Airtron Canada announced that it has been selected to perform HVAC and building automation systems (BAS) maintenance services for more than 600 Ontario government buildings. That translates into 21 million square feet of facilities in buildings such as office buildings, laboratories, and correctional facilities.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the Virginia Polytechnic and State University Advanced Research Institute nearly $2 million to continue research and development of its Building Energy Management Open Source Software (BEMOSS) for small and medium-sized commercial buildings.

SustainCo Inc. announced that its SustainCo Solutions & Services unit, through operating group VCI Controls Inc., has been awarded and has substantially completed a series of contracts and work orders worth over $550,000 by Defence Construction Canada-CFB Borden and Public Works and Government Services of Canada-CFB Borden.

The InsideIQ Building Automation Alliance, an organization of independent building automation contractors, is seeking an executive director. The alliance said this step is the next phase of its growth. The executive director will provide leadership and ensure the continued advancement of the alliance.

A research group led by Jim Rawlings, the Paul A. Elfers professor, and W. Harmon Ray, professor of chemical and biological engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, has partnered with Johnson Controls to develop better HVAC control systems for large commercial buildings.

With today’s technology, it’s possible for a high-performance building to integrate and optimize all its major functions while also ensuring energy efficiency and comfort. Yet, while opportunities abound for HVAC contractors in this niche, many say there are still barriers restricting the growth of high-performance buildings.

The goal of a high-performance building is to optimize its performance and energy use at all times, in all conditions. And, trends in smart controls and system integration are making this goal more achievable than ever before.

Wireless sensors have become very attractive products in the HVAC controls market over the past few years as architects and building owners have begun to work more closely together in order to preserve the structure of older buildings and improve aesthetics. 

Armstrong Fluid Technology’s Monday evening event at the hip River Roast along the Chicago River drew a packed house. Bruce Fontaine, OEM sales manager, Armstrong Fluid Technology, said focusing on the design envelope will be the way of the future for energy efficient HVACR systems, and encouraged contractors to “take the load off.”