CEC/EPRI 2026 Electrification Summit Convenes June 10 in California
The California Energy Commission and EPRI co-host the 2026 CEC/EPRI Electrification Summit on June 10, 2026, alongside the Energy Transition Coordinating Council, to align California building and grid-electrification roadmaps with the 2025 Title 24 cycle and 100% clean-electricity target by 2045.
IEA ETP 2026 Identifies Policy Design as Primary Limiter for Heat-Pump Scale-Up
The IEA Energy Technology Perspectives 2026 report projects heat-pump manufacturing capacity to grow 80% in China, more than double in the US, and rise ~40% in the EU by 2035, with the three markets accounting for 85% of capacity and 80% of demand. Global heat-pump sales would need to quadruple by 2035 in the Net Zero scenario.
Johnson Controls 2026 Sustainability Report: 33% Scope-3 Cut, Low-Embodied-Carbon Chillers
Johnson Controls has published its 2026 sustainability report highlighting a 21% energy-efficiency return across mission-critical industries, a 33% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from use of sold products (more than double its 2030 target of 16%), and new low-embodied-carbon chiller options with 44% lower embodied carbon than conventional systems.
China NDRC/SAMR Release 2026 Energy-Efficiency Label Catalogue with Seven Product Updates
On April 20, 2026, China NDRC and SAMR jointly released the 2026 Edition Catalogue of Energy-Efficiency Labelling Products and revised implementation rules for seven product categories. Phased implementation begins June 1, 2026 (household refrigerators, road/tunnel LED lighting), with commercial refrigeration, motors and air-purifier rules also entering force during 2026.
Section 179D Energy-Efficient Commercial Building Deduction Phased Out After 30 June 2026
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed 4 July 2025, the federal Section 179D deduction (up to USD 5.81/sq ft for qualifying HVAC, lighting, water-heating) is permanently repealed for projects whose construction begins after 30 June 2026. Taxpayers should review prior-year project starts before the deadline.
Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard Tier-1 Compliance Deadline Hits 1 June 2026
Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) Tier-1 compliance is now in effect for commercial buildings over 220,000 sq ft (deadline 1 June 2026). Tier-2 for buildings 90,000–220,000 sq ft follows by June 2027, expanding HVAC energy-management and benchmarking obligations across the Pacific Northwest.
EPA Reconsideration Rule Eases AIM Act HFC Limits for Supermarket Refrigeration
The U.S. EPA published a final rule on May 26, 2026, revising the 2023 HFC Technology Transitions Rule under the AIM Act. Retail food refrigeration and cold storage now face an interim GWP limit of 1,400 effective July 27, 2026, with the original 150/300 limits deferred to January 1, 2032. Projected savings: $976M in supermarket engineering costs, plus a proposed Transportation Refrigeration Unit exemption worth an additional $1.5B.
EU Publishes Harmonised Framework for Life-Cycle GWP of New Buildings (Delegated Regulation 2026/52)
The European Commission has published Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/52 in the Official Journal, establishing a common EU methodology for calculating the life-cycle global warming potential of new buildings. Under the recast EPBD, life-cycle GWP must be calculated and disclosed in Energy Performance Certificates for new buildings over 1,000 m² from 1 January 2028 and for all new buildings from 2030.
ASHRAE Launches Global South Building Code Framework Targeting Zero-Carbon Ready by 2030
ASHRAE has introduced the Building Code Assessment Tool (BCAT) to help Global South countries develop consensus-based building codes built on Standard 90.1, with a stated target of achieving zero-carbon ready emissions in new buildings by 2030. The framework spans needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, code development, and compliance auditing.