World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Being cool is tops

22318849_sUSA: Refrigerators and air conditioners are in the top 10 most essential appliances according to a new list on the US website HowStuffWorks.

On top of Christmas present lists, food shopping lists, now is the time when every website, magazine creates its own lists. This year the HowStuffWorks has created its own list of appliances of what the average (American) person could not live without.

While not necessarily in any order of importance the list includes the air conditioner at no 8 and the refrigerator at no 3, althoug  we must forgive the authors for the typo in naming the “father of modern refrigeration” as Carl von Linden.

The full list:

1. Clock

2. Toilet

3. Refrigerator

4. Washing machine

5. Telephone

6. Recorded sound

7. Television

8. Air conditioning

9. Microwave oven

10. Computer

Latest News

1st April 2026

US manufacturers face price-fixing lawsuit

USA: Leading US residential and commercial air conditioning manufacturers have been accused of price fixing and overcharging in a civil antitrust action.
1st April 2026

A-Gas to sponsor Milan data centre event

ITALY: Refrigerant supplier and management company A-Gas is to attend Data Center Nation (DCN) in Milan as a gold sponsor.
1st April 2026

Panasonic provides an edge in HVAC control

UK: Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions Europe has announced Commercial Smart Edge, described as a next generation tool for secure, unified and scalable HVAC management across commercial buildings. 
1st April 2026

Abstracts invited for ASHRAE conference

USA: Abstract submissions are now being accepted for next year’s ASHRAE Winter Conference to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from January 23 – 27, 2027.
1st April 2026

Star prank is virtually real

UK: Star Refrigeration created a stir today, April 1, with the announcement of the launch of StarCore, the world’s first AI-powered robot maintenance engineer. 
1st April 2026

Panasonic merges HVAC and cold chain businesses

JAPAN: Panasonic has combined its Air Quality & Air Conditioning Company and Cold Chain Solutions business, to establish a new company, Panasonic HVAC & CC Corporation.