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Shaping Tomorrow's Global Built Environment Today
April 30, 2026
Johnson Controls recently announced the acquisition of Nantum AI, a New York-based company specializing in AI algorithms to help businesses unlock energy savings, enhance system controls and improve operational efficiency. The acquisition strengthens the Johnson Controls OpenBlue digital ecosystem by adding proven, proprietary AI-driven algorithms that further optimize HVAC performance and reduce energy consumption. Read more
In the face of rising energy costs, more homeowners and industry professionals are turning to energy-efficient appliances. One cheesemaker is turning heads after saving over $94,000 a year on electricity bills with a Milk Source Heat Pump. The system chills simultaneously chills the milk to the required temperature while repurposing the recovered heat for other steps in the cheesemaking process. With the Milk Source Heat Pump, the operation is saving nearly $270 a day. Read more
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Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have established a statewide moratorium on data centers, preventing their construction until November 2027. The legislation would have made Maine the first state to block the building of new data centers, as both political parties grapple with how voters view them ahead of the midterm elections. Read more
A decision on mandating air conditioning inside Texas prisons is in the hands of a federal judge, as advocacy organizations try to force the state to address what they allege are dangerous, deadly temperatures inmates endure. For years leading up to the two-week trial in Austin, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice says it has made efforts to mitigate heat inside its prisons. However, inmates’ advocates and lawyers say those efforts haven’t gone far enough: Temperatures can reach 149°F, they say, and the conditions amount to cruel and unusual punishment–violating inmates’ Eighth Amendment rights. Read more
Join Rebecca Norris and Paul Raymer as they discuss practical tips for contractors and consumers alike to make informed decisions about residential heat pump systems.
 
Hot Air Podcast
ASHRAE Journal
By Dennis Wessel
Columnist Dennis Wessel reflects on changes in HVAC systems over the course of his 50 years working in the industry, including the shift from extremely energy intensive heating and cooling systems to net zero energy buildings. Download here
 
ASHRAE News
ASHRAE released its technical program for its 2026 Annual Conference, taking place June 27–July 1 in Austin, Texas. The conference will bring together industry professionals, researchers and practitioners from around the world for a week of knowledge-sharing, technical exploration, professional development and peer engagement. The complete schedule is now available online and through ASHRAE 365, enabling attendees to build personalized conference itineraries in advance. Read more

ASHRAE Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton is Retiring
In Case You Missed It
The federal government has made rapid data center construction a national priority, but state and local governments are increasingly scrutinizing new data center projects. While the Trump administration has encouraged faster permitting, streamlined environmental review and private investment in data center infrastructure, state legislators in both red and blue states are advancing bills to regulate energy costs, require reporting and in some cases, halt construction altogether. Read more
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