US heat pump shipments exceed fossil fuel furnace shipments USA: Heat pump sales in the US have increased over the past 15 years and now exceed shipments of fossil fuel furnaces, according to an analysis by the Building Decarbonization Coalition. In the first quarter of 2026, heat pump shipments were 32% higher than fossil fuel furnace shipments and were close to the level of air-conditioning unit shipments. In new housing, heat pumps accounted for 46% of installations in 202

Arbonia reports organic revenue growth in first half of 2026 Europe: Arbonia recorded organic revenue growth of 2.3% in the first half of 2026, with incoming orders and order volumes above the previous year's levels across its large production plants. The company reported that higher material prices and currency effects affected its performance during the period. It also continued the implementation of an integrated system landscape intended to support group-wide procurement,

Hansgrohe appoints Benjamin Holzer as Vice President AXOR Germany: Hansgrohe Group has appointed Benjamin Holzer as Vice President of AXOR, succeeding Olivier Sogno. Holzer joined Hansgrohe in 2001 and has been responsible for AXOR Product Management since 2019. In his new position, he will lead the strategic development of the AXOR brand internationally. Sogno, who has led AXOR since 2019, will move to a new role heading Corporate Marketing for Hansgrohe Group. Commenting on

Germany sees renewed household interest in energy transition technologies Germany: Households in Germany are showing increased willingness to invest in climate protection, according to the KfW Energy Transition Barometer. The proportion of households willing to take action rose from 59% in 2025 to 66% in 2026, while 84% said climate protection was important or very important. The survey, conducted among more than 4,300 households between December 2025 and April 2026, found th

German furniture industry revenue declines for fourth consecutive year Germany: The German furniture industry recorded a further decline in revenue in the first half of 2026. According to data from the Association of German Furniture Manufacturers (VDM), 374 surveyed companies generated EUR 7.67 billion (USD 9.02 billion) in sales between January and June, down 2.7% from the same period in 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year of declining industry revenue, with the se

Systemair reports 6% sales growth in Q1 2026/27 Global: Systemair reported a 6% increase in net sales to SEK 3.28 billion (approximately USD 354 million) in the first quarter of its 2026/27 financial year, covering May to July 2026. Organic growth was also 6%, with all regions contributing to the increase. Adjusted operating profit rose to SEK 324 million (approximately USD 35 million), compared with SEK 288 million (USD 29.84 million) in the corresponding period a year earli

Housing South Korea is set to significantly increase public housing investment in 2027, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) proposing a KRW 30 trillion ($21.8 billion) budget for public housing supply, aimed at addressing growing concerns over housing shortages, particularly in the greater Seoul area. The allocation represents a 41.5% increase from this year’s main budget. Under the proposal, the government plans to supply 218,000 public housing un

GDP India’s economy recorded robust year-on-year GDP growth of 7.8% in the April-June quarter, outperforming the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 7% forecast. Growth remained resilient despite external headwinds, including the West Asia conflict, elevated energy prices, and supply-chain disruptions. The expansion was supported by strong performance in both manufacturing and services, which recorded near double-digit growth during the quarter. Manufacturing grew 9.2%, acceleratin

Ceramic industry The Bangladesh ceramics industry is facing significant operational and financial pressures, with unreliable gas supply, high import duties, and persistent foreign currency shortages disrupting production and increasing manufacturers’ operating costs. According to Sifat Arman, Deputy Managing Director of BHL Group, the inconsistent supply of natural gas has become the industry’s most pressing challenge, with many manufacturers reportedly operating at below 40%

Plumbing USA: New Jersey has adopted the 2024 New Jersey Edition of the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) as the state’s updated plumbing code. The revised code establishes updated requirements for plumbing materials, fixtures, equipment, and system installation, providing contractors and code officials with current standards for plumbing work across the state. The New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards, under the state’s Department of Community Affairs, adopted the

cooling Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition, has launched the first EPIC Deploy Call for Proposals, providing financial support for sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient cooling projects in Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Applications are open until October 31, 2026. The funding programme focuses on two key areas: sustainable cooling in the

Heat Pump The German government is planning measures to support the expansion, conversion, and construction of heating networks as part of its transition toward a climate-neutral heating system. District and local heating networks can enable the cost-effective integration of low-carbon heat sources, including geothermal energy, large-scale heat pumps, and waste heat. Heating networks are expected to play an increasingly important role, particularly in urban and densely popula