ASHRAE Journal - December 2021 - 8

INDUSTRY NEWS
a shift to heating systems in the next year, " said Schultz.
She also predicted a shift to installing air-conditioning
systems in places that traditionally never used the technology,
such as places in northern climates like Seattle
and Europe.
" With climate shift, they are starting to see the need
for that, so I think we're going to see air conditioning
emerging in those markets as well, " said Schultz, adding
that with the increase in demand in newer markets,
there could be a shortage of design engineers with experience
designing those systems.
Seeing Trouble in the Supply Chain
The supply chain is no stranger to challenges lately,
and the HVAC&R industry could be affected-in several
ways.
First, from the carbon side of things, the HVAC industry
needs to do " a deep dive into supply chain and
manufacturing to understand the embodied carbon
and healthy material status of its equipment and start
to publish Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), as these are
essential elements of transparency that are necessary to
support a sustainable and low carbon future that understands
a broader value chain understanding of community
and public health, " said McConahey.
Second, just as IAQ concerns are tied closely to the
COVID-19 pandemic, so are supply chain issues. Because
of anticipated delays, Schultz said she is curious to see
if the industry will experience a shift in just-in-time
manufacturing practices, which are common with lean
management practices.
" I think we might see a trend towards manufacturers
scaling down their products that they offer, simplifying
their lines. I think we may see some manufacturers start
to have more supply just waiting to ship out, " she said,
adding this could mean less customizable options.
This change could mean design engineers working
more closely with local manufacturers that offer semicustom
options, said Schultz. " I wonder if we'll see a lot
more of local manufacturers maybe being able to spread
their wings a little bit more and fill those gaps. "
More Diversity, More Communication
Other trends ASHRAE members are hoping for are
less technical. Schultz-the Central Oklahoma Chapter's
Diversity in ASHRAE chair-said she would like to see the
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ASHRAE JOURNAL ashrae.o rg D ECEM BER 2 0 2 1
HVAC&R industry strive for diversity of thought.
" Diversity doesn't just mean gender. It also means
background, ethnicity, someone from a different country
of origin. It also means sector-of-the-industry diversity, "
she said, adding age diversity is another area for
improvement. "
" Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is not about
making yourself feel better or being nice to other people.
It's the right thing to do. And studies show that more
diverse groups come up with more creative ideas and
are more profitable, " she said.
The desire for more connection also includes inperson
communication and meetings, said Schwedler,
adding that he believes people have learned to be more
understanding and flexible during the pandemic " allowing
us to collaborate more fully, more openly and more
honestly. "
AHR Expo Innovation Awards
Winners Announced
WESTPORT, CONN.- The battle to be the best is on.
The AHR Expo has announced the winners of the
2022 AHR Expo Innovation Awards in 10 industry
categories: building automation, cooling, heating,
indoor air quality, plumbing, refrigeration, software,
sustainable solutions, tools and instruments and
ventilation.
These 10 products will compete head-to-head to be
awarded the coveted AHR Expo Product of the Year
award at the 2022 Show, scheduled for January 31-
February 2, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
" This past year was a challenge for everyone, and
in unique ways, the HVAC&R industry, " said Show
Manager Mark Stevens. " Our industry was called
to the front lines to put our very best products and
technologies to the test. The Innovation Awards
purpose is to honor those that are pushing the bar to
create innovative solutions to difficult problems. We
are thrilled to celebrate this year's winners and what
they bring to the industry, as well as to continue to
champion innovation among our professionals. "
Find out who the Innovation Awards winners are at
https://tinyurl.com/2js77t7z
For more information about the AHR Expo and the
Innovation Awards, visit https://www.ahrexpo.com/
awards
https://www.tinyurl.com/2js77t7z https://www.ahrexpo.com/awards https://www.ahrexpo.com/awards https://www.ashrae.org/
ASHRAE Journal - December 2021

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