EDF Announces Electrification Plan for Households and Businesses France: EDF has announced a plan valued at EUR 240 million (USD 259 million) to support the transition to electric energy among low-income households and small businesses in France. The initiative includes financial assistance for approximately 80,000 households to adopt heat pump systems, with a grant of EUR 1,000 (USD 1,080) per household that can be combined with existing support schemes. The programme is pos

Construction Input Costs Rise Sharply in March Amid Oil Price Volatility USA: Construction input prices increased significantly in March, rising 2.2% month-on-month and 4.8% compared to a year earlier the fastest annual growth since January 2023. Non-residential input costs climbed slightly higher, up 2.3% monthly and 5.4% annually. The surge was largely driven by a sharp 20.2% increase in crude petroleum prices, linked to geopolitical tensions involving Iran. While natural g

Construction Confidence Strengthens as Backlog and Hiring Expectations Improve USA: Construction confidence improved in March, with backlog rising by 0.5 months to 8.6 months, recovering from earlier lows and reaching levels last seen in summer 2025. Data centre-related projects reported notably higher backlog levels than other sectors. Expectations for profit margins and staffing reached their highest points since early 2022, signalling strong industry optimism. Although sal

Bauhaus Expands Ship-from-Store Model in Nordic E-commerce Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden): Bauhaus has partnered with logistics service provider nShift to expand its ship-from-store model for e-commerce operations across the Nordic countries. The initiative follows a pilot programme in which approximately 200,000 orders were processed using the system. The company expects around 750,000 online orders to be handled through the platform by 2026. Under this mod

Sloan Acquires Stake in Essel Bath Fittings to Expand India Presence India/USA: Sloan, a United States-based plumbing systems manufacturer, has acquired a controlling stake in Essel Bath Fittings to expand its presence in the Indian bath fittings market. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The partnership aims to utilise Essel’s manufacturing capabilities and distribution network to address demand in both premium and mid-segment categories. Essel will con

Toto Suspends Bathroom Orders Amid Material Shortages Japan: Toto has suspended new orders for prefabricated and modular bathrooms due to shortages of key materials linked to disruptions in global oil supply chains. The company informed its business partners of the decision and has not indicated when order acceptance will resume. The shortage is linked to reduced availability of naphtha, a petroleum-based feedstock used in plastics, of which Japan imports a significant share

Kenya Urges African Nations to Adopt Affordable Housing Model Kenya: Kithure Kindiki has called on African countries to adopt Kenya’s affordable housing model to address urban housing challenges. He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the Second Africa Urban Forum held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The housing programme, introduced under the administration of William Ruto, includes more than 200 construction sites and has contributed to employment g

Samsung Boosts AC Production Ahead of Expected Record Heatwave South Korea: Samsung Electronics has operationalized its air conditioner production lines at its Gwangju plant at full capacity since February, in anticipation of increased demand during the upcoming summer season. The decision follows forecasts of a record heatwave by the South Korea Meteorological Administration and market response to its 2026 AI air conditioner models launched earlier this year. The company als

Copper Pipe and Tube Operating Rates Rise in March Amid Domestic Demand China: According to Shanghai Metals Market data, the operating rate of copper pipe and tube enterprises reached 82.45 per cent in March, increasing by 23.71 percentage points month-on-month but declining by 2.78 percentage points year-on-year. The rise in operating rates was linked to a decline in copper prices during the month, which led end-users to secure purchases in advance. Despite continued uncerta

France to Ban Gas Heating in New Buildings by Year-End France: Sébastien Lecornu announced that the installation of gas heating systems will be banned in all new constructions, including collective housing, from the end of this year in France. The measure forms part of a broader plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote electrification of energy use. The announcement was made on April 10 at Hôtel Matignon, where initial steps of the government’s energy strategy were

Australia Reports Rise in Housing Construction Amid Policy Debate Australia: Australian Bureau of Statistics released building activity data for the December quarter of 2025, reporting that the number of homes commencing construction during the year increased by 16.4 per cent compared to 2024. This included a 5.6 per cent rise in detached house commencements and a 35.3 per cent increase in multi-unit developments. The data indicates a recovery in housing construction, support

Financing Secured for Affordable Housing Project in San Francisco USA: Mission Housing Development Corporation, in partnership with Mission Economic Development Agency, has secured a financing package of USD 77.9 million for the first phase of an affordable housing development in the Mission District of San Francisco. The funding structure includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and construction financing provided by Western Alliance Bank. The project, known as The Marvel in

Delhi Expands Transit-Oriented Development Policy to Support Housing Supply India: The Government has expanded the Transit-Oriented Development framework under the Master Plan of Delhi 2021 through the introduction of the Regulations for Transit Oriented Development and Charges, 2026. The policy aims to promote development linked to public transport infrastructure and increase the availability of housing in the National Capital Territory. It focuses on planned urban growth by

Building Permits Decline in February 2026 as Non-Residential Sector Weakens Despite Residential Uptick CANADA: The total value of building permits fell by 8.4% in February 2026 to $12.1 billion, mainly due to a sharp decline in non-residential construction. However, residential construction intentions increased slightly to $8.1 billion, supported by growth in multi-family housing, which offset a drop in single-family permits. Overall, the data indicates mixed trends in the co

Maharashtra Approves Land Acquisition for Affordable Housing in Borivali India: The Government of Maharashtra, led by Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the acquisition of land from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited in Borivali to support housing development. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Maharashtra Housing Development Authority held at Sahyadri Guest House. The land parcels, covering 28.84 acres in Gorai and Shimpoli, are plann

Duravit Appoints Michael Demmer as Interim CEO Germany: Duravit AG has appointed Michael Demmer as Interim Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The appointment forms part of an ongoing strategic realignment and is intended to ensure continuity across the company’s processes, projects and strategic initiatives. “I will continue to develop Duravit AG with a clear strategy that puts people first and consistently strengthens the core brand. In doing so, we will focus ev

ZIEHL-ABEGG Joins Eurovent Middle East as New Member UAE: Eurovent Middle East has announced the addition of ZIEHL-ABEGG as a new member. Headquartered in Germany, the company operates across multiple production and sales locations and supplies products to more than 100 countries. Its portfolio includes solutions in ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and drive technology, serving sectors such as commercial and industrial buildings, automotive and infrastructure. “We

Richelieu Hardware Posts Higher Sales and Earnings in Q1 2026 Driven by Steady Domestic Growth CANADA: In Canada, Richelieu Hardware reported Q1 2026 sales of $463.6 million, up 5% year-on-year, while domestic sales reached $249.8 million, reflecting a 3.4% increase. Net earnings also rose 2.7% to $15.1 million. The results indicate steady performance supported by moderate growth in the Canadian market despite broader economic pressures. Source: Hardlines

Manufacturing unit INDIA: Prince Pipes and Fittings Limited has completed the second phase of its asset purchase agreement, acquiring a manufacturing facility in Bhuj to strengthen its bathware segment and support the expansion of its “Aquel by Prince” portfolio. Prince Pipes and Fittings Limited (PPFL) had earlier announced an Asset Purchase Agreement on March 20, 2024, structured in two phases. In the first phase, the company acquired the Aquel brand along with associated m

Heat pump KAZAKHSTAN: As the heating season in Kazakhstan draws to a close, preparations for extensive repair work are underway. Energy specialists have begun upgrading aging infrastructure, according to Qazinform News Agency, citing the country’s Ministry of Energy. A major focus will be the large-scale reconstruction of heating networks to reduce wear and enhance the reliability of heat supply. At present, Kazakhstan’s heating network spans approximately 13,400 km. In the p

Energy Efficiency MIDDLE EAST: All government facilities have been instructed to implement energy conservation measures to reduce electricity consumption where feasible, as part of efforts to manage energy use amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. In a joint statement on April 8, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the National Environment Agency outlined steps such as setting air conditioners at 25°C or higher and switching off or unplugging non-essential

Heat Pump UK: Vital Energi has been awarded a £14 million (US$18.7 million) contract by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust to develop a new low-carbon energy centre at Tameside General Hospital. The project involves designing and constructing an energy centre equipped with a 2MW heat pump system, comprising four air-source and two water-source heat pumps, along with low-temperature hot water boilers. A central aspect of the initiative is the replacement

Air conditioner CHINA: TCL, a leading global technology firm, recently announced the launch of its new air conditioner smart factory in Guangzhou. The milestone coincides with the production of its 100 millionth air conditioner unit since 2021, underscoring the company’s focus on innovation and its expanding global presence. The new facility, built with an investment of nearly RMB 2 billion (around USD 290 million), has an annual production capacity of 8 million units and can

Heat pumps EDF, which has been serving the French population for 80 years, is allocating €240 million (US$280 million) to support consumers and industrial players in adopting heat pumps and electric heavy goods vehicles, as well as to encourage the establishment of electricity-intensive industries in France. This initiative, funded both directly by EDF and through a support fund open to additional partners, aims to accelerate the country’s transition toward electrified soluti