Industry professionals from around the world will gather for the annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo) from Feb. 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The event — co-sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute — runs in conjunction with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.

During the trade show, industry professionals can view the latest HVACR innovations from more than 1,800 exhibitors showcasing products from the heating, cooling, refrigeration, ventilation, plumbing, indoor air quality, building automation and control, sustainable solutions, software, tools and instruments categories. 

Additionally, a key component of the show is the AHR Education Program, comprised of a panel series, free industry seminars and new product presentations. 

This year’s panel series includes a 2025 state-of-the-industry session discussing the current market, challenges, opportunities and future expectations. Other panel topics include “AI and Plumbing: How Smart Applications Can Lead to Smooth Waters Ahead” and “Everything You Need to Know about the Refrigerant Transition and A2Ls.” 

More than 230 free sessions geared toward contractors, engineers and distribution/supply chain professionals are available — from short 20-minute product demonstrations in the product theatres to one-to-two-hour classroom sessions. 

These include “Decarbonizing Commercial and Industrial Heating with Hydrogen Part 1,” delving into the latest research on the use of H₂ to decarbonize large commercial and industrial heating equipment using natural gas; “The Digital Revolution in HVAC: AI, Automation and the Future of Customer Service,” offering strategies to incorporate “digital coworkers” into a business; and “Repair, Replacement or Maintenance, Which Strategy Aligns Best with Consumer Behavior?” focusing on the importance of repair vs. replacements and how that can impact HVAC marketing outcomes. 

To view the full schedule of educational programs available, visit https://bit.ly/3Z68M4i.

ASHRAE’s Learning Institute will offer paid professional development courses and continuing education seminars that can go toward maintaining professional engineer licensure. Registration can be completed via the ASHRAE registration website or at the show. Visit https://bit.ly/4hRE3iX for more information. 

Workforce development

A key aspect of the show is continuing education and outreach through its Workforce Development program, which provides programming geared to inspire future industry members. This year, AHR is working with the Orange County Public School District. 

Bryan Orr, co-founder and president of Kalos Services and founder of the HVAC School, and his team will travel to a local HVACR high school and college program to provide onsite education and installation best practices for students learning about the HVAC/R industry. Students in the program will also attend the expo for an AHR-organized field trip, taking small group tours of the show floor and attending a specially curated panel discussion focusing on lifelong career opportunities within HVACR.

As part of its initiative to grow this program, AHR will also provide transportation for a select group of area schools, high school and trade, to the show for their own field trip experience.

Additionally, AHR works with ASHRAE annually to host a group of ASHRAE engineering students at the college level who are interested in learning more about the industry through equipment learning on the show floor. A panel of engineers from manufacturers also will speak to the students and provide insights into building a career in the industry.

The program is subsidized by industry sponsors as well as funds collected from AHR Expo Innovation Awards entry fees, which help cover the costs of show field trips, transportation, a hosted lunch, and monetary donations to student programs in the hosting city. Program sponsors for this year’s initiative include Viega, Midea, and Navac. Midea will also donate equipment for lab installation in one area HVACR technical lab.

Innovation Award winners

Every year, the AHR Expo features ten winners of its AHR Expo Innovation Awards, representing some of the most innovative products and technologies currently in the market. 

A panel of third-party judges from ASHRAE reviewed entries based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, product or technology real-world application and overall potential market impact. In addition, one overall Product of the Year winner will be announced during the show. 

Here are this year’s AHR Innovations Awards winners:

Building Automation: Eclypse Facilities by Distech Controls

Eclypse Facilities is for system integrators, equipment manufacturers and leading digital partners leveraging unparalleled openness and interoperability with Eclypse controllers to deliver advanced digital services. Buildings implementing Eclypse ensure the highest occupant satisfaction, equipment performance and minimal operational costs to maintain the highest asset value. 

Cooling: EnviroKIT by Climate Control Group

The EnviroKIT is a quick, simple and budget-friendly solution for restoring vertical stack fan-coil unit performance. It sustainably replaces aging components in only a few hours per room without drywall demolition. Ideal for the hospitality industry, this kitted solution improves the cooling performance of fan coils with minimal room downtime.

Heating: CFR by AERCO, a Watts Brand

CFR is the world’s first stainless-steel condensing boiler that can be installed in a Category I vent, making it an ideal solution for the commercial retrofit market. It delivers energy savings, reliable performance and cost-saving installation flexibility in a compact footprint to cost-effectively comply with local energy mandates. 

Indoor Air Quality: TotalSense Indoor Air Quality Sensor by Senva

The TotalSense Air Quality sensor is the most configurable air quality sensor available with any combination of 10 sensors: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, relative humidity, temperature, occupancy detection, total volatile organic compounds, ozone, particulate matter, barometric pressure and ambient light. 

Plumbing: ALPHA HWR by Grundfos

The ALPHA HWR is the first high-efficiency, digitally connected circulator for domestic hot water recirculation systems. It is the most efficient circulator available, with a best-in-class energy rating of 215 from the Hydraulic Institute. The fully digital solution achieves advanced comfort with maximum water and energy savings. 

Refrigeration: BOCK HGX56 CO₂ T by Danfoss

The BOCK HGX56 CO₂ T is a transcritical six-cylinder CO₂ compressor with an expanded range to enable larger refrigeration and heat pump applications with a smaller footprint and strong energy-efficient performance. 

Software: Building Efficiency System Tool 6.2 (BEST 6.2) by Radiant Professionals Alliance

The free interactive Building Efficiency System Tool 6.2 (BEST 6.2) revolutionizes HVAC system efficiency comparison. The software is held by Taco (which controls the content and function thereof). The software is copyrighted and protected by U.S. copyright laws and international treaty provisions.

Sustainable Solutions: Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump by LG Electronics USA

Conventional heat pumps suffer significant degradation in performance when confronted with temperatures below 0 F (-17.8 C), making them less reliable and efficient in cold climate regions. New heat pump products such as this innovation from LG have been developed to combat cold climate challenges, operating down to -31 F (-35 C). 

Tools and Instruments: Sense Nano by PassiveLogic

The Sense Nano is the first truly wireless sensor — communicating via Bluetooth mesh while extracting its operating energy from the surrounding environment. Goodbye, battery replacements. Installing in 15 seconds, it fits in the palm of your hand. In addition, it includes seven sensors inside a 1.77-inch (45 mm) diameter ring. 

Ventilation: I-Series Backward Curved Fans by Rosenberg USA

Rosenberg has developed 23 models of I-Series fans, ranging from 14 inches (355 mm) to 25 inches (630 mm). The high-efficiency, high-volume I-impeller features five backward-curved, hollow-profiled, airfoil section aluminum blades, with efficiency-optimized circumferential diffusers. The new impeller can increase efficiencies up to 11% while reducing noise levels by more than half compared to older impellers. 

Save the date: Next year’s AHR Expo will take place in Las Vegas from Feb. 2-4, 2026.