CxEnergy 2026 Looks to Future with AI Keynote, Focus on Workforce Development
CxEnergy 2026, the conference and expo held annually by the AABC Commissioning Group, brought over 600 participants in the fields of commissioning, energy management and testing, adjusting & balancing to Chicago, Illinois at the end of April. A joint effort of ACG, the Energy Management Association and the Associated Air Balance Council, the event offered 32 technical sessions from industry experts.
During the technical program, speakers with a range of commissioning experience covered relevant topics, such as data centers and artificial intelligence, case studies in sectors from airports to higher education, workforce development, updates on industry standards and more. Energy management professionals spoke about energy savings, LEED v5, sustainability and other leading industry topics. The conference program fostered engaging discussions between attendees and speakers, connecting commissioning and energy management professionals with building owners and facility managers.
At CxEnergy’s opening plenary session, ACG Executive Director Ray Bert provided an update on the organization’s recent activities, including the forthcoming launch of the Commissioning Specialist certification, which will replace the current CxT certification. ACG also introduced an increased focus on workforce development this year, including a new staff position dedicated to expanding knowledge of commissioning among students and young professionals.
The CxEnergy Scholarship Program was significantly expanded this year as part of this initiative, with 21 students awarded scholarships to attend the conference. In addition to the opportunity to attend technical sessions, explore the expo hall and learn from industry experts, scholarship recipients participated in an exclusive career fair. This gave them face time with participating ACG member companies to discuss resumes and potential job opportunities in the field.
Keynote speaker Ian Beacraft spoke on practical AI for commissioning and energy professionals. An AI strategist, Beacraft helped attendees understand ways to embrace artificial intelligence and safely integrate it into their workflows.
In addition, CxEnergy 2026 offered an expo hall featuring nearly 50 sponsors and exhibitors showcasing the latest software, technology, devices and other services for commissioning, energy management and TAB. The CxEnergy Technology Theater returned this year, providing an opportunity for exhibitors to present their latest products. New in the expo hall this year was the CxEnergy Punch List game, which invited attendees to visit sponsor booths, attend Technology Theater sessions and post about #CxEnergy for the chance to win prizes.
To close out the conference, a group of attendees took a boat tour along the Chicago River to explore some of the city’s magnificent architecture.
Save the date for CxEnergy 2027: April 27-30, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
