ASHRAE successfully concluded its 2025 Annual Conference, held June 21–25 in Phoenix. The conference drew 1,990 registered HVAC&R and building science professionals, as well as supporters from around the world to explore critical topics such as heat pumps, refrigerants, thermal energy storage, decarbonization strategies, workforce development and more.
Attendees engaged in over 80 technical sessions spanning eight tracks. The most highly attended sessions included:
- Using Artificial Intelligence to Make You Irreplaceable
- LIVESTREAM: Gen AI in HVAC Industry: State of Art, Case Studies and Future Applications
- A Tale of Two Campuses: Energy Storage at Arizona’s Flagship Universities
- Generative AI applications in HVAC Industry: Tools, Techniques and Best Practices
- Hot! Hot! Hot! Best Practice and Challenges of Heat Recovery from Data Centers
Registration is still available for virtual access to both conferences, which includes technical session and PDH certificates.
The conference also marked a leadership transition, as Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP assumed the role of 2025–26 ASHRAE Society President. In his inaugural remarks, McQuade unveiled the Society Year theme, “Healthy Buildings: Designing for Life,” calling on the professional community to champion indoor spaces that support health, productivity and quality of life.
“The ASHRAE vision is ‘A healthy and sustainable built environment for all.’ We are all so proud of the work that ASHRAE has done to protect our climate and outdoor environment by improving energy efficiency, eliminating ozone depleting refrigerants, conserving resources, and decarbonizing buildings,” said McQuade. “We have answered the call in the past and helped to solve the difficult problems in times of great need. It is a new day and time for another ‘good turn.’ We can build on a half-century of progress in the energy performance of buildings and now focus the same effort on the indoor climate and environment. We need to become healthy indoor environmentalists.”
McQuade’s full remarks and presentation can be found at ashrae.org/president.
A standout moment of the conference took place during the Women in ASHRAE Happy Hour event, where a proclamation was presented on behalf of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego declaring June 23, 2025, as International Women in Engineering Day in the City of Phoenix. The proclamation recognized ASHRAE’s efforts to “…include women who are making significant advancements and serving as leaders in their field.”
The conference also featured ASHRAE’s annual Honors and Awards program, celebrating the exceptional contributions of members. Outgoing President M. Dennis Knight, P.E., BEMP, Fellow Life Member ASHRAE, delivered his final State of the Society address, highlighting achievements from the 2024–25 Society Year.
“A year ago in Indianapolis, I issued a call to action: to tell our stories – your stories – about how ASHRAE and this industry fosters mentors, role models and collaborators,” said Knight. “ I encouraged us to articulate our “why”: Why HVAC&R is a great career, why it matters and why it is essential to the future of our planet. As I conclude my term, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I hope this presidency has inspired a new generation to lead with passion and purpose. Remember: every story matters, and every conversation can spark change. Our success – organizationally and personally – happens one conversation at a time.”
The ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) offered 18 courses during the conference. Among the most attended were:
- Advanced Concepts in Designing and Retrofitting Energy Efficient Data Centers
- Humidity Control I: Design Tips and Traps
- V in HVAC – Health and Energy Improvements Using the Indoor Air Quality Procedures
All registered attendees, both in-person and virtual, will have access to the virtual conference platform during the conference and 12 months post-conference.
The 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference will take place January 31 – February 4, 2026 in Las Vegas. The AHR Expo will be held February 2-4, 2026.
