HVAC Significant changes may be on the horizon for tax incentives that support HVAC and sheet metal work, following the introduction of the American Energy Dominance Act (H.R. 8477). Proposed by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and supported by key stakeholders in the construction and labor sectors, the legislation aims to provide long-term stability for federal tax credits tied to energy efficiency projects across the United States. Currently, two of the most critical in

Home energy Federal funding aimed at promoting residential energy efficiency, including heat pump installations, is expected to resume soon after an extended pause. On April 15, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright informed the House Appropriations Committee that Home Energy Rebate (HER) funds could be released within a “few weeks.” The program had been under review by the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure alignment with the administration’s policy agenda. HER comprises two

Heat Pump The AHR show hosts around 2,000 companies from the United States and several other countries, all showcasing their products within a massive exhibition space spanning acres in a major city. In comparison, this event was held at a facility typically used by the Associated Builders & Contractors of NH/VT and the Vermont Construction Academy for training in framing carpentry. The venue was equipped with multiple 240 VAC electrical service points, allowing some sponsors

VTS Expands Production Capacity in Bangalore with Second Manufacturing Module India: In response to rising order volumes and growing demand for HVAC solutions across the region, VTS has expanded its production capacity in Bangalore, India, by launching a second production module. The newly operational facility, completed following successful equipment installation, manufactures air handling units (AHUs), including solutions dedicated to the Data Center sector. The expansion s

Tata Power, Keppel and Tata Realty Partner for Large-Scale Cooling-as-a-Service Project in Chennai India: Tata Power Trading Company Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power, has partnered with Keppel Limited and Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited to deploy a large-scale cooling-as-a-service (CaaS) solution at Intellion Park in Chennai’s Taramani IT corridor. Spread across more than 25 acres, the project will feature a total installed cooling capacity of 12,100 tonnes

Britain’s Construction Sector Records Sharpest Decline in Nearly Six Years UK: Britain’s construction sector recorded its steepest contraction in nearly six years during the three months to March, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reporting the industry’s net workloads balance falling to -12% from -6% in the previous quarter, marking the weakest reading since Q2 2020 when it dropped to -36% during COVID-19 lockdowns. According to the survey of 938 firms

Wren Invests USD 25.2 Million to Expand UK Showroom Network UK: Kitchen and bedroom retailer Wren is investing USD 25.2 million to open 15 new showroom across the UK in 2026, creating around 169 new jobs as part of its nationwide expansion strategy. New locations include Southport, Leamington Spa, and Newport on the Isle of Wight, with work on the Southport and Leamington Spa sites beginning immediately, while the Isle of Wight showroom, a new-build site, is expected to open

Bathroom Distribution Group Reports Double-Digit Q1 Growth Across Frontline and Smiths Briten UK: Bathroom Distribution Group (BDG), owner of Frontline Bathrooms and Smiths Briten, reported strong Q1 2026 performance, with Frontline recording 22% growth and Smiths Briten achieving 21% growth compared to the same period last year. The company attributed the increase to strong market demand, a more focused product offering, and improved product availability, supported by the ex

Amazon Partners with Transaera to Deploy Next-Generation Heat Pump Technology Across Global Building Network US: Amazon and Transaera have entered into a new agreement to deploy Transaera’s next-generation heat pump technology across Amazon’s global building network following a successful six-month trial. Founded in 2018, U.S.-based Transaera develops energy-efficient air conditioning and dehumidification systems that use Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to remove humidity bef

Fortum Launches Large-Scale Heat Pump Plants in Finland to Support Decarbonisation Goals Finland: Fortum has commenced operations at its large-scale heat pump plants in Kolabacken, Kirkkonummi, and Hepokorpi, Espoo, as part of its strategy to electrify district heating production and advance toward net-zero emissions by 2040. The facilities include 40 air-to-water heat pumps, 72 water-to-water heat pumps producing up to 180 megawatts of district heating, 200 megawatts of elec

GoodWe Partners with Kraken to Support UK Residential Energy Storage Growth UK: GoodWe has signed a partnership agreement with Kraken to provide UK customers access to a range of smart tariffs as the company prepares to benefit from rising residential battery storage demand under the UK’s Warm Homes Plan. Announced during the launch of GoodWe’s Warm Home All-In-One Solution for the UK market, the offering includes PV building materials, EV chargers, heat pumps, smart energy m

EIB Group Strengthens Germany’s Affordable Housing Sector with USD 348 Million Financing Agreements Germany: The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group convened government authorities, housing developers, promotional banks, and construction industry representatives in Berlin to address challenges in Germany’s housing sector and accelerate affordable housing construction. During the event, the EIB formalised two financing agreements worth a combined USD 348 million, including up

Blue Star Reports 17% Growth in Q4 FY26 Net Profit Despite Weather-Related Demand Challenges India: Blue Star Limited reported a 17% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to approximately USD 26.8 million in Q4 FY26, compared to around USD 22.9 million in the same quarter last year, while revenue from operations rose 1.3% to nearly USD 480.6 million. For the full year FY26, consolidated net profit declined 11% to around USD 62.2 million despite revenue increasing 3

China’s First-Tier Property Markets Show Recovery While Lower-Tier Cities Continue to Struggle China: China’s property markets is showing signs of recovery, led by stronger demand in first-tier cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, while lower-tier cities continue to face high housing inventory and weaker demand. Shanghai recorded 31,215 pre-owned home transactions in March 2026, the highest monthly level since March 2021, followed by nearly 29,000 transa

Ferguson Reports 3.6% Sales Growth and Strong Non-Residential Demand in Q1 2026 US: Ferguson Enterprises reported Q1 2026 net sales of USD 7.5 billion, up 3.6% year-on-year, with gross margin improving 30 basis points to 31.0% and operating margin rising 120 basis points to 8.2%. Diluted earnings per share increased 23.1% to USD 2.13, while adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 9.1% to USD 2.28, supported by strong non-residential revenue growth and ongoing large capital p

Hisense HVAC Enters Indian Market, Appoints Rakesh Chauhan as India Director INDIA: Hisense HVAC has officially commenced operations in India and appointed Rakesh Chauhan as Director for India. The announcement was made during a product launch event in Bangkok attended by channel partners from across India. The company, a subsidiary of Qingdao Hisense Hitachi Air-conditioning Systems, plans to introduce smart HVAC solutions for residential and commercial applications in the I

SD Heat Exchangers Strengthens Danfoss Partnership to Support Benelux Energy Transition NETHERLANDS: Danfoss has expanded its strategic partnership with SD Heat Exchangers B.V. through a new distributor agreement covering the Benelux heating market. Building on their existing collaboration in plate heat exchangers, the partnership now includes Danfoss’ wider heating portfolio, such as control valves, motorized valves, and energy meters. The agreement aims to strengthen soluti

COTTO Expands Portfolio with Focus on Automatic Sanitary Solutions Thailand: COTTO has outlined its business strategy for 2026, focusing on expanding its product portfolio and introducing automatic sanitary ware to address demand for contactless and hygiene-oriented solutions. The company plans to broaden its surface materials offering to more than 10 categories, alongside the launch of new bathroom products, including an automatic toilet system and washbasin designs. These d

Air Conditioner Prices in India Expected to Increase Further India: Air conditioner prices in India are expected to rise further in the coming months due to higher raw material costs and revised energy efficiency standards introduced in January 2026. Industry representatives stated that costs across the sector have increased by around 14% to 16%, driven by higher prices of copper, aluminium and steel, along with changes in energy rating requirements. Older models manufactured

Geberit Reports Stable First-Quarter Performance in 2026 Switzerland: Geberit reported first-quarter net sales of CHF 873 million (USD 960 million, EUR 890 million) for 2026, representing a decline of 0.7% in Swiss franc terms, while currency-adjusted sales increased by 3.4%. The company stated that growth was supported by higher volumes and pricing effects despite weaker currency movements and challenging market conditions. Sales increased in Europe and the Middle East and A

Carrier Targets India Growth with New Sri City Facility India: Carrier Global has announced plans to invest USD 100 million (EUR 92 million) in a new manufacturing facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, with operations expected to begin by the end of next year. The company stated that India has been its fastest-growing market over the past four years, recording growth above 20% during the period and 33% growth in the first quarter of 2026. The new facility is intended to incre

LMD and Schneider Electric Partner on Smart City Projects in Egypt Egypt: LMD has signed a memorandum of understanding with Schneider Electric to collaborate on the development of smart and energy-efficient projects across Egypt. The agreement focuses on integrating technologies related to sustainability, energy management, artificial intelligence and smart city infrastructure into current and future developments. The partnership will utilise Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure

European Heat Pump Sales Rise Amid Energy Price Concerns EU: Residential heat pump sales in Europe increased during the first quarter of 2026, with France, Germany and Poland recording an average growth of 25 per cent. The rise followed higher gas and oil prices after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on 2 March, which affected energy markets across several regions. Across 11 European countries, around 575,000 units were sold between January and March 2026, compared with 49

Iraq Prepares Plans for 21 New Residential Cities Iraq: Iraq has prepared designs for 21 new residential cities as part of ongoing efforts to address housing shortages, according to an official statement. The Ministry of Construction and Housing is working towards developing fully serviced residential cities in cooperation with real estate developers across multiple governorates. Ministry spokesperson Nabil al-Saffar stated, “Basic designs have been prepared for 21 cities…the