The Biggest Takeaways from the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference for Commercial HVAC

Colby Maun • July 6, 2026

Last week, from June 27th to July 1st, ASHRAE held its 2026 Annual Conference in Austin, TX, and brought together more than 2,233 HVAC professionals from all over the world. The conference covered a broad range of many topics prevalent in the industry today, from fundamentals and applications to AI in building design and construction. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference for commercial HVAC.

The first takeaway from the conference for commercial HVAC is that decarbonization remains one of ASHRAE's largest priorities. Reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and creating more sustainable infrastructure are something that the conference touched on heavily during its sessions. High energy costs, lack of full unit replacement justification, and keeping costs low on projects fuel this priority, as the industry looks to make projects cheaper and easier for facility managers, mechanical contractors, and building owners. In tune with this, the refrigerant transition from R-410A to R-454B continues to be a primary industry focus. Adopting new refrigerants is only half of the challenge for industry experts, as they need to determine whether their existing rooftop units, chillers, and air handlers can continue to operate efficiently through this transition. Maximizing performance while balancing regulatory changes with existing infrastructure continues to encapsulate the commercial HVAC industry. As decarbonization strategies continue to evolve, facility managers, mechanical contractors, and building owners need to find ways to evolve with them.


Another crucial takeaway from the conference is that existing buildings are attracting much more attention from ASHRAE than new construction. ASHRAE’s new president, Sarah E. Maston, announced that her presidential theme will be Changing the Game: Retrofitting for Resilience, which focuses on existing buildings. Conference sessions emphasized retrofitting, modernization, energy upgrades, and asset management. In today’s industry, many buildings are over 30+ years old, and at the age where maintenance work is due. With this in mind, facility managers are attempting to get as much life out of their existing infrastructure as possible. Retrofitting accomplishes this task, as it integrates new technology with old buildings to maximize system life. 

The last takeaway from the conference is the increasing impact of AI and smarter data on the industry. AI is becoming a very practical tool for identifying and solving issues within systems. Systems are using AI to analyze temperature differentials, energy consumption, performance, abnormal compressor runtime, airflow changes, and much more. This new technology is rapidly spreading into infrastructure, and helping predict failures, find and locate performance issues, and monitor system health, which assists with maintenance on commercial units. In addition, building analytics and digital building management help facility managers find problems earlier, which in turn reduces price and downtime associated with maintenance projects.


With this new industry direction set, HeatEX Technologies is positioned well to assist facility managers in adapting. As smart retrofitting continues to grow, HeatEX Technologies supplies custom coils and heat exchangers that improve energy efficiency, lifespan, and sustainability for existing systems and infrastructure. We work with facility managers to find the perfect fit for their unit with the performance metrics they desire. As smart data assists commercial facility managers with the timing of their maintenance jobs, HeatEX Technologies steps up and completes the job with low lead times and excellent customer service.

Works Cited

"ASHRAE Highlights Industry Priorities in 2026 Annual Conference Technical Program." ASHRAE, 22 May 2026, https://www.ashrae.org/about/news/2026/ashrae-highlights-industry-priorities-in-2026-annual-conference-technical-program.


"ASHRAE Annual Conference Showcases Innovation and Leadership for the Future of the Built Environment." ASHRAE, 2 July 2026, https://www.ashrae.org/about/news/2026/ashrae-annual-conference-showcases-innovation-and-leadership-for-the-future-of-the-built-environment.

Condensation: Why Commercial HVAC Coils Produce it and What Happens to It in Your System

By Colby Maun • October 12, 2026
When facility managers think of commercial HVAC cooling coils, they typically think about their primary purpose: lowering air temperatures in certain zones through heat transfer. What’s often overlooked is how cooling coils also reduce moisture from the air in addition to lowering air temperatures. This often causes condensation to form on the surface of the coil. But why specifically do commercial HVAC cooling coils produce condensation? And what happens to it after it forms? During operation, it's normal for condensed water to form on a commercial HVAC cooling coil's surface. This happens when the warm exterior air meets the cold surface as it passes over the coil. As it passes along, the coil absorbs the heat from the air, which lowers the temperature of the air. Something that also contributes to the equation is the air's dew point, which is the temperature at which air must be cooled to become completely saturated with water vapor. In this scenario, the air's dew point being warmer than the coil surface causes water vapor to begin condensing on the surface, forming the liquid you see on the coil. The condensation produced then allows the system to remove humidity from the air, which both improves indoor comfort and helps maintain the desired temperature.

The 2026 ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference and What it Means for Commercial HVAC

By Colby Maun • October 5, 2026
From September 23 rd -25 th , ASHRAE held a building decarbonization conference in Seattle that moved decarbonization from simply a long-term goal to an implementation issue. One of the many things discussed was the topic of existing buildings and how to reduce carbon emissions in them through retrofits. Since decarbonization is now being stressed as an implementation issue, below is everything you need to know about what this could mean for the future of the commercial HVAC industry, as well as what you can do to reduce emissions in your own system.  Building decarbonization involves reducing greenhouse-gas emissions that are associated with building operations such as HVAC and other systems. This topic is not new to the industry and has been repeatedly discussed within previous ASHRAE conferences and new government regulations. A large aspect of decarbonization comes from building energy use, since lowering building energy use decreases the operational carbon emissions inherent in the building. Previously existing buildings account for the majority of the issue, since new buildings most likely already contain technology that helps to reduce building energy and strain on the system.

Commercial HVAC's Skilled Labor Shortage: What You Can Do About It

By Colby Maun • September 23, 2026
A recent survey done by ServiceTitan found that of 1,000 construction leaders, labor shortages and rising overhead costs are among the top profitability concerns for 2026. Additionally, an estimate by JLL cites that 2.1 million skilled-trade positions, including HVAC technicians, could go unfilled in the U.S. by 2030. The commercial HVAC industry has a looming challenge of a skilled labor shortage, which may change the way that commercial HVAC projects are planned, executed, and maintained in the future. Below is everything you need to know about the effect of this problem on the commercial HVAC industry, and some measures you can take to get ahead of the curve.

How to Properly Winterize Your Commercial HVAC Equipment

By Colby Maun • September 16, 2026
As temperatures begin to cool down this fall, an important part of facility management is making sure to winterize your commercial HVAC equipment. Winterization may be the most important aspect of preventative maintenance to make sure your coil maintains a long and efficient life, and failure to do so can result in costly damage. Winterization prevents freeze damage to the coil, which in turn prevents damage such as tube ruptures, damage to the headers, and leaks in the tubing of your coil. Below is how to winterize your coil, and other important aspects when it comes to winterization maintenance.

How to Read and Understand a Commercial HVAC Coil Schedule

By Colby Maun • September 8, 2026
A coil schedule is a table included with mechanical drawings and specifications that summarizes the performance requirements and physical characteristics of the HVAC coils within the building. It comes with almost every type of coil and is an incredibly crucial piece within replacement projects. Understanding how to read it can drastically speed up your replacement process and reduce downtime in your next replacement project. Because of this importance, here is a comprehensive guide on how to read and understand a commercial HVAC coil schedule. One of the most important parts of a coil schedule is the coil identification section. It acts as the starting point for identifying the specifics of the coil you’re replacing in a replacement job. This section gives information on the coil tag, equipment tag, location of the coil, type, and designation. The coil tag, especially, is key because it often provides you with the model and serial number. Each of these parts is essential information to identify the coil, and when given this information, HeatEX Technologies can often provide you with a quote without having to come out and measure the coil. This saves a ton of time on both ends when getting you your replacement coil.

Common HVAC Coil Installation Mistakes and Their Effect on Your System

By Colby Maun • August 31, 2026
In a commercial HVAC coil replacement project, installation is a key factor that impacts both the performance and lifespan of the coil. A coil can be manufactured and selected perfectly for your replacement job, but if the installation is poor, your coil will experience lower performance and possibly a reduced lifespan. Because of this, making sure that installation goes as smoothly as possible is crucial for your system. To assist you with your next coil installation, here are some common commercial HVAC coil installation mistakes and how they affect your system in the long run. One of the most common mistakes that technicians can make in a coil replacement project is installing the coil in the wrong orientation. Coils are manufactured to operate in a particular orientation, and if they aren’t installed in that specific orientation, heat transfer efficiency and capacity are reduced. Installing a coil in the wrong orientation also affects airflow, since installing a coil in the wrong direction can force air in the wrong direction. Both of these complications negatively affect performance and lifespan in your system.

What is Circuiting and How Does it Effect a Coil?

By Colby Maun • August 24, 2026
In a commercial HVAC custom coil replacement job, circuiting is often undervalued, yet so crucial to effective operation in any coil. But what really is circuiting, and how does it affect your coil? Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about circuiting for your next replacement job.

Why Coil Replacement Jobs Get Delayed, and How to Prevent Them

By Colby Maun • August 17, 2026
Delays in a commercial HVAC coil replacement project are one of the most frustrating things that a facility manager or contractor can face. A failed coil already creates problems such as comfort issues, downtime, and pressure from building owners, so making sure that your coil replacement project goes smoothly and without delay is crucial. To assist you with your next coil replacement job, here are some common causes of commercial HVAC coil replacement project delays and how you can prevent them in your job.

Chilled Water vs. Hot Water Coils: What's the Difference?

By Colby Maun • August 11, 2026
Commercial chilled-water and hot-water HVAC coils appear almost identical on the outside; however, they are more different than most people think. Both are water-based heat transfer components, but they work opposite each other and are better for different applications. Here is a full breakdown of the differences between chilled water vs hot-water coils, and how to decide which to use for your application.

Understanding Fan Coil Units

By Colby Maun • August 3, 2026
For buildings that require targeted zoning, such as hotels, offices, apartments, hospitals, retail spaces, and more, fan coils can assist in maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Each fan coil unit serves a particular space, which allows individual occupants to control their area of a building without affecting the rest of it. Understanding fan coils and how they work can help facility managers of these styles of buildings more properly maintain and replace units to prevent downtime in their systems. Here is a breakdown of how they work, the different types, and the common problems that they run into in their life cycle.

Which Material is Best for your Coil?

By Colby Maun • July 27, 2026
In commercial HVAC, one of the largest yet overlooked aspects of a custom coil replacement job is the materials that the coil is made of. Different materials thrive better in different systems and environments, which affects the lifespan and efficiency of the coil. Making sure that your replacement coil is best suited for your unique system and location is integral to any facility, and failure to do so can increase costs and decrease reliability. Here is a breakdown of each material in your coil and what scenarios to select each in.

What Actually Goes into Measuring a Coil

By Colby Maun • July 20, 2026
For any coil or heat exchanger replacement job, one of the first steps in the process is for HeatEX Technologies to measure the existing coil/heat exchanger to ensure a perfect fit in the unit. Recently, I had the privilege of going out to my second job site to take measurements with HeatEX Technologies. Here is my account of what actually goes into measuring a coil, and my experience from start to finish.
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