Corporate News

The Met Office has officially declared January the coldest on record since 2010 as average temperatures failed to rise above 2.2oC. For those who battled against the elements this news may come as no surprise, but the freezing weather conditions can be ripe for plumbing disasters? When the temperatures drop below freezing, the water within exposed or uninsulated pipework can freeze. In plumbing systems this can limit water supplies to taps, showers and toilet cisterns. In heating systems this c...

COVID-19 has caused an economic climate that is ripe for rogue trainers and fast-track courses. For those who have been made redundant or those whose priorities have changed post-pandemic, seeking to re-train in a new sector is an attractive prospect.  Demand for training On paper, it seems that learning a trade is a good option. Construction can offer a skill for life, is a key industry, with the potential to be one’s own boss and gain more control of the work/life balance. Profes...

As the students from the Chamberlain Street School fifth grade of Rochester, NH walked off the bus and through the entrance to the Laars Heating Systems Customer Center, the Laars staff waiting for them was anxious and excited. This is not the audience they usually host and take on tours! With a shortage of workers and declining interest in entering manufacturing and trades industries, Laars staff wholeheartedly agreed to host such a field trip. The collective goal was to give fifth graders ex...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation announced the nomination of Victoria M. Holt and Michael M. Larsen to the board of directors. Victoria M. Holt recently retired as president and chief executive officer of publicly-traded Proto Labs, Inc., after leading the company since 2014. Headquartered in Maple Plain, Proto Labs engages in the digital manufacture of custom prototypes and production parts, and offers 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding services. Ms. Holt p...

Plumbing, heating and green energy company, Heatforce (Heatforce Wales Ltd) has joined the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO), demonstrating their continuous dedication to promoting fair trade and protecting consumer’s rights. Ombudsman scheme The independent, not-for profit, and government approved Ombudsman scheme has offered a range of services to its members and their customers for more than a quarter of a century, including independent alternative dispute resolution,...

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it has developed new technology that allows the estimated power consumption of individual home appliances to be extrapolated from the overall power consumption of each household. The new solution, the result of joint research with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., makes use of Mitsubishi Electric's pioneering AI technology Maisart to estimate power consumption to a high degree of accuracy without the need to install new measuring instruments. Mitsub...

Ofgem has appointed EDF to take on supplying Green Network Energy’s approximately 360,000 domestic customers and a small number of non-domestic customers. It has appointed British Gas Evolve, a trading name of British Gas Trading Ltd, to take on supplying Simplicity Energy's approximately 50,000 domestic customers. This follows a competitive process run by Ofgem to get the best deal possible for customers. competitive tariff EDF and British Gas Evolve are offeri...

EDF has stepped in to help customers left without a supplier after Green Network Energy ceased trading on 27 January 2021. The supplier will take on Green Network Energy’s 360,000 domestic customers as well as a smaller number of non-domestic customers, and has agreed to protect any money a customer may be owed. price decrease Existing customers’ credit on their accounts will be transferred across to their new account with EDF and it will repay customers who have already left Gree...

UNESCO World Heritage Sites include exceptional cultural and natural phenomena, such as the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and, New Lanark, a purpose-built 18th-century mill village in the picture-postcard-perfect Lanarkshire countryside. It was developed in 1786 by David Dale, who built cotton mills and housing for the mill workers, and soon became a successful business and an important milestone in the historical development of urban planning.    Once th...

Every day’s a school day, right? So, if one is sitting comfortably, Intergas would like to explain about Intergas Flexi Flue. Their 10-meter flue kit will line a traditional brick chimney (Class 1) all the way to the top of the chimney pot, leaving the exterior of the property unaffected. This is the answer to every installer’s prayers if they’ve been in the position of wanting to install a gas central heating system in a listed building but couldn’t find a way to flue t...

Johnson Controls, the front-runner for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, announced new Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, science-based targets as well as a net zero carbon pledge to support a healthy, more sustainable planet over the next two decades. The company’s and customers’ emissions reduction will be driven by Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue technologies and innovations which leverage big data and artificial intelligence to optimize buildings s...

Danfoss has announced its partnership with Hydronic Technology, Inc., which will provide the states of Louisiana and Mississippi with knowledgeable sales and service of Danfoss’ portfolio of hydronic comfort controls. Founded in 1951, Hydronic Technology is a supplier of water-side HVAC and domestic water equipment. It has three locations: New Orleans, Louisiana; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Jackson, Mississippi. Hydronic comfort controls “Hydronic Technology has great expertise in...

Ajax Systems is delighted to announce that Karl Robb joined Ajax’s Board, as an Independent Board Member. Karl’s 9 years of public board service, as well as his NYSE IPO experience, will assist Ajax Systems to greatly enhance corporate governance and compliance on the way towards its IPO. Additionally, Karl’s senior executive credentials within the global technology sector, will provide a strong sounding board and offer guidance for Ajax’s leadership team, as Ajax contin...

Facilio, an AI-driven property operations platform, and Italy-based Evogy, a digital energy service provider specializing in the Energy-as-a-Service model, announced a strategic partnership to deliver IoT-led solutions and services to drive sustainability and improve operational efficiency for real estate portfolios. Commenting on the partnership, Stefano Zanin of Evogy, CTO, and Co-Founder, stressed the need for a proactive response to climate change and adherence to sustainability, in real es...

The cooling tower is a heat dissipation system that, based on the principle of evaporative cooling, cools down water (or water and glycol) through its exchange with air. Evaporative cooling - used for some time now in the industrial and air conditioning (HVAC) market - is a simple principle. Based on the latent heat of water's evaporation, it reduces the temperature of the process water by evaporating a small part of it. For example, one can note that, through the evaporation of one kg of...

“We know that COVID is spread by airborne particles and droplets, so why won’t the UK Gov commit to promoting the installation of ventilation systems… to protect public health and local businesses in the long term,” said Dr Philippa Whitford, MP and Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Health and Social Care). Efforts are being stepped up to develop technology to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses through the air and on surfaces in workplaces. Demand is inc...

Are users finding that certain rooms in the home are colder in the winter or hotter in the summer than the rest of the home? Are users wondering how to reduce the home energy bill? Now that the family is spending more time at home, are users looking for ways to improve the comfort of the home? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, investing in the energy efficiency of the home would be an excellent investment. These types of investments can provide extensive cost savings every year fo...

Aggreko, the pioneer in the temporary energy market, announces its ambition to be net zero by 2050 or sooner, aligning with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius. Aggreko also commits to offering cleaner technologies and fuels to support its customers through their energy transition - using flexible and competitive energy solutions to meet their environmental sustainability targets. 2030 and 2050 goals  By 2030, Aggreko will: Reduce the amount of fossil diese...

IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing started the New Year with a curbside blood drive, partnering with Florida-based blood donation center, OneBlood on January 5th. Collecting more than 20 pints of whole blood, IERNA’s was determined to begin 2021 with their first of many charitable events throughout the year. “IERNA has always been a family and community-oriented company,” said Charlene Ierna, Owner and President of the company. “Our first and foremost priority...

Singapore can save massive amounts of energy by modernizing its existing building mass. Between 30 and 40 percent is a realistic possibility. And Danfoss’ new Smart Buildings Training Center in Singapore is busy paving the way for the change to happen. Since the opening late last year, more than 30 consultants, contractors, and installers have already participated in trainings here. Johnny Lim, Mechanical, Engineering & Plumbing Consultant at Surbana Jurong, one of Singapore’s...

Ofgem has recommended the creation of an independent body to help lead the United Kingdom's (UK) path to net zero at the lowest cost to consumers. The body would be fully separated from the National Grid and run the electricity system, helping to charge millions of electric vehicles and enabling a huge increase in renewable power while maintaining secure energy supplies. Managing energy system The UK government committed to consult on reviewing the management of the energy system Last month,...

Daikin, one of the pioneers in climate control systems, is pleased to announce its appointment of SK Sales as a new mass distribution channel (MDC) partner in the UK, with the wholesaler now an official stockist of Daikin’s solutions for the air-conditioning sector.  At a time when air quality and ventilation are at the forefront of building design, the new partnership is an excellent result for the HVAC industry, providing installers and building service engineers with extended acce...

The new VAD fans are available in 12-inch to 48-inch models with an airflow range of 955 to 36,396 cubic feet per minute depending on the size. The high-pressure efficiency permits the fans to be installed anywhere in the ducted system and in any position. Usage The fans can be used in either supply air mode or exhaust mode by simply turning the entire unit to move air in the desired direction. The fans are extremely compact and work well where space is limited. They can be mounted directly...

Stand outdoors on one of those days when the weather feels perfect, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the fresh air. Later, take another deep breath—only inside California home. How does it compare? Improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) at Los Angeles home or business makes sense on so many levels. Consider health, comfort, and household budget. It’s hard to imagine a more important investment than improving the air users breathe! At Tassio Temp Control, they specialize in heating...

Aggreko, the provider of mobile and modular power solutions, has renewed its partnership with women’s golf champion, Mel Reid. Six-time winner of the Ladies European Tour and vice-captain of the winning European team at the 2019 Solheim Cup, Mel Reid has been an Aggreko ambassador for two years. She is also a champion for the LGBTQ+ community and gender equality in sports.  After a successful 2020, which included winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic (her first LPGA title), Reid will be...

Johnson Controls, the pioneer for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, announces that its chairman and CEO George Oliver has been chosen by the Business Roundtable Chairman Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart, to serve as chair of the organization’s Energy & Environment Committee. Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers of American companies. Through research and advocacy, Business Roundtable supports policies to spur job creation, improve U.S. c...

18th January is the “most depressing day of the year,” or so the theory goes. The concept of Blue Monday, which falls on the third Monday of January, has been around for a while. Supposedly it’s based on a formula that takes into account the weather, the motivation, debt levels, and time since Christmas though many put it down simply to a long-lived PR stunt. self-care Ideas Whichever way users look at it, the dark January days can certainly take their toll, not least under...

Among companies in Japan, Panasonic is well-known for its long-term commitment to environmental sustainability. This commitment is underlined by Panasonic Corporation’s Founder, Konosuke Matsushita's belief that ‘a company is a public entity of society’. It would be nonsensical for industrial activities to wreak havoc on the environment and as a result, detract from people's happiness. The founder's philosophy continues to live on. Panasonic Environment Vision 2050 In June 2...

Jobber, a renowned provider of home service management software, announced a $60 million USD growth equity round led by global growth investor Summit Partners. The round includes participation from Jobber’s existing investors OMERS Ventures and Version One Ventures, as well as first-time participation from Tech Pioneers Fund. This growth financing will support continued investment in R&D, hiring, customer acquisition, and will help to further accelerate the company’s rapid growth...

Johnson Controls, the pioneer for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings and architect of OpenBlue connected solutions, is expanding its Tyco DS Dry Sprinkler product family to include the DS-8 8.0K (K 115) Dry Pendent Sprinkler. The enhanced features of the DS-8 Sprinkler make it ideal for protecting commercial freezers and outdoor spaces like balconies, breezeways, loading docks and parking garages. The DS-8 Dry Sprinkler provides more flexibility for designers and offers the possibility fo...