Italy to supply industrial boilers to heat Ukraine after energy strikes Ukraine: Ukraine is set to receive heating equipment from Italy in the coming days to support regions affected by recent strikes on energy infrastructure, according to Kyrylo Budanov. He stated that the delivery forms part of international assistance aimed at stabilising the country’s energy situation following large-scale attacks. The support follows agreements reached between Ukrainian President Volodym

Building UK: Grafton Group plc (“Grafton” or “the Group”), the international building materials distributor and DIY retailer, provides this trading update for the period 1 November to 31 December 2025 ahead of its full-year results for 2025, scheduled for 5 March 2026. The Group expects full-year adjusted operating profit¹ to be in line with expectations², reflecting the resilience of its diversified portfolio amid challenging macroeconomic conditions in certain markets. Aver

Lidl UK: Lidl GB has announced plans to open 19 new stores in just eight weeks as part of its ongoing expansion across the UK. Alongside this growth, the discounter is investing over £43 million (US$ 57.7 million) to modernise more than 70 existing stores, bringing enhanced value, choice, and employment opportunities to communities nationwide. The rapid store rollout, equivalent to one opening every other day, is expected to create up to 640 new jobs. The new locations will e

Handshake UK: Nordic Climate Group has expanded its UK operations through the acquisition of Technical Retail Services Ltd (TRS), a Glasgow-based provider of refrigeration, electrical, and mechanical services with operations across Scotland and England. The acquisition enhances the Group’s UK footprint and adds a service-focused business with established partnerships with several of the country’s leading retailers. Founded in 1998, TRS has earned a strong reputation in the re

Air Conditioner Extended heatwaves across Southern Europe, particularly in Spain and Greece, continue to spike demand for air conditioning, transforming cooling from a luxury to a necessity. The trend persisted in 2025 amid record temperatures in the region. As per BRG estimates, while only about one-third of homes in Spain had air conditioning at the beginning of the last decade, the adoption has surged with continued growth (pandemic year of 2020 being the only exception) t

Sales Growth in FY2025 Germany: The Würth Group reported record sales growth of approximately EUR 20.7 billion (USD 22.4 billion) in FY2025, representing 2.3% year-on-year growth, or 3.2% growth at constant currency, while maintaining a stable operating result of EUR 940 million before tax (USD 1.02 billion). Sales in Germany reached nearly EUR 8.0 billion (USD 8.6 billion), up 0.8%, while international sales rose 3.3% to EUR 12.7 billion (USD 13.7 billion), supported by stro

Support Smart Energy Transition Netherlands: ABN AMRO is providing EUR 10 million (USD 10.8 million) in financing to Quatt, a manufacturer of smart home energy products, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to accelerating the energy transition in the Netherlands. The financing Support Smart Energy Transition solutions such as heat pumps, home batteries and energy management software, helping address grid congestion and enabling cleaner, smarter and more affordable household ene

Strong Sales Growth In 2025 Switzerland: The Geberit Group achieved solid performance in 2025, reporting currency-adjusted net sales growth of 4.8%, significantly strong sales growth above overall market development, despite a challenging environment. In Swiss francs, net sales increased by 2.5% to CHF 3,163 million (USD 3,480 million), with negative currency effects amounting to CHF 72 million (USD 79 million). Growth was driven by strong volumes supported by newly launched

Manchester Training Academy UK: Daikin has opened a new training academy in Manchester, United Kingdom, featuring hands-on training rooms, a realistic house setup, and virtual reality facilities to support heat pump and low-carbon heating skills. The academy offers product and industry-accredited training for installers, social housing providers and developers, supporting the growing demand for low-carbon heating and skills development in the region.   Source: HPM

Dunelm Sees Solid H1 UK: Homewares retailer Dunelm reported a “solid first half” performance in a challenging UK retail environment, while signalling that full-year profits are likely to come in at the lower end of expectations following a softer second quarter. For the period ended 27 December 2025, total sales reached GBP 926m (USD 1,176m), up from GBP 894m (USD 1,135m) in the same period last year. Performance was supported by a strong first quarter, but trading weakened i

Kitchen GERMANY: The BLANCO Group is gearing up for the future through key leadership changes. The company’s strategic shift from an accessory supplier to a comprehensive system provider for the kitchen water segment will be further advanced internationally and scaled efficiently. Effective 1 May 2026, CFO Rüdiger Böhle will succeed Frank Gfrörer as CEO of BLANCO. Gfrörer, who assumed leadership of the BLANC & FISCHER family holding last May, will now serve as Chair of the BL

Bosch GERMANY: The Bosch Home Comfort Group is further aligning its management structure to enhance regional customer focus and support global growth. Effective January 1, 2026, Maria Zesch and Stephan Lampel will join the Global Executive Board. Zesch will lead the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) sales region, while Lampel will take over responsibility for commercial functions, succeeding Thomas Volz. These appointments reinforce the company’s focus on addressing dive

Building UK: Between April and August 2025, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard Pilot Testing Programme was applied to 205 projects from 134 owners, covering a diverse range of building types and sectors. Insights from this pilot are now shaping Version 1 of the Standard in preparation for market launch.  The pilot welcomed applications from buildings across the UK at various stages of development, from early design to post-construction. Projects included both high-perf

houses UK: The four-year framework helps housing providers and local authorities deliver large-scale retrofit programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in homes across the UK. Developed in line with Procure Plus’ four-pillar approach to social housing procurement, focused on cost efficiency, quality and compliance, innovation, and social value, the framework emphasizes skills development, supply chain resilience, and positive outcomes for resident

Heating network UK: A new regulatory technical requirement for heat networks is set to be introduced on 27 January, promising both practical and long-term benefits. The Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS), expected in 2026, will ensure all heat networks meet consistent performance standards. Sophie Sibley, Principal Engineer at Synergie Environ, welcomes the development, noting that it will strengthen confidence in the quality of the UK’s heat networks.  HNTAS bui

Heat Pump Adoption in Eastern Europe Government subsidies have been a key policy lever driving heat pump adoption across Europe. In Eastern Europe, where household incomes are generally lower than in western Europe and legacy heating systems remain widespread, financial support has been particularly important in lowering entry barriers. At the same time, energy policies have also played a supportive role, as EU-level legislation such as the Fit for 55 package, the Revised Ene

Bauhaus Partners with Mirakl to Launch Online Marketplace GERMANY: German DIY market leader Bauhaus has formed a strategic partnership with French technology start-up Mirakl to develop its own online marketplace, which went live in August 2025. Using Mirakl’s marketplace technology, Bauhaus aims to significantly expand its online assortment by adding thousands of products from third-party sellers, strengthening its digital offering and customer choice. Founded in 2012, Mirakl

Austrian Residential Construction Shows Strong Signs of Recovery AUSTRIA: New residential construction in Austria is clearly moving into a recovery phase, driven mainly by strong growth in detached and semi-detached housing. According to Statistics Austria and BRANCHENRADAR, approvals for new residential units rose by 23.1% in the first three quarters of 2025, with a sharp 42.3% increase in the third quarter alone. Private households are once again investing heavily, supporti

Portugal Approves 2026 Budget with Strong Emphasis on Housing and Infrastructure PORTUGAL: Portugal’s parliament has approved the 2026 budget, allocating US$7.5 billion (€6.9bn) to housing and transport infrastructure as part of a broader plan to support growth while maintaining fiscal discipline. The centre-right minority government projects GDP growth of around 2.3% and a fourth consecutive budget surplus, alongside a reduction in public debt to about 88% of GDP. Total expe

Azerbaijan 2025 HVAC Imports from Turkiye Azerbaijan: In 2025, Azerbaijan imported heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems valued at about US$ 134.571 million from Turkiye, according to trade data reported in January 2026. These imports covered systems used for heating, cooling, and ventilation purposes, reflecting ongoing trade activity in building services equipment between the two neighbouring countries. The figure marks a snapshot of Azerbaijan’s relianc