Bipartisan Bill Reintroduced to Promote IAQ and Ventilation Upgrades in U.S. Buildings USA: A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to offer incentives for indoor air quality (IAQ) assessments, as well as upgrades to ventilation and air-filtration systems in non-residential buildings. The Airborne Act, which had been introduced in earlier House sessions but did not pass into law, was reintroduced in February by Don Beyer and Brian Fitzpatrick. The legislat

Do it Best and True Value Report Mid-Year Financial Performance USA: Do it Best and True Value have shared a financial update for the first half of fiscal year 2026, marking their first full year operating as a combined organisation. Consolidated revenues exceeded $2.5 billion at the mid-year point, reflecting steady demand despite a relatively flat economic environment. Hardlines sales at Do it Best increased slightly by 0.1% year on year, while True Value recorded a 31% ris

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

The Growing Popularity of the Jigsaw Kitchen Concept USA: A “jigsaw kitchen” is a design strategy gaining traction among homeowners and designers who want a high‑end look without overspending. It mixes premium elements like stone worktops, statement backsplashes and designer appliances with more modest, cost‑efficient components such as standard cabinetry or simpler hardware. The name reflects how different quality pieces are “pieced together” to create a cohesive, stylish ki

Best of Houzz 2026 Powered by Houzz Pro Award Winners Revealed USA: Houzz Inc. has announced the winners of the Best of Houzz 2026 Powered by Houzz Pro awards, recognising top residential design, remodel and construction professionals as voted by the global Houzz community. The annual programme highlights the most outstanding professionals in categories such as design, customer service, innovation and photography, celebrating just the top 2 % of more than 3 million industry p

CO₂ Refrigeration Gains Momentum Across Commercial and Industrial Applications CANADA: Over the years, the use of CO₂ as a refrigerant has increased significantly. In Canada, grocery stores have traditionally been the primary market for CO₂ refrigeration. Although precise data is difficult to obtain, adoption among grocery retailers has been relatively high. However, the most notable and rapid developments are now occurring at both ends of the refrigeration spectrum, small co

Housing 21st Century Act Clears a Significant Legislative Hurdle USA: The U.S. Senate has advanced the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, bringing the bill closer to final approval after clearing a major procedural hurdle with broad bipartisan support. Earlier, the House of Representatives had passed the legislation with overwhelming majorities, and the Senate’s action this week positions the Act for a floor vote. The legislation aims to address housing affordability and suppl

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

Showrooms Adapting to a More Disciplined Market in 2026 USA: The article discusses how kitchen and bath showrooms are adapting to a more structured and disciplined market environment in 2026. After several years of rapid growth and disruption, the industry is entering a more balanced phase where spending decisions are more carefully planned and guided by professionals. Distributors and showroom operators are redefining the role of showrooms, focusing not only on product displ

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