The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) today announced that a settlement has been reached in litigation that it brought against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) challenging DOE’s final rule, issued June 3, 2014, setting energy efficiency standards for commercial walk-in coolers and freezers (WICF).

Green Street Solar Power, a solar financing and installation company, and Plymouth Rock Energy, an independent energy provider, have announced a joint venture created to bring solar power to homeowners and business owners in the Northeast.

The European smart thermostat market is set to boom, according to a new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, which states that the European market earned revenues of $152.5 million in 2014 and forecasts that this will jump to $2.57 billion by 2019.

On Controls, a provider of cloud-based smart home and commercial control solutions for professional installers, has announced the addition of Cool Automation to its Partners in Control cooperative program. The program was created to achieve seamless compatibility between the On Controls platform and an array of connected devices.

OMG Roofing Products has introduced the PowerGrip Plus roof mount system, a watertight structural attachment system used to secure solar racks, HVAC, and other equipment to roofs covered with thermoplastic (TPO and PVC) membranes.

AAB Smart Tools has announced the launch of the SPM-100, what the company says is the HVAC industry’s first smartphone static pressure meter. It performs all the functions of a traditional handheld dual-port manometer, plus additional features such as onscreen guidance for accurate readings. 

Honeywell announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Elster Division of Melrose Industries plc, a leading provider of thermal gas solutions for commercial, industrial, and residential heating systems and gas, water, and electricity meters, including smart meters and software and data analytics solutions, for about $5.1 billion.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) announced an agreement completed during the Montreal Protocol Open Ended Working Group meeting in Paris, which includes development of a global qualification program for refrigerant supply chain networks.

BuildingIQ, an energy management software company, has announced the deployment of its Predictive Energy Optimization™ platform to BSA Group to promote to its commercial clients. BSA, a technical and commercial services provider to some of Australia’s largest companies, maintains a network of more than 500 contracting companies.

Patricia (Pat) Lupson, executive director of the Association of Air Conditioning Professionals (AACP) — formerly the Air Conditioning Contractors of America - National Capital Chapter (ACCA-NCC) — announced she will retire on Aug. 31, 2015.