Trends at this year’s AHR Expo within commercial controls and building automation were improving energy efficiency, making buildings more adaptable, streamlining workflow to make things easier for HVACR contractors, and a greater emphasis on cybersecurity and digitization.

While a controls upgrade may be costly, the reality is, the longer you wait, the more expensive a replacement can be.

IEC Systems is a provider of turnkey proprietary and nonproprietary building automation systems (BASs) and a Distech Controls authorized system integrator.

Studies have shown potential, and real, energy savings with the use of fault detection and data analysis to guide HVAC systems.

Building automation systems can boost heating and cooling efficiency by more than 20%.

When it comes to this piece of critical infrastructure, operators need to be prepared to face new and sophisticated attacks.

Home automation is no longer a thing of the past. Customers are seeking ways to intelligently control their homes in more ways than ever before, as evidenced by the number of new smart home products on display in this sector at the AHR Expo.

Over a year of research and design went into the 2018 Dealer Design Awards gold-winning product in the Residential Controls category. After listening to feedback from both contractors and consumers for a more basic, easy-to-use, and cost-effective thermostat, Nest created the Nest Thermostat E.

The expected surge in smart thermostat sales will have equipment manufacturers, many of whom have their own proprietary controls, competing with the well-known universal thermostat brands, such as Nest, Honeywell, and ecobee.

From the start, the home’s development team at Legacy Custom Built Homes had big goals for the 6,600-square-foot, three-level home in terms of both efficiency and design aesthetic.

Products are emerging that help simplify homeownership.

For years, ZoneFirst President Dick Foster has used the light-switches-in-the-home comparison while promoting the benefits of zoning. At their AHR Expo booth, they introduced a product that brought new meaning to that comparison.

Posted by Gordon Fyodor Lyon on Oct 05

Posted by Gordon Fyodor Lyon on May 05

Scandinavian green energy startup Aira plans to offer a 10-year service guarantee and a monthly fee that includes installation, maintenance.

A recent survey shows homeowners are unfamiliar with what an HVAC heat pump can accomplish.

Only 4% of homeowners know modern heat pumps can heat down to -4°F. That’s a huge opportunity for HVAC contractors to step in and be the experts.

While the installation of heat pumps may seem to be slowing due to inflation and rising interest rates, coupled with a confusing rollout of federal funding, they are expected to pick up speed this year.

His jacket was emblazoned with the logo of a manufacturer of high-performing heat pumps, but when I mentioned that we were thinking of getting one, the tech shot down the idea.

This e-book includes a summary of sustainable HVAC developments, in particular of heat pumps and refrigerant changes to address climate change.

Heat pump sales may look like they are slowing down, but research shows they are picking up speed.

There are numerous factors for this trend, including energy efficiency, government incentives, and technology improvement. But HVAC contractors are still the boots on the ground in this electrification mission.

As heat pump technology advances and begins its march into colder climates, industry experts are expecting rooftop units to continue to gain popularity in both new construction and retrofits.

As people around the world prepare to celebrate Earth Day, it’s a good time to incorporate renewable energy solutions, like Thermal Energy Networks (TENs), into the ongoing conversation.

Hybrid systems offer a pathway that balances environmental concerns with practical considerations, ensuring a more sustainable and feasible transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Experts discuss some of the issues that arise when selling and installing heat pumps in climates where the primary need is for cooling and not heating.

Quilt, a newly launched company, has introduced a ductless heat pump that they say simplifies the installation and rebate process, while offering transparent pricing.

Contractors must be careful when sizing heat pumps for colder climates in order to avoid mold problems and homeowner discomfort.

Purdue University researchers have designed a predictive thermostat for heat pumps that has been shown to significantly reduce electricity use.

The startup, Pascal, plans to build a better heat pump based on solid refrigerants that will deliver higher efficiencies at lower costs, while eliminating all refrigerant emissions.”

To meet the ambitious environmental goals being proposed at all levels of government, residential air-to-water heat pumps are emerging as a transformative solution to lower carbon emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce utility bills.

What are the most common mistakes in heat pump installs, and how do you avoid them? Here’s what experts had to say about heat pump installation — a must-watch as electrification continues to gain momentum.

As more homeowners are ditching oil heaters and moving to heat pumps, the rest of the country can learn from the cold-climate success story.

Variable-speed heat pumps, which dominate the heat pump market in many countries, are getting more attention in the U.S. The NEWS asked several manufacturers about the benefits of the technology.

All-electric options have come a long way since their inception, and there’s never been a better time to get on board.

“(I’m Your) Heat Pump” is a soft, funky, R&B love song told from the perspective of a heat pump that depicts just what a heat pump can provide to its users.

This new private-public partnership wants to quadruple heat pump installation in California over the next 6 years.

Despite the arguments regarding the practicality of heat pumps in cold climates, residents of Maine have fully embraced them.

The DOE's new Rooftop Accelerator program encourages manufacturers to develop efficient commercial rooftop heat pumps for cold climates, which could reduce GHG emissions and energy costs by up to 50%.

One innovation leading the way in home comfort and efficiency is an air-to-water monobloc heat pump, which offers a blend of efficiency, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology.

With “heat pump” and “incentives” almost being synonymous at this point, contractors need to understand the basics to ensure customers are receiving the benefits.

Every year, The ACHR NEWS introduces the latest heating equipment that is available for the upcoming winter season.

The equipment in this month’s troubleshooting problem is an electric furnace that has been in service for at least ten years and has no service history.

Industry figures are estimates that are derived from the best available figures supplied by a sample of AHRI member companies.

Industry figures are estimates that are derived from the best available figures supplied by a sample of AHRI member companies.

Every year, The ACHR NEWS introduces the latest heating equipment that is available for the upcoming winter season.

Cold climate heat pumps were on full display on the AHR show floor and manufacturers were eager to share their progress reports in the Department of Energy’s CCHP Challenge.

BlocPower, a climate technology company focused on greening America's buildings, announced a fundraising round of $150 million, including more than $24 million of Series B corporate equity led by VoLo Earth Ventures and $130 million of debt financing led by Goldman Sachs.

Throughout March, voters will help the staff at Peterman Brothers select four charity partner organizations for 2023.

The residential heating showcase is designed to help HVAC contractors learn about the new heating equipment that is available for the upcoming cooler months.