At issue are DOE’s efficiency standards that would require furnaces and some commercial water heaters to change venting features to accommodate condensation caused by fuel combustion. HARDI and its partners argue that the DOE’s action undermines long-standing statutory protections designed to preserve consumer choice and maintain access to affordable and reliable heating options, particularly in replacement situations that do not meet the more complex venting requirements.
Housing affordability has declined significantly in recent years. The deterioration in price-to-income ratio has been a key factor, as home prices have risen 53% since 2019, while median household income has risen only 24%. This has notably decreased the share of first-time home buyers in the market, which dropped to 21% in 2025 from 44% in 1981. Over that same time frame, the median age for first-time buyers reached a record high of 40 in 2025 from 29 in 1981.
LSW and Carr Company already share several manufacturers and customers, creating immediate operational synergies. Many builders and contractors served by Carr Company operate across both Florida and the Carolinas, supporting a more integrated regional approach.
Sponsored by LUXE Interiors + Design, the industry’s premier awards program celebrates the visionaries driving the latest trends and cutting-edge products, recognizing innovation, elegance, sustainability, and all-around excellence. Winners were announced to a packed house at the KBIS NEXTStage on February 18, 2026, in Orlando. Sarah Shelton, Senior Market Editor of LUXE Interiors + Design, led the ceremony as this year’s host for a third time.
After a three-year slump, multifamily property sales rebounded in 2025, increasing 15%, as fresh supply came on to the market. This turnaround was broad-based with 80% of metros seeing an increase in sales compared to only 20% of metros in 2024.
The trend for older home owners to age-in-place has positively contributed to the growth in the remodeling market. The RMI survey showed that 56% of remodelers are involved in home modification work relating to aging-in-place and that 96% of remodelers said that most or some of their consumers are familiar with the aging-in-place concept.
The commercial HVAC industry has entered a transformative era. As sustainability goals and regulatory requirements shape the market, building owners and contractors have the opportunity to lead the charge toward more efficient, future-forward solutions.
Now in its sixth edition, the report delivers a concise but comprehensive view of market performance, competitive shifts, and forward-looking demand trends—built on HARDI’s proprietary data, industry surveys, and expert analysis.
Extreme weather is now colliding with already-tight freight capacity, volatile energy markets and a construction economy that increasingly demands speed, certainty and risk sharing. During the recent cold snap, Financial Times and Reuters reported U.S. natural gas prices surged to their highest levels in more than three years, driven by freeze-offs that curtailed production just as heating demand spiked.
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