AHRI Update
April 24, 2025
Top Stories
Register for the AHRI Policy Symposium Before Fees Increase!
Less than one month remains until the 2025 AHRI Policy Symposium, and you still have time to register before prices increase. Complete your registration by Tuesday, April 29 to lock in the $450 registration fee. After that date, the fee will increase to $500. A full list of the general sessions, advocacy opportunities, and networking events is available online.
As you plan your trip to Washington, mark your calendar to join our government affairs team on Friday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, for the webinar, Welcome to Lobbying! How to Make the Most of Your Capitol Hill Visits at the AHRI Policy Symposium. During the hour-long session, AHRI will help you develop effective federal advocacy strategies ahead of the symposium. We will cover the best ways to provide your business’ perspective to federal lawmakers, how to highlight the importance of the jobs you create, and the best practices to follow when offering your expertise on major issues. This webinar is designed to prime you for legislative visits so that you can arrive at the Policy Symposium ready to hit the ground running.
As a reminder, tomorrow, April 25, is the final day to reserve rooms at the Marriott Marquis through AHRI's room block. The group rate for a standard room is $379.00 per night, plus tax. While hotel rooms are still available on Sunday, May 18, and Monday, May 19, the AHRI group block on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21 is sold out. If you wish to extend your stay beyond these dates, please visit the event webpage for additional information on securing hotel rooms. Contact: Lauren Little.
AHRI/ Industry News
AHRI Program Engineers Visit Johnson Controls Facilities
On April 16, a team of AHRI program engineers visited two Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) facilities in York, Pennsylvania. At the JCI Airside Center of Excellence (ACE), AHRI engineers participated in a tour of the facility and the manufacturing floor. Members of JCI’s staff provided a presentation on its history and the products manufactured at the ACE facility. AHRI staff presented an overview of the association’s services and JCI’s involvement in its activities, including standing committees, standards technical committees, and working groups.
After lunch, AHRI staff proceeded to JCI’s Advanced Development Engineering Center (JADEC), where JCI staff provided an overview of its air-cooled and water-cooled chillers before leading a guided tour of the test labs for the equipment. The visit served as a valuable opportunity for several AHRI engineers to get a first-hand look at equipment and the large facilities required for certification testing.
Members who wish to host AHRI staff for facility visits are encouraged to contact Shawn Andrews, Director of Certification. Contact: Shawn Andrews
Rewiring America Report Finds 25C Tax Credit Crucial for Managing Electrical Grid
On April 17, Rewiring America released a report indicating that the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit (25C) can reduce peak demand and free up grid capacity. The report shows that when households install technologies supported by 25C, specifically efficient electric heating and cooling equipment, home insulation, and weatherization, their energy consumption is reduced on both the hottest and coldest days of the year.
The report also found that widespread use of technologies supported by 25C would reduce annual peak demand by more than 1GW in seven states. This potential reduction in peak residential electricity use from the widespread adoption of heat pumps and insulation is equivalent to the energy required to power hundreds of data centers running at full capacity. In 2023, nearly 2.4 million taxpayers claimed the 25C credit, saving an average of $882 in taxes, according to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. Contact: Makenzie Horrigan.
Know Before You Go: Prepare for Your Trip to the 2025 AHRI State Summit
AHRI looks forward to welcoming members to Albany, New York for the 2025 AHRI State Summit, to be held April 29-30. The two-day meeting presents the opportunity to communicate directly with key New York policymakers about the positive impact of our industry on jobs and the economy, energy efficiency, innovation, health and safety, and the environment. During the meeting, attendees will hear from expert keynote speakers, experienced panelists, and AHRI’s government affairs staff on the best strategies for advocacy in the state capital. Registered attendees will receive an email with information on registration, travel, and the event schedule. Contact: Lauren Little.
Legislative and Regulatory
South Coast Air Quality Management District Schedules Public Hearing on Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has published an updated notice of Public Hearing for June 6 at 9:00 a.m. PDT, during which the Governing Board will consider the adoption of Proposed Amended Rule 1111 – Reduction of NOx Emissions from Natural Gas-Fired Furnaces (PAR 1111) and Proposed Amended Rule 1121 – Reduction of NOx Emissions from Residential Type, Natural Gas-Fired Water Heaters (PAR 1121). The Notice of Public Hearing is available online. Contact: Nicole Colantonio.
AHRI’s Government Affairs Team to Host Two Webinars in May
Join AHRI’s government affairs team for two webinars next month! On May 7, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the energy and environment policy priorities of the Trump-Vance Administration during The First 100 Days of the Second Trump Administration. Bracewell Partner Scott Segal will be joined by Capital Alpha Founding Partner James Lucier to provide a review of the administration's actions during its first 100 days and discuss their impact on the HVACR and water heating industry. They will also discuss how the past few months have laid the groundwork for the legislative and regulatory priorities of the 119th Congress and how it can be expected to interact with the Trump-Vance administration over the next four years. Register now and mark your calendar for May 7 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT.
The second webinar, Looking Ahead to the 2026 Elections, will take place May 29 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT. We are only four months into 2025, but it is never too soon to talk about the 2026 elections! AHRI’s government affairs team will be joined by political consultants Missy Edwards and Richard Sullivan for their early predictions on the 2026 midterms. They will cover what the early election map looks like, share insights from Republican and Democratic camps, and outline how it will all impact the second half of the Trump Administration. Contact: Makenzie Horrigan.
Regulatory Information is Always Available!
AHRI members have ready access to information on all current state and federal regulatory activity through a number of vehicles, including the Government Relations Group virtual meeting on the third Monday of each month and the weekly Policy Brief, which outlines all the latest state and federal regulatory activities in which AHRI is involved. To be added to the list for our monthly Government Relations Group calls, please email Morgan Anderson. To be added to the list for the weekly Policy Brief, please send an email to [email protected]. The latest regulatory information also is provided at AHRI’s main meetings – the Policy Symposium, held in May of each year in Washington, DC (registration information provided above), and the Leadership Forum, held each year in November. Contact Francis Dietz.
Certification
AHRI Welcomes New Certification Participant
AHRI is pleased to welcome Climaveneta Chatunion Refrigeration Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd to the Central Station Air-Handling Unit Casings (AHUC) Certification Program.
AHRI is also pleased to welcome Mecalor Soluções em Engenharia Térmica S.A. to the Air-Cooled Water-Chilling Packages (ACCL) Certification Program. Contact: Bill Tritsis
Standards
AHRI Standards Open for Public Review and Comment
Technical Review
AHRI invites public comments on the technical content of the following draft AHRI standards. Based upon comments received, the Commercial Refrigeration Standards Technical Committee (STC) will decide whether to make changes. Copies of the drafts and the list of revisions are available through the documents’ links, listed below.
Document Designation and Title: BSR/AHRI Standard 1250-202x (I-P), Performance Rating of Walk-in Coolers and Freezers
STC: Commercial Refrigeration
Public Review Deadline: June 2
Contact: Greg Kalinyak
Document Designation and Title: BSR/AHRI Standard 1251-202x (SI), Performance Rating of Walk-in Coolers and Freezers
STC: Commercial Refrigeration
Public Review Deadline: June 2
Contact: Greg Kalinyak
Weekly Update from ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC
This week’s summary of ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC standards activities that are relevant to AHRI’s work is available here. Current and previous standards activities for ASHRAE can be found here. Current and previous standards activities for ANSI can be found here.
Research
AHRI Research and Technology Committee, AHRTI Steering Committee Meet at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The AHRI Research and Technology (R&T) Committee and the AHRTI Steering Committee met April 15-16 with researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) following a guided tour of its top-notch testing facilities.
During the visit, ORNL leaders identified research needs that are of interest to the HVACR industry, including the development of next-generation refrigerant technologies. The committees then developed a plan to collaborate on these goals, which includes the formation of several industry advisory groups to work with the ORNL team.
As one of AHRI’s standing committees, the R&T committee administers the AHRI research program, taking measures to promote research activities which will strengthen the industry’s global competitive position. Contact: Xudong Wang.
Left to right: Brian Fricke, ORNL; Zoey Scancarello, AHRI; Larry Burns, Carrier Corporation; Dennis Pax, Copeland; Stephen Spletzer, The Chemours Company FC; Kashif Nawaz, ORNL; Roy Crawford, Johnson Controls, Inc.; Jim Vershaw, Trane Technologies; Stephen Memory, A.O. Smith Corporation; Xudong Wang, AHRI
International
AHRI MENA Visits Member Office
The AHRI MENA team visited the office of AHRI’s new affiliate member, AMCO Qatar. During the meeting, staff discussed the current industry landscape and future collaboration opportunities. AHRI looks forward to working with AMCO Qatar to advance the HVACR industry in the region. Contact: Hassan Kal.
AHRI Participates in ASHRAE Region VIII Chapter Regional Conference
The ASHRAE Region VIII Chapter Regional Conference (CRC), hosted by the ASHRAE Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter, is taking place from April 24–26 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. AHRI is committed to fostering strong relationships with ASHRAE chapter professionals and continually exploring opportunities to support shared AHRI/ASHRAE mutual objectives. Region VIII includes 15 chapters across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Mexico. AHRI’s Senior Director of Global Services Michael LaGiglia is attending the event, and AHRI is proud to serve as a sponsor of the conference. Contact: Michael LaGiglia.
AHRI India Representative Serves as Guest Lecturer During ISHRAE Workshop
On April 11, AHRI India Representative Vikram Murthy served as a guest lecturer during a first-of-its-kind workshop hosted by the Vadodara Chapter of the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE). Murthy’s lecture discussed the use of artificial intelligence within the HVACR industry, covering topics such as AI’s role in product design, efficiency testing, digital controls and predictive equipment maintenance. Contact: Vikram Murthy.
Stay Up to Date with AHRI’s Global Offices, Sign Up for International Mailing Lists
AHRI’s Global Services department is proud to maintain international offices in Canada, China, India, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our local teams, supported by AHRI’s long history of industry experience and expertise, offer services and solutions specific to each region. As part of their service to AHRI members and other stakeholders, each office maintains an industry contact list for location-specific events and news. To be added to these lists, click the office below to be directed to its sign-up page:
Please note: these lists are designed to provide location-specific information. Developments that are of interest to the broader AHRI community, such as event announcements and industry partnerships, will be included in this weekly AHRI Update newsletter. Contact: Regan Spencer.