As part of a partnership with Nest, Green Mountain Energy Co. is offering customers the opportunity to pair 100 percent renewable electricity with the Nest® Learning Thermostat™. Consumers can now receive the thermostat at no charge as part of the Pollution Free™ Efficient with Nest renewable electricity package. 

ASHRAE has announced that the newly published 2013 version of its residential indoor air quality standard removes the default assumption for air infiltration and also requires carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

TruAire, a register and grille manufacturer, has announced the opening of its newest and largest distribution center in the Baltimore area.

Testo Inc. announced that it is now offering a $75 mail-in rebate when a new digital manifold and digital vacuum gauge are purchased. Through July 31, 2013, anyone who purchases new a Model 550, 557 or 570 Digital Manifold and a 552 Vacuum Gauge is eligible for a $75 rebate.

For the third consecutive year, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is continuing its HVAC Business Partners program. This program aids commercial and industrial building owners by helping increase the energy efficiency of their rooftop air conditioners while also improving comfort and IAQ.

IKEA officially plugged-in the solar power system installed at its distribution center in Perryville, Md., which is the state’s largest solar rooftop array. The 768,972-square-foot photovoltaic (PV) array is a 2,674.9-kW system, built with 18,576 panels.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced funding for projects to improve electric service in rural areas across 13 states, including more than $6 million in smart grid funding, which will increase access to information to better manage electricity use.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced that its Contractor Comfort Index (CCI) for April jumped to 71, the highest the CCI has ever been in the three years ACCA has been tracking HVAC contractors’ opinions on short-term economic growth. The March score was 65.

A team of researchers at Stanford University has designed a new type of solar reflective device that has the ability to cool even in full sunlight. Such a device could greatly improve the daylight cooling of buildings by reflecting sunlight away and back into space. 

NexTraq®, a leading GPS fleet and asset tracking company, announced that it has integrated its NexTraq Fleet Tracking solution with TOA Technologies’ ETAdirect field service management solution.