Future:Air secures massive industry support

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  • Daikin named as Platinum sponsor of 2019 Future:Air seminar roadshow
  • Gold sponsorships taken up by Mitsubishi Electric, A-Gas, Trane (distributed by Veolia) and ARC
  • ARBS and Refrigerants Australia join industry associations AREMA and AMCA in support for Future:Air
  • Expert international and Australasian speakers confirmed: AHRI President-CEO Steve Yurek, EPEE Director General Andrea Voigt and Ingersoll Rand business leader for Australia & New Zealand Stuart Kirkwood 
  • Seminars aimed at businesses and people that own, manage or service chillers and large air conditioning equipment – industry must act now to prepare for coming changes

With less than three weeks to go until the first Future:Air breakfast seminar takes place, this educational roadshow for businesses and people that own, manage or service chillers and large air conditioning equipment has attracted massive industry support, with Daikin confirmed as Platinum Sponsor with naming rights.

Daikin is joined by Gold Sponsors Mitsubishi Electric, A-Gas, Trane (distributed by Veolia) and the Australian Refrigeration Council while Refrigerants Australia has secured a silver sponsorship.

Industry trade-show ARBS has also thrown its support behind Future:Air, an industry-run, not-for-profit partnership between industry associations AREMA and AMCAthat will run the five breakfast seminars across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne from May 20-24 this year.

Future:Air, in association with Daikin, will deliver vital cutting-edge information to help prepare businesses that own, manage or repair chillers and large air conditioning equipment for the arrival of new systems, equipment, technology and regulations.

Taking place in Brisbane, Sydney, Parramatta (NSW), Melbourne and Box Hill (VIC) from May 20-24, 2019, each event will take place between 7.30am and 9.30am with full plated breakfast provided.

Subsidised by contributions from industry associations and corporate sponsorship, tickets are priced at just $99 per delegate and available from FutureAir.acthrough a secure online booking system. Corporate tables of eight are also available at a discount and can be booked by emailing support@futureair.ac.

The seminars will be presented by the following expert speakers from major international and Australasian industry associations and companies:

  • Stephen R Yurek (United States)

CEO and President of AHRI, joined AHRI in 2002 as Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs and General Counsel

  • Andrea Voigt (Europe)

Director General of EPEE, guiding members towards strong common positions and representing them in front of European institutions, governments and business leaders

  • Stuart Kirkwood (Australasia)

Business Leader for Australia & New Zealand Region, Ingersoll Rand, with 35 years’ HVAC industry experience including nine in Asia. Responsible for Trane and Thermo King brands, he also represents AREMA on several Australian Standards Committees

  • Greg Picker (Australia)

ExecutiveDirector of the Air conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA) and Refrigerants Australia since 2013 and has over 20 years’ experience dealing with climate change and energy policy, including with the UN Framework on Climate Change, the Australian Government and AECOM

Meet the speakers: Q&A with Stuart Kirkwood

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Speaker: Stuart Kirkwood (Ingersoll Rand)
Stuart is Ingersoll Rand’s business leader for the Australia & New Zealand region with 35 years’ HVAC industry experience, including nine in Asia. Responsible for Trane and Thermo King brands, he represents AREMA on several Australian Standards Committees.

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Q: The expectation among industry is that chillers and large air conditioners are set for dramatic technological changes. Do you think this sentiment is accurate and if so, what are the changes you expect to see?

A: When I reflect back over my time in the industry, the changes certainly have been significant, and I would expect this trend to continue in the years to come. Many of these changes have been evolutionary whilst some have been transformational. The use of data, as well as the internet, will continue to shape many aspects of our industry in the future.

One notable change is the significant amount of choice that is available to our industry today. Globalisation has brought us products and technologies from all over the world. With efficiency improvement, we will continue to see greater focus on not just the equipment, but the system in which it operates.

As technology enablers move product closer to theoretical efficiency limits, focus will continue to transition to optimization at the system level. At present we are embracing the next transition to a new generation of lower GWP refrigerants. This will bring both opportunities and challenges.

Our industry will always continue to change and progress. Digital technology has significantly impacted the way that we design, manufacture, and operate products, and necessitates a greater breadth of skills from those who service them. The application of the variable speed drive to HVAC systems has grown exponentially.
Whether it is dramatic change or business as usual, we continue to move forward and embrace opportunities as a dynamic and progressive industry.

Q: What is driving these technological changes? How will these forces influence the design of products to come?

A: Our industry has always been quite progressive at implementing new ideas and new technologies. Within the global economy, Australia today sources best-in-class components and products from every region of the world.

The availability of information on a worldwide scale enables opportunities to be captured with greater speed. Significantly increased market competition, a progressive regulatory landscape and sustainability drivers within real estate portfolios necessitate industry players staying at least one step ahead.

Equipment designs, the working fluids that they use and the manufacturing facilities that produce them are today all significantly more sustainable, while equipment full- and part-load efficiencies continue to set new benchmarks. Energy recovery and free cooling technologies are more frequently being applied.

Rising energy costs impact the choice of technology and system selection. Sustainability rating schemes for both new construction and the built environment continue to stimulate innovation in equipment, system and building design. Equipment MEPS and the NCC continue to raise the bar for improved efficiency and sustainability requirements.

Q: With change comes risk. What do building owners, facility managers and service companies need to consider when making investment decisions for the future?

A: I think the fundamentals will always remain. Brand, reliability, efficiency, local support, and first cost and life-cycle economics will remain as important purchasing criteria.

Since the 1930s and the introduction of Freon gasses, HVAC systems have selected refrigerants that were stable and non-flammable. Some next-generation gases will bring new challenges with flammability, necessitating possible changes to equipment designs, handling practices, service procedures, and building codes. Our industry is taking this in its stride with significant investment in testing and R&D to ensure their safe and appropriate application. 

Equipment efficiency standards as well as building minimum compliance requirements can be expected to continue to increase. Our industry associations and their members do a great job communicating with government regulators, as well as taking a proactive role in shaping industry direction.

The key to managing the change for anyone in the industry is to be informed and engaged. Preparing for the future requires risk awareness, market readiness, technical ability, and legislative framework. Whilst the regulatory landscape continues to change, there will always be individual priorities that influence purchasing decisions.

Q: Although the market for this equipment is global, are there any issues in Australia that will have an influence on what is sold here, or how it is used and maintained? 

A: Australia is a vast continent with climate zones that have varying daily and seasonal temperature and humidity ranges. It is always important to select appropriate equipment, have it applied correctly, and have it installed, commissioned and maintained per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

At one end of the scale, we have products that are quite straightforward that may utilise many generic components and at the other end we have products that can be quite complex and may utilise many proprietary components. Local knowledge, product and service support, and parts availability are always key considerations. In terms of new equipment and technology, Australia has always been an early adopter. Industry training is paramount for installers, servicers, and users.

Whilst minimum product efficiency regulations around the globe are continuing to increase, they are not all the same, and similarly whilst codes and standards around the globe are regularly updated, they are not all harmonised. For example, refrigerant timelines under the Montreal protocol are different for article 5 and non-article 5 countries.

Whilst globalisation brings opportunities to our doorstep, there will also be additional considerations.

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Meet the speakers: Q&A with Andrea Voigt

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Andrea Voigt
Speaker: Andrea Voigt
(European Partnership for Energy and the Environment)
Andrea Voigt has more than two decades of experience in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry and has been Director General of EPEE, the industry’s voice in Europe, since 2009.

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Q: The expectation among industry is that chillers and large air conditioners are set for dramatic technological changes. Do you think this sentiment is accurate and if so, what are the changes you expect to see?

A: Changes are challenging – especially because many things happen at the same time – but I am not sure if “dramatic” is the right word since most of the trends were predictable.

We will see a move towards lower GWP refrigerants, triggered by the HFC phase-down in Europe, Australia and on a global level (due to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol), combined with the ever-increasing importance of energy efficiency.

In Europe, for instance, we have the F-Gas Regulation which includes an HFC phase-down of nearly 80% and at the same time very ambitious minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for chillers. These two developments together represent a tough challenge for manufacturers who have to ensure that energy efficiency will be increased while moving towards lower GWP refrigerants (both fluorinated and non-fluorinated) and, as a result, dealing increasingly with flammable gases.

These developments are also expected to lead to lower refrigerant charges, water/brine distribution systems (less refrigerant in piping), and more products will use inverter-driven compressors and fan motors, electronic expansion valves and refrigerant cycle controls.

Another important trend that we face in Europe is related to the circular economy, such as material efficiency standards, reparability, etc. Even though today chillers are not the major focus for policy measures related to these topics, manufacturers have to be prepared for these trends.

Q: What is driving these technological changes? How will these forces influence the design of products to come?

A: Change is driven by many factors, including policy measures (as described in the previous answer) but also societal and global megatrends.

For example, we will see population growth with an increasing standard of living, particularly in developing countries, leading to a growing demand for HVACR products and growing energy consumption by the latter – hence the importance of energy efficiency.

In developed countries, increased environmental awareness (climate change being one of the big drivers, even more so now with youth – e.g. Greta Thunberg – taking centre stage), health, well-being and of course digitalisation are key drivers for market change.

We will see a move towards concept and service rather than “just” products; connectivity and smartness will play a key role – but will also lead to necessary developments in terms of cybersecurity, etc.

Q: With change comes risk. What do building owners, facility managers and service companies need to consider when making investment decisions for the future?

A: The most imminent and most tangible development is probably the increasing use of flammable refrigerants. This requires additional safety measures and, above all, competent installers.

In Europe we see an increasing need for installers who are trained for the use of flammable refrigerants. For example, our association has launched a communication campaign together with three more partners to raise awareness about the need for installers to get ready for flammable refrigerants.

For building owners and facility managers it is more important than ever to stay informed about and apply all regulatory requirements, standards, building codes and manufacturers’ instructions, again especially in view of the increased use of flammable refrigerants.

They also need to take a holistic approach. Only looking at the HVACR equipment will not be enough; insulation, ventilation and a healthy indoor climate are just some of the factors which will be increasingly important today and in the future, both for the occupants and also for the value of the building.

Q: Although the market for this equipment is global, are there any issues in Australia that will have an influence on what is sold here, or how it is used and maintained? 

A: I believe all of the points described above will impact Australia as well, probably even more so given the hot climate.

Australia imports most of its air conditioning equipment, so will be more of a technology adopter than a changer, meaning that installers need to be ready for new technologies imported into the country.

Again, this is particularly important in view of the increasing use of flammable refrigerants and service and maintenance of equipment operated with these refrigerants.

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Meet the speakers: Q&A with Stephen R. Yurek

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Stephen R Yurek
Speaker: Steve Yurek
(Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute)
Stephen R. Yurek is CEO and President of AHRI. Mr. Yurek joined AHRI in 2002 as Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs and General Counsel.

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Q: The expectation among industry is that chillers and large air conditioners are set for dramatic technological changes. Do you think this sentiment is accurate and if so, what are the changes you expect to see?

A: The HVACR industry is in a period of significant change in refrigerants, technology, and product design. Changes are definitely underway in chiller technology with the use of variable frequency drives (VFD), oil-free compressors, sophisticated controls, variable volume ratio technology and the increased efficiency of condenser fans all contributing to this phenomenon. 

The ability of some of today’s chillers to use heat recovery for space- and water-heating adds to their attractiveness. The cost of variable frequency drives has fallen while their reliability has improved, making them a more viable option for the air-and water-cooled screw chiller market instead of them being primarily used only in centrifugal chillers.

These newer technologies improve efficiency by eliminating the mechanical slide valve for capacity control and provide for reduced sound levels at part-load operation. In addition, VFDs can improve part-load efficiency when added to the condenser fans in air-cooled chillers.

Because of increases in performance, there are places in the world where air-cooled chillers are actually cheaper to install and maintain than water-cooled, particularly in places where water is expensive. 

Q: What is driving these technological changes? How will these forces influence the design of products to come?

A: There are always two main factors driving change: One is energy efficiency and the other is cost. The technological changes we are seeing in the chiller market are driven by both those factors, especially as countries, states, provinces, and regions around the world put an increasing premium on energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. 

A third factor that sometimes drive design changes are regulatory requirements. However, changes that occur because of regulatory requirements often miss the mark in their intended purposes. As an industry, we would prefer to see changes driven by market demand and innovation.

Finally, climate change is also a significant driver in technological changes. As stewards of the environment, the industry is always looking at innovations that could reduce the carbon footprint of its products.

Q: With change comes risk. What do building owners, facility managers and service companies need to consider when making investment decisions for the future?

A: The changes in the chiller market, in addition to increased energy efficiency, can also benefit facility managers with decreased installation and maintenance costs as well as higher energy efficiency.

They will need to stay abreast of changes in the refrigerant market because of the drive to phase down higher GWP refrigerants.

In addition, technological changes bring complexity to the decision-making matrix. Building owners and specifiers must make informed decisions on investments. AHRI, through its 40 plus performance certification programs, provides indispensable data that can be used to make informed decisions.

Q: Although the market for this equipment is global, are there any issues in Australia that will have an influence on what is sold here, or how it is used and maintained? 

A: All of the new technologies mentioned will benefit the Australian building stock and the nation as a whole, as climate-friendly refrigerants are phased in with higher-efficiency chillers.

What is important for Australia is that careful analysis is conducted of the different testing standards and certification schemes that are being considered for acceptance in Australia’s chiller MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) that is currently under review.

A blanket acceptance of all standards and certification schemes would effectively negate the gains from technological innovations and result in a market that is more price driven rather than innovation and efficiency driven.

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ARBS joins forces with Future:Air

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The Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Building Services Exhibition (ARBS) has joined forces with the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing Association (AREMA) and the Air Conditioning Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA) to help organise and promote Future:Air.

Future:Air is a breakfast seminar series designed to help businesses and people that own, manage or repair chillers and large air conditioning equipment to prepare for upcoming changes.

Events will take place in Brisbane, Sydney, Parramatta (NSW), Melbourne and Box Hill (VIC) from May 20-24, 2019.

Australasian speaker confirmed

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Stuart Kirkwood

Stuart Kirkwood has been working in the HVAC industry for 35 years, including nine years in Asia. Stuart currently holds the position of Business Leader, Australia & New Zealand Region, for Ingersoll Rand. Responsible for both Trane and Thermo King brands, Stuart is a degree qualified engineer, and a LEED Accredited Professional (AP). Stuart long-standing member of the AREMA executive, and represents AREMA on several Australian Standards Committees.

Seminar dates confirmed

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The future:air 2019 seminar schedule has been confirmed:

event map

Brisbane QLD CBD

  • Monday, May 20 from 7.30-9.30am
  • Customs House, 399 Queen St, Brisbane

Sydney NSW CBD

  • Tuesday, May 21 from 7.30-9.30am
  • Rydges Sydney, 28 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW

Paramatta NSW

  • Wednesday, May 22 from 7.30-9.30am
  • Novotel Parramatta, 350 Church Street, Parramatta NSW

Melbourne VIC CBD

  • Thursday, May 23 from 7.30-9.30am
  • CQ Melbourne, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC

Box Hill VIC

  • Friday, May 24 from 7.30-9.30am
  • Box Hill Institute, 465 Elgar Road, Box Hill VIC

International speakers confirmed

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Stephen YurekStephen R. Yurek has been Chief Executive Officer and President at The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) since January 1, 2010 and 2007 respectively.

Mr. Yurek joined AHRI in 2002 as Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs and General Counsel and was promoted in 2006 to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer.

He came to AHRI from the education community, having served as Vice President of Business Development and Public Affairs for CompassLearning, Inc. and prior to that, as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer at the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Mr. Yurek also has been Director-at-large at American National Standards Institute since January 1, 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry and a Juris Doctor.

Andrea VoigtAndrea Voigt was appointed Director General of EPEE, the voice of the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe, in 2009. Headquartered in Brussels, EPEE currently represents 48 companies as well as national and international associations from Europe, Asia and North America.

Under Voigt’s leadership, EPEE has become one of the leading associations of the HVACR sector on a global level. EPEE is a member/supporter of major European and international initiatives such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), ICARHMA (International Council of Air-conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating Manufacturers Associations) and the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR). It is also partnering with UN Environment on several projects.

Voigt’s experience in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry spans over two decades. She is a member of ASHRAE, the German engineers’ society DKV and a Board member of the EU Coalition for Energy Savings, a leading cross-sectoral association advocating for a stronger focus on energy efficiency in the EU. A German national, she is fluent in English and French, holding degrees in public administration (MPA), applied linguistic science (MA) and marketing.

was appointed Director General of the EPEE, the voice of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe, in 2009. She guides EPEE member companies towards strong common positions and represents the EPEE at meetings with decision makers at European institutions, member states’ governments and industry business leaders. She is also building up and further strengthening the EPEE’s network within the European and international association landscape. Prior to joining the EPEE, Andrea had been working in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry for more than 15 years, holding various functions in the fields of marketing, communication and public relations. A German national, Andrea is fluent in English and French, holding degrees in public administration (MPA), applied linguistic science (MA) and marketing.