Summary of the 2025 ASHRAE Winter Meeting and the AHR Expo
The 2025 ASHRAE Winter Conference took place from February 8–12 in Orlando, Florida, at the Hilton Orlando. Concurrently, the AHR Exposition was held from February 10–12 at the Orange County Convention Center, showcasing leading manufacturers and product demonstrations from across the industry.
Many attendees choose to participate in either the ASHRAE Winter Conference or the AHR Expo, but attending both provides a comprehensive understanding of industry trends and innovations.
The ASHRAE Winter Conference is considered one of the most significant industry gatherings, bringing together leading professionals in HVAC. The event featured 458 committee meetings, where attendees could observe discussions on groundbreaking technical advancements. While some sessions followed Robert’s Rules of Conduct, they provided valuable insights into the latest industry developments. Additionally, the 125+ technical sessions offered educational opportunities covering the most recent achievements in HVAC technology.
Top Three Most Attended Sessions
- Seminar 13: Thermal Energy Storage: A Critical Strategy for Decarbonization
- Seminar 19: LIVESTREAM: Beneficial Electrification
- Seminar 8: The Logical Way to Tap Into Decarbonization: Hydronic District Energy Systems
Decarbonization and electrification were central themes at the conference. However, government participation was impacted by policy changes, with some scheduled speakers unable to attend due to last-minute travel restrictions.
Another notable event was the Smarter Summit 2025, held on Sunday evening before the Super Bowl. This gathering brought together leaders in open-protocol building automation to discuss the future of open-source building technologies. Discussions extended beyond protocols to include emerging specifications (Div2525), containerized applications, and Intelligent Building Blocks (IBB)—highlighting the growing influence of AI in building automation.
AHR Exposition Highlights
The AHR Expo once again featured a vast exhibition floor, with over 1,860 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees. Key industry trends showcased at the expo included:
- Sustainable Solutions: A strong focus on electric heat pumps, with numerous companies entering the market. Industry consolidation and acquisitions are likely as competition increases.
- Advanced Refrigerants: The introduction of new refrigerant blends designed to address Global Warming Potential (GWP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), and flammability concerns.
- Smart Building Systems: Innovations in AI and IoT integration were prominent, particularly in cloud-based data analysis and analytics for optimizing building operations.
For a list of the best new products featured at the show, visit:
2025 AHR Expo Innovation Awards Winners.
Beyond the technology and products, the event also provided valuable networking opportunities. The warm Orlando weather and numerous social gatherings allowed industry professionals to foster relationships and exchange ideas.
Christopher Larry, PE, CXA, CEM, CEP, CIPE, LEED AP, is the Director of Energy Engineering for EXP US Services Inc. (EXP) in Richmond, VA. He leads the Solutions Sector, specializing in smart building design, energy consulting, and commissioning.
With over 35 years of experience, he has worked to minimize the environmental footprint of buildings through design optimization, performance modeling, and intelligent controls.
He is a past president of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and has instructed the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) course. In 2000, he was named Energy Engineer of the Year by AEE.
His extensive contributions to ASHRAE include serving as Chairman of the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee and Chairman for Technical, Energy, and Governmental Activities. He has received ASHRAE’s Distinguished Service Award, Exceptional Service Award, and multiple Technology Awards.
Additionally, he has been actively involved with the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), now ASHB, where he has led the Building Intelligent Quotient (BIQ) initiative. He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Smart Building Council for the Association of Smarter Homes & Buildings (ASHB).
