FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: 

Syan Rhodes

Press Secretary

713-306-7795

media@hcp4.net

Commissioner Lesley Briones, Daikin, Astros Foundation Deliver First Cooling Communities HVAC Upgrade to

Bayland Community Center 

$55,000 investment brings comfort, reliability, and climate resilience to a vital community hub

Commissioner Briones' Remarks

Full Press Conference Remarks

Press Conference Photos

(Harris County, TX – December 17, 2025) – Commissioner Lesley Briones, in partnership with Daikin and the Astros Foundation, celebrated the first Cooling Communities HVAC installation at Bayland Community Center, strengthening public safety and preparing Sharpstown for the next storm. The $55,000 HVAC upgrade provides a modern, energy-efficient system that supports daily programming and ensures reliable operations at one of the community’s most vital gathering places. 

Cooling Communities is a public-private partnership launched by Daikin in collaboration with the Astros Foundation to bring critical HVAC improvements to community spaces where they are needed most across Greater Houston. 

Bayland Community Center is a lifeline for many families in Precinct 4, offering a variety of free programs and services to residents throughout the year. Located in Sharpstown, where temperatures can be approximately 10 degrees warmer than in other parts of Harris County, Bayland serves as a refuge and resource during the hottest days of summer and in times of disaster.  

“The new HVAC system at Bayland will significantly enhance our resilience to extreme weather, creating protection for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “Thanks to the support of tremendous partners like Daikin and the Astros Foundation, we stand ready to serve our residents before, during, and after any storm.” 

During Hurricane Beryl and the derecho, Bayland supported more than 4,000 residents, and during the January freeze, the center provided overnight shelter. Powered by Daikin’s advanced inverter technology, the new HVAC system is fully operational and designed to support daily programming while helping ensure continuity of services during times of heightened community need. 

“Daikin is proud to invest in Houston and strengthen the spaces where our communities come together,” said Kristi Pittman, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Daikin. “Through Cooling Communities and our partnership with the Astros Foundation, we’re turning teamwork into real impact, beginning here at Bayland Community Center. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to expand our program next year.” 

This milestone marks the beginning of a broader regional effort by Daikin and the Astros Foundation, who will continue the Cooling Communities program in 2026 and bring comfort, reliability, and climate-ready infrastructure to more Houston neighborhoods. 

“Comfort and community are at the heart of this program,” said Emelda Douglas, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs for the Houston Astros and Executive Director of the Astros Foundation. “By teaming up with Daikin, we’re ensuring that spaces like Bayland Community Center are not only welcoming but resilient for the families who depend on them. We look forward to building on this success in 2026 and continuing to make Houston cooler.” 

# # #



About Harris County Precinct 4

Precinct 4 is one of four precincts located in Harris County, Texas and boasts a population of more than 1.2 million people. Precinct 4 maintains 1,600+ miles of roads and nearly 4 miles of bridges, 10 community centers with more than 700,000 visitors annually, and 62 parks, with 14,000+ acres of greenspace. 

About Daikin 

Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) is a Fortune 1,000 company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide and a leading indoor comfort solutions provider. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (DNA) is a subsidiary of DIL, providing Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex brand products. DNA and its affiliates manufacture heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and industrial use that are sold via independent HVAC contractors. DNA engineering and manufacturing is headquartered at Daikin Texas Technology Park near Houston, TX. For additional information, visit www.daikincomfort.com.

Amana® is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved.

About Daikin Park

On January 1, 2025, the Houston Astros and Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (Daikin) entered into a 15-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership that brands the home of the Astros as Daikin Park. The agreement runs through the 2039 season, and includes official naming rights, partnership benefits, and giving back to the Greater Houston community through educational programming and youth sports development in underserved communities.

Overall, Daikin has invested more than $1 billion in the Houston area, including more than $500 million in building Daikin Texas Technology Park. Also, in August 2024, Daikin launched an initiative with the City of Houston to equip low-to-moderate income homes with advanced air conditioning and heating solutions, providing more comfort and energy efficiency for homeowners. Daikin is always looking for new ways to support their community and to create innovative technologies, with an unwavering commitment to making sustainable and responsible choices. For more information on Daikin Park, visit https://daikincomfort.com/about-daikin/daikin-park.

About Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Established as the Houston Colt .45s, the Astros entered the National League as an expansion team in 1962. The current name, Houston Astros, reflecting Houston’s role as the host of the Johnson Space Center and space exploration, was adopted three years later, when they moved into the Astrodome. The Astros moved to their current home ballpark in downtown Houston in 2000. The Astros have had great success on the diamond, having won two World Series (2017 and 2022), five league pennants, and advanced to a record-setting seven-straight American League Championship Series, winning four of the last seven American League pennants.

A tenet of the organization is to give back to the greater Houston community, and that is done through the Astros Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) team charity of the Houston Astros. The foundation seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans to support youth baseball and softball programs, the recognition and honor of our nation’s military, childhood cancer awareness, domestic violence awareness and efforts to reduce homelessness. The cornerstone initiatives include the Community Leaders program, the Astros Youth Academy and the Astros RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program. For more information on the Astros Foundation, please visit www.astros.com/foundation.