The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has published research project AHRI 8018: Review of Refrigerant Management Programs. This project examined refrigerant management and recycling programs implemented in key regions of the world, evaluated their effectiveness, and determined best practices.

ACCA has named Welsch Heating & Cooling Co., St. Louis, as its 2016 Residential Contractor of the Year. The company will be presented with the award on March 10 at the opening MainStage of the ACCA 2016 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Comcast has announced a partnership with Earth Networks to use its WeatherBug Home optimization software to help Comcast’s Xfinity Home customers further reduce HVAC energy usage and lower costs.

An Indiana Bryant dealer’s equipment donation to a local training institute will help ensure that the next generation of HVAC technicians is familiar with the latest energy-efficient technology. Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning donated a Bryant multi-head ductless split to the Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) in Brownsburg, Indiana.

Encycle, developer of the Swarm Energy Management platform™, announced it was one of the recipients of the 2016 Global Cleantech 100 award. This award, presented by the Cleantech Group, recognizes the most innovative and promising ideas in clean technology.

Optimum Energy announced that campuses and commercial buildings can cut energy use of HVAC systems 20 to 40 percent with the company's new OptimumAIR™ module for the OptiCx™ optimization platform, which made its official debut at the IDEA Campus Energy 2016 Conference.

Powerhouse Equipment and Engineering Co. Inc. announced it has acquired boiler service company, Corn Service Inc. (CSI), of Gastonia, North Carolina. Powerhouse said this acquisition will allow it to better service its rental boiler customers in the Mid-South, Southeast, and Gulf Coast regions of the United States.

Danfoss announced it is accepting entries for its seventh annual EnVisioneer of the Year Award competition. Launched in 2010, the competition recognizes OEMs, building owners, municipalities, contractors, and end users that use Danfoss products or solutions to realize significant energy and environmental savings.

Trimble has announced the acquisition of London/New York-based Sefaira Ltd., a leading developer of cloud-based software for the design of high-performance buildings. Trimble said the acquisition expands its design-build-operate (DBO) portfolio.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin presented the West Virginia University (WVU) Industrial Assessment Center with the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Enabling Industrial Energy Efficiency.