ASHRAE US: The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council and ASHRAE have signed a three-year agreement to collaborate on advancing the adoption of natural refrigerants. The partnership focuses on research, knowledge sharing, workforce development, and education to support the transition toward lower global warming refrigerant solutions. The collaboration combines ASHRAE’s expertise in technical standards, research, and training with NASRC’s industry network, which incl

Housing Starts Ease in March 2026 Despite Stronger Year-to-Date Growth Trend CANADA: Housing starts in Canada declined by 6% in March 2026 to an annualised rate of 235,852 units, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. However, urban starts rose 10% year-on-year, while year-to-date activity increased 9% compared with 2025, indicating underlying resilience despite monthly volatility in construction activity. Source: Hardlines

Ban on Natural Gas Appliance US: The San Francisco Bay Area Air District has mandated a phase-out of natural gas appliances, restricting water heaters from January 2027 and furnaces from 2029, impacting approximately 2.95 million households in the San Francisco Bay Area. The regulation targets nitrogen oxide emissions, although residential space and water heating contribute only around 5% of total emissions in the state, indicating a relatively limited share compared to tra

Home Depot If its bid to acquire a leading wholesaler goes through, The Home Depot would rapidly emerge as a significant force in HVAC distribution. Its subsidiary, SRS Distribution Inc., recently revealed plans to acquire Mingledorff’s Inc., a Georgia-based distributor specializing in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical equipment and supplies. Currently privately held, Mingledorff’s operates 42 locations across five states in the South and Southeast and reportedly surpassed $1 bi

Builder Confidence Falls in April 2026 as Costs, Interest Rates and Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Housing Market USA: Builder confidence in the single-family housing market declined sharply in April 2026, with the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index falling four points to 34, its lowest level since September 2025. Current sales conditions dropped to 37, future sales expectations fell to 42, and buyer traffic declined to 22. Sentiment weakened due to high interest rates, risin

Heat Pump USA: With accelerating electrification and increasingly stringent building performance standards, ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) are gaining renewed traction across the plumbing and mechanical sectors. Once considered a niche technology, these systems are now being actively evaluated for both residential and commercial applications where energy efficiency, lifecycle cost optimization, and sustainability objectives align. As highlighted by the U.S. Department of En

Retail sales USA: National Retail Federation projects that retail sales will grow by 4.4% in 2026 compared to 2025, reaching approximately $5.6 trillion. This forecast is based on a newly enhanced methodology developed in collaboration with Oxford Economics. The projected growth is higher than the 10-year average annual increase of 3.6%, excluding the pandemic-affected period from 2020 to 2022. Source: National Retail federation

Water heaters USA: Driven by sustainability targets and rising energy costs, electrification regulations are gaining traction across the U.S. For example, Colorado has introduced restrictions on new residential gas furnaces and water heaters, allowing only ultra-low nitrogen oxide emission systems or those meeting updated Energy Star standards. According to Chris Czarnecki, this move could serve as a template for other states pursuing ambitious electrification and decarboniza

Partnership USA: As electrification and more efficient energy use continue to grow, HVAC systems installed by contractors are increasingly acting as a link between homes and the power grid. This shift is reflected in the launch of a new coalition focused on maximizing grid efficiency without expanding infrastructure. Introduced on March 10, Utilize brings together major players such as Carrier, Google, Tesla, along with Renew Home, Sparkfund, SPAN, and Verrus, to enhance “gr

HVAC USA: Dual fuel HVAC systems, which combine electric heat pumps with fossil-fuel furnaces, are gaining traction as they offer year-round comfort and improved energy efficiency without requiring full electrification upfront. Recent advancements in cold-climate heat pump technology have further expanded their operating range, making these hybrid systems increasingly viable even in colder regions and strengthening their long-term relevance. Market trends indicate strong grow

Heat Pumps USA: Recent federal energy policy changes are introducing fresh uncertainty for HVACR contractors planning investments around electrification and energy efficiency incentives. The United States House of Representatives passed the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act with a 210–199 vote, a measure that seeks to repeal $5.7 billion in programs under the Inflation Reduction Act supporting home electrification rebates, contractor training, and building energy code adoption. Ac

HVAC USA: Companies that manufacture or import equipment or products containing plastic may be required to report to Canada’s Plastics Registry. The Registry mandates annual disclosure of the volume of plastic produced or imported into Canada, whether within products or their packaging. Reporting is structured in three phases, with two particularly relevant to the HVACR industry. Phase 1 covers products that may enter residential waste streams, such as plastic packaging, elec

Refrigerant USA: Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) announced that on March 27, 2026, a New York appellate court temporarily prevented the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation from enforcing its ban on refrigerants R-404A and R-507A, commonly used in commercial refrigeration systems. The decision extends enforcement flexibility beyond the March 31 deadline as the court reviews HARDI’s request for a preliminary inju

Refrigerant USA: A New York appeals court has temporarily blocked the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) from enforcing a ban on two refrigerants used to maintain commercial refrigeration systems across the state. The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Third Department has also issued a show-cause order as part of the ongoing legal challenge to the state’s refrigerant regulations filed by Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigera

HVAC USA: New York City is intensifying its push toward building sustainability through a comprehensive program aimed at improving energy efficiency and transparency across large properties. According to information from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and the NYC Office of Energy and Sustainability, the city has introduced a Sustainable Building Program targeting properties larger than 25,000 square feet. As part of the initiative, these “covered

HVAC USA: For decades, HVAC technicians have depended on hands-on experience, manuals, phone support, and intuition to diagnose and repair complex systems. While these skills remain essential, a new tool is transforming field operations: artificial intelligence (AI). No longer limited to large corporations or data specialists, AI is now readily available through smartphones, tablets, and cloud-based platforms, making it highly accessible for technicians in the field. It is he

water heater USA: Starting January 1, 2027, all new equipment installed during residential hot water heater retrofits in Vancouver must meet 100% efficiency standards. This requirement applies to existing one- to three-storey homes. According to the city, water heating accounts for roughly 25% of household energy use in British Columbia and is one of the largest contributors to residential carbon emissions, second only to space heating. The city also noted that upgrading to a

Energy Star Program USA: The U.S. Department of Energy is set to take over the Energy Star program, a move that could reshape its funding structure and better align its rating tiers with other federal standards. As of March 3, the program has been transferred from the Environmental Protection Agency under a memorandum of agreement, designating the DOE as the lead agency. The agreement states that all Energy Star-related activities—including partnership agreements, trademarks,

Raw material USA: Donald Trump has issued an executive proclamation revising how Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminium, and copper are calculated. However, according to Stan Kolbe of the Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), the change offers limited relief for contractors already facing rising material costs, particularly for aluminium and specialty steel. Kolbe noted that while the revised tariff structure may alter calculation methods

Home Depot USA: The Home Depot is set to expand its presence across the U.S. in 2026 with the addition of 12 new stores, covering more than 1.6 million square feet of retail space across eight states. Texas will see the highest number of openings with four stores, followed by Florida with two, while Arizona, Arkansas, California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah will each host new locations. Despite a broader trend of retailers reducing physical store networks, the company is st