If there is anyone on the fence about attending, Nicole Bush, director of marketing for the AHR Expo, said there is absolutely no way someone could walk around the show without gaining some sort of valuable insight.  

“People that I've talked to have said this is six months’ worth of education spread over three days,” Bush said. Whether the goal is to meet a new person, find a new product, solve a problem that’s been plaguing a business, or sitting in an education session about a facet of the industry that wasn’t previously on the radar, there’s literally something for everyone. 

Highlighting Trends 

2025 is set to be a year marked by significant regulatory shifts, with an added air of uncertainty about what the new political climate may hold. But attendees won’t find themselves in the dark, as Bush said they’ve built up a very robust panel series, which will be on the docket again this year.  

“We try to pinpoint a lot of topics that are shared by our cross audiences,” Bush said. “We try to highlight areas where there are, you know, pain point discussions or opportunistic discussions among multiple groups, or pretty much all of our identified major shareholder audiences — distributors, our contractors, our engineers, everyone in the supply chain.” 

This year’s State of the Industry discussion, which will focus on today’s market, challenges, opportunities, and what’s ahead for the industry, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb 11, and will feature speakers Talbot Gee, HARDI; Dominick Guarino, National Comfort Institute, Inc.; M. Dennis Knight, President, 2024-2025 ASHRAE; Stephen Yurek, AHRI; and moderator Bryan Orr, HVAC School & Kalos. 

The decarbonization effort will also take center stage, and Bush said they’re excited to see just how much heat pump technology has advanced since it started showing up on the showroom booths. Hand-in-hand, electrification is also expected to be a big topic of discussion.  

“They're talking electrical grids. They're talking about capacity to take the car further into our industry,” Bush said. “So that's going to be a trend that continues to develop, but it's starting to be more defined.” 

Given the looming regulatory changes, there will be a focus on A2Ls, with AHRI at the helm to discuss what they currently know in this new political climate. Bush said this should give valuable insight into the industry, as it will feature information coming from the people working and lobbying in the A2L space.  

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and its increasing integration is something attendees will also be apprised on.  

“I think what is interesting to see is how AI is being talked about in those various perspective forums,” Bush said.  “People are talking about it from what could be an opportunity for their specific job title, or what could be a consideration, learning, etc., and what that's going to look like as it becomes more and more prevalent in HVAC.” 

Connecting, Educating, and Recognizing Greatness 

Aside from politics and regulatory chatter, showgoers will also have the opportunity to learn something new on a wide variety of topics through AHR’s education programming.

“I think the education program has really taken off in the last two years as a truly like complimentary component to what the Expo is,” Bush said. “The Expo is the main focus here — where else in the industry are you going to show up for three days and you're going to see literally all the products in tech? … And the education program has really grown to be complimentary of ‘let's talk about it here, and then let's pinpoint you down on the floor for the application side of that.’ That's really kind of grown and shaped itself into something that I think works very nicely for a lot of our industry professionals.” 

Other 2025 AHR Expo highlights will include: 

• The return of the popular Podcast Pavilion, which was launched in 2020 in Orlando.  

“While podcasting was by no means new in 2020, for our industry, it was really the onset of when it was gaining traction,” Bush said. “In the year prior, we had been in Atlanta, and that was really the first time I had seen a lot of people taking advantage of that medium in the press room.” 

Many of the original podcasters are returning this year, and Bush said they’re excited to see how much it’s grown across the industry.  

• The Innovation Awards — the annual competition co-sponsored by the AHR Expo, ASHRAE, and AHRI. The awards recognize the most inventive and original products, systems, and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo.  

 

New Products and Manufacturer Insights 

Over at Johnson Control’s booth (Booth 2101), they’ll be celebrating the company’s 140^th anniversary and the 150^th anniversary of its iconic York brand.  

“From state-of-the-art building automation systems to advanced cold-climate heat pumps, attendees will see how these innovations drive performance and efficiency for our customers,” said Lei Schlitz, vice president and president, Global Products, Johnson Controls. “For 140 years, Johnson Controls has met and exceeded the demands of even the most complex environments. Today, our real-world expertise, proven solutions, and cutting-edge technology empower our customers to achieve their goals of enhancing operational efficiency, improving occupant comfort and well-being, and reducing environmental impact.” 

With residential and light commercial heat pump adoption rising, Johnson Controls’ booth will highlight its climate-compatible York HH8 Side-Discharge Heat Pump, which features variable-speed technology and can deliver approximately 70% heating capacity at 0°F. This sustainable residential solution has been optimized for use with low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R-454B and qualifies for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C). 

At LG (Booth 6643), they’re expecting to continue to see an increase in research recently through consortiums and other strategic partnerships to help bolster the credibility and performance of energy-efficient HVACR solutions.  

“In the short-term, this will help fuel innovation, which will result in stronger heat pump performance,” said Steve Scarbrough, senior vice president and general manager for LG Air Conditioning Technologies USA. “In the long-term, these advancements will drive demand among both contractors and consumers alike toward heat pumps, which in turn will provide efficiency and environmental benefits inherent with residential electrification.” 

Scarbrough said they’re exited to display the new LG Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump that has been awarded the 2025 AHR Innovation Award in the Sustainable Solutions category. 

Designed specifically for cold regions, it retains full heating capacity at -13°F (-25°C) and functions at 70 percent capacity even at -31°F (-35°C). The heat pump incorporates a refrigerant cycle to prevent frost accumulation on the outdoor heat exchanger, enhancing its heating performance. It uses a high-capacity, high-efficiency twin rotary inverter compressor with low-GWP R-32 (GWP 675) refrigerant, available with HSPF2 13.4 Btu/Wh and 13.6 kBtu/h.  

The folks over at Grundfos (Booth 1808) are excited to connect with showgoers, viewing it as an opportunity to help shape the industry’s future together.  

“This year, our booth showcases our cutting-edge heating and hot water recirculation pumps, designed to offer unparalleled efficiency, reliability, and ease of use for residential applications,” said David McMillian, vice president of sales, DBS Trade USA. “These pumps incorporate smart technology and user-friendly features, exemplifying our commitment to innovation and sustainability. You'll also be able to check out our commercial building offerings, including distributive pumping.” 

McMillian said the new Grundfos Alpha HWR is what they’re most excited to display, which was also an AHR 2025 Innovation Award winner.  

The Alpha HWR and its counterpart, the Alpha CS [for homes without a dedicated return line], were designed to increase comfort and upgrade everyday moments with access to instant hot water precisely when needed.  

“The Grundfos Alpha HWR is an excellent choice for homeowners seeking to save time, improve water efficiency, save on utility costs (water, wastewater, and energy), and enjoy a more comfortable living environment with instant hot water access,” McMillian said.  

Grundfos also anticipates the industry will continue to prioritize energy efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity. Advancements in smart technology, renewable energy solutions, and efficient HVAC systems will pave the way for a more sustainable, more connected future. 

Distech Controls (booth 781) will be showcasing the comprehensive solutions they offer, from edge to cloud, making buildings smarter, safer, and greener. They said they’re focused on provide seamless, well-integrated solutions that enhance deployment, operations, and occupant experiences by bridging the gap between edge, cloud, hardware, and software, they are introducing Resense — an AI-powered people-counting solution designed to enhance indoor environmental quality, improve energy efficiency, decrease operating costs, and offer real-time data for informed decisions. 

The Eclypse range will be on display, including the new generation of Eclypse controllers, the ECY-400 and ECY-600, for equipment control.  

“Although the hardware innovations are remarkable, it is the software that truly powers the Eclypse hardware and elevates its capabilities,” the company told ACHR NEWS. “Eclypse Facilities, AHR 2025 award-winning OS and software enables controllers to communicate with other devices and networks, transitioning from BAS protocols in the first generation to IoT/IT integration. It also provides an organized user interface to display data, allowing for efficient monitoring and operation of equipment and systems.” 

Distech Controls expects AI to continue making its mark on the industry, utilizing the technology to optimize energy use through its ability to learn, adapt, and predict demand, making adjustments to HVAC systems along the way.  

“We expect to see more focus on air quality as businesses proactively manage indoor air quality,” Distech Controls said. “When we enter a commercial or public building, we want to know that the air we breathe is pure and uncontaminated as possible. Building owners and facility managers have a duty to provide occupants with a comfortable environment but they are also required to ensure their buildings meet sustainability target and energy efficiencies.” 

In short, the AHR Expo promises to be worth the trip.  

“One big thing that I think people can be reluctant to do because we're all busy, obviously, is, you know, taking time away,” Bush said. “But when you look on the other side of that, and you look at the value, the gains that will make the time when you come back to your job much more efficient. It's really a win, win for yourself, for your employer, for your customers, etc.”