The HVAC Industry - Future Trends & Outlook from AHR Expo

AHR Expo is one of the industry’s best places for OEMs, engineers, contractors, facility operators, architects, educators, and other professionals to experience everything new in HVAC.

Spending the past few days in the windy city of Chicago at AHR with over 50,000 attendees from all across the industry has enabled our team to build vital relationships. We have also dived deep into industry trends and the most impactful issues facing the industry.

1. Regulations remain a driving force towards a cleaner future

The DOE 2023 energy efficiency regulations, the low-GWP refrigerant transition, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) all have major environmentally focused directives. While they are a cause of concern for many players struggling to keep up, they also provide an abundance of opportunities to introduce new solutions for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and decarbonization.

2. AI is disrupting the trades

HVAC professionals are actively seeking ways to harness AI's potential for growth and competitive advantage. Though it still raises some concerns, leaders are convinced AI will change the industry in any way - from design and fabrication to controls, marketing, and service.

3. Workforce and training

At present, the demand for trained workers is higher than ever. The vast majority of contractors express the need for better training to install next-generation equipment. The result is a significant increase in workforce development initiatives from industry partners as well as training and support programs.

4. Supply chain

Even though the industry is still witnessing disruptions, delays, longer lead times, and missing delivery dates from manufacturers along with higher costs, compared to the past few years, the supply chain issues have rebounded to stable health.