ABB demonstrated advanced occupant tracking sensors from PointGrab — in which ABB’s Technology Ventures arm made an investment in December 2015 — at Light+Building 2016. PointGrab uses edge-analytics connected sensors to deliver actionable occupant tracking information for smart homes and buildings.

The global variable frequency drive (VFD) market is expected to increase at a 7.2 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in terms of value during 2016 to 2026, according to a report from Future Market Insights (FMI). Volume-wise, FMI estimates the VFD market to expand at an 8.5 percent CAGR.

The Building Performance Institute Inc. (BPI) announced it is introducing the Healthy Home Evaluator (HHE) credential to the home performance, weatherization, and healthy housing workforce, with the goal of breaking the link between unhealthy housing and unhealthy families through home performance interventions.

Ideal Power Inc., a developer of power conversion technologies, announced it has successfully tested and demonstrated a new variable frequency drive (VFD) based on its patented Power Packet Switching Architecture™ (PPSA).

The global market for ZigBee-enabled smart thermostats is forecast to increase substantially at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 67 percent by 2020, according to a market analysis by Technavio.

LonMark International, with the cooperation of Echelon Corp., the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee TC-247, and LonMark Germany, announced plans to develop a new control-networking standard for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

PulteGroup Inc. has announced production of a zero net energy (ZNE) home prototype in northern California, becoming the largest builder to participate in a pilot aimed at building new homes to achieve maximum energy efficiency and utility grid load reduction.

Technavio’s latest research report on the global air conditioning market provides an analysis on the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2016 to 2020.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the 2016 Climate Leadership Award recipients who will be honored for their leadership in helping fight climate change. Ingersoll Rand, Davidson, North Carolina, will be presented with an Organizational Leadership Award for phasing out HCFCs and other refrigerants.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that its Better Buildings Home Upgrade Program Accelerator and Home Energy Information Accelerator are working with partners across the nation to make important progress in lowering the costs of energy upgrade programs, while improving overall program effectiveness.