HVAC Industry Event Season Recap

During a live presentation of Codes and Coffee, Christian Pyles, TSS Americas Region — marketing leader for Chemours; John Maiorana, product support manager, Arkema/Forane; Kate Houghton, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Hudson Technologies; and Chris Forth, vice president of regulatory, codes and environmental affairs, Ducted Systems Division, Johnson Controls, all participated in a panel discussion about the AIM Act and what contractors should know.

“All three parts of the AIM Act have either a legal challenge or a legislative challenge right now,” Forth explained. “There's a lot of rampant discussion like, ‘Hey, Trump's going to roll all this back. Just sit tight.’ There are a lot of things that would need to happen. It can't just be cancelled, can't just be stopped, right? There are a number of different scenarios the courts could look at, and none of them will the rule being immediately cancelled.”

Houghton agreed with Forth, saying that, right now, it’s about staying the course.

“The Refrigerant Management Rule, leak detection — all the things about reclaimed refrigerant and all the elements of subsection H are in place, and we need to keep moving forward as if that’s the case as well for the foreseeable future,” she said.

ACCA goes to the mattress for its members regularly, according to ACCA President and CEO Barton James. The organization beats the drum in Washington to promote the essential function of HVAC contractors and the needs of the industry, like solving workforce development issues. But this year’s annual conference was about educating its contractor members on how to succeed during turbulent times.

“Every one of these contractors, they're overwhelmed,” James said. “It doesn't matter how big or small you are, you've always got another fire that you're fighting. [We want to provide] something to focus on and finding a partner here that you can work with to help you, whether that partner is another contractor that you trust — this is what we absolutely love, our peer group program where we pair together contractors, which I think is a huge secret sauce of ACCA — or one of the great vendor partners here to help them implement something that they've learned.”

Eddie McFarlane, ACCA chair, Sila Services, LLC, Lititz, Pennsylvania, notes events like ACCA 2025 are great for recharging batteries.

“But that’s not why we’re here,” he explained. “It’s more important now than ever to default to action so you cannot boil the ocean. Pick one thing, do that one thing, and when it works for you, tell that story. Grab a friendly competitor from your town and bring them with you. A rising tide lifts all, and we're all responsible for the future of our industry, so take action. Pick one thing, bring a friend, Rinse, lather, repeat.”

ACCA 2026 will be held March 14-18, 2026, in Las Vegas.

Attendees also explored 16 breakout sessions led by top thought leaders and industry veterans, covering everything from sales performance to marketing strategy to emerging technologies like AI in contracting.

 “It’s been great,” said Nick Case, vice president of operations for Vital Air Services. “Learning a lot about all the different trends in the industry and networking with other contractors. And there are a lot of resources to jump on and bring back to the business.”

“We love it — we’ve been coming here for four years, and we always gain new ideas to take back to our business every time,” said Rosemary and Luis Hess, owners of Hess Air Inc. “We love it.”

Capping off the unforgettable conference was a private blowout party the evening of EPIC’s first day, held inside Hollywood Studios’ Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Amphitheater. Contractors networked with like-minded contractors and solution providers, celebrated victories from the last year, and soaked in the energy that has made EPIC a can’t-miss industry event.

“EPIC2025 delivered powerful insights, meaningful connections, and practical strategies that contractors are already using to build stronger, more successful businesses,” said Bruce Matulich, CEO of EGIA. “The feedback has been incredible — nearly unanimous praise from attendees who said this was the most valuable event they’ve ever attended.”

The EPIC Conference returns to its roots in Las Vegas next year, taking over the iconic Bellagio Resort & Casino on Feb. 12-13, 2026. Visit www.epic2026.com for more information.

“The conference was more than just a showcase of equipment—it was an immersive learning experience. With nearly 100 sessions and classes running from dawn to dusk, it felt like a high-intensity boot camp designed for those on the front lines of the HVACR industry,” said Bill Brown, president of Brownson Technical School.

A key takeaway from the conference was the swift evolution of HVACR technology. High-performance HVAC systems, once considered futuristic, now offer homeowners an impressive 103% return on investment (ROI), surpassing even the value of a kitchen remodel. As these advanced systems become mainstream, the demand for skilled technicians capable of installation, service, and maintenance continues to grow.

A major milestone at this year’s conference was that, for the first time, no training or exhibits featured R-410A equipment. Instead, the focus was on transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants, such as R-32 and R-454B. Manufacturers, educators, and policymakers emphasized the urgency of training on these next-generation solutions.

The message was clear: adapt to new technologies or risk falling behind. Jason Obrzut of the ESCO Institute led a pivotal session on A2L refrigerants, demystifying their properties and best practices. His discussion covered essential topics such as flammability (the "F" word), GWP impact, system service and installation, and safety mitigation strategies.

Further reinforcing this transition, James Casey Jr., the Section 608 Program Manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), headlined a general session on emissions regulations and their impact on HVACR. His insights provided clarity on compliance requirements, industry adaptation, and the role of educators in preparing technicians for these changes.

Innovation remained a focal point throughout the event. Mark McQuay of Daikin Comfort Technologies led an interactive session on HERO Cloud Services, providing attendees with an inside look at how cloud-based HVACR solutions are revolutionizing VRV system integration, remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and real-time performance monitoring. Additional sessions explored AI-driven diagnostics, MULTI R2 Heat Recovery system, smart sensors, machine learning applications, heat pump water heaters, and virtual reality (VR) training, transforming HVACR education.

A particularly unique aspect of the conference was the industry-wide collaboration during the opening session. Competing manufacturers set aside competition to discuss critical topics such as refrigerant regulations, emerging technologies, energy incentives, and best practices for HVACR educators. This panel reinforced the importance of partnerships between manufacturers, regulatory agencies, educators, and professionals in shaping the next generation of HVACR service technicians.

The next National HVACR Education Conference will be held March 22–25, 2026, at the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa in Las Vegas.