Jan. 22-24: Dynamic issues in HVAC/R, BACnet, energy savings and AI in building management are among the sessions for corporate FMs at AHR Expo, Chicago, along with 1,700+ exhibitors

There are 111 free industry sessions offered during the AHR Expo covering air conditioning, best practices, building automation and control, building design, certification, commissioning, energy conservation, efficiency, heating, HVAC/R systems and equipment, plumbing, refrigeration, ventilation and more. In addition, the show floor features 1,700+ exhibits from the top HVACR manufacturers. If you’re looking to explore and discover the very latest HVACR products and technology, you’ll find it all on display at the AHR Expo in Chicago, January 22-24, 2024.

The McMorrow Reports & FMLink editors recommend these sessions for facility managers, facility planners and engineers in charge of corporate offices and commercial buildings.

Navigating to a Greener Future: How Decarbonization and Innovation is Leading Our Markets. Join BSRIA on a journey through the evolving landscape of sustainability, decarbonization, and building technology and HVAC markets. BSRIA experts will provide a comprehensive analysis of the global market, with a focus on North America, highlighting future trends for a sustainable and greener world. BSRIA’s renowned market experts will deliver a comprehensive market analysis, enriched by the latest market insights and studies. They will unravel the scenarios and trends that will shape the markets toward a sustainable and greener future.

BACnet Global Community Outlook (2024-2029). This session will give attendees an understanding of the dynamic growth of the BACnet community, including market adoption statistics and anecdotal information from around the world. The session will be a panel discussion with BACnet community leaders from Europe, India and North America. It will cover recent market research data, market insights and observations about the direction of BACnet certification and standard enhancements.

Exploring HVACR’s Role in Facilities Management. Growing your own services company is very challenging. It’s costly to advertise, skilled trades labor is diminishing, and parts are hard to come by. But what if it didn’t have to be? This is where an Integrated Facilities Management partner comes into play.

A Closer Look at the Ongoing Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act Incentives. This panel of HVACR and water heating industry representatives and stakeholders will provide the latest information about the ongoing implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs, including tax credits and rebate programs important to our industry.

Revolutionary Energy Management: Rethinking the Paradigm. Imagine if we could pre-load the building with heating or cooling, viewing it as a reservoir of energy that can be tapped into as needed. This ingenious approach has the power to revolutionize energy consumption, decarbonization, and comfort levels. By leveraging the capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), we can orchestrate this process with unprecedented precision, delivering remarkable energy reduction and unparalleled comfort. 

BACnet 101: An Introduction to BACnet discusses this highly used open building automation protocol that continues to grow. This session will teach you about the basic building blocks and design philosophy that have made, and continue to make, BACnet so popular. Learn how BACnet can help you now and into the future as the Building Internet of Things (B-IoT) continues to grow.

Meeting New NEC Requirements for Wall-Mounted Switches in Building Control Networks. Learn how to meet the new NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) Section 210.70 requirements for wall-mounted switches in existing LON and BACnet building networks. This session will summarize the new NEC requirements and will describe how to meet them using LonMark web services to integrate wall mounted switches meeting the new NEC requirements with existing LON and BACnet devices as well as BACnet workstations.

Designing Pump Systems to Reduce Energy Consumption Toward Greater Sustainability. An overview of pump curves and how they can be used to identify efficiency improvement opportunities. Attendees of this session will be provided with an overview of tools and training programs available to assist in the assessment of pump system optimization such as the HI Energy Rating Program, free Pump Savings Calculator, free Pump Industry Fundamental Body of Knowledge and training courses focused on Pump System Fundamentals, Pump System Optimization and Assessment and Pump System Professional Assessment certification.

AHR attracts the top minds in the industry to keep building managers current on everything HVACR. In addition to the latest products and technology, with 1726 exhibitors, AHR will explore trending topics in all sectors of the industry including AI and controls, decarbonization, plumbing and hydronics, heat pumps, refrigerants, workforce development, business and professional growth, and much more.

The AHR Panel Series offers three regional updates; HVACR State of the Industry Leadership; Addressing the Workforce Talent Gap through Educational Partnerships; Heat Pumps, Electrification and the Grid; and AI, Controls and the Future of Tech in HVAC.

Facility managers also can sit in on rapid-fire 20-minute New Product (and Tech) Presentations directly from manufacturers. Three theaters on the show floor will host 150+ presentations.

Facility planners can create their agenda digitally and bring it to the show!

AHR Expo registration is free through January 20, 2024.