Consumer comfort with high-tech toys, combined with rising energy prices, have created a good market for manufacturers of thermostats and controls. It’s a far cry from a few years ago, when too many homeowners were too willing to override the energy-saving settings on their programmable t-stats.

Oregon State University’s (OSU’s) Energy Center is believed to be the first university-based cogeneration plant in the United States to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification. Cogeneration plants are designed to concurrently produce both electricity and heat from the same fuel.

Whether you use tea leaves, tarot cards, a crystal ball or just good old fashioned statistical analysis, the future of the housing market remains murky and the overall economic recovery seems to be missing in action, but one thing is clear. Definite housing trends have emerged and they won’t be going away anytime soon.

The Road to Success Lennox dealer meetings are part business seminar and part pep rally by design, said Jay Gidick, vice president of merchandising and national accounts. “We’re trying to make these meetings entertaining for dealers, and we think it’s working.”

IBE Consulting Engineers (IBE), a leading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering firm, announced the addition of Beckham Price, LEED AP, as sustainable services manager. An early adopter of sustainable building practices, Price has worked in construction management from both the client and contractor sides.

HVACR contractors who do work in the hotel-motel sector probably know it already - there is what has been described as “fundamental contradictions of sustainability in the hospitality industry.” For example, there may be a lot of talk of going green, but that may not mean action.

The EnOcean Alliance announced that it has signed up its 200th member company, NanoSense. NanoSense develops products using EnOcean and KNX technologies that regulate and optimize air quality inside buildings. Originally created in April 2008 by Distech Controls, EnOcean, Masco, MK Electric, Omnio, and Thermokon, the alliance now counts 200 members from 20 different countries.

When Stop & Shop was looking for ways to incorporate sustainable technology into its new multimillion dollar West Hartford, Conn., store, it focused on energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. In fact, the store, which opened in December 2010, is a 38,000-square-foot model of sustainability.

Geothermal wasn’t always on the homeowners’ radar in this application, as they briefly considered replacing their existing high-efficiency propane furnaces and air conditioners with similar equipment. However, the rising cost of propane - combined with federal tax credits - prompted their interest in higher efficiency systems.

Two refrigeration equipment manufacturers have received recognition for their energy efficiency efforts: Scotsman Ice Systems and Freeaire Refrigeration.