2025 Top 40 Under 40: Lauren MacGowens
Lauren MacGowens
Lauren MacGowens is helping lead HVACR into a lower-carbon future. As director of sustainability and PMO for the industrial division at Copeland, MacGowens plays a central role in aligning policy, engineering, and innovation across the refrigeration sector.
“I knew from a young age that I would be an engineer,” MacGowens said.
She was introduced to the HVACR industry during a college internship while working toward her Bachelor of Science at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
“I love that every day is different and there are so many opportunities to make little changes that influence the world,” said MacGowens.
In her role at Copeland, she oversees regulatory, policy, and sustainability work for the industrial business and leads project management initiatives. MacGowens and her team also represent the company across standards development and regulatory/policy work — including the transition to low-GWP refrigerants, HFC phasedown initiatives, and decarbonization efforts tied to the growing renewable natural gas sector.
Her top accomplishments include “collaborating with industry stakeholders, end users, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies to align on refrigeration standards and efficiency requirements through updated test procedures and the rulemaking process,” MacGowens said.
MacGowens has also led industry efforts to modernize refrigeration safety codes to support the adoption of A2L refrigerants. She’s also helped drive the expansion of Copeland’s low-GWP refrigerant offerings, including advancements in ammonia and CO₂ technologies, such as industrial transcritical CO₂ systems and the VQ95 heat pump.
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MacGowens has been active in ASHRAE since 2013, including as current chair of the refrigeration subcommittee of ASHRAE 15 and serving in various roles on committees like SPC 72, TC 10.7, SSPC 90.1, SSPC 62.1, and SSPC 210. Prior to Copeland, she worked for AHRI, where she’s played a leadership role in certification programs, standards development, and regulatory advocacy for the entirety of the refrigeration sector. MacGowens still contributes to many AHRI efforts as an industry partner today.
Beyond the technical and regulatory contributions, MacGowens is committed to inclusion — both in HVACR and beyond. She actively supports underrepresented groups, serving on nonprofit boards and using her advocacy strengths to champion those who need it — children, underserved communities, and underrepresented women in engineering and HVACR.
“I want to continue to influence the industry toward more sustainable solutions and a better future,” MacGowens said.
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