Every year, dozens of HVAC conferences and events go down in the US and Canada. These expos offer chances for continued training, professional networking, and technology scouting/vendor research. While you probably can't make it to every show every year, attending a big event in your area or going out of your way to hit AHR every couple years could prove beneficial in a lot of ways.
HVAC represents a huge, ~100 billion dollar industry, so many conferences and events have sprang up for it over the years. We've compiled a list of the most notable 2020 shows below. Find one in your neck of the woods (or one happening in a place you wouldn't mind visiting), and start making plans to attend!
AHR Expo
Number of Attendees: up to 72,000
2020 Dates: February 3-5, 2020
Location: Orlando, FL
The AHR Expo bills itself as the “largest HVACR event” and moves to a different city every year. In 2019, Atlanta played host, attracting more than 27,000 attendees and 18,000 exhibitors (including us!). The year before, Chicago hosted the expo and smashed attendance records for the event. Visitors and exhibitors together totaled over 72,000. At AHR you can find practically every HVAC company in the world (from HVAC system manufacturers to software providers to supermarket refrigeration specialists) and get lost in one of the convention's sprawling exhibit halls.
Eastern Energy Expo
Number of Attendees: 4,300
2020 Dates: May 17-20, 2020
Location: Uncasville, CT
The Eastern Energy Expo will go down at the Mohegan Sun in 2020. It offers a variety of educational sessions as well as the National Association of Oil & Energy Service Professionals (OESP) awards banquet, a trade show, and several fundraising events. The Expo has attracted as many as 4,300 attendees and exhibitors.
ASHRAE Winter Conference
Number of Attendees: 3,000
2020 Dates: February 1-5, 2020
Location: Orlando, FL
Expect to see over 3,000 people in attendance at the ASHRAE Winter Conference. This event attracts a diverse crowd, from contractors and engineers to students and architects. The ASHRAE Winter Conference lasts for five days and includes technical sessions as well as social networking. NOTE: You can use your conference badge from the ASHRAE Winter Conference to access the 2020 AHR Expo, which happens at the same place and at the same time.
AEE East Conference and Expo
Number of Attendees: 2,700
2020 Dates: April 21-22, 2020
Location: Cincinnati, OH
The Association of Energy Engineers puts on AEE East (formerly called GLOBALCON) every year. The event focuses on energy solutions and how those developments can become affordable for widespread use. The 2020 Expo will focus on Energy Management, Alternative Energy, Lighting Efficiency, and Facilities Management. Attendees praise the event for networking opportunities and exposure to new technologies. Visitor counts go as high as 2,700, while the number of exhibitors may reach as many as 500.
ASHRAE Annual Conference
Number of Attendees: 1,600
2020 Dates: June 27-July 1, 2020
Location: Austin, TX
With an attendance of just over 1,600 people, the ASHRAE Annual Conference attracts about half as many attendees as the Winter Conference. It takes place in the summer and lasts for five days. Attendees can choose from eight conference tracks. Options in 2020 include Fundamentals, HVAC&R Systems, Research, Professional Development, Efficient Environments, Multifamily Buildings, Resilient Buildings, and Zero Energy Opportunities/Challenges.
ACCA Conference & Expo
Number of Attendees: 1,000
2020 Dates: March 16-18, 2020
Location: St Louis, MO
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Conference and Expo is a popular event. Nearly 1,000 people attended the ACCA Conference in 2019. Subjects covered included: employee retention, recruitment, digital marketing, and legalized marijuana as well as substance abuse. The 2019 Conference was held in San Antonio, but the event moves. The ACCA 2020 Annual Conference will take place March 16-18 in St Louis.
CampusEnergy2020
Number of Attendees: 1,000
2020 Dates: February 10-14, 2020
Location: Denver, CO
More than 1,000 people attend CampusEnergy every year. This event focuses on the design and maintenance of the HVAC systems used in colleges as well as those in airports, hospitals, and medical campuses. While this event may not be a great fit for residential HVAC companies—unless you are looking to implement green solutions in your service area—it is a good event for commercial HVAC companies to attend, even smaller firms.
PHCC Connect 2020
Number of Attendees: 800
2019 Dates: October 2-4, 2019
Location: Indianapolis, IN
This is a good conference for you to attend if you want a variety of workshops and training. Around 800 people attend the event, so hands-on sessions are a little smaller than they are at some other conferences. PHCC Connect offers over 20 education sessions as well as a product showcase so you can preview all the new technology coming on the horizon. You will find speakers as diverse as economists who can talk about trends to expect and Richard Trethewey of “This Old House.” For race car fans, the closing event is at the Indy 500 Speedway.
PHCC Connect 2019 is co-located with the 2019 RSES Conference & HVACR Technology Expo. Dates for 2020 have not been announced yet.
CTI Annual Conference
Number of Attendees: 550
2020 Dates: February 9-13, 2020
Location: Houston, TX
The Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) puts on this conference. It includes a special owner-operator session as well as several educational seminars and a product showcase. The 2019 CTI Annual Conference was in New Orleans, LA. The event returns to the Big Easy in 2021. It usually attracts roughly 50 exhibitors and some 500 attendees.
Attending Field Service Expos
If you have traditionally skipped HVAC conferences and field service industry expos, you might want to rethink your strategy. Attending these events will help you expand your network, get ideas about how to improve your operations, and learn new skills—all in one place. Try one out and see what you think.
