Survey of 2014 AHR Expo Attendees Finds Interest in Renewable Energy Resources Continues to Grow

WESTPORT, Conn. – A post-show survey of visitors that attended the 2014 AHR Expo, 41 percent of the more than 2,000 respondents said they came to the HVACR event seeking products related to “renewable energy resources” (geothermal, solar, etc.). When these sample results are projected across the 42,000 plus visitors, more than 17,000 HVACR professionals came to New York to find products and solutions that could replace conventional energy with more sustainable options.

“We’re not surprised,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, which produces and manages the AHR Expo. “We know the interest in renewable energy resources is growing rapidly, so it is especially encouraging to see such a wide-spread interest across all segments of HVACR professionals at the show.”

Stevens added that there has also been a steady growth in the number of exhibitors showcasing renewable energy products in their booths. “This is an area where we’ve seen many long-time exhibiting companies expand their lines, as well as many newer exhibitors with more dedicated product offerings. For example, since we were last in New York in 2008, the number of exhibitors showcasing solar-related products more than doubled to 66 from 29.”

In addition to a growing presence on the exhibit floor, renewable energy has also gained traction in the AHR Expo and ASHRAE educational programs offered at the show. “Numerous sessions were either dedicated to geothermal or addressed sustainable technologies as part of their curriculum. They were all well attended,” Stevens concluded.

Most visitors to the 2014 AHR Expo came with an interest in multiple HVACR product categories. Other areas attendees said they were interested in seeing included:

• Cooling – 77 percent
• Heating – 73 percent
• Ventilation – 57 percent
• Hydronic Heating – 49 percent
• Building Automation & Control – 45 percent
• Tools & Instruments – 45 percent
• Renewable Resources – 41 percent
• Refrigeration – 40 percent
• Plumbing Products – 31 percent
• Components – 27 percent
• Software – 24

Several other interesting facts emerged from the 2014 AHR Expo post-show survey. Of the visitors who responded:

• 98 percent said seeing new products was important to them
• 91 percent said the show was an important place to look for new suppliers
• 79 percent were seeking solutions to address current project needs
• 68 percent said products they saw would influence their purchasing/specification

The 2015 AHR Expo will be held at Chicago, Ill.’s McCormick Place, Jan. 26-28. For more information, visit the show’s website at www.ahrexpo.com.