As part of its three-pronged effort to improve operating efficiency and profitability, Watsco announced that it will close and integrate seven locations in the first half of 2001.

Poor communication is not the only reason that relations between manufacturers and distributors are strained, consultant John Sedgwick told members of the Northamerican Heating, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Wholesalers Association Dec. 3 during their convention in New Orleans.

Outgoing Energy Secretary Bill Richardson announced Jan. 19 that central air conditioners will have to meet a minimum SEER of 13.

The Trane Co. has established an MRO arrangement with Maintenance Warehouse to sell 10-SEER equipment from 1 ton through 5 tons to commercial users such as property management firms.

Carrier Corp. and Silicon Energy are teaming up to offer utilities the ComfortChoice program.

Carrier Corp. and Purafil Inc. reached an agreement for Carrier to market Purafil's commercial filtration products in North America.

The Home Depot and The Trane Co. have launched a pilot program for Home Depot to sell Trane residential heating and cooling products as an installed sale.

An alliance between Johnson Controls (Milwaukee) and Simplex (Gardner, Mass.) will offer integrated building systems to customers across the globe.

Heatway Radiant Floors and Snowmelting has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced that it has signed a letter of intent for Watts Industries to take over the company.

Haynes Trane Service of Denver and its owner Frederick M. Haynes have won an $18 million breach of contract jury verdict against the Trane Co.