The Clifford H. “Ted” Rees Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), has announced the award of $44,500 in scholarship funds to 26 students studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry.

The global smart thermostat market is forecast to reach $2.21 billion by 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research Inc. These devices allow users to remotely manage their heating and air conditioning systems using wireless connectivity and mobile apps.

WinWholesale Inc. announced that Syracuse Winsupply has opened to provide HVAC contractors in Syracuse and the central New York region with an inventory of quality HVAC equipment, supplies, and services. The new company is part of WinWholesale, one of the largest distributors in the nation.

Daikin Industries Ltd. announced it is offering companies worldwide free access to 93 patents to encourage them to develop and commercialize air conditioning, cooling, and heat pump equipment that uses HFC-32 as a single-component refrigerant.

While many building rating programs exist, there is not anything in the industry that standardizes the contents of those programs, ensuring users are knowledgeable about what impacts their ratings. A proposed standard from ASHRAE, now open for public comment, would serve as the “backbone” of such rating systems.

Sheila Tierney, vice president of product management for HVAC Parts & Supply Solutions at Ingersoll Rand, was named a winner of Diversity Journal’s 14th annual Women Worth Watching Award. Tierney is among 100 executives chosen for the honor.