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The U.S. Department of Energy's updated energy efficiency standards for room air conditioners took effect in 2026. The standards establish higher minimum efficiency requirements for window units. The standards, finalized earlier this year, are projected to save consumers $25 billion over 30 years of equipment shipments. Since
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Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International reported on July 7 that HVAC equipment shipments are stabilizing after steep declines in 2025. Heat pump shipments dropped 13.9% over the past 12 months. They remain up 1.2% year-to-date. The most recent three-month period through April 2026
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Regulation The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule on July 27 that gives HVAC contractors more time to install R-410A equipment. Under the rule, systems with refrigerants above 700 GWP can be installed through December 31, 2026, as long as all components were manufactured or imported before
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a Florida air conditioning contractor on March 4 for exposing workers to struck-by hazards following a worker fatality. The agency's investigation found the contractor failed to protect employees from dangerous conditions on the job site. OSHA has not yet disclosed
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HARDI reported on April 28 that heat pump shipments fell 5.8% in February 2026 compared to February 2025, with 310,700 units shipped. Over the trailing 12 months, heat pump shipments have declined 13.4%. Air conditioners and heat pumps show the steepest drops. This follows heavy distributor stockpiling
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The Environmental Protection Agency announced on May 21 that it has finalized revisions to refrigerant compliance rules from 2023 and 2024. The agency says the changes will save the industry over $2.4 billion. The revisions adjust compliance deadlines in the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule and propose modifications to the
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The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute reported in August 2026 that U.S. manufacturers shipped 1,023,571 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in June 2026. This represents a 21.7 percent increase from 840,769 units in June 2025. Air conditioner shipments climbed 26.8
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the refrigerant threshold from 50 pounds to 15 pounds on January 1, 2026, for systems containing high-global warming potential refrigerants. This change brings an estimated 70% more systems under federal oversight. Many walk-in coolers, rooftop units, and smaller commercial HVAC systems
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Industry News Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International reported in September 2026 that member distributor sales grew 6.7% in July 2026 compared to the same period last year. This marks the strongest monthly gain so far this year. The trade group's data shows annual sales growth
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The U.S. Department of Energy published guidance on May 29 eliminating rebates for electrification conversions from its home energy upgrade programs. The policy change affects $8.8 billion in federal funding. It removes incentives for homeowners switching from gas or oil heating systems to electric heat pumps. States are
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the refrigerant threshold from 50 pounds to 15 pounds for systems containing high-global warming potential refrigerants on January 1, 2026. Since the start of the year, this rule has brought an estimated 70% more systems under federal oversight. Small commercial HVAC units
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Industry News Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International reported on September 3 that distributor sales jumped 6.7% in July compared to the same month last year. That marks the strongest monthly gain of 2026 on a comparable billing-day basis. The 12-month sales growth rate through July