As ductless technology becomes more popular in the North American market, equipment manufacturers continue to introduce new units for both the residential and commercial markets. Read this roundup for a review of some of the latest ductless equipment on the market.

At a time when unitary shipments have fallen, ductless systems have been experiencing impressive growth in the U.S. market in recent years, according to manufacturers interviewed by The NEWS. Ductless manufacturers say there are many reasons for this growth, but one of the main reasons is simply heightened awareness of the technology.

As TV technology has continued to evolve, WOOD-TV 8 has faced increasing problems in maintaining comfort within its facility. In 2008, WOOD’s longtime HVAC contractor, Seaman’s Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. (Grand Rapids, Mich.) decided a major retrofit was needed to solve the station’s comfort problems.

Every year The NEWS introduces the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands. This feature provides our 2011 Residential Cooling Showcase.

While CO2 is being successfully used in subcritical applications in the United States, it is more of a challenge in transcritical situations because of demanding compressor technology and high pressures. The UK office of Sanyo Air Conditioners recently issued two case histories showing the refrigerant being used for heat pumps in commercial applications.

“What good is all the high efficiency equipment in the world, if it isn’t being installed correctly?” asked Tom Grunstra, Fujitsu General America’s national trainer for HVAC products, to a classroom full of installation and sales pros.