April 6 2026 Issue

This issue of The ACHR NEWS is the 2026 Residential Cooling Showcase, which gives contractors a side-by-side look at what manufacturers are bringing to the market. We also examine a petition to the Supreme Court challenging the EPA’s authority under the AIM Act, how contractors can keep pace with electrification, combating homeowners’ usage of ChatGPT, zoned cooling in high-end homes, practical challenges to refrigeration brought on by the transition, how to increase fees without upsetting customers, and the latest from SNIPS NEWS.

Check back throughout the week for additional content.

Supreme Court Petition Challenges EPA Authority Under AIM Act

Civil liberties group argues EPA was given unconstitutional authority over HFC allowance allocations

Dylan Kurt

March 17, 2026

A petition filed on behalf of Choice Refrigerants asks the Supreme Court to reconsider a D.C. Circuit ruling that upheld the EPA’s implementation of the HFC phasedown program.

How HVAC Contractors Can Navigate the ‘Age of Electricity’

Treat electrification as a systems business, not an equipment business

Chris Gray

April 3, 2026

Energy experts say in this world of uncertainties, electrification is here to stay. HVAC professionals offer insights into capitalizing on this growing trend.

Residential Cooling Showcase 2026

New systems introduced just in time for summer

Joanna R. Turpin

April 6, 2026

Each year, The ACHR NEWS highlights the latest cooling equipment heading into the summer season, giving contractors a side-by-side look at what manufacturers are bringing to market and how those offerings compare.

ChatGPT Said It Was the Capacitor

Combating the ChatGPT-Informed Homeowner

Maria Taylor

March 9, 2026

If there’s one thing people trust more than AI search results, it’s their neighbors.

Zoned Cooling in High-End Homes

Ducted or ductless, zoning adds value in residential cooling systems

Matt Jachman

April 2, 2026

Zoning offers precise control and energy savings to homeowners investing in high-end cooling equipment.

Refrigerant Transition Brings Practical Challenges to Refrigeration

System design decisions balance performance, safety, and sustainability

Joanna R. Turpin

April 2, 2026

New refrigerants are changing refrigeration system design, requiring careful tradeoffs between efficiency, safety, and performance across different climates and applications.

Chris Krumpfer: Tinkerer, Trailblazer, and the Relentless ICON of Bonland

Meet the maintenance mastermind behind Bonland’s decades of innovation

Austin Keating

March 12, 2026

A hands-on leader whose ingenuity, adaptability, and dedication have shaped shop floors and set new standards across the sheet metal industry. He is SNIPS NEWS' latest Industry ICON.

Experts Weigh Cost, Codes, and the Future of HRVs/ERVs

Industry leaders explore strategies to improve residential ventilation affordability and compliance amid tightening codes

Austin Keating

April 3, 2026

AHR Expo experts discuss the evolving role of HRVs and ERVs in home ventilation, focusing on cost, energy codes, and practical challenges for builders and homeowners.

USMCA Review Fuels Trade Uncertainty as HVAC Industry Faces New Tact on Tariffs

Tariffs pressure HVAC supply chains and labor groups push for stronger USMCA enforcement amid trade policy renegotiations

Austin Keating

March 20, 2026

As tariffs squeeze construction costs, the HVAC sector faces growing risks tied to the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and its impact on manufacturing and cross-border supply chains.

Free Cooling Isn’t Free: Lessons From Operating at the Edge of Climate Extremes

Exploring the overlooked complexities and real-world challenges of implementing free cooling in extreme climates

Austin Keating

March 19, 2026

A practical look at what it really takes to deploy free cooling in data centers facing extreme temperatures, from misconceptions to hidden costs and lessons learned.

How Advances in Prefabrication Are Changing Mechanical Project Delivery

Prefabrication is moving from a jobsite workaround to a game-changing strategy, as new technology and early team commitment transform how mechanical projects are delivered

Mike Nelsen

January 22, 2026

Prefabrication is now at the center of project planning – helping contractors overcome labor shortages, boost quality, and speed up schedules.

Plumbing’s Hidden Miracle: Why Savvy Contractors are Betting on the Most Urgent Trade

From apprenticeship backlogs to modern training and evolving industry standards, plumbing is reshaping contractor business models

Austin Keating

April 9, 2026

Plumbing’s urgent, round-the-clock nature makes it a uniquely steady and profitable growth engine for contractors.

Annual Conference Marks Transition for ACCA Board Leadership

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

March 20, 2026

Kurt Hudson of LC Anderson, Inc. has stepped into the role of chair from senior vice chair. Hudson takes over for 2025–2026 Chair Eddie McFarlane of Sila Services, LLC.

Enertech Global Announces Tim Wright as CEO

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

March 22, 2026

Wright has spent much of his career alongside the team he now leads. He harbors a deep knowledge of Enertech and a strong appreciation for its potential.

David Kellough, Who Helped Found HARDI, Dies at 82

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

March 20, 2026

David Kellough was instrumental in bringing together the Northamerican Heating and Airconditioning Wholesalers Association and Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Wholesalers to form Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International.

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

For your information news briefs from a wide variety of categories within the HVAC industry. Price increases, mergers and acquisitions, award winners, and more are highlighted here each issue.

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

ACHR NEWS

2026 April 6

Cover Story

Supreme Court Petition Challenges EPA Authority Under AIM Act

How HVAC Contractors Can Navigate the ‘Age of Electricity’

Feature Articles

Residential Cooling Showcase 2026

ChatGPT Said It Was the Capacitor

Zoned Cooling in High-End Homes

Refrigerant Transition Brings Practical Challenges to Refrigeration

SNIPS NEWS

Chris Krumpfer: Tinkerer, Trailblazer, and the Relentless ICON of Bonland

Experts Weigh Cost, Codes, and the Future of HRVs/ERVs

USMCA Review Fuels Trade Uncertainty as HVAC Industry Faces New Tact on Tariffs

Free Cooling Isn’t Free: Lessons From Operating at the Edge of Climate Extremes

How Advances in Prefabrication Are Changing Mechanical Project Delivery

Plumbing’s Hidden Miracle: Why Savvy Contractors are Betting on the Most Urgent Trade

Newsline

Annual Conference Marks Transition for ACCA Board Leadership

Enertech Global Announces Tim Wright as CEO

David Kellough, Who Helped Found HARDI, Dies at 82

FYI

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - April 6, 2026

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