ASHLAND CITY, TENN.—A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating, water treatment and water management, announces the release of the Voltex X Outdoor Split Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH), made in partnership with Panasonic. The Voltex X unit will be joining A. O. Smith’s Voltex family of high efficiency, sustainable products. The Voltex X is a highly versatile member of A. O. Smith’s heat pump lineup. It is a split system design jointly developed by Panasonic and A. O. Smith, leveraging both companies’ core competencies. With the ability to be installed in locations that reach temperatures as low as 25°F,...

LEBANON, TENN.—Lochinvar, an industry leader in high-efficiency boilers and water heaters, announces its newest addition to its family of commercial water heating technology with the Regent commercial tankless water heater. Designed to deliver ultra-high efficiency and dependable operation, Regent units meet the evolving demands of commercial water heating systems. Built to handle dynamic heating loads, Regent tankless is available in three models ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 BTU/hr. Each unit achieves a thermal efficiency of up to 97 percent and features a turndown ratio of up to 25:1. This modulation range enables the Regent water heater to adapt seamlessly to...

Sustainability in hospitality has come a long way. Energy use, water savings, and green certifications are now standard parts of hotel development. But there’s one system that still surprisingly gets far less attention than it deserves. Often overlooked, yet one of the most influential systems affecting guest comfort, wellness, and energy performance is the in-room HVAC system. For most hotel guests, the room is where sustainability becomes personal. It’s where they sleep, breathe, and recover. And no matter how much lobbies and public spaces showcase a property’s green credentials, guests will remember (and will comment on) if the room is...

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Ariston Group announced it has hired Ben Capra as Regional Sales Manager of water heating for the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Capra, a graduate of Florida State University, brings more than a decade of experience in sales of plumbing and heating equipment. His region includes Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and New Mexico. Ariston Group’s brands include Ariston, NTI, HTP and American Standard Water Heaters. “When Ariston acquired HTP and American Standard Water Heaters, that was a big signal to the industry that Ariston was committed to the North American market,’’ Capra said. “By aligning with those...

SWORDS, IRELAND—Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has been recognized for excellence in both ethical leadership and stakeholder engagement, earning designation as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the third consecutive year and recognition as the top-performing company in the Construction & Materials industry in Just Capital’s Best of American Business rankings. “We are honored to once again be recognized by Ethisphere and Just Capital and included among these prestigious lists of companies that lead by example,” said Dave Regnery, chair and CEO of Trane Technologies. “These awards reflect the outstanding work of our teams around the world, who...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The walk-in cooler and freezer sector has always been one of the most essential yet least visible pillars of the foodservice ecosystem. It is infrastructure—quiet, unglamorous, and often overlooked until something goes wrong. Yet in 2025–2026, the industry finds itself in a period of rapid regulatory evolution, shifting consumer behavior, and architectural reconsideration across restaurants, retail, healthcare, and institutional markets. What emerges is not a picture of decline, but of transformation: a mature industry navigating a tightening landscape where compliance, engineering, and design adaptation matter more than ever. A Market Defined by Renovation, Not Expansion In both the United States...

SHELTON, CONN.—Budderfly, one of the fastest growing energy companies in the U.S., announced a record pace of innovation, with 21 patents filed and 4 patents granted in 2025—the highest annual filing total in the company’s history. Budderfly’s portfolio now stands at 34 granted patents, 2 allowed patents, and 34 pending patent applications. This milestone expands Budderfly’s proprietary systems and reinforces its leadership in distributed energy optimization. Budderfly’s portfolio spans advanced HVAC control methods, distributed energy coordination systems, intelligent load balancing, and behind-the-meter microgrid controls. These technologies operate within Budderfly’s integrated platform, which combines capital investment, proprietary software, energy baselining, billing...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) have approved a new two-year work plan titled “Life Cycle Refrigerant Management (LCRM)”, reinforcing their long-standing partnership to advance sustainable refrigerant practices worldwide. The plan was adopted during the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Las Vegas. As the refrigerating and air-conditioning (RAC) industry transitions to alternative refrigerants, comprehensive management across the full refrigerant life cycle, from production and installation to recovery, reuse and disposal, has become increasingly critical. Some legacy refrigerants can deplete the ozone layer if released, while certain alternatives introduced to replace them have high global warming potential (GWP). Effective life...

NATIONAL REPORT—In an era marked by rising energy costs, shifting regulations, and a growing demand for sustainable business practices, the cold storage industry stands at the crossroads of innovation and necessity. Energy efficiency is no longer a bonus—it’s a mandate. For businesses that rely on walk-in coolers and freezers, from restaurants and grocery stores to pharmaceutical labs and food distribution centers, future-ready refrigeration means embracing smarter, greener, and more efficient technologies. Cold storage is an energy-intensive necessity. With compressors running 24/7 and temperature consistency being critical to product integrity, refrigeration systems account for a substantial portion of operational energy use....

JOHNSON CITY, TENN.—American Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of comprehensive commercial and residential water heaters, announces the launch of its new and improved website, americanwaterheater.com. The updated website is designed to support American Water Heater’s business objectives and better serve its customers’ needs. The new website delivers a sleek, mobile-friendly experience designed for homeowners, trade partners and employees. With streamlined navigation and upgraded search tools, users can quickly find the information they need. Customers can now easily select the right water heater using the Water Heater Selector and find nearby installers through the Where to Buy function. “Being able to leverage research, analytics, and...