Trusted FocusPRO thermostats refreshed with simple design and control, deliver energy efficiency Resideo Technologies, a leading global provider of solutions for home comfort, energy management, safety and security, recently announced the Honeywell Home FocusPRO® series: a new enhanced thermostat design and user-friendly interface to elevate home comfort and control. Unveiled at Resideo’s CONNECT 2024 Customer Event Read more
Product Spotlight
Trusted FocusPRO thermostats refreshed with simple design and control, deliver energy efficiency
Resideo Technologies, a leading global provider of solutions for home comfort, energy management, safety and security, recently announced the Honeywell Home FocusPRO® series: a new enhanced thermostat design and user-friendly interface to elevate home comfort and control. Unveiled at Resideo’s CONNECT 2024 Customer Event, the new Honeywell Home FocusPRO thermostats address HVAC contractor needs, delivering simplified installations with a sophisticated design and feature-rich portfolio.
“Our FocusPRO thermostats have been trusted by HVAC installers for nearly two decades, and our new assortment offers a larger display that’s easy to read from across the room and familiar features our HVAC contractors expect from the Honeywell Home brand,” said Mark Behar, Senior Product Director of Comfort and Indoor Air Quality at Resideo. “Our new smart, programmable and non-programable thermostats bring streamlined installation and equipment compatibility to our FocusPRO line.”
The thermostats feature an easy-to-read display and an air filter replacement reminder that can help with indoor air quality and ensure the system runs efficiently. The series also offers several key benefits for HVAC installers:
- Broad System Compatibility: To meet the needs of the changing HVAC equipment landscape, the new FocusPRO series includes the first Honeywell Home non-programmable thermostats to support dual-fuel and 3H/2C heat pump applications. The FocusPRO series also supports up to 3H/2C heat pumps, 2H/2C conventional systems and single stage 1H/1C models.
- Easy Installation: Each thermostat in the series is outfitted with the familiar Honeywell Home (UWP) wall-mounting plate that ensures installation is easy and future upgrades to another Honeywell Home device are even easier. The installation for the smart model is streamlined by the Resideo Pro app for easy setup.
- Private Label Installation: HVAC companies can order interchangeable, snap-on accent pieces with their logo or contact information to support customer retention and recurring business.
With more ENERGY STAR®-certified smart thermostats than any manufacturer, Resideo added the new Honeywell Home FocusPRO® S200 to its portfolio of ENERGY STAR-certified products that are compatible with many local energy programs and can help lower energy costs and balance the electric grid during periods of high demand. Its 4.8 square-inch display is easy to read from across the room, and users can control the comfort, setpoints and schedules via the First Alert app.
“Nearly half of Americans1 have discovered the benefits of using smart home products, and those looking to upgrade to a smart thermostat want features that help them manage their energy use,” said Behar. “Properties with smart technology can save 18-20% in energy costs.2 The Honeywell Home FocusPRO S200 smart thermostat offers these energy-saving benefits at an accessible price point from a trusted brand, making it a win-win for both HVAC professionals and their end users.”
The FocusPRO series is now available in non-programmable, programmable and smart options through participating Johnstone Supply and Ferguson U.S. locations. For more information, visit HoneywellHome.com.
1 Parks Associates: 45% of U.S. Internet households have at least one smart home device and 18% have six or more smart home devices, April 17, 2024
2 Parks Associates: Multifamily properties that have implemented smart building tech report savings of 18-20% in energy costs, July 17, 2024
Bosch becomes the first manufacturer to launch a cold climate heat pump developed for DOE Challenge Bosch Home Comfort, a leading source of high-quality heating, cooling and hot water systems, is unlocking a new product category with the market launch of its latest innovation, the IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump. Originally unveiled at the Read more
Bosch becomes the first manufacturer to launch a cold climate heat pump developed for DOE Challenge
Bosch Home Comfort, a leading source of high-quality heating, cooling and hot water systems, is unlocking a new product category with the market launch of its latest innovation, the IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump. Originally unveiled at the AHR Expo and Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2024, the IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump is advancing HVAC industry solutions with a cold climate heat pump designed for all seasons—even when the temperature falls below zero.
“The IDS Ultra has been carefully designed and rigorously tested to withstand low temperatures while maintaining strong performance,” said Mohamad Nasab, Senior Product Manager. “With this latest innovation, Bosch is proud to be the first to market with an extreme heat system, as well as play a role in making energy-efficient home heating and cooling more accessible across almost all climate zones in the United States. We expect IDS Ultra to fulfill a major need for homeowners living in colder regions who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the same level of comfort, especially during those harsh winter months.“
One of just a handful of companies to undergo extensive testing, participate and receive certification from the Department of Energy’s Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge—and the first solution from the challenge to enter the market. In order to meet the DOE Challenge’s criteria, the heat pump solutions had to meet certain heating performance baselines.
Bosch’s IDS Ultra can support climates reaching temperatures as low as -13° F, with a 100% heating capacity down to 5° F. It is also compliant with the new low global warming potential (GWP) A2L refrigerant requirements. The IDS Ultra is the first cold climate heat pump to market that meets these criteria from the DOE Challenge.
Historically, the colder it is outside, the harder it is for heat pumps to extract heat from the air. However, the IDS Ultra is outfitted with an Enhanced Vapor Injection (EVI) compressor that borrows extra heat from the hot side of the refrigerant cycle, redirecting it to warm the home, boosting performance and overall comfort on the coldest days. Additionally, the IDS Ultra features demand response capability, allowing utilities (with the homeowner’s permission) to manage electrical load intelligently prior to peak usage time to avoid outages.
The IDS Ultra qualifies for federal tax credits and state rebates as an Energy Star V6.1 Cold Climate certified product. Homeowners can visit energystar.gov to learn more about the qualifying criteria and how to apply. The IDS Ultra also includes a Residential Limited Warranty and is widely compatible with existing air-to-air systems.
IDS Ultra heat pumps are now available for purchase by HVAC industry professionals in time for the 2024 winter season. For more information on IDS Ultra and Bosch Home Comfort solutions, please visit bosch-homecomfort.us/ultra
New offering is built to exceed the rigorous demands of contractors, construction crews and utility fleets alike Buyers Products, a leading manufacturer in the work truck equipment industry, unveils the GuardDogg® Headache Rack, an advanced addition to their growing line of cab protectors. The GuardDogg® is constructed from 15-gauge steel and features a corrosion-resistant Matte Read more
New offering is built to exceed the rigorous demands of contractors, construction crews and utility fleets alike
Buyers Products, a leading manufacturer in the work truck equipment industry, unveils the GuardDogg® Headache Rack, an advanced addition to their growing line of cab protectors. The GuardDogg® is constructed from 15-gauge steel and features a corrosion-resistant Matte Black finish for robust durability. The GuardDogg® is available in multiple sizes to accommodate ½-ton, ¾-ton and 1-ton trucks.
“The GuardDogg® exemplifies our dedication to providing innovative, high-performance solutions at an excellent value,” says Jennifer Pusateri, truck tool box product manager at Buyers Products. “Unlike many other headache racks in its class that charge extra for essential brackets and hardware, the GuardDogg® comes fully equipped for a hassle-free, drill-free installation, whether you’re adding a toolbox or not.”
Buyers offers a complete line of drill-free lighting mounts, allowing users to accessorize their GuardDogg® rack with additional work lights or warning lights such as the Buyers Products 1492200 ultra bright rotating spot light or 8891060 LED light bar. This gives owners the option to maximize the visibility of their work truck, all without having to drill in their cab or permanently mar a brand new truck.
The GuardDogg® is compatible with popular work truck models, including the Ford® F-150, F-250, and F-350; RAM® 1500, 2500, 3500; Chevy® Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500; and the GMC® Sierra 2500 and 3500.
ecobee, a subsidiary of Generac Power Systems, announced the new ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite, available exclusively through Pro distribution channels. Designed with input from professionals, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite is easy to install, straightforward to use, durable and hardwired for enhanced reliability, eliminating the need for charging or a secondary power source. With the ecobee Read more
ecobee, a subsidiary of Generac Power Systems, announced the new ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite, available exclusively through Pro distribution channels. Designed with input from professionals, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite is easy to install, straightforward to use, durable and hardwired for enhanced reliability, eliminating the need for charging or a secondary power source.
With the ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite, installation is seamless, allowing professionals to save valuable time and move on to their next job even faster. The ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite is compatible with most HVAC systems, including multi-stage systems with up to four-stage heating and two-stage cooling (4H/2C), radiant heating systems, and dual-fuel systems. It also supports individual accessories like a humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilator, providing comprehensive control for enhanced comfort. For systems without a C-wire, the Smart Thermostat Lite easily adapts to most systems using the ecobee Power Extender Kit (sold separately). ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite is built to last and supports free over-the-air software updates so pros can rest assured their customers will get the latest updates for years to come.
Like other ecobee smart thermostats, the Smart Thermostat Lite is ENERGY STAR® certified and designed to save consumers up to 23%* on energy bills, making it a great choice for those looking for long-lasting energy savings. Customers will appreciate the Smart Thermostat Lite’s ability to automatically adjust to fit one’s routines — whether away, home, or sleeping — optimizing energy savings and comfort. Its intuitive touch-screen interface and simple design make it accessible for anyone to control their home comfort. Customers can also conveniently control the Smart Thermostat Lite on their Android or iOS mobile devices. Simply download the ecobee app, the top-rated smart thermostat app in both Apple and Google app stores. ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite seamlessly integrates with many popular smart home systems including Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Alarm.com.
“The ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite combines valuable insights from HVAC professionals and customers spanning multiple generations of ecobee smart thermostats,” said Bryan Hurren, VP, Product & Design at ecobee. “We’ve focused on not only making it a simple to install and reliable choice for professional installers but also an ideal, easy-to-use solution for our mutual customers. ecobee’s commitment to getting the job done right has made us a preferred choice among distributors, contractors, and our over 60,000 trained professionals across North America.”
Contractors can stay connected with customers by registering the newly installed Smart Thermostat Lite with a Pro PIN. A Pro PIN is a simple numeric code assigned to qualified ecobee contractors and entered on the device during installation. This enables the thermostat to display contractor contact information on the screen, along with email notifications whenever support is needed, long after the installation is complete. ecobee provides a dedicated Pro support line for quick and reliable assistance when needed and backs professionally installed products with an industry leading 5-year warranty.
Starting today, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite and ecobee Power Extender Kit (PEK) are available to professionals through their preferred distributor. To learn more, visit http://ecobee.com/pro.
*Compared to a hold of 72°F/22°C. Actual savings will vary depending on several factors including season, climate zone, and rate structure.
GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (formerly Uponor North America), a global provider of Uponor-branded products, is introducing the latest advancement in PEX-a piping technology with the launch of Uponor ServicePEX™ for water service applications. Designed for both new construction and the replacement of outdated service lines, ServicePEX delivers clean, safe water from the main to Read more
GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (formerly Uponor North America), a global provider of Uponor-branded products, is introducing the latest advancement in PEX-a piping technology with the launch of Uponor ServicePEX™ for water service applications.
Designed for both new construction and the replacement of outdated service lines, ServicePEX delivers clean, safe water from the main to the structure, offering a modern, dependable solution that prioritizes health, safety, and top-tier performance in every installation.
Available in sizes from ¾” to 2″, the pipe is tested and proven to the highest industry standards and is fully compliant for water service applications to prevent costly errors, rework, and penalties.
- Certified to AWWA C904 Standard for water service
- Tested for up to 12 months of UV exposure
- 200 psi at 73°F (13.8 bar at 23°C) rating at 0.63 design factor
- Highest chlorine resistance rating of ‘5’ per ASTM F2023
- Meets ASTM F876, CSA B137.5, NSF 14, and NSF 61
- Approved for use with AWWA C800 CTS compression fittings and valves
- Backed by a 25-year transferable limited warranty on pipe and ProPEX® expansion fittings
The highly flexible PEX-a product minimizes connections, reduces kinking, and allows for kink repairability for faster installs, less time in trenches, improved efficiencies, and reduced jobsite waste.
“We have a strong legacy of providing our customers with quality, reliable, polymer piping solutions that bring greater efficiencies and performance in plumbing, heating, and cooling applications,” says Anna Picchetti, vice president of Marketing and Strategy at GF Building Flow Solutions Americas. “Launching Uponor ServicePEX extends our solutions even further to provide the benefits of PEX-a from the water main to the home.”
The pipe is designed and manufactured to withstand the rigors of installation, resisting damage from impact and abrasion during backfilling and trench compaction. Plus, it is extremely resilient in freezing conditions and resists corrosion, rust, scale buildup, and stress cracking for long-lasting, reliable service.
To learn more about Uponor water service solutions, visit uponor.com.