JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, 9 February 2026: The organiser of Jeddah Construct 2026, Big 5 Construct Saudi, said the western region of Saudi Arabia witnessed accelerated development, with major residential, commercial and infrastructure projects driving sustained demand across the construction sector. Making the announcement through a Press Release, the organiser said coastal developments such as Red Sea Global and Qiddiya Coast paved the way for what it described as a new era of premium coastal living in the Kingdom.

The organiser said that by 2030 these initiatives were expected to deliver more than 382,500 new homes, over three million m² of office space, 4.3 million m² of retail space and more than 330,000 hotel rooms, positioning the region as a dynamic and globally competitive destination, citing Knight Frank as the source.

The organiser said that as projects move from vision to delivery, Jeddah Construct 2026 will serve as the meeting point where industry leaders connect, source solutions and drive construction forward across the western region.

The organisers said industry confidence is already high, with several suppliers confirming their participation, including Masdar, Al Yamamma Steel, Unicoil, Emaar Industries and Salaba Energy, and added that these companies are expected to meet active buyers at the event.

The organiser said ongoing project demand is supported by 17 large-scale projects underway across the Kingdom’s western seaboard, with USD 431.3 billion in announced investment since 2016 and USD 57 billion already awarded in contracts.

The organiser said the event provides direct access to decision-makers, including contractors, project owners, government bodies and investors, who attend to source new partners.

The organiser said companies establishing a presence at the event position themselves for upcoming tenders and long-term supply contracts, providing what they described as a competitive advantage.

The organiser said Jeddah Construct 2026 broadens its scope to include new sectors ranging from HVACR to facilities management. The organiser said Jeddah Construct 2026 will take place from 28 to 30 September 2026 at the Jeddah Superdome.

ATLANTA, Georgia, United States, 6 February 2026: ASHRAE announced the conclusion of its 2026 Winter Conference in Las Vegas with momentum around Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), healthy buildings and the evolving role of HVACR professionals in shaping the future of the built environment.

Making the announcement through a Press Release, ASHRAE said the Winter Conference was held from February 2 to 4 and convened HVACR leaders, engineers, policymakers and researchers from around the world to examine the intersection of technology, sustainability, health and human experience in buildings. ASHRAE said attendees explored emerging trends including artificial intelligence (AI), low-global-warming-potential refrigerants, energy storage, geothermal systems and occupant-centred design across hundreds of sessions and committee meetings.

ASHRAE said the conference drew 3,825 registrants and featured more than 400 committee meetings, over 100 technical sessions and a broad range of networking and professional development opportunities.

ASHRAE said the AHR Expo ran concurrently and transformed the Las Vegas Convention Center into a global showcase for HVACR innovation. The Society added that the Expo hosted 1,945 exhibitors, including 601 international companies and 186 first-time exhibitors, across 565,000 net ft² of exhibit space and welcomed an estimated 50,000 attendees over three days.

According to ASHRAE, some of the most highly attended Winter Conference sessions included ‘The Liquid Revolution: Best Practices in Cooling for Tomorrow’s Data Centers’, ‘AI in Action: A Real World Application of AI for Campus Energy Optimisation’, ‘Demystifying GenAI: What HVAC Professionals Need to Know’, ‘Can We Eliminate VAV Zone Reheat During Cooling? Real-World Results Using ASHRAE Guideline 36 Sequences and AI Optimisation’ and ‘Control of Chiller Plants: Reducing Energy Consumption and Improving Comfort Levels’.

ASHRAE said that during his State of the Society Address, Bill McQuade, President, 2025-2026, ASHRAE, shared progress on the Society’s focus on healthy buildings and IEQ, emphasising a transition from vision to sustained action.

McQuade said: “Six months into this Society year, we are seeing real progress. To ensure this work translates into lasting impact, we established the IEQ Center of Excellence – a dedicated platform to advance a coordinated roadmap, strengthen collaboration, and support ASHRAE’s leadership in policy, advocacy and global engagement.”

The Society said McQuade also highlighted advances in water safety, pathogen mitigation and integrated approaches to health-focused building design.

At the conference, ASHRAE said, McQuade announced the recipients of the 2025-26 Presidential Initiative Challenge, a grant programme supporting chapter-led projects that advance energy efficiency, emissions reduction and IEQ at the local level. The Society said the programme was supported by the Gordon Holness Presidential Fund and administered by the Young Engineers in ASHRAE committee.

ASHRAE said the programme received 21 submissions and awarded six projects with total grants of USD 46,350, including:

• Cedar Valley Chapter – Air Quality, Lighting and Plumbing Upgrades for Ullo Kindergarten Center, Ghana (USD 9,500)
• Falcon Chapter – Healthy Classroom for a Low-Carbon Future (USD 9,200)
• Ghana Chapter – IEQ Improvements at Ayeduase Health Center (USD 10,000)
• Monterrey Chapter – Healthy Learning Environments: Bright Futures Initiative (USD 5,000)
• Nigeria Chapter – Project BREATHE: Building Resilient Environments for Air, Thermal, Health and Efficiency (USD 7,150)
• Regina Chapter – Blanket of Warmth Project (USD 5,500)

ASHRAE said it strengthened global and industry-aligned partnerships in the months leading up to the Winter Conference by renewing memoranda of understanding with 17 organisations across engineering, architecture, public health, energy and standards development. The Society said these included:

• AFE, Association for Facilities Engineering
• AIA, American Institute of Architects
• AMCA, Air Movement and Control Association
• ASHE, American Society of Healthcare Engineers
• ASPE, American Society of Plumbing Engineers
• BCxA, Building Commissioning Association, as a new partner
• DKV, Deutscher Kälte-und Klimatechnischer Verein
• IAPMO, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, Inc.
• IDEA, International District Energy Association
• IUVA, International Ultraviolet Association
• JSRAE, Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
• NAFA, National Air Filtration Association
• NASEO, National Association of State Energy Officials
• NSF, National Sanitation Foundation International
• PHVACRS, Pakistan HVACR Society
• SAREK, Society of Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea
• VISRAE, Vietnam Society of Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASHRAE said it recognised outstanding member contributions during its Honors and Awards Program. The Society said Jeff Littleton, Executive Vice President, Secretary, ASHRAE, provided an update on membership growth and organisational influence.

ASHRAE said Littleton announced the approval of two new chapters in Region XIV, the Benelux Chapter and the DACH Chapter, along with the addition of 13 new student branches. The Society added that it now includes 202 chapters, 42 sections and 342 active student branches worldwide.

ASHRAE said Littleton also highlighted the Society’s expanding role in public policy, noting that in the past year it submitted letters or testimony on 22 IEQ-related bills. ASHRAE said legislation referencing its standards had been signed into law in Colorado, New Jersey and Virginia, with additional indoor air quality legislation under development in several other states.

ASHRAE said the ASHRAE Learning Institute offered 21 courses during the conference. The Society said top attended courses included ‘Guideline 36: Best in Class HVAC Control Sequences’, ‘Advanced Concepts in Designing and Retrofitting Energy Efficient Data Centers’, and ‘Demystifying Dehumidification: Designing Efficient and Effective HVAC Moisture Removal Systems’.

The Society said that for the first time, the ASHRAE Learning Institute also delivered a ‘Fundamentals of District Cooling System Design (MENA)’ course, providing region-specific instruction led by local experts to better serve practitioners across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

ASHRAE said all registered attendees, both in-person and virtual, would have access to the conference platform during the event and for 12 months following.

Looking ahead, ASHRAE said the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference would take place between 27 June and 1 July in Austin, Texas. The Society added that the 2027 Winter Conference would be held from 23 to 27 January 2027 and that the AHR Expo would run from 25 to 27 January 2027 in Chicago, Illinois.

BRUGINE, Italy, 6 February 2026: CAREL said it will take part in MCE 2026 in Milan Rho from 23 to 27 March with a proposal that integrates sustainability, energy efficiency and innovation across the entire HVAC ecosystem.

Making the announcement through Press Release, CAREL said this systemic approach was aligned with European decarbonisation policies and the growing adoption of natural refrigerants. CAREL added that the approach was designed to support designers, OEMs and industry professionals in the transition towards more efficient and resilient buildings and systems.

CAREL said that key highlights included its solutions for next-generation heat pumps developed for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The company said its portfolio featured optimised controllers, ready-to-use application software, high-efficiency inverters and precision sensors. CAREL added that these were engineered to ensure high performance, safety and regulatory compliance even in complex and retrofit scenarios.

In the field of ventilation, CAREL said, it would present new cross-flow air-to-air heat exchangers. CAREL added that these were characterised by low pressure drops combined with high performance, reduced weight and a lower carbon footprint. The company said that these solutions had been developed to further enhance the competitiveness and performance of air handling units.

CAREL said significant focus would also be placed on automation, sensing and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) control solutions for buildings. The company said these were essential to meet the requirements of the new EPBD directive. The company added that its systems enabled measurable improvements in IAQ while optimising energy consumption. CAREL said this was demonstrated by real-life application cases and by integration with KIONA digital platforms for advanced system monitoring.

CAREL said MCE 2026 would mark a major milestone with the introduction of STone, which it described as a new future-ready software ecosystem for HVACR control programming. CAREL said STone Copilot, the AI-based assistant, supported unit development by making programming faster, more accurate and more accessible. The company added that the offering was completed by next-generation Smart Building monitoring and supervision solutions.

“Participation in MCE 2026 represents a key moment for CAREL to share with the market our vision of HVAC that is increasingly focused on integration, sustainability and value for design,” said Matteo Zanesco, Head of Solution Marketing, Western Europe Region, CAREL and Marco Galluppi, Head of Solution Marketing, EEMEA, CAREL. “Through advanced technological solutions, digital platforms and tools designed to simplify the work of designers and OEMs, we aim to support the entire value chain in delivering buildings that are more efficient, intelligent and capable of ensuring comfort, Indoor Air Quality and long-term energy performance.”

DUBAI, UAE, 5 February 2026: Sobha Realty said it has deployed clean energy systems from Positive Zero at its Sobha Elwood development. Positive Zero is a UAE-based energy transition company offering clean energy and on-site power solutions, including distributed solar, energy-efficiency measures and battery storage, to help clients cut energy use and emissions. Making the announcement through a Press Release, Sobha Realty said the project used Positive Zero’s HYPR systems, including what it described as the region’s first mobile battery energy storage system, to power the project office and store.

Sobha Realty said the fume-free and noise-free mobile battery units delivered electricity where needed on the construction site and replaced traditional diesel generators and fossil fuel dependency.

The company said that, over the duration of the two-year agreement, Positive Zero’s HYPR system replaced the equivalent of more than 30,000 gallons of diesel, which it said was enough to power more than 25 million smartphones.

Ravi Menon, Chairman, Sobha Group, said: “At Sobha Realty, sustainability is a fundamental pillar of how we build and how we envision the future of our communities. Our partnership with Positive Zero for Sobha Elwood marks another decisive step in integrating clean, renewable energy solutions across our developments. In alignment with the UAE Green Agenda 2030 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, this initiative reinforces our commitment to shaping communities that are world-class, future-ready, and environmentally resilient.”

Sobha Realty said each mobile battery system was charged using clean and renewable solar power and was more efficient compared to diesel-powered equivalents.

Sobha Realty added that Positive Zero swapped batteries in and out as required to ensure a constant supply of on-site electricity and estimated that 219 MWh of electricity was delivered through the systems per year.

David Auriau, CEO, Positive Zero, said: “We are delighted to support Sobha Realty in its pioneering new approach to real estate development, powering more sustainable construction and lowering carbon emissions. Sobha Realty is setting a clear benchmark for developers and demonstrating that clean energy can make a transformative difference to the sustainable development of cities.”

Sobha Realty said Sobha Elwood is the second project it has signed with Positive Zero, following the implementation of Positive Zero’s HYPR clean energy systems at Sobha One.

Sobha Realty said the adoption of these renewable energy solutions forms part of its support for Dubai’s strategic initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.

BRUGINE, Italy, 5 February 2026: CAREL said it will present what it describes as its tangible, measurable and results-oriented vision of sustainability at EuroShop 2026, focused on making energy efficiency a practical tool for generating value throughout the entire store. Making the announcement through a Press Release, CAREL said this approach goes beyond individual applications to encompass a system logic that brings refrigeration, HVAC, lighting and energy together into a single coordinated ecosystem.

CAREL said the heart of this proposal is the Total Store concept, which it highlights allows customers to optimise overall store performance through system integration and centralised data management. The company said that plug & play electrical panels, local control systems and advanced software platforms are used in combination to acquire, organise and analyse operational information, laying the foundation for continuous improvement in terms of energy and operational performance.

CAREL said tangible sustainability is also expressed through high-efficiency solutions for plug-in and semi-plug-in units that form part of the integrated HEOS Pro ecosystem. The company said this solution combines a dedicated controller, an intuitive interface configurable by app, enhanced connectivity and a chain of components designed to work in synergy. CAREL added that continuous capacity control, made possible by the integration of inverters and rotary compressors with permanent magnet motors, ensures that unit operation adapts dynamically to actual operating conditions, reducing energy consumption and improving temperature stability and acoustic comfort.

CAREL said the system is designed to handle natural refrigerants such as CO₂ and R-290 and added that it offers application flexibility and reduced environmental impact through a refrigerant-neutral approach that allows different technologies to be adopted without altering the basic architecture.

CAREL said the connectivity via Bluetooth, NFC and Ethernet enables rapid configuration, real-time diagnostics and integration with supervisory systems, which the company said simplifies installation, maintenance and software updates. CAREL said HEOS Pro therefore represents, in its view, not just a refrigeration solution but a high-efficiency ecosystem intended to turn sustainability into a tangible and measurable result directly in the store.

CAREL said a key role is also played by its Site Performance Optimisation services, which it said combine its specialist skills and artificial intelligence to remotely monitor and optimise hundreds of sites simultaneously. CAREL added that advanced data analytics can reduce energy consumption, limit alarms, prevent malfunctions and improve food preservation, with what the company described as measurable benefits even in the short term and a quick return on investment.

CAREL said that, with its proposal for Euroshop 2026, the company confirms its vision in which sustainability is not an abstract goal, but rather a tangible result achieved through technology, services and expertise that make energy a true asset for retail operators.

DUBAI, UAE, 4 February 2026: Empower said H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower), met with the leadership of the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) on the sidelines of the company’s participation in the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference held in Las Vegas. Making the announcement through a Press Release, Empower said the meeting reviewed developments in the global District Cooling sector and discussed what it described as the growing role of District Cooling in advancing energy efficiency and supporting the sustainability objectives of modern cities.

Empower said the meeting was attended by William McQuade, President, ASHRAE, alongside Jeff Littleton, Executive Vice President, ASHRAE; Sarah Maston, President-elect, ASHRAE; and Ashish Rakhijja, Treasurer, ASHRAE. Empower said the discussions focused on reviewing progress achieved across joint initiatives under its collaboration agreements with ASHRAE, with particular emphasis on research into third-generation District Cooling systems.

Empower said the two sides also discussed progress in developing a globally recognised District Cooling standard applicable across various countries, which the company said is expected to contribute to unifying best practices and improving efficiency.

Empower said the meeting further explored prospects for research and development in District Cooling systems alongside joint efforts to enhance energy efficiency and deliver solutions intended to support modern cities, contribute to emissions reduction and advance long-term sustainability objectives.

H.E. Bin Shafar said: “These meetings reflect Empower’s commitment to actively shaping the future of District Cooling at the global level driven by our firm belief that this sector is a cornerstone for enhancing energy efficiency and advancing sustainability in modern cities. Our partnership with ASHRAE is particularly significant as it represents the integration of Empower’s accumulated practical expertise as the world’s largest District Cooling services provider with the Society’s research capabilities and leadership in the development of technical standards.”

H.E. Bin Shafar added: “Through joint research initiatives and the development of standardised guidelines, we are working to establish globally applicable scientific and technical foundations that support the advancement of the next generation of District Cooling systems, contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of urban infrastructure. We believe that knowledge sharing and the development of international partnerships represent the most effective pathway to accelerating the transition towards more efficient and sustainable cooling solutions in line with the aspirations of future cities and in support of global climate action agendas.”

Empower said it signed two agreements with ASHRAE in 2024, stating that the first focuses on developing a unified globally approved District Cooling standard and that the second covers the development of third-generation District Cooling systems through scientific research studies.

Empower said it concluded its participation in the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference, adding that its involvement formed part of a strategy to strengthen its international presence and contribute to shaping the future of District Cooling by broadening the scope of dialogue and collaboration with entities specialising in refrigeration, heating and air-conditioning systems.

WIESBADEN, Germany, 4 February 2026: HYTING said it has commissioned its first customer installation, adding that the development marks a major milestone for its operations with what it described as the first catalytic hydrogen-powered air-heating system now in operation at a customer site.

Making the announcement through a Press Release, HYTING said the 10 kW air-heating unit has been installed at Flusys GmbH’s newly established production facility for precision pumps in Offenbach, Germany, and said the system is fully operational, heating a 1,000-cubic-metre space using hydrogen sourced from a nearby supplier.

According to HYTING, the 10 kW unit has been paired with a heat pump to form a hybrid heating system. The company said that in this configuration the hydrogen unit provides peak heating capacity during high-demand periods or when ambient temperatures are low, while the heat pump manages the base heating load at its most efficient operating point.

HYTING said this approach enables optimal system sizing of both the hydrogen unit and the heat pump, adding that it reduces installed electrical capacity and addresses what it described as a major cost driver for commercial buildings, namely capacity and demand charges. The company added that by covering peak loads with hydrogen instead of electricity, customers can lower operating costs from the first day with what it said is fast amortisation and minimal system complexity.

The company said its technology can also be integrated with other heat sources such as industrial waste heat, adding that this provides a flexible decarbonisation pathway for different building types. HYTING said the compact and modular design enables multiple units to be combined for higher capacity and makes the technology suitable for both new installations and retrofit applications.

HYTING said peak heating for commercial and industrial buildings is a key application for its technology, noting that such buildings often face high peak heat demand, limited electrical infrastructure and increasing decarbonisation pressure. The company said hydrogen-powered peak heating offers an effective solution, particularly where hydrogen is already available onsite or within the region.

HYTING said Flusys has many years of experience with hydrogen technologies and said the installation demonstrates both the efficacy of its system and the potential for hydrogen to replace natural gas as a cleaner, more sustainable heat source.

Tim Hannig, Founder, Managing Director, HYTING, said: “Our vision has always been to see hydrogen replace fossil fuels and make an invaluable contribution to decarbonising the heating sector. Our technology is simple, safe, efficient, and clean, and we’re delighted to see our first customer installation up and running. We’re very proud that Flusys chose to work with us on this world-first, and we look forward to seeing the next systems coming online in the coming months.”

HYTING said its technology is based on a proprietary flameless catalytic process in which hydrogen reacts with oxygen from ambient air to generate heat without producing any CO₂, NOx or particulate emissions, adding that water vapour is the only by-product. The company added that the system does not use flammable concentrations of hydrogen at any operating point, which it said makes it inherently safe.

HYTING said the quality and robustness of its technology are proven in a 2,500-hour durability test on a 10-kW heat generator conducted by what it described as one of the world’s leading engineering service providers. The company said the test simulates ten years of real-world operation and has been completed without failures or measurable wear on safety-critical components. It further added that the technology has achieved Gas Appliance Regulation (GAR) certification and is fully approved for field test operation.

HYTING said the next customer installation will be scheduled for later in Q1 2026.

DUBAI, UAE, 3 February 2026: Byrne Equipment Rental said it welcomes GFH Financial Group’s announcement that the Group has acquired a majority stake in the company. Making the announcement through a Press Release, Byrne said GFH has completed the acquisition of the stake as part of an investment and capex programme valued at approximately USD 400 million, adding that the acquisition positions the company to support the region’s growing project and infrastructure landscape.

Byrne said it was founded in 1992 in Dubai and has evolved into a regional operator with a fleet of approximately 16,000 units. The company said it operates through 14 offices and depots across Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, spanning more than 153,000 m². Byrne said this includes its Jubail depot in Saudi Arabia, which it described as one of the largest logistics and operations hubs of its kind in the country. The company said it delivered approximately 20% growth last year and is positioned to continue this trajectory.

Byrne said it serves a client base of more than 1,100 customers across the GCC region and that its services support sectors including oil and gas, construction, utilities and events, with core capabilities covering temporary power, modular buildings, compressors, material handling equipment, mobile lighting solutions and other assets required for large-scale operations.

Byrne said the GCC region equipment rental market continues to expand at double-digit rates driven by the oil and gas sector, national development programmes, industrial growth and major events, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The company said it is positioned to benefit from this momentum through its management team and operational track record. Byrne added that with GFH’s support it plans to enter new verticals, enhance its product range and deepen its presence in priority markets. Byrne said the partnership will also leverage the technical strengths of its operating partners.

Commenting on the acquisition, Hammad Younas, Group Chief Investment Officer, GFH, said: “Byrne is a resilient platform operating at the center of the region’s most dynamic sectors. Its operational scale, strong customer relationships, and technical abilities make it exceptionally well placed to benefit from the substantial pipeline of regional megaprojects. Through this acquisition of a 60% stake, we aim to accelerate Byrne’s growth trajectory and expand its footprint across strategic GCC region markets, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where demand for high-quality industrial and rental solutions continues to rise.”

Patrick Fallon, Deputy CEO, Byrne, said: “Partnering with GFH opens significant new opportunities for Byrne. Their regional scale, investment experience, and long-term commitment will enable us to strengthen our service offerings, deploy more advanced solutions, and continue delivering the reliability and operational excellence our clients expect. This next phase of growth allows us to support national development programs across the GCC region even more effectively, including major projects underway in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.”

Byrne said the acquisition aligns with GFH’s strategy of investing in mission-critical businesses that contribute to regional economies and support programmes such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s “We the UAE 2031” Vision. Byrne said the transaction underscores GFH’s commitment to building sector-focused platforms in high-growth markets.

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, United States, 3 February 2026: Johnson Controls announced it has launched the YORK YDAM air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller as its latest innovation in data centre thermal management. Making the announcement through a Press Release, Johnson Controls said the chiller is built to address space and site constraints in high-density, multistorey data centres and AI factories.

Johnson Controls said the YORK YDAM is built around its YORK YVAM chiller technology. The company said the YORK YVAM platform has been recognised by ABI Research and named to Fortune’s Change the World list for efficiency and zero water consumption. Johnson Controls added that YDAM delivers cooling capacity within a compact footprint, which the company said helps data centres scale while avoiding water consumption.

According to Johnson Controls, increasing land constraints are driving the development of multistorey data centres and AI factories. The company said this trend increases the density of white space by up to ten times and added that operators therefore require higher density thermal management solutions to accommodate reduced roof area.

Johnson Controls said that with up to 3.5MW of cooling, YDAM delivers up to 20% increased capacity density in a more compact footprint than competing solutions. Johnson Controls said the chiller fits on a 53-foot standard flatbed trailer and added that this footprint simplifies shipping and reduces transportation, rigging and lifting costs. The company said it expects shipments to begin in late 2026.

Austin Domenici, Vice President, General Manager, Johnson Controls Global Data Center Solutions, said: “AI and high-performance computing are pushing data centers beyond traditional limits. Vertical sites can unlock new growth opportunities, but they demand thermal management solutions that deliver maximum cooling outputs in minimum space. The impressive capacity and reduced footprint of YDAM could allow operators to cut the number of chillers on site by up to half, accelerating deployments and helping meet skilled onsite labor needs.”

Johnson Controls said YDAM chillers utilise YORK magnetic bearing compressors, which it said allow high chilled-fluid setpoints to support 45 degrees C warm-water cooling of the latest generation of inference and training GPUs. The company said the chillers are capable of operating with wide temperature differences and added that this helps reduce pump size and energy consumption, contributing to CapEx and OpEx savings.

Johnson Controls said YDAM chillers were developed at the Johnson Controls Advanced Development and Engineering Center and added that they are tested against what it described as extreme real-world conditions.

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, United States, 2 February 2026: Johnson Controls said it has launched its Reference Design Guide Series for one-gigawatt (GW) AI data centres. Making the announcement through a Press Release, the company said each guide maps the full thermal chain and provides cooling architectures tailored to different compute densities, geographies and elevations.

Johnson Controls said the series begins with a detailed blueprint for water-cooled chiller plants and added that future guides will address air-cooled and absorption chiller solutions. Johnson Controls said the guides respond to what it described as the rapid evolution of data centre infrastructure as AI increases the scale and complexity of thermal management.

Johnson Controls said the guides outline how to achieve energy and water efficiency while maintaining flexibility to scale across diverse climates and operational requirements. The company said the first guide presents a complete thermal architecture supporting both liquid and air-cooled IT loads through integrated computer room air handlers, fan coil walls, coolant distribution units and high-efficiency YORK centrifugal chillers.

Johnson Controls said the guide provides sizing guidance for 220-megawatt (MW) compute quadrants and defines temperature and operating conditions across all major facility loops, including Technology Cooling System loops supporting next-generation GPUs.

Johnson Controls said key outcomes of the design include zero water consumption through fully water-free heat rejection using dry coolers, high-temperature loop readiness for compatibility with future GPU architectures, alignment with the NVIDIA DSX reference architecture for scalable one-GW-class deployments and operational efficiency enabled by elevated condenser water temperatures, bifurcated loops and YORK high-lift chillers.

Austin Domenici, Vice President and General Manager, Johnson Controls Global Data Center Solutions, said: “AI Factories are production facilities — the places where intelligence is manufactured at an industrial scale. By supporting the NVIDIA DSX reference architecture and improving water and energy efficiency in the cooling process while maintaining high temperature-loop compatibility, our Reference Design Guide equips customers to deploy gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure that is scalable, repeatable, resilient and sustainable.”