Seasonal transitions in the HVAC and plumbing industry always bring a mixed bag, from last-minute heating emergencies up North and early AC tune-ups down South to a plethora of leaks as the thaw sets in along the East Coast. Whether you were handling spring service calls or wrapping up winter projects, you were likely too busy to catch all the latest news.
That’s what the JB Warranties Monthly Round-Up is here for! In our February Round-Up, we shared fresh resources for Fix a Leak Week, celebrated the removal of proposed ASME safety standard changes, examined tariffs’ impact on HVAC imports, introduced the new Women in HVACR board members, and recapped Kohler’s massive wins at KBIS 2025.
Now, let’s dive into what made headlines during the month of March.
Eagle Eye Networks, a global leader in cloud video surveillance, recently unveiled Eagle Eye Sensors, a new solution designed to detect indoor vaping and smoking. The sensors help schools and businesses enhance building safety, maintain regulatory compliance, and create healthier work and learning environments with real-time monitoring and automated alerts.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Eagle Eye Sensors to our education customers to address vaping detection — a longstanding challenge in K-12 settings,” said Mike Intag, Managing Partner at Gardient, an Austin-based systems integration firm. “In addition to vaping, Eagle Eye Sensors provide temperature, humidity, and open-door monitoring.”
The launch comes as the global sensor market is expected to soar from $179.7 billion in 2023 to $300.5 billion by 2029. Eagle Eye Sensors are particularly useful for monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) changes and temperature fluctuations in sensitive areas where security cameras aren’t an option, such as restrooms, locker rooms, health care facilities, and secure storage.
Carrier has teamed up with Google Cloud Consulting to develop a resilient Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Through Carrier Energy, its new energy solutions division, Carrier is integrating battery-enabled HVAC systems with AI-powered analytics from Google Cloud and WeatherNext AI models from Google DeepMind and Google Research. The goal? To help homeowners lower energy costs, improve efficiency, and reduce strain on the power grid.
HEMS will use AI-driven forecasts to adjust HVAC energy use in real-time based on weather conditions and grid demand. Homeowners can store energy in batteries and use it during peak hours, when electricity rates are highest. With Google’s WeatherNext AI models, HEMS will predict energy needs more accurately — helping users balance supply and demand across the grid.
“By integrating Google Cloud’s AI platform with Google DeepMind’s and Google Research’s groundbreaking WeatherNext models into our advanced HEMS platform, we are creating smarter energy solutions that will help drive efficiency, resilience, and sustainability," said Hakan Yilmaz, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer at Carrier. "This collaboration will help take grid resilience capabilities to new levels and unlock greater value for our customers.”
Every year on March 22, World Water Day highlights the importance of freshwater conservation. This year, the 50 Liter Home Coalition (50L Home) and U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC California) went beyond celebration — they shared the results of a two-year pilot program aimed at reducing residential water and energy consumption in Los Angeles.
In collaboration with Kohler, Procter & Gamble (P&G), and other 50L Home partners, USGBC California monitored water and energy usage in 31 Los Angeles homes to test the impact of efficient appliances and consumer products. The pilot took a whole-home approach, incorporating water-saving fixtures, energy-efficient appliances, and optimized product usage.
The program’s findings showed a 21% reduction in indoor water use, leading to an 18% drop in energy consumption, including:
For plumbing contractors, these results reinforce the value of sustainability-focused products as an easy upsell opportunity. Smart plumbing fixtures such as high-efficiency toilets, touchless faucets, and even tankless water heaters not only help homeowners reduce their monthly utility bills but also serve as compelling selling points when discussing long-term savings.
The trades are facing a hiring crunch, with demand surging for carpenters, electricians, welders, and plumbers. To help address this gap, Orijin, a leader in workforce development for correctional facilities, and Interplay Learning, a provider of immersive skilled trades training, have expanded their partnership to create more career pathways for justice-involved individuals.
"Through our partnership with Orijin, we are making high-quality skills training more accessible to justice-involved individuals who are eager to build stable careers,” said Doug Donovan, CEO of Interplay Learning. "By expanding our learning pathways and introducing pre-apprenticeships, we’re equipping more individuals with the tools they need to successfully re-enter the workforce.”
This next phase adds 15 learning pathways in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and facilities maintenance, featuring expanded course hours and industry-relevant training. Delivered on secure digital tablets, these programs also introduce pre-apprenticeship opportunities, providing hands-on training in a controlled environment to help participants overcome employment barriers.
Housecall Pro, a household name in home services, announced the 50 winners of its 2025 Trade Academy Scholarship, in partnership with WD-40 and SupplyHouse. This year’s recipients, selected from trade schools and programs across the U.S., included students training for careers in plumbing and electrical — marking an expansion beyond the previously HVAC-focused program.
Each 2025 scholarship winner received:
This milestone year marks the first time Housecall Pro has awarded 50 total scholarships, reflecting its increasing commitment to supporting the skilled trades. By broadening its reach to include plumbing and electrical students, the Trade Academy Scholarship program is helping more aspiring tradespeople kickstart their careers with financial and professional support.
From AI-powered energy management to water-saving tech and immersive training programs, March was packed with updates for the HVAC and plumbing sector. The industry keeps evolving — getting more efficient and more in demand — while customers become more cost-savvy. Whether it’s new tools or trends, there’s always something shaking up the trades.
Want to stay ahead of it all? JB Warranties has you covered! Read the blog for the latest in HVAC and plumbing.