PPE 3 Energy Plan France: France has adopted its third multi-year programme PPE 3 energy plan, presented by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on February 12, 2026, during a visit to Jura, outlining a roadmap to produce more French energy that is decarbonised and competitive to strengthen national sovereignty and prepare for the future. The plan details projected electricity consumption, production methods, and planned investments, while addressing France’s continued reliance o

Acquires Stake in Advantek Air Systems India: Fabtech Technologies Cleanrooms is strengthening its air handling and controlled-environment solutions by acquiring additional shares in Advantek Air Systems, a manufacturer of AHU and HVAC equipment for the commercial and pharmaceutical industries. At a board meeting held on 12 February, Fabtech approved the purchase of 38,673 additional shares in Advantek for approximately Rs. 2.55 crore, (USD 310,000)  increasing its existing s

Reshaping Home Heating Market US: Nearly half of all U.S. households rely on gas or propane furnaces, but under a new federal mandate from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), all non-weatherized gas furnaces must achieve a 95% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating by late 2028, reshaping home heating market. The DOE estimates the transition will save consumers approximately USD 24.8 billion in utility costs over 30 years and avoid 332 million metric tons of carbon

Completes Acquisition of Stellar Energy Ireland: Trane Technologies announced on February 18, 2026, that it has completed the acquisition of Stellar Energy Americas, Inc., a leading provider of turnkey data center cooling solutions, following the initial announcement made on December 2, 2025. The acquisition enhances Trane Technologies’ leadership in data center thermal management while accelerating growth, innovation and scale for Stellar Energy. By combining Stellar Energy’

Data Centre Cooling Market India: Voltas Limited and Blue Star Limited are intensifying their focus on India’s fast-growing data centre (DC) segment as the country’s installed capacity is projected to exceed 2 GW by 2026, up from over 1 GW currently, with analysts forecasting a five-fold expansion to over 8 GW by 2030. Blue Star, the second-largest homegrown player in India’s room air conditioning market, is developing chillers and liquid cooling systems, including Cooling Di

Data Center Liquid Cooling Portfolio US: Johnson Controls has signed an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a Boston-based innovator specializing in a next-generation thermal management platform for high-performance data centers and mission-critical industrial applications. Founded in 2020, Alloy has developed a proprietary platform featuring advanced direct liquid cooling components capable of delivering up to a 35% improvement in thermal management efficiency, enabling

Residential Energy Code Requiring Heat Pumps in New Homes US: Oregon’s Building Code Division Residential and Manufactured Structures Board (RMSB) has approved updates to the state’s residential energy code requiring new homes to be built with energy-efficient heat pumps instead of ducted air conditioning under the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code. An analysis by the Building Code Division estimates the changes will save residents an average of USD 125 per month and ove

Biomass Heating Italy: A January 2026 survey conducted by Nomisma for Progetto Fuoco reveals that about 1 in 4 Italian households now use woody biomass heating systems in their first and/or second homes, confirming the technology’s established presence in the domestic energy landscape. Conducted on a representative sample of 800 respondents, the study highlights strong awareness levels, with more than half of households familiar with biomass heating and over 4 in 10 reporting

Thailand's Rise as Global Export Powerhouse for Air Conditioners Thailand has emerged as ASEAN's leading air conditioner (AC) export powerhouse, producing around 21 million units in 2024 and ranking as the world's third-largest exporter after China and Mexico (marginally behind Mexico by value). Thailand’s export revenues hit approximately 7 billion USD in 2024, with over 19 million units shipped globally. Key production clusters thrive in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor

Italy’s HVAC Market Shifts Focus Amid Economic Slowdown Italy: Italy’s HVAC market closed 2025 at a turning point, shaped by reduced construction incentives, cautious consumer spending and ongoing energy transition requirements. The installation sector has undergone gradual consolidation, with the number of active companies declining over recent years, reflecting a broader structural adjustment. Air conditioning remains central to the transition towards higher energy efficien

SMUD Increases Rebates for Residential Heat Pump Installations United States: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has announced higher rebate levels for residential heat pump installations, effective this month, following the expiry of federal tax credits on 31 December 2025 and the exhaustion of state incentive programmes. Under the revised scheme, customers can receive up to USD 4,000 (EUR 3,680) for converting gas systems to electric heat pump water heaters, u

Indian AC Manufacturers Shift Towards Aluminium Amid Rising Copper Costs India: Air-conditioning and refrigeration manufacturers in India are shifting towards aluminium as rising copper prices and updated energy efficiency requirements increase production costs. Industry representatives indicated that copper prices have risen by nearly 18 per cent, driven in part by higher global demand, including from data centres. Prices have increased from around USD 800 (EUR 736) to appro