forecast by economists surveyed by Reuters and was driven by higher fuel costs and coal prices. Coal prices were influenced by demand for winter heating, supply constraints in

2025 in Review: Toilet Seats Europe's toilet seat market continued to demonstrate resilience during 2025, despite ongoing challenges across the residential construction sector. While new housing activity remained subdued in several major markets, demand was supported by a combination of replacement purchases, housing renovation projects and recurring demand from commercial and institutional buildings. The latest BRG research highlights an increasingly important shift within t

Global Home Improvement Market GLOBAL: The global home improvement market contracted by 2.1% to US$ 721.9 billion (€645.5 billion) in 2025, marking its third consecutive annual decline, according to Dähne Verlag’s Home Improvement Report Retail Worldwide 2026. The downturn was largely driven by continued weakness in China. By region, Latin America recorded the strongest growth at 1.8%, followed by Europe at 1.5%. In contrast, North America declined by 1.5%, Africa and the Mid

LG Electronics Expands Chiller Production PHILIPPINES: LG Electronics Philippines opened a new HVAC Academy and Business Innovation Centre at Silver City in Pasig City. The facility will provide technical training for engineers, consultants, contractors and other industry professionals, covering HVAC system design, installation, commissioning, troubleshooting and smart building controls. It will also demonstrate energy efficient solutions, including VRF systems, heat pumps, c

Trane Signs HVAC Partnership with KSE Across US Venues USA: Trane has signed a multi-year agreement with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) to become its Climate Innovation partner and official HVAC and thermal management partner. The agreement marks KSE’s first cross-property partnership with a technology provider and extends the existing collaboration between the two companies. It covers SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater and Hollywood Park in California, as well as Ball Arena

Volution Group Reports Growth Despite Weak Construction Markets UK: Volution Group Plc reported its FY2026 results, with revenue, operating profit and cash generation increasing by more than 15%, while adjusted earnings per share rose by 15.4%. Organic revenue growth was 2.8%, below its 3%–5% target, while the operating margin reached 23.2%, cash conversion was 107% and return on invested capital was 25.5%. Acquisitions, including AC Industries, supported growth. The group ac

Daikin and MGTC Collaborate on Refrigerant Recovery in Malaysia Malaysia: On 9 October 2026, Daikin Malaysia Sales & Service Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) announced an initiative to promote sustainable cooling through refrigerant recovery, air-conditioning optimisation and indoor air quality management. The programme recovered 77.48 kg of R134a refrigerant for processing and potential reuse, equivalent to approximately 110,79

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries broadens overseas sales of its ETI-W heat pump range Japan: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems will expand overseas sales of its ETI-W series heat recovery centrifugal heat pump from October 2026, targeting industrial and commercial applications that require high-temperature water. Launched in Japan in 2025, the system recovers low-temperature waste heat from industrial processes and reuses it to produce hot water at temperatures of up to

Canada Commits USD 1.41 Billion to Home Energy Retrofit Programmes Canada: The Government of Canada has announced USD 1.406 billion in funding over eight years for residential energy retrofits and emissions reduction. The National Heat Pump Rebate Program will support up to 820,000 homeowners installing eligible cold-climate air-source heat pumps, offering rebates of up to USD 7,031 for below-median-income households and USD 1,406 for other eligible homeowners. The government

Panasonic Vietnam Launches E-Waste Collection Pilot Targeting 1,000 Used Air Conditioners Vietnam: Panasonic Vietnam Co. Ltd. has partnered with electronics retailer Cao Phong Co. Ltd., operator of the Cho Lon store chain, to launch a pilot electronic waste collection programme across southern and central Vietnam from October 2026 to March 2027, initially targeting 500–1,000 used air conditioners. Customers purchasing Panasonic products at Cao Phong stores can register to sel

Texas Prison System Faces USD 1.5 Billion Air Conditioning Retrofit by 2029 US: A federal judge has ordered the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to install air conditioning across its prison system by December 31, 2029, with TDCJ estimating the work could cost approximately USD1.5 billion. As of September 1, 38 of 104 facilities were fully air conditioned and 53 partially air conditioned, while projects covered 53,676 cool beds, with 23,738 under construction, 7,34

Philippines and South Korea Fast-Track Environmental and Climate Cooperation Agreements Ahead of ASEAN Summit Philippines/ South Korea: The Philippines and South Korea are accelerating negotiations on two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering environmental and climate change cooperation ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit in November 2026. Discussions between Philippine Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna and South Korean Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change J

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioners Receive Top Ratings from Three Australian Consumer Organisations in 2026 Australia: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems announced on 8 October 2026 that its residential and commercial air conditioners in Australia, marketed through its subsidiary Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA), received high ratings from three consumer organisations. MHIAA won CHOICE’s 2026 Best Brand (Air Conditioners) award

Samsung and LG Expand Heat Pump Plans to Support South Korea’s Green Transformation Strategy South Korea: Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics plan to expand heat-pump systems combining cooling, heating and hot water from a single outdoor unit, supporting South Korea’s K-GX strategy to electrify residential heating and reduce fossil-fuel use. The government aims to deploy 3.5 million heat pumps by 2035, cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 5.18 million metric tons. Samsung’s

Hungary Extends Deadline for EU-Funded Residential Solar Programme Hungary: Hungary has extended the completion deadline for its EU-funded RRF-6.2.1-2021 residential solar programme to October 31, 2026, allowing complex projects to close once at least two required development elements are completed. Launched in December 2021, the scheme offers grants covering 100% of eligible costs for lower-income households, up to US$8,870 for PV-only systems and approximately US$34,560 for

Hitachi and Bosch Home Comfort Collaborate on Connected Commercial HVAC Diagnostics and Building Management Japan/Germany: Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Global Life Solutions and Germany-based Bosch Home Comfort Group have agreed to integrate Hitachi’s HMAX for Buildings platform and exiida HVAC IoT solution with Bosch’s airCloud Pro service, enabling remote monitoring, predictive failure diagnostics and energy management for commercial HVAC equipment. Targeting continuously operated

NBCC Floats USD 1.13 Billion in Tenders to Complete 16 Stalled Supertech Housing Projects India: NBCC (India) Limited has floated 25 tenders worth USD1.13 billion (INR 96,203.3 million) to complete 16 stalled Supertech housing projects across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Karnataka, covering 50,962 homes, of which 39,870 were sold, 24,871 handed over and 14,999 remain undelivered. Appointed project management consultant by NCLAT in December 2024, NBCC’s mandate was

Italy’s Valves and Taps Sector Faces Export Challenges and New European Drinking Water Rules Italy: Italy’s valves and taps sector, with turnover of almost EUR 10 billion and exports accounting for over 60% of revenue, faces growing geopolitical uncertainty, volatile energy and logistics costs, and stricter European drinking water requirements. Francesca Paffoni, CEO of Rubinetteria Paffoni Spa and President-designate of the Italian Association of Valve and Faucet Manufacture

UK Future Homes Standard Drives Stricter Energy Efficiency and Ventilation Requirements UK: The UK’s Future Homes Standard (FHS), planned for implementation in 2025, aims to reduce carbon emissions in new homes through low-carbon heating, including heat pumps, improved insulation and energy-efficient technologies such as Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). Updates to Building Regulations Parts F and L focus on indoor air quality, ventilation and energy performan