NATIONAL REPORT—Cold-storage rooms may look like simple metal boxes, but their performance is governed by what lies between the inner and outer walls. Insulation determines how efficient the refrigeration is, how much energy is consumed, how long it resists moisture and corrosion, and, ultimately, how reliably it protects food or pharmaceuticals. As energy codes tighten and operating margins shrink, cold storage manufacturers are rethinking everything from the materials they use to the systems that shape them. The industry is moving toward three central priorities: higher performance insulation, precision driven automation, and more sustainable manufacturing practices. Why Traditional Foam Falls Short For...

MIAMI—Amerikooler, a U.S. based leader in commercial refrigeration solutions, is redefining walk-in cooler and freezer installations with its comprehensive Nationwide Installation Service, designed for seamless project execution from delivery to start-up. With a network of certified professionals that spans the United States, every project is handled, whether in city centers or remote areas, by experts who meet stringent in-house certification standards, ensuring flawless assembly and reliable performance. The fully managed, white-glove process lifts the burden of coordinating complex installs and lets businesses focus on their operations, while Amerikooler’s team oversees everything from measurements to layout, project management, and system commissioning....

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Vingcard to the “Energy Management/Guestroom” category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Vingcard is a global leader in developing advanced technologies that are purpose-built for hospitality’s latest needs. With The Vingcard Solution, a fully modular hotel solution ecosystem, Vingcard unifies access control, energy management, online connectivity, operations management and more to help properties improve efficiency and support long-term sustainability goals. Customizable in-room and property-wide solutions integrate seamlessly into hospitality environments while maintaining performance standards. Intelligent lighting, room controls, and occupancy-based systems work together to optimize energy use and enhance guest comfort. A part...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Nomadix Energy Management to the “Energy Management/Guestroom” category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Nomadix Energy Management is a purpose-built solution that’s based on a digitally secure “cloud native” architecture and coupled with connected smart wireless thermostats. Unlike outdated and costly legacy systems, it’s easy to manage and leverages existing IT and Wi-Fi infrastructure. Our EMS offer is one of the industry’s lowest cost-of-ownership and enables the fastest payback. The solution includes: A cloud platform for easy-to-use centralized above-property device monitoring and control. It enables schedule and rule enforcement, over-the-air (OTA) firmware and setting...

ASHLAND CITY, TENN.—A. O. Smith will host educational Q&A sessions featuring top industry influencers along with subject matter experts at the upcoming 2026 AHR Expo, beginning on Feb. 2 in Las Vegas. A. O. Smith will host four sessions across two days, discussing the Voltex Heat Pump Water Heater family and the Adapt+ Tankless Water Heater. These sessions will feature influencers speaking with an A. O. Smith product expert and will cover topics including working with the units, benefits to HVAC professionals, key features and more. The influencers covering the Voltex sessions will be Omar Harris and Mary-Anne Bowcott,...

SWORDS, IRELAND—Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has been recognized by Fortune as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies for the fourteenth consecutive year. The annual list, developed by Fortune in collaboration Korn Ferry, is widely considered to be the definitive assessment of corporate reputation. The companies on the list are the best regarded in their industry and rated on nine criteria, ranging from investment value, product excellence, management quality, talent attraction and social responsibility. “We are honored to be acknowledged by Fortune as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies,” said Dave Regnery, Chair and CEO of Trane Technologies. “This recognition...

ASHLAND CITY, TENN.—A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment, was recognized for design excellence by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies in the 2025 Chicago Athenaeum GOOD DESIGN Awards for its Voltex MAX Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) and Emerge X Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater. The awards honor products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have chartered new directions for innovation and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace. “It is an honor to have our...

NATIONAL REPORT—Commercial buildings depend on air handling units to deliver consistent airflow, regulate indoor conditions, and keep energy consumption manageable. For decades, a single, large centrifugal fan, or blower, was the standard choice. While effective in their time, these systems carry a significant drawback: a single point of failure. If that singular fan fails, the entire system can go offline, creating costly disruptions and forcing invasive repairs. Replacements often require structural modifications to the building just to move these massive fans in or out of the air handler, making projects long, expensive, and highly disruptive. Fan arrays were introduced in...

At Boutique Design New York in November, I was introduced to Nextac, “the next evolution in PTAC and VTAC technology.” It was the Nextac PTAC unit that caught my eye primarily because of its size. It protrudes only 6 inches from the wall compared to a traditional PTAC with a 12-inch protrusion. According to Ephoca, the maker of Nextac PTACs/VTACs, its PTACs uses 75 percent less power while recovering up to 80 percent of exhaust heat. Nextac units were designed to reduce carbon emissions and meet evolving regulations. ThermaSleeve insulation prevents air leakage to boost performance and lower energy costs....

The hospitality industry has long embraced new energy management solutions (EMS) to improve efficiency while maintaining guest comfort. Smart thermostats, initially designed to monitor only for occupancy, have since evolved to provide even greater savings by integrating with check-in/check-out signals from the PMS. At its core, the smart thermostat operates on “If This, Then That” (IFTTT) logic—the device contains all of the routines to respond to specific, pre-programmed situations. Despite the wide range of variables and routines required in a typical hotel thermostat, EMS pioneers have produced excellent results, packing a surprising amount of power into these small devices to...