As temperatures continue to rise and rapid urbanisation reshapes the Middle East, cooling demands have become central to national planning in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. With both countries launching large-scale residential, commercial, and industrial developments under their long-term visions, cooling is now positioned at the crossroads of sustainability, energy security, and economic diversification. Within this evolving landscape, decentralised cooling systems are eme

First Flagship Experience Centre India: Sternhagen, has opened its first flagship experience centre in Delhi, marking a significant step in its India growth journey. Conceptualized and engineered through its German subsidiary, the brand was created to fill a gap in artistic, design-driven bathroom products, built using distinctive 3D facets and Quartz a material positioned as more premium than ceramics. The company leverages German-engineered molds, materials, and processes t

Strengthen District Cooling Malaysia: In a major sustainability push, ENGIE and Sunway Property announced the expansion of their joint-venture, ENGIE-Sunway DCS Sdn Bhd, to supply up to ~3,000 refrigeration tonnes of cooling capacity to eight Sunway Education buildings, including new Engineering Annex, Faculty of Engineering & Technology and Graduate Centre. The move will meet up to 60% of the campuses’ peak cooling demand and approximately 75% of their annual cooling require

Energy Regulator Simplifies Conditions Ukraine: Ukraine has removed licensing requirements for producing thermal energy in cogeneration units when the energy is sold to a heat supply organization at a price not exceeding 50% of the single-rate population tariff, with businesses now only required to notify the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, NKREKP, and local authorities within three working days of starting operations. The number of documents needed to ob

Expand UK District Heating UK: Veolia has announced a GBP 1 billion (USD 1.12 billion) project pipeline to be awarded by 2030 as part of its new Ecothermal Grid rollout in the UK, supporting the company’s goal to expand its district heating footprint using diverse energy sources to deliver carbon-neutral heating and cooling. With buildings responsible for 37% of the UK's CO₂ emissions and only 3% of national heat demand currently met by district heating far below the governme

Expands Into Home Cooling Malaysia: PRISM+ has expanded AC series, its Home & Living range in Malaysia with the introduction of the Luna Ultra, a 5-star rated smart inverter AC available in 1.0HP, 1.5HP and 2.0HP models, designed to cut energy consumption by up to 45% compared to basic non-inverter units and built specifically for local climate conditions. The unit features a corrosion-resistant GoldFin coating, advanced multi-layer filtration, a self-cleaning system, R32 ref

Push for German Subsidy Reform Germany: A new alliance of major European heating and climate technology manufacturers has jointly urged Germany to ensure that the upcoming push for subsidy reform of its Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG) strengthens domestic value creation. The coalition comprising Viessmann Climate Solutions, Bosch Home Comfort Group, Vaillant Group, and Stiebel Eltron from Germany; BDR Thermea Group from the Netherlands; Ariston Group from Italy;

New Efficiency Norms India: Blue Star notes that high inventory levels in the AC industry may ease by December as price-conscious consumers advance purchases ahead of new Bureau of Energy Efficiency norms taking effect in January, which are expected to push AC prices up by 5–7%. While tertiary sales have improved after GST was reduced from 28% to 18%, primary sales from manufacturers to dealers remain subdued. The company sees an opportunity in stricter efficiency requirement

France France: France’s latest refrigerant emissions inventory, released in September 2025 by AFCE (Alliance Froid Climatisation Environnement) and Citepa, shows continued progress in reducing fluorinated gas emissions. The report’s release comes as the updated European F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 enforces stricter requirements from March 2024 onwards, including expanded technician certification, updated GWP-based labelling from 2025 for all fluorinated gas systems (includ

District Heating in Germany Germany: Germany’s heating landscape is reshaping, with heat pumps and district heating now dominating new residential developments. Heat pumps have become the primary heating choice in new single-family and two-family homes, with three-quarters now equipped with these systems. In newly built apartments, heat pumps have outpaced gas heating since 2022, while district heating has become the second most common solution, particularly in cities like Ha

First New Jersey Showroom USA: Innovation Kitchen & Bathroom has entered the New Jersey market with a new 7,000-square-foot showroom at 1796 Route 27 in Edison, marking the company’s first location in the state. The newly opened showroom features kitchen and bath cabinets, countertops, flooring, and bathroom fixtures, and the long-term lease was arranged by NAI DiLeo-Bram & Co., which represented both the landlord and tenant. The company now operates four showrooms and a ware

HVAC and AI Home Systems UAE: LG Electronics is strengthening its business domain in the Middle East through expanded B2G transactions, announcing a strategic partnership with Expo City Dubai for the construction of a smart city. The agreement builds on discussions from the Korea-UAE business roundtable focused on AI technologies, application services, and enhanced cooperation in developing AI and energy infrastructure. Expo City Dubai is developing a 3.5-square-kilometer sma

DIY and Garden Centres Report Continued Decline Germany: The German DIY store association BHB reports that the sector has yet to see a turnaround in 2025, according to the latest GfK Total Store Report. DIY stores in Germany generated EUR 5.04 billion (USD 5.43 billion) in the third quarter, marking a 2.3 percent decline compared to the same period last year, with a 2.2 percent decrease on an adjusted area basis. After nine months, the sector remains below expectations, with

India’s Air Conditioning Industry: From Import Dependence to a Self-Reliant Manufacturing Hub India's air conditioning industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Due to rising consumer demand and government initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Air Conditioning and Components and the Make in India campaign, companies are increasingly prioritizing local manufacturing and expanding their production capacity. India's AC market, once heavily relian

Uzbekistan Introduces Decree to Ensure Sustainable Housing Market and Mortgage Development Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree “On Measures for the Sustainable Development of the Housing Market and Mortgages” to create a balanced residential construction and housing acquisition system amid economic growth and urbanization. The decree targets doubling annual housing construction to 421,000 units and expanding the mortgage loan portfolio to

Frontline Bathrooms Secures Exclusive UK Partnership for Royo UK: Frontline Bathrooms will once again become the exclusive UK distribution partner for Royo following a strategic review by Roca, with the headline Frontline Bathrooms Reclaims UK Distribution for Royo included in the update. Under the renewed arrangement, all Royo stock will be stored at Frontline and orders processed through its sister company Smiths Briten, supported by a nationwide fleet of more than 70 vehic

Norcros plc Reports Strong First‑Half Performance in UK & Ireland UK/Ireland: Norcros plc, the leading branded bathroom products business in the UK and Ireland, reported a 1.3% increase in revenue to £184.3 m (USD 240.7 million) and a 7.4% rise in underlying operating profit to £21.9 m (USD 28.6 million) for the first half of 2025. Strategic initiatives including the acquisition of Fibo Holding AS in Norway and the closure of Johnson Tiles SA have positioned the company for f

Reece Reports 18% Decline in Quarterly EBIT Amid Housing Market Pressures Australia: Plumbing and bathroom products supplier Reece has reported an 18% decline in earnings before interest and tax to USD 129 million for the September quarter, with EBITDA down 8% to USD 222 million compared to the same period last year. The Australian company, which distributes through its branch network and online and has a significant US presence, cited persistent cost pressures and escalating

Nordic Climate Group Expands into United Kingdom and Ireland Through Strategic Acquisitions UK/Ireland: Nordic Climate Group is expanding into the United Kingdom and Ireland via three strategic acquisitions with combined revenue exceeding EUR 50 million, establishing itself as the market leader in Ireland and securing a starting position in the UK. This expansion builds on the Group’s growth in the Nordics and the Netherlands and strengthens its presence in key sectors includ

Stiebel Eltron Targets 15% Growth in 2025 for Water Heater Sales in Thailand THAILAND: Stiebel Eltron expects its water heater business to post solid growth this year, in line with broader market trends driven by urbanisation and rising demand for energy-efficient appliances. The company forecasts a 15% growth in water heater sales, with the Thai water heater market valued at around US$96.4 million (approx. 3 billion baht) and continuing to expand steadily. To capitalise on y