MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — According to the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), during the fourth quarter of 2002, chiller bookings increased 35 percent over the same period of 2001. All other product sectors also showed increases. Residential air conditioning was up 16 percent, residential furnaces were up 14 percent, unit heaters were up 4 percent, and commercial air conditioning was up 3 percent.

For the year, residential air conditioning shipments showed the highest increase at 47 percent. HRAI noted that this was due to a very large increase in the third quarter of 2002. Other shipment increases included chiller bookings, which were up 15 percent, and residential furnaces, which were up 12 percent.

Unit heaters decreased by 11 percent and commercial air conditioning was down 1 percent for 2002.