ACCA announced that it has developed free lesson plans to assist in teaching ACCA Manuals J, D, and S to HVAC students. The lesson plans are intended for use by HVAC instructors at vocational schools and community colleges as a method of introducing their students to industry-accepted procedures for system design.

ABM Industries Inc. announced that Mechanical Systems Co. LLC has signed a franchise agreement to join its Linc Service franchise network. Mechanical Systems Co. is a leading provider of mechanical contracting services in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team (STT) has announced an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) public review period for its BSR/ACCA 2 Manual J-201x, “Residential Load Calculation,” as a revised industry standard.

Ice Energy, a provider of distributed thermal energy storage solutions, has announced the launch of Solar + Ice, which bundles its Ice Bear thermal energy storage unit with rooftop solar PV to deliver a cost-effective solar-plus-storage solution.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) today announced that John Lanier, chief operating officer (COO) of North American Technician Excellence (NATE), will perform the same role for AHRI, while continuing to lead NATE.

Nick Cordasci, a Food Lion associate, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 2014 Distinguished Partner Achievement Award, one of the agency’s individual honors for commercial refrigeration achievements, by the GreenChill Partnership.

Danfoss announced that it has acquired Dutch software company Advitronic Engineering B.V., headquartered in Giessen, the Netherlands. Danfoss said the acquisition enhances its solutions related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity in the food retail industry.

The global dehumidifier market was valued at $2.13 billion in 2014 and is forecast to reach $3.54 billion by 2022, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. Increasing construction activity worldwide is expected to primarily contribute to industry growth.

Ecova, an energy and sustainability management company, announced that it has acquired Retroficiency, a leading building efficiency intelligence company. Ecova said it will leverage Retroficiency’s expertise in building analytics to drive energy savings and engagement for commercial and industrial customers, directly and through utilities.

ASHRAE has announced its newly published Cold-Climate Buildings Design Guide, which provides information on the issues commonly faced in designing buildings for arctic and subarctic climates.