AtmosZero Partners with R.F. MacDonald to Expand Electrified Steam Technology U.S.: AtmosZero announced a strategic commercial channel partnership with R.F. MacDonald Co. at the AHR Expo in Las Vegas to deploy modular electrified steam heat pump technology across engineering firms, end users, and commercial and industrial boiler rooms. The collaboration opens access to key emissions-reduction markets, leveraging R.F. MacDonald’s 70 years of experience serving Nevada and a maj

Potential Rollbacks to Inflation Reduction Act May Impact Heat Pump Demand USA: Recent federal energy policy changes are introducing fresh uncertainty for HVACR contractors planning projects around electrification and efficiency incentives. The United States House of Representatives voted 210–199 to pass the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, a bill that would repeal $5.7 billion in programs under the Inflation Reduction Act supporting home electrification rebates, contractor trai

Home Depot and Lowe’s Earnings Calls Show Retail Trends and Strategic Focus USA: The latest Home Depot & Lowe’s, with more color analysis outlines key insights from the two largest U.S. home‑improvement retailers’ recent earnings discussions. Home Depot reported modest increases in comparable‑store sales and reflected on stable underlying demand, while Lowe’s highlighted solid sales performance and broader merchandise momentum. Both companies addressed macroeconomic pressures

2026 Outlook for the Residential Remodelling and Construction Sector USA: The article highlights expectations for the residential remodelling and construction sector in 2026, noting that economic uncertainty and declining consumer financial confidence are influencing homeowner decisions. Many households are choosing to remain in their current homes and invest in renovation rather than purchasing or constructing new properties, partly due to rising home values. As a result, la

Duravit’s Aurena Collection Wins GOOD DESIGN Award in Bath & Accessories Category U.S.: Duravit announced that its Aurena Collection, designed by award-winning architect and designer Antonio Citterio, has received the prestigious GOOD DESIGN Award in the Bath & Accessories category from The Chicago Athenaeum. The luxury bathroom series was recognized for its precise design language, premium materials, and forward-thinking innovation inspired by the Golden Ratio, delivering ba

Reshaping Home Heating Market US: Nearly half of all U.S. households rely on gas or propane furnaces, but under a new federal mandate from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), all non-weatherized gas furnaces must achieve a 95% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating by late 2028, reshaping home heating market. The DOE estimates the transition will save consumers approximately USD 24.8 billion in utility costs over 30 years and avoid 332 million metric tons of carbon

Data Center Liquid Cooling Portfolio US: Johnson Controls has signed an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a Boston-based innovator specializing in a next-generation thermal management platform for high-performance data centers and mission-critical industrial applications. Founded in 2020, Alloy has developed a proprietary platform featuring advanced direct liquid cooling components capable of delivering up to a 35% improvement in thermal management efficiency, enabling

Residential Energy Code Requiring Heat Pumps in New Homes US: Oregon’s Building Code Division Residential and Manufactured Structures Board (RMSB) has approved updates to the state’s residential energy code requiring new homes to be built with energy-efficient heat pumps instead of ducted air conditioning under the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code. An analysis by the Building Code Division estimates the changes will save residents an average of USD 125 per month and ove

SMUD Increases Rebates for Residential Heat Pump Installations United States: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has announced higher rebate levels for residential heat pump installations, effective this month, following the expiry of federal tax credits on 31 December 2025 and the exhaustion of state incentive programmes. Under the revised scheme, customers can receive up to USD 4,000 (EUR 3,680) for converting gas systems to electric heat pump water heaters, u

End of Federal Tax Credit Deals Setback to U.S. Residential Geothermal Market USA: The removal of a federal tax incentive for residential geothermal projects has dealt a setback to the industry. However, stakeholders remain optimistic due to emerging approaches to address cost barriers and system ownership, along with growing opportunities in the commercial geothermal sector. The Residential Clean Energy Credit, commonly referred to as the Section 25D credit , previously prov

HARDI Welcomes House Approval of Bill to Repeal Regional Standards Installation-Date Requirement USA: On Feb. 24, the United States House of Representatives passed the Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act by a vote of 217–190 with bipartisan support. Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) welcomed the move, which aims to eliminate the use of the installation date as the compliance deadline for regional energy efficiency standards. Under

Lowe’s Reports Strong Fourth Quarter Sales Performance USA: Lowe’s Companies posted solid sales results in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with total sales rising to about $20.6 billion and comparable store sales increasing by 1.3 % year‑on‑year, driven by growth in professional, online and home services channels, along with robust holiday‑season demand. Management highlighted that the company’s “Total Home” strategy resonated with both professional contractors and DIY cus

Market Update from Home Depot’s Leading Merchant USA: The latest market update from HBS Dealer features insights from Billy Bastek, Home Depot’s top merchant, on current retail trends and industry performance. Bastek discusses both positive and challenging aspects of the home improvement market, noting areas where the retailer has innovated while also acknowledging ongoing pressures faced by the sector. Key topics include how Home Depot is adapting merchandising strategies to

NKBA 2026 Review of the Association and Industry Outlook USA: At the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2026 annual meeting, Global President and CEO Bill Darcy reflected on a challenging 2025 for the kitchen, bath and remodeling industry, citing issues like tariffs, rising building material costs, a persistent labour shortage, and housing constraints that dampened growth and consumer confidence. Despite these headwinds, NKBA has strengthened its advocacy role, expa

Oregon Mandates Heat Pumps for New Homes Under Updated Energy Code USA: Oregon has introduced a requirement for new homes to install heat pumps instead of ducted air-conditioning systems, highlighting a broader push by states toward electrification to help reduce energy costs. On Feb. 19, the Oregon Building Code Division’s Residential and Manufactured Structures Board approved a series of updates to the state’s residential energy code. One of the key changes requires new res

Home Depot Posts Slight Comparable Sales Growth as Market Shows Stability USA: The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, reported $38.2 billion in sales for its 13-week fourth quarter ended 1 February 2026, down 3.8 % year‑on‑year due to an extra week in the prior-year period. U.S. comparable‑store sales rose 0.3 %, while net earnings fell 14.2 % to $2.6 billion. For the full year, total sales reached $164.7 billion, up 3.2 %, with net earnings of $14.2 b

HARDI, Industry Groups Seek SCOTUS Review of Furnace Efficiency Rule USA: Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), in collaboration with another industry association and the Natural Gas Association of Georgia, on Monday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to review a court ruling that could effectively phase out non-condensing gas furnaces and certain commercial water heaters. The dispute centers on efficiency standards issued by the U.S. Departm

Chemours Outlines Performance and Cash Flow Measures In 2025 Results USA: The Chemours Company has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, reporting revenue in line with its expectations and cash flow generation during the fourth quarter. Net Sales of $1.3 billion, slightly down compared to the corresponding prior-year quarter, with TSS reporting a record fourth quarter with double-digit year-over-year growth of 37% in Opteon™ Refrigerants Pr

Collaboration CANADA: Rheem Canada has announced that General HVAC Solutions America, Inc. has officially joined its portfolio of brands in the Canadian market. As part of this integration, the Fujitsu AIRSTAGE range of mini-split and VRF heating and cooling systems will now be included under Rheem Canada’s brand offerings. With immediate effect, Rheem Canada has taken over sales responsibilities for General HVAC Solutions America, while other operational functions will be gr

Agreement USA: Johnson Controls a global leader in energy efficiency, decarbonization, and thermal management solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a Boston-based innovator specializing in next-generation thermal management platforms for high-performance data centres and mission-critical industrial applications. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Johnson Controls’ position and capabilities in the rapidly expanding data centre cooling m