Rheem and ecobee Launch ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite | Works with EcoNet Technology Across U.S. and Canada U.S./Canada: Rheem Manufacturing Company and ecobee have partnered to introduce the ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite | Works with EcoNet Technology, designed to deliver energy savings, seamless compatibility and enhanced convenience for homeowners and contractors across the U.S. and Canada. The ENERGY STAR-certified thermostat can help homeowners save up to 23% annually on h

U.S. Heat Pump Shipments dipped in 2025, Still Outperformed Gas Furnaces UNITED STATES: US heat pump shipments declined in 2025 but still exceeded gas furnace shipments for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing their position as the country’s most-shipped heating appliance. Data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute shows air-source heat pump shipments were 12% higher than fossil gas–fired furnaces, despite year-on-year softness. Heat pump shipmen

UNEP and ASHRAE Adopt New Lifecycle Refrigerant Management Plan UNITED STATES: UNEP and ASHRAE have adopted a new two-year work plan on Life Cycle Refrigerant Management (LRM), strengthening their long-standing collaboration supporting the global transition to sustainable refrigerants. The plan was adopted at the ASHRAE Winter Conference in Nevada, USA, and will guide joint projects covering refrigerants from production to end-of-life. Key initiatives include new training too

Maritime Geothermal Secures ACOA Funding for Heat Pump Production Expansion Canada: Maritime Geothermal Ltd. has received CAD 1.64 million (USD 1.21 million/EUR 1.12 million) in funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to support the expansion of its heat pump manufacturing operations in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick. The company said the investment will be used to scale production capacity and improve manufacturing processes for its geothermal and air-source

Carrier Expects Residential HVAC Demand to Recover After 2025 Destocking Americas: Carrier reported a sharp decline in its residential HVAC business in the Americas in the fourth quarter of 2025, which the company attributed to distributor destocking, weaker housing activity, and a shift towards repairs instead of full system replacements. Residential unit volumes fell by more than 40%, while light commercial sales declined by 20%, contributing to a 17% organic sales decline

Masco Reports Lower 2025 Sales and Issues 2026 Earnings Outlook United States: Masco Corporation reported fourth-quarter 2025 net sales of USD 1.79 billion (EUR 1.65 billion), down 2% year-on-year. Full-year 2025 net sales fell 3% to USD 7.56 billion (EUR 6.96 billion). Plumbing Products recorded sales growth in both the quarter and the full year, while Decorative Architectural Products reported a decline. The company said fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share declined t

Samsung Logo USA: From February 2 to 4, the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), North America’s largest HVACR trade show, was held in Las Vegas. Organized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the event featured participation from over 1,800 companies worldwide, highlighting the latest technologies and emerging trends across the global HVAC industry. Samsung Electronics showcased it

Mitsubishi USA: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that, effective July 1, it will reorganize its North American operations across three group companies. Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. will oversee all regional operations while also managing sales of elevators and escalators, cooling and heating solutions, and semiconductor devices. Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. will continue to manage the sales and servicing of factory automation (FA) equipment and computer numer

New Ace Hardware Store Opens in Mission Hills, California USA: A new Ace Hardware store has commenced operations in Mission Hills, California, officially opening to the public on 30 January. The store is located at 10349 Sepulveda Boulevard and spans 15,000 square feet. It carries a variety of established brands and offers multiple services aimed at supporting local homeowners and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. A grand opening event, including promotional sales, is tentatively s

Ambient Enterprises Announces Partnership with HVAC/R International USA: Ambient Enterprises has announced a strategic partnership with HVAC/R International Inc., a master distributor based in Dania Beach, Florida. HVAC/R International has been operating for over 25 years, offering engineering support, equipment distribution, technical consultation, and service to clients across Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Under the new partnership, existing customers are expec

SPX Technologies Acquires Crawford United for USD 300 Million USA: SPX Technologies has completed the acquisition of Crawford United Corporation, a Cleveland-based holding company focused on engineered air handling and industrial products. The deal is valued at approximately 300 million US dollars and includes a cash payment of around 83.86 US dollars per share for holders of both Class A and Class B common stock, subject to adjustments for debt and transaction expenses. As p

Carrier Shares 2025 Performance and 2026 Forecast USA: Carrier reported weaker fourth-quarter 2025 results, with sales down 6% and organic sales down 9%, reflecting soft residential demand and distributor destocking in the Americas. Full-year 2025 sales reached US$ 21.75 billion, down 3% year on year, though global commercial HVAC and aftermarket businesses achieved double-digit growth. Profitability was supported by productivity gains and a stronger mix in some regions. The

US Inflation Remains Above Target Amid New Price Pressures USA: US inflation remains above target and may be accelerating, reducing the likelihood of near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts. The Fed’s preferred measure, core PCE inflation, is estimated to have reached 3% in December, its fastest pace in over two years and well above the 2% target. Early 2026 data also point to renewed price pressures. Adobe’s Digital Price Index recorded its sharpest January rise in 12 years, wit

US US: A new master-planned community in Denton, North Texas is set to be developed on a 2,500-acre site with an estimated investment of about US$5.1 billion. The project will include over 9,200 homes, comprising 7,091 single family units, 584 townhomes and 1,515 multifamily residences, along with 1.2 million square feet of commercial space and a central park of more than 300 acres. Plans also include three new schools to serve future residents, with initial construction of 8

Lennox Posts Softer 2025 Sales but Lifts Margins and Sets 2026 Growth Outlook USA: Lennox reported mixed results for 2025, with revenue slipping 3% to US$ 5.2 billion amid weaker volumes, channel destocking and subdued construction demand. Fourth-quarter revenue fell 11% year on year, while adjusted earnings per share declined 22%. Despite this, the company achieved record annual margins above 20%, supported by cost controls, pricing discipline and favourable product mix. Hom

Tariffs Push Up US Construction Costs by Over 3% in 2025 UNITED STATES: Non- residential construction input costs in the US rose 3.2% year on year in 2025, driven largely by tariff-related material price increases, according to Associated Builders and Contractors using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall construction costs increased 2.8%, despite modest price declines in December. Materials most exposed to tariffs saw sharp rises, with copper wire and cable

Canada’s Building Costs Rise at Slower Pace in Late 2025 Canada: Building construction costs in Canada continued to increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, although the rate of growth eased compared with earlier in the year, according to data from Statistics Canada. Residential construction costs rose 0.4 per cent quarter on quarter, while non-residential costs increased 0.5 per cent. On an annual basis, residential costs across the fifteen census metropolitan areas increased

A. O. Smith reports 2025 earnings and outlines 2026 outlook USA: A. O. Smith reported diluted earnings per share of USD 3.85 for 2025 and announced its financial guidance for 2026. Total sales for 2025 were USD 3.0 billion, reflecting a slight increase compared with 2024. Pricing related to water heaters, along with higher volumes in boilers and commercial water heaters, was largely offset by lower volumes in wholesale residential water heaters. Segment earnings in 2025 amoun

Survey highlights 2026 home improvement intentions among U.S. homeowners USA: A survey released by Carrier indicates that home improvement remains a consideration for many homeowners in the United States as two thousand twenty six begins. According to the findings, fifty five percent of respondents reported that they are thinking about or interested in upgrading or remodelling their current home during the year. Heating and cooling system upgrades were identified as one of th

LG Electronics Expands North America HVAC Focus at AHR Expo 2026 North America: LG Electronics plans to expand its presence in the North American heating, ventilation and air conditioning market and will present its portfolio at the AHR Expo, to be held in Las Vegas from 2 to 4 February 2026. The company will operate a 447 square metre exhibition space organised into residential, commercial and industrial zones, showcasing systems designed for housing, commercial buildings an