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CELEBRATING HVAC IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
AHR Expo 2025 returns to Orlando highlighting the latest in HVAC/R trends and technology. BY HPAC STAFF
Pack your short-sleeved shirts as the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo), the largest annual North American gathering of HVAC/R industry professionals, returns to Florida for three-days, February 10 to 12, 2025.
Like every edition of the Expo since 1930, manufacturers and suppliers from around the world will be on hand to showcase their new product lineups, feature innovations and provide technical support for attendees.
The AHR Expo places an equal em -
phasis on educating contractors and engineers while also providing a market for manufacturers and distributors to show off their latest products.
The event is co-sponsored by ASHRAE (the global society of heating, refrigeration and air conditioning engineers) and the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute of America (AHRI).
SEMINARS AND PANELS
The full schedule for the 2025 AHR Expo Education Program contains more than 250 sessions, including
DATES AND TIMES
Monday, February 10, 2025
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Hours: 10 am – 4 pm
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
AHREXPO.COM
over 100 free subject-specific seminars, a panel series featuring an annual ‘State of the Industry’ forum, vendor-hosted new product presentations in the New Product Theater and more.
“Educating our current and future workforce is an area of dedicated attention and effort across most industry conversations,” said show manager, Mark Stevens, in a pre-
Continued on p4
show release. “Over the years, the AHR education program has grown into an important complementary asset to the show floor experience, lending an opportunity for deeper understanding of what’s happening within the industry, how to apply skill and knowledge, and how to prepare for shifts.”
The AHR Expo website (ahrexpo. com) allows you to search through the long list of educational sessions using keywords (like heat pumps), or you can search by topic, session type, speaker or date.
As mentioned, this year’s series of free panel discussions includes the 2025 State of the Industry: Today’s Market, Challenges, Opportunities & What’s Ahead (Tuesday, 10 a.m.). This very well attended session puts leaders from industry associations including ASHRAE, AHRI, HARDI, and NCI on the hot seat to share their visions for the year ahead.
Other interesting panels this year include: AI and Plumbing (Monday, 11 a.m.); Cybersecurity in HVAC/R (Monday, 1 p.m.); Everything You Need to Know About the Refrigerant
Transition and A2Ls (Monday, 3 p.m.); Navigating the Workforce Rollover (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.); and The Wide World of HVAC/R (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.).
Although there are many regional, code and legislative differences between the U.S. and Canada, the everyday concerns and trends affecting HVAC/R professionals in North America are cross border.
Also, sifting through the over 230 seminars and product demos, you’ll find the latest updates on pilot projects using hydrogen in place of natural gas in commercial and industrial applications, and on Wednesday at 9 a.m. there is a session on ‘Thermal Storage and Heat Pumps, Lessons Learned from Hydro Quebec Deployment ,’ which will share results from a program launched in 2022.
There will be plenty of AI-themed sessions taking on issues like building automation and small business optimization. On Monday at 10:30 a.m. is a seminar titled, The Digital Revolution in HVAC: AI, Automation, and the Future of Customer Service
There will also be several sessions focused on the refrigerant transition,
including Flammable Refrigerants (A2s and A3s) – What You Need to Know on Monday, 11:30 a.m., and A2L Safety and Mitigation Technology Overview, Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.
Canada’s own Trevor Matthews (Refrigeration Mentor) will be presenting an advanced session on Tuesday, 10 a.m.: Saving Retailers Money with CO2 Refrigeration High Ambient Strategies , For those looking for human resources advice, another Canadian, Quebec-born Karine Leblanc, will be presenting Empowering our Workforce with Emotional Intelligence: Building a Sustainable Future (Monday, 9 a.m.). The author of How to Be Human in a Technical World, Leblanc will share lessons for HVAC professionals to improve managing client demands and team communication under pressure.
If your primary focus is on learning about new products, aside from walking the show floor, the New Product Theater will be hosting more than 145 presentations, each lasting approximately 20 minutes. These free sessions, all listed on the ahrexpo
The show is anticipating over 50,000 visitors.
The Podcast Pavilion features live interviews with industry experts.
website, will provide brief overviews of product announcements from the technology experts.
PODCASTERS & AWARDS
Industry podcasters and many HVAC/R social media influencers are once again headed to AHR Expo for the fifth edition of the Podcast Pavilion. Witness in-person interviews with industry heavyweights. You’ll have a chance to network and ask questions. The Refrigeration Mentor (Trevor Matthews) will be among the personalities sharing knowledge at the Pavilion.
On the massive show floor attendees will also be able to visit the exhibitors who were named the winners of the 2025 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. In addition, during the show one of the winners will be announced as the Product of the Year.
And for those in the hydronics industry, everyone is invited to join the current Honourees of the Carlson-Holohan Industry Award of Excellence as they officially announce a new member live at the Caleffi booth (#951) in the West Building on Monday, 3 p.m.
There are over 100 free seminars over the three days, just walk in and learn.
The AHR Panel Series includes the popular State of the Industry session.
2025 TREND REPORT
The organizers of the AHR Expo published their annual trend report for the upcoming year, highlighting challenges and opportunities forecast by major associations across the HVAC/R industry.
The report provides predictions and trends from 13 North American and international associations and affilliated groups. The overall industry’s transition toward sustainable practices and solutions, along with its impact on the workforce and overall industry-wide collaboration, proved to be a consistent thread throughout the multi-page report.
M. Dennis Knight, president of ASHRAE, sees technological breakthroughs such as artificial intelligence (AI) as a key step for the industry toward reaching its goals of carbon reduction and securing the next generation workforce.
“By combining technological power with human creativity, both experienced professionals and new talent can work together to shape the future of our industry,” he says. “We need to demonstrate how our work directly impacts indoor environmental quality, climate action, and sustainable development.”
John Mullen, director of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), agreed that the intersection of technology and collaboration will prove a major theme over the next 12 months: “Innovations in sustainable technologies, AI integration, and enhanced workforce development are driving the industry forward. This is a time of collaboration and creativity, with a shared vision for a greener, smarter future,” says Mullen.
Krystyna Dawson, commercial director with BSRIA, a global strategic market intelligence firm, highlights the increased prominence of heat pumps as an example of the transition that is currently underway: “Heat pumps that can deliver heating, cooling and hot water are gaining traction, becoming the preferred choice for new homes, while the industry explores innovative solutions to decarbonize existing buildings,” she said.
Within these greener trends, the report makes multiple mentions of the switch to A2L refrigerants as one of the primary themes for the year ahead, with Talbot Gee, CEO of Heating Air-conditioning Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) sharing the complexities to distribution and the overall supply chain.
“The A2L transition brings particular challenges for HVAC/R distributors [and] continues to add complexity to market forecasts and product availability,” says Gee. “Companies with the financial strength and capacity to adapt are poised to weather these uncertainties more successfully.”
Further complications from the A2L transition and rise of other refrigerant alternatives, specifically from a training perspective, were highlighted by the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society’s director of operations, Lori Schiavo.
In addition to input from 13 industry leaders, the report also features forecasts from LG and Johnson Controls, along with hosts from five HVAC/R podcasts. The full report can be accessed at ahrexpo.com <>
The Carlson-Holohan Award is presented every two years to a nominee with attributes including technical mastery and a passion for hydronic technologies, demonstrated leadership as an educator and a mentor. The most recent honouree, awarded at AHR Expo 2023, was David Hughes of Edmonton.
Also, NIBCO is partnering with Impetus Media of Vancouver to host three hands-on, two-hour boiler panel build sessions at booth #1829. Look out for Canadian social media personalities including Jessica Bannister (@HVACjess), Terence Chan (@the__ impetus), Tyler Dynes (@dyneshvac), Adam Gordon (@gordonbotplumbing) and more.
In total there are expected to be over 1,800+ exhibitors at AHR Expo 2025, from the largest manufacturers to niche players and start-ups, and the show is anticipating over 50,000 HVAC/R attendees coming to learn and network.
Attendees who pre-register can skip the registration lines, and downloading the MyShowPlanner App for iOS and Android will allow visitors to map out and manage their show floor experience and plan out their education schedule in advance.
Details and instructions for early registration and downloading of the AHR Expo App are all available at ahrexpo.com <>
Take in presentations on the show floor.
Put yourself in the mix.
2025 AHR Innovation Awards
In anticipation of the 2025 AirConditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo), on October 24th , 2024, the show organizers announced the category winners of its annual Innovation Awards, a program that recognizes the latest advancements or improvements among products and technologies critical to the HVAC/R industry.
The Innovation Awards cover 10 industry categories, including: building automation, cooling, heating, indoor air quality, plumbing, refrigeration, software, sustainable solutions, tools/instruments, and ventilation.
The program attracts hundreds of manufacturers who will be exhibiting their latest solutions at the AHR Expo in February, where one of the 10 category winners will be named Product of the Year.
“The Innovation Awards aim to highlight these companies, professionals and their innovation trajectory and to celebrate those that are pushing the bar,” said AHR show manager, Mark Stevens.
All entries are reviewed by a panel of third-party judges made up of ASHRAE members. Evaluations are based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, real-world application, as well as overall potential market impact.
Following are this year’s winners of the AHR Expo Innovations Awards:
BUILDING AUTOMATION
Eclypse Facilities from Distech Controls is a software solution embedded directly within the company’s Eclypse-connected controllers, providing management and control for a variety of equipment types within buildings. Previously known as Eclypse Building Intelligence, the software allows system integrators, equipment manufacturers and other partners access through the openness and interoperability within Eclypse controllers to deliver advanced digital services.
Dashboards allow users to visualize indoor environments, equipment operation and energy consumption, viewable on computers and mobile devices. distech-controls.com
COOLING
The EnviroKIT from International Environmental Corp. (part of the Climate Control Group) is a ‘plug-n-play’ retrofit solution for vertical stack hydronic fan coil units. The pre-fab solution allows the swapout replacement of aging components without drywall demolition. Suitable for the hotel/motel industry, this kitted retrofit solution improves the performance of fan coils with minimal downtime for replacement. iec-okc.com
HEATING
The CFR commercial boiler from AERCO (a Watts company) is the first stainless steel condensing boiler that can be installed in a Category I / Type B vent, making it suitable for the commercial retrofit market. Available in two models, 1,500 and 3,000 MBH, they offer up to 87.6% thermal efficiency and their 439 stainless steel fire-tube heat exchangers make them resilient to condensation. The compact footprint will fit through standard 36-in. doorways and they allow easy access for servicing. aerco.com
PLUMBING
The Grundfos ALPHA HWR is a digitally connected circulator for domestic hot water recirculation set-ups with a dedicated return line. The system includes the pump, timer and temperature sensor built into one solution that’s all digitally connected and set up can be done through a phone app. An efficient circulator, with an energy rating of 215 from the Hydraulic Institute, the fully digital solution provides both water and energy savings. grundfos.com
HIGH EFFICIENCY WITH HIGHER STANDARDS
AeroTherm® Series Heat Pump Water Heaters provide the higher level of efficiency, energy savings and performance you and your customers demand.
• Exclusive Vitraglas® tank lining with Microban® antimicrobial technology
• Exceeds ENERGY STAR® standards and meets zero-emission standards
• Five operating modes: Heat Pump, Hybrid, Hybrid Plus, Electric and Vacation
• Qualifies for many regional rebates*
See why Bradford White has been the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for the past 5 years!
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
The TotalSense IAQ (indoor air quality) sensors from Senva Inc. report data for advanced ventilation control in buildings while helping to reduce installation cost and time. The devices are available with combinations of up to 10 sensors: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), occupancy detection, ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), relative humidity (RH), temperature, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), barometric pressure and ambient light. senvainc.com
REFRIGERATION
The Danfoss BOCK HGX56 CO2 T is a transcritical semi-hermetic 6-cylinder CO2 compressor with expanded range to enable larger refrigeration and heat pump applications with a smaller footprint, and strong energy efficient performance. Suitable for industrial refrigeration, cold storage, ice sports facilities and heat pumps, the compressor has a capacity of up to 135 kW for cooling and 360 kW for heating along with low noise and vibration characteristics. danfoss.com
SOFTWARE
The Hydronics Industry AllianceCommercial (HIA-C), which promotes the use of water-based hydronic systems in buildings and is a committee of the Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA), released version 6.2 of its Building Efficiency System Tool (BEST), a free interactive commercial building HVAC system efficiency comparison application. This latest version focuses attention on energy use, including up to four selected systems in one life-cycle comparison report using historical design temperatures to determine peak energy demand and the energy utilization index (EUI) when comparing different styles of HVAC systems in buildings. hydronicsindustryalliance.org
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
The LG Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump, designed specifically for cold regions, operates effectively (70% capacity) as low as -35C (-31F). It retains full heating capacity at -25C (-13F). Additionally, it incorporates a refrigerant cycle that prevents frost accumulation on the outdoor heat exchanger, and it uses twin rotary inverter compressor that use low global warming potential (GWP) R-32 refrigerant. lg.com
VENTILATION
Rosenberg’s I-Series Backward Curved Fans were recognized for their efficiency. The company has developed 23 models of I-Series fans, ranging from 355mm to 630mm. The high-efficiency, high-volume I-impeller features five backwardcurved, hollow-profiled, airfoil section aluminum blades, with efficiency-optimized circumferential diffusers. The new impeller can increase efficiencies up to 11%, while they also reduce noise levels by more than half compared to older impellers. rosenbergcanada.com
TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS
The Sense Nano from PassiveLogic is a truly wireless sensor — communicating via Bluetooth mesh, while extracting its operating energy from the surrounding environment. Requiring no battery replacements, and installed in 15 seconds, the Sense Nano fits in the palm of your hand. And it packs a punch with seven sensors inside a 45mm diameter ring. passivelogic.com
Introducing the P-K EvoHP™
Patterson-Kelley’s first air to water heat pump. Engineered to seamlessly integrate with a traditional boiler system, enhancing comfort heat and domestic hot water.
A Commitment to Sustainability and Reliability in Commercial Heating
Introducing the next step in evolution for Patterson-Kelley in the commercial heating market, the P-K EvoHP™. This innovative design prioritizes sustainability by harnessing the efficiency of the heat pump. Leveraging both traditional boiler systems and heat pump systems in tandem, these technologies offer optimal performance and peace of mind, minimizing environmental impact without compromising on reliability or comfort. Scan the QR code to the right to learn more!