Diverso Energy and Dandelion Energy Partner to Expand Geothermal Heating and Cooling in U.S. Residential Communities U.S.: Diverso Energy and Dandelion Energy have partnered to support the deployment of fully electric geothermal heating and cooling systems in new low-rise residential communities. The collaboration combines Diverso Energy’s utility ownership business model and long-term operations platform with Dandelion Energy’s builder deployment capabilities and geothermal

Energy Save Surpasses 10,000 R290 Heat Pump Sales to Support Energy-Efficient Residential Heating Sweden: Energy Save has sold more than 10,000 heat pumps using R290 (propane) refrigerant within its residential heating business, marking a key milestone in advancing energy-efficient and climate-friendly heating solutions. Propane, a natural refrigerant with very low climate impact and significantly lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared with traditional refrigerants, ha

CIBSE and Heat Pump Association UK Sign MoU to Strengthen Collaboration in Low-Carbon Heating UK: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and support the adoption of efficient, high-performing heat pump technologies across the built environment. The partnership aims to promote best practices, enable knowledge sharing, and contribute to the dev

Karnataka Government Expands Housing Initiatives with New Targets and Increased Subsidies India: The government of Karnataka, India, announced that 419,000 houses have been completed since the current administration took office, with an investment of about USD 879 million, and set a target to complete 300,000 additional houses this year. The government will also sanction 100,000 houses under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) model, increasing subsidies from about USD 1,4

Motorola India: Flipkart has launched a new range of air conditioners under the Motorola brand on its platform with prices starting from about USD 350. The new product line includes inverter-based air conditioners with multiple capacity options and energy-efficient configurations designed for Indian residential use. The listed price includes installation services and requires materials such as copper piping and an outdoor unit stand. The pricing model integrates installation

Daikin UK: Daikin Industries reported that 7333 installers completed its heat pump training programs during 2025, representing a 20% increase compared with the previous year. The training initiatives were conducted across the company's training centres in the United Kingdom and focused on installation, commissioning, servicing, and water regulation requirements for heat pump systems, including Altherma units. The company also introduced a heat pump training bootcamp that trai

Housing growth in India India: Square Yards stated in a recent report that Tier II and Tier III cities are likely to drive the next growth cycle in the Indian housing market as rising property prices in major metropolitan areas have affected affordability. According to the report titled India's Next Real Estate Growth Cycle: The Rise of Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities, housing prices increased significantly between 2022 and 2024 in major cities including the Mumbai Metropolitan Regi

Daikin India: Daikin Industries India plans to increase its annual manufacturing capacity of room air conditioners from about 3 million units to 4 million units by 2030. The expansion will include the establishment of a fourth manufacturing facility at Sri City Special Economic Zone in Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to support the company's capacity growth over the coming years. The company currently produces room air conditioners at one plant in Sri City and two facilitie

SBI India: State Bank of India has entered into a strategic partnership with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group to jointly structure and finance projects for Indian and global clients. The collaboration will focus on financing mergers and acquisitions, corporate acquisitions and real estate projects, while also supporting cross-border transactions between companies in India and overseas markets. The partnership combines the domestic banking network of State Bank of India with the

Rise of Seamless Hydrotherapy in Luxury Bathroom Design USA: Luxury bathroom design in the United States is increasingly embracing “invisible design,” where advanced hydrotherapy systems are fully concealed within bathtubs to maintain clean, minimalist aesthetics. Traditionally, visible plumbing and mechanical components disrupted the visual harmony of spa-style bathrooms. However, growing demand for wellness-focused spaces has driven innovation, enabling manufacturers to int

Construction Output UK: The Office for National Statistics reported that construction output in Great Britain showed mixed performance in January 2026. Data from the latest release indicates that the construction sector recorded only limited growth, reflecting ongoing pressures in the broader economy and uneven performance across different construction segments. The figures are based on short term measures of output covering both new construction work and repair and maintenan

Pakistan Pakistan: The Government of Pakistan has expanded the Markup Subsidy and Risk Sharing Scheme for Affordable Housing Finance by increasing the maximum loan limit from Rs 3.5 million (US$37,900) to Rs 10 million (US$108,290). The customer markup rate has been standardised at 5% for all tiers, replacing the earlier structure where Tier 2 loans carried an 8% rate. The revised policy also increases eligibility criteria for property size, allowing houses of up to 10 marlas

District Cooling vs. Conventional HVAC in the Middle East District cooling emerges as a cornerstone of long-term energy efficiency and smart urban planning in the Gulf. In the Middle East, cooling is a year-round necessity that influences building design and energy consumption, with air conditioning being a significant energy user. District cooling, which centralizes cooling production and distributes it to multiple buildings, is preferred in Gulf countries for its efficienc

Xiaomi India: Xiaomi is reportedly planning to expand its home appliance portfolio in India with the introduction of several large appliances by the second half of 2026. The expansion may include smart air conditioners and refrigerators designed for the Indian market. The products are currently undergoing local testing and certification to meet regulatory requirements and operating conditions such as voltage fluctuations and climate variations. The company is also expected to

LIXIL Study Highlights Economic Impact of Skilled Labour Shortage in Plumbing USA: A study commissioned by LIXIL Corp. reveals that the growing shortage of skilled labours in plumbing is significantly affecting the US economy. Conducted with John Dunham & Associates, the research estimates a shortfall of around 550,000 plumbing professionals by 2027. This gap is driven by retirements, limited vocational training, and low workforce diversity. The shortage is increasing costs,

Luxury Housing Boom in India Expected to Push Home Prices Higher INDIA: India residential property market is projected to see steady price growth as developers increasingly prioritise luxury housing projects. A Reuters poll of property analysts indicates that average home prices in India could rise about 5% annually through 2028, following an estimated 3.6% increase in 2025 based on the Reserve Bank of India House Price Index. Demand is being driven largely by affluent buyers

United States Housing Market Faces Affordability Pressures as Permits Decline in Early 2026 UNITED STATES: The United States housing market began 2026 under pressure as affordability concerns and macroeconomic uncertainty weighed on construction activity. Data from the National Association of Home Builders indicates that 2025 ended with declining building activity, with permits falling 3.6% and housing starts slipping 0.6% year-on-year, while total housing completions dropped

Competition Authorities Approve Caverion Denmark’s Acquisition of GK Denmark’s Service Business DENMARK: GK Group will exit the Danish market, transferring its Denmark service operations including Vagns VVS and around 200 employees to Caverion Denmark effective 1 May. The integration will strengthen Caverion’s national service network and expand capabilities across ventilation, cooling, plumbing, electrical, fire safety, security, and sprinkler systems. GK Denmark’s service d

Portugal Emerges as Europe’s Fastest-Growing Property Market PORTUGAL: Portugal (INE) show housing bank appraisal values increased 16.9% year-on-year in April 2025, reaching US$ 2138 (€1,866) per square metre. The surge reflects continued demand outpacing supply despite rising construction activity. Prime residential property prices in Lisbon are forecast to grow 4.5% in 2026, outperforming major European cities such as Geneva and Paris. Investment appeal is also supported b

Geberit Reports Sales Growth in 2025 Despite Weak European Construction Market SWITZERLAND: Geberit Group reported resilient performance in 2025 despite weak construction activity in Europe. Net sales rose 2.5% to US$ 4.01 billion (CHF 3.16 billion), or 4.8% in currency-adjusted terms, supported by strong product launches and broad-based market growth. Operating cashflow (EBITDA) increased 2.0% to US$1.18 billion (CHF 931 million), with the EBITDA margin at 29.4%, slightly be

West Asia Conflict Threatens AC Production in India as LPG Supply Tightens INDIA: Escalating tensions in West Asia are raising production risks for India’s air-conditioner manufacturers as LPG supply tightens. The conflict involving United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted maritime trade routes, with analysts noting a “de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz”, a key passage for nearly one-fifth of global LPG and PNG shipments. Supply pressure has intensified following Qa

PATRIZIA and COSIMO Launch Berlin Residential Development Programme Germany: PATRIZIA has launched a residential development programme in Berlin through a joint venture with developer COSIMO Investment Group. The initiative targets a total development volume of up to EUR 500 million (USD 545 million) and includes plans to develop around 2,000 residential units in the coming years. Up to EUR 200 million (USD 218 million) of equity will be deployed through PATRIZIA’s Living inv

UK Construction Activity Continues Decline in February UK: Britain’s construction sector recorded its fourteenth consecutive month of contraction in February, according to the latest S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The index declined to 44.5 in February from 46.4 in January, remaining below the 50 level that indicates expansion. The reading was also below economists’ expectations of 47.0. Survey data indicated that residential construction activit

Rising Gas Prices Increase Cost Pressure on Italy’s Ceramic Industry Italy: Gas prices in Europe have increased following geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, raising concerns among ceramic manufacturers in Italy. According to Confindustria Ceramica, gas prices rose from EUR 33 per MWh (USD 36 per MWh) to EUR 55 per MWh (USD 60 per MWh) within two days, reaching the highest level since February of the previous year. The association estimated that the i