AHR Expo
Join AHRI in Chicago | January 22-24, 2024
Register Today!
AHRI is proud to co-sponsor and exhibit at the 2024 AHR Expo, from January 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The AHR Expo is the world’s largest HVACR marketplace event and will host more than 1,600 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees. AHRI welcomes current and prospective members and certification program participants and others to visit us at booth #S6910, where staff is on hand to provide the latest information and insight into association and industry matters.
AHRI's staff and working groups have organized educational sessions covering topics such as the transition to low-GWP refrigerants, the ongoing implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act Incentives, the VRF test procedure and efficiency rating, supporting healthy buildings through humidity control, adiabatic humidification technologies for decarbonization, and more. Registration for each session will be available here. See details below:
2024 Educational Sessions
Adiabatic Humidification Technologies for Decarbonization
To face the environmental challenges of tomorrow, we must begin decarbonizing our buildings today. However, we must also take recent lessons in healthy indoor environments into consideration. In this presentation, we will explore how humidification and evaporation technologies fit into decarbonization strategies, with a particular focus on energy efficiency benefits that can be unlocked with evaporative technologies. The topic will begin with a brief review of indoor humidity terminology and theory and traditional applications for humidity control and commonly available technologies. We will then review some common drivers of decarbonization and talk about how various humidity control products may fit into decarbonization strategies. For the second half of the presentation, we will discuss evaporative humidification and cooling technologies in greater detail, including examples of direct and indirect evaporative cooling applications. We will conclude with a short overview of the latest in evaporative technologies. Attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of:
- Humidity control in buildings
- How decarbonization and humidity control technologies interact
- Approaches for reducing energy usage with evaporative cooling
- Modern Evaporative technologies
Speaker:
Nicholas Lea, Head of Product and Sales Support, Americas, Condair Ltd.
Supporting Healthy Buildings through Humidity Control
With ASHRAE Standard 241 drawing increased focus towards infectious aerosol controls, healthy indoor environments are a major topic. In addition to ventilation and filtration, humidity control is an important component of healthy indoor environments. Both recent and historical research have demonstrated links between humidity control and the health of building occupants, as well as control of infectious aerosols. This session will explore the links between humidity and health in the school, workplace, and at home, and provide some practical approaches for achieving optimal humidity levels. Topics covered interest building design professionals, professionals involved in building retrofits, building owners, facility managers, and anyone interested in healthy indoor environments.
Speaker:
Nicholas Lea, Head of Product and Sales Support, Americas, Condair Ltd.
Thermal Energy Storage: Current Technologies and Innovations
Attendees will learn about the latest innovations in thermal energy storage and why is it important, especially with the new investment tax credit included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The presentation will cover the types of products that are commercialized (i.e., rooftop packaged units, chillers, campus-wide tanks), the economic and carbon-reduction benefits to end-users, as well as the benefits to the grid.
Speakers:
Mark MacCracken, Trane Technologies
James Marker, Thule Energy Storage
Richard Mullen, EVAPCO
Boaz Ur, Nostromo Energy
Paul Steffes, Steffes Corporation
Tom Vega, Baltimore Aircoil Company
VRF Test Procedure and Efficiency Rating Update
Provides a summary of the most notable changes in the new VRF test procedure. There will also be a more in-depth review of the CVP and associated Appendix C and H sections of the standard. This will include a review of definitions, calculations, and other significant requirements to meet the CVP. The budgeting system will also be explained.
Learning Objectives:
An overview of changes to the test procedure for VRF, including:
- Sensible heat ratio limits
- Hierarchy of indoor units to be used for tested combination
- Air-flow control settings under test
- Controls verification procedure
Speaker:
Walt Hunt, Manager, Environmental Research, Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.
What You Need to Know - A Closer Look at the Ongoing Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act Incentives
This panel of HVACR and water heating industry representatives and stakeholders will provide the latest rulemaking guidance and information about the ongoing implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs, including tax credits and home electric appliance rebate programs important to our industry.
Speakers:
Alex Ayers, Director, Government Affairs, Heating Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI)
Eric Hatton, Vice President, Utility and Government Services, EGIA
Barton James, President and CEO, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Samantha Slater, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, AHRI
Charles R. White, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, PHCC-National Association
What You Need to Know - An Update on the Transition to Low-GWP (or A2L) Refrigerants
This panel of HVAC industry representatives and stakeholders will discuss the latest information about the transition to low-global warming potential (or A2L) refrigerants.
Speakers:
Thomas Deary, Director of Codes, AHRI
Samantha Slater, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, AHRI
Scott Stone, Glencoe Strategies LLC
Cool Credentials: Preparing HVACR Technicians for Low-GWP Refrigerant Changes
Join North American Technician Excellence (NATE) for an informative discussion on the imminent transition to low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and discover how North American Technician Excellence's (NATE) certification exams empower HVACR technicians to navigate this transformative phase with confidence. We'll delve into the critical role NATE's Low-GWP Refrigerants Certification Exam plays in equipping technicians with the essential knowledge and skills required to excel in the field during these changes. Stay ahead of the curve with NATE - these regulatory changes are set to begin taking effect next year! Learn more.
Speaker:
John Lanier, President, North American Technician Excellence.
2023 Educational Sessions
Status Update on Refrigerant Classification, Specification, and Recovery Standards
This presentation reviewed specific ASHRAE and AHRI refrigerant standards and their roles in enabling refrigerant transitions and equipment reliability. Proposed and completed changes to these standards were discussed, with a review of how they complement each other and address industry needs. See presentation here.
Improving Indoor Air Quality in Commercial Spaces: Best Practices and Financial Resources
Indoor air quality continues to be top-of-mind as the nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and returns to offices and other commercial spaces. This panel discussion explained the demonstrated best practices and financial resources that can be accessed to help make these spaces as healthful and safe as possible. See presentation here.
What’s in it for Me? A Closer Look at Inflation Reduction Act Incentives
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a landmark tax, climate, and health care law that includes energy efficiency tax incentives and clean energy rebate programs, as well as grants and incentives for contractors. This panel discussion educated the entire distribution chain on the incentives to consumers and contractors available under the new law. See presentation here.
Innovations in Thermal Energy Storage
During this session, the audience learned about the latest innovations in thermal energy storage and why is it important, especially with the new investment tax credit included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The presentation covered what types of products are commercialized (i.e., rooftop packaged units, chillers, campus-wide tanks), the economic and carbon-reduction benefits to end-users, as well as the benefits to the grid. See presentation here.
The Regulatory Report: 2023 Changes and What You Need to Know in 2023
The Climate Alliance states and the Biden Administration’s fast-paced regulatory agenda are prioritizing issues critical to the AHRI members. Policies related to decarbonization, energy efficiency, chemicals in equipment components, and implementing the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act were highlighted in this discussion. This session also touched on the 2023 change in energy efficiency standards for residential air conditioning. See presentation here.
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