The Society says the Winter Conference accelerated discussions around IEQ, healthy buildings and the evolving role of HVACR professionals

ATLANTA, Georgia, United States, 6 February 2026:

ASHRAE announced the conclusion of its 2026 Winter Conference in Las Vegas with momentum around Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), healthy buildings and the evolving role of HVACR professionals in shaping the future of the built environment.

Making the announcement through a Press Release, ASHRAE said the Winter Conference was held from February 2 to 4 and convened HVACR leaders, engineers, policymakers and researchers from around the world to examine the intersection of technology, sustainability, health and human experience in buildings. ASHRAE said attendees explored emerging trends including artificial intelligence (AI), low-global-warming-potential refrigerants, energy storage, geothermal systems and occupant-centred design across hundreds of sessions and committee meetings.

ASHRAE said the conference drew 3,825 registrants and featured more than 400 committee meetings, over 100 technical sessions and a broad range of networking and professional development opportunities.

ASHRAE said the AHR Expo ran concurrently and transformed the Las Vegas Convention Center into a global showcase for HVACR innovation. The Society added that the Expo hosted 1,945 exhibitors, including 601 international companies and 186 first-time exhibitors, across 565,000 net ft

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of exhibit space and welcomed an estimated 50,000 attendees over three days.

According to ASHRAE, some of the most highly attended Winter Conference sessions included

‘The Liquid Revolution: Best Practices in Cooling for Tomorrow’s Data Centers’, ‘AI in Action: A Real World Application of AI for Campus Energy Optimisation’, ‘Demystifying GenAI: What HVAC Professionals Need to Know’, ‘Can We Eliminate VAV Zone Reheat During Cooling? Real-World Results Using ASHRAE Guideline 36 Sequences and AI Optimisation’ and ‘Control of Chiller Plants: Reducing Energy Consumption and Improving Comfort Levels’.

ASHRAE said that during his State of the Society Address, Bill McQuade, President, 2025-2026, ASHRAE, shared progress on the Society’s focus on healthy buildings and IEQ, emphasising a transition from vision to sustained action.

McQuade said: “Six months into this Society year, we are seeing real progress. To ensure this work translates into lasting impact, we established the IEQ Center of Excellence – a dedicated platform to advance a coordinated roadmap, strengthen collaboration, and support ASHRAE’s leadership in policy, advocacy and global engagement.”

The Society said McQuade also highlighted advances in water safety, pathogen mitigation and integrated approaches to health-focused building design.

At the conference, ASHRAE said, McQuade announced the recipients of the 2025-26 Presidential Initiative Challenge, a grant programme supporting chapter-led projects that advance energy efficiency, emissions reduction and IEQ at the local level. The Society said the programme was supported by the Gordon Holness Presidential Fund and administered by the Young Engineers in ASHRAE committee.

ASHRAE said the programme received 21 submissions and awarded six projects with total grants of USD 46,350, including:

Cedar Valley Chapter – Air Quality, Lighting and Plumbing Upgrades for Ullo Kindergarten Center, Ghana (USD 9,500)

Falcon Chapter – Healthy Classroom for a Low-Carbon Future (USD 9,200)

Ghana Chapter – IEQ Improvements at Ayeduase Health Center (USD 10,000)

Monterrey Chapter – Healthy Learning Environments: Bright Futures Initiative (USD 5,000)

Nigeria Chapter – Project BREATHE: Building Resilient Environments for Air, Thermal, Health and Efficiency (USD 7,150)

Regina Chapter – Blanket of Warmth Project (USD 5,500)

ASHRAE said it strengthened global and industry-aligned partnerships in the months leading up to the Winter Conference by renewing memoranda of understanding with 17 organisations across engineering, architecture, public health, energy and standards development. The Society said these included:

AFE, Association for Facilities Engineering

AIA, American Institute of Architects

AMCA, Air Movement and Control Association

ASHE, American Society of Healthcare Engineers

ASPE, American Society of Plumbing Engineers

BCxA, Building Commissioning Association, as a new partner

DKV, Deutscher Kälte-und Klimatechnischer Verein

IAPMO, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, Inc.

IDEA, International District Energy Association

IUVA, International Ultraviolet Association

JSRAE, Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers

NAFA, National Air Filtration Association

NASEO, National Association of State Energy Officials

NSF, National Sanitation Foundation International

PHVACRS, Pakistan HVACR Society

SAREK, Society of Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea

VISRAE, Vietnam Society of Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASHRAE said it recognised outstanding member contributions during its Honors and Awards Program. The Society said Jeff Littleton, Executive Vice President, Secretary, ASHRAE, provided an update on membership growth and organisational influence.

ASHRAE said Littleton announced the approval of two new chapters in Region XIV, the Benelux Chapter and the DACH Chapter, along with the addition of 13 new student branches. The Society added that it now includes 202 chapters, 42 sections and 342 active student branches worldwide.

ASHRAE said Littleton also highlighted the Society’s expanding role in public policy, noting that in the past year it submitted letters or testimony on 22 IEQ-related bills. ASHRAE said legislation referencing its standards had been signed into law in Colorado, New Jersey and Virginia, with additional indoor air quality legislation under development in several other states.

ASHRAE said the ASHRAE Learning Institute offered 21 courses during the conference. The Society said top attended courses included ‘Guideline 36: Best in Class HVAC Control Sequences’, ‘Advanced Concepts in Designing and Retrofitting Energy Efficient Data Centers’, and ‘Demystifying Dehumidification: Designing Efficient and Effective HVAC Moisture Removal Systems’.

The Society said that for the first time, the ASHRAE Learning Institute also delivered a ‘Fundamentals of District Cooling System Design (MENA)’ course, providing region-specific instruction led by local experts to better serve practitioners across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

ASHRAE said all registered attendees, both in-person and virtual, would have access to the conference platform during the event and for 12 months following.

Looking ahead, ASHRAE said the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference would take place between 27 June and 1 July in Austin, Texas. The Society added that the 2027 Winter Conference would be held from 23 to 27 January 2027 and that the AHR Expo would run from 25 to 27 January 2027 in Chicago, Illinois.