21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Clears Congress to Boost U.S. Housing Affordability U.S.: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Clears Congress to Boost U.S. Housing Affordability after passing the U.S. House of Representatives with a bipartisan 358-32 vote, clearing Congress and awaiting presidential approval, although President Trump postponed the planned signing ceremony while calling for the passage of the SAVE AMERICA ACT. The legislation aims to improve housing affordab

Lennox and Ariston Mark One Year of North American Water Heating Joint Venture U.S.: Lennox has marked the one-year anniversary of its joint venture with Ariston Group, launched in 2025, which introduced a portfolio of residential gas, electric and heat pump water heaters across North America, expanding Lennox's home comfort offerings. The partnership has achieved strong early dealer adoption by integrating water heaters into Lennox's distribution network and controls platfor

Safety Standards for Propane Heat Pumps Under Review North America: A working group responsible for updating the UL/CSA 60335-2-40 safety standard is progressing with revisions that would allow higher refrigerant charge limits for flammable A3 refrigerants, including propane (R290), in residential HVAC applications across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The revised text is expected to be completed in 2027 and incorporated into the fifth edition of the standard in 2028.

Homebuilder Survey Shows Stable Sales but Softer Buyer Demand United States: The latest BTIG/HomeSphere Homebuilder Survey indicated that conditions for small and mid-sized homebuilders remained broadly stable in May following two months of weaker performance. Around 28% of builders reported higher year-on-year sales, up from 24% in April, while the proportion reporting lower sales declined to 27% from 32%. However, buyer traffic remained subdued, with only 20% of respondents

Construction Spending Increases in April Canada: Investment in building construction reached CAD 23.6 billion (USD 17.2 billion; EUR 14.9 billion) in April, representing an increase of CAD 540.8 million (USD 394.8 million; EUR 341.9 million), or 2.3%, compared with the previous month. Residential building construction accounted for most of the growth, with spending rising by 3.1% to CAD 16.5 billion (USD 12.0 billion; EUR 10.4 billion). The increase in residential investment

handshake North America: Platinum Equity has entered into a definitive agreement to sell HVAC equipment supplier Heat Controller to Lennox. Headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, Heat Controller supplies HVAC equipment to distributors across North America under its Comfort-Aire and Century brands. Platinum Equity acquired the company in 2024 as part of its investment in Motors & Armatures Inc. (MARS), a distributor of HVACR parts, equipment, and supplies. Source: Lennox

HVAC CANADA: The Master Group, a leading North American distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment, parts, and supplies, has completed the acquisition of Distributor Corporation of New England (DCNE), a long-established Carrier distributor that has served the eastern New England region—including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—for more than six decades. The acquisition aligns with Master Group’s strategy to

Lennox North America: Lennox has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Heat Controller, a North American HVAC equipment supplier. Heat Controller serves distributors across the region through its Comfort-Aire and Century brands, supplying residential and commercial heating and cooling products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will expand Lennox's product portfolio and strengthen its presence among small and mid-sized HVAC distributors

Coalition of 34 Organizations Urges DOE to Delay Natural Gas Furnace Efficiency Standards U.S.: A coalition of 34 organizations has urged the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to extend the compliance deadline and reverse Biden-era efficiency rules for natural gas furnaces and commercial water heaters, citing concerns over higher costs and reduced consumer choice. Supported by the American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association and National Propane Gas Association, th

ASHRAE, PNNL and NEMA Launch AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework U.S.: ASHRAE, in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has released the AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework, providing industry-wide guidance for next-generation data center design and operation. Announced on June 11, 2026, the framework offers practical strategies for both new and existing facilities across t

Carrier Appoints Thomas Donato President of Climate Solutions Europe UNITED STATES: Carrier Global Corporation has announced the appointment of Thomas Donato as President of its Climate Solutions Europe segment, succeeding Thomas Heim, who is stepping down from the role. Donato joins Carrier with extensive experience in industrial technology leadership, most recently serving as CEO of Bosch Power Tools and previously holding senior positions at Bosch Rexroth, Rockwell Automat

Mod-land Expands Localised Supply Chain for Bathroom Vanities in the US USA: Mod-land Inc. has strengthened its North American supply chain by expanding its localised distribution model for bathroom vanities and fixtures in the United States. The company combines manufacturing facilities in the US and Malaysia with more than ten warehouses across the country, enabling faster deliveries and reducing supply chain risks. Serving builders, contractors and developers, Mod-land off

WaterFurnace Promotes Two Executives to Vice President Roles USA: WaterFurnace International has announced the promotion of Ryan Johnson and Dean Grunseth to Vice President positions as part of changes to its leadership structure. Johnson has been appointed Vice President Residential, while Grunseth has been named Vice President Commercial. The company stated that the appointments are intended to support its residential and commercial operations and strengthen engagement with

INNOVA and Copeland Partner on Heat Pump Thermostat Integration USA: INNOVA and Copeland have announced a partnership to integrate Copeland’s Verdant VX4 thermostat with INNOVA’s inverter heat pump systems. Under the agreement, INNOVA’s products will be supplied with a customised version of the thermostat designed to support control of inverter-driven heat pump operations, occupancy-based settings and integration with the company’s control systems. The partnership covers INNO

Brazil Faces Shortage of Refrigeration Technicians as HVAC-R Market Expands BRAZIL: Brazil is experiencing a growing shortage of qualified refrigeration and air conditioning technicians as demand rises across supermarkets, hospitals, industries, commercial buildings and data centers. According to ABRAVA, the HVAC-R sector generated approximately US$9.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$10.1 billion in 2026. Installation and maintenance services grew by 20.7% in 202

Bay Area Moves Towards Heat Pump Water Heaters USA: Homeowners across the nine-county Bay Area in California, United States, may be required to replace failed gas water heaters with electric heat pump models under new regulations introduced by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The measures, which are scheduled to take effect next year, form part of efforts to reduce emissions from buildings. Under the proposed rules, many households would no longer be able to inst

Tariffs Push Up HVAC Equipment Costs in Canada Canada: Heating and cooling equipment prices in Canada are rising as tariffs on steel and aluminium increase manufacturing and import costs across the HVAC industry. Industry participants reported that the cost of products such as furnaces, central air conditioners and storage water heaters has increased by approximately 20% to 30%, with the higher costs largely being passed on to end users. The impact is being felt most strongly

HVAC USA: Watsco has completed the acquisition of Jackson Supply Company, a well-established distributor of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, strengthening its presence across the rapidly growing U.S. Sunbelt region. Founded in 1972, Jackson Supply recorded approximately $230 million in revenue in calendar year 2025. The acquisition adds 25 distribution centres and nearly 5,000 active contractor customers to Watsco’s network, expanding its footprint

Tariff USA: Donald Trump signed a proclamation revising tariffs on selected metal-related imports to better address national security concerns, encourage investment in U.S. agriculture, housing, and manufacturing, and support domestic production of related goods. Under the revised measures, tariffs on certain agricultural machinery, including combines and harvesters, have been reduced from 25% to 15%. The proclamation also broadens the scope of industrial equipment eligible f

US Housing Shortage Drives Growing Interest in Affordable Factory-Built Homes USA: The ongoing housing affordability crisis in the United States is driving increased interest in factory-built and modular housing as a faster and more cost-effective alternative to conventional construction. The country entered 2026 with an estimated housing shortfall of approximately 4.03 million homes, while elevated mortgage rates, labour shortages and rising construction costs continue to re