ASHRAE calls for abstracts for 2027 Winter Conference

The conference technical program explores the full breadth of innovation across the HVAC&R industry, including thermal network modeling, energy storage and AI-supported building operations.

“The conference highlights the growing importance of residential HVAC research through real-world performance studies, advanced heat pump technologies, smart controls, and strategies that enhance comfort, resilience and energy efficiency across diverse housing types,” says ASHRAE Technical Conference Chair Li Song.

“We anticipate a lively event in Chicago where new ideas and forward-looking research help shape the future of our built environment.”

Conference papers are requested for the following tracks:

• The “Residential HVAC Research and Demonstration” track explores technologies and strategies that improve energy efficiency and climate resilience while still prioritising occupant comfort, indoor environmental quality and cost for diverse residential housing types.
• The “Thermal Network Systems and Energy Storage” track focuses on the applications such as networked building energy modeling, district heating and cooling, and advanced control architecture that optimises energy systems across varying operating conditions.
• The “Nexus of Real and Artificial Intelligence” track explores the relationship between human insight and AI-enabled controls to elevate building operations, with a focus on data center environments, building and campus design strategies, and power-delivery systems.
• The “Decarbonisation Retrofits” track focuses on reducing emissions from existing buildings through improvements to control modifications, commissioning, system or equipment replacements, and others.
• The “Research Summit” track features active research, and the exchange of research findings, critical to the development of the HVAC&R industry and built environment. The track includes a partnership with ASHRAE’s archival journal, Science and Technology for the Built Environment. 
• The “Refrigerants and Refrigeration” track explores refrigeration systems, which generate and use cold for a range of processes, from food preparation and conservation to vaccine preservation, to long-term protection of fragile ancient inks of historical documents and others.
• The “Fundamentals and Applications” track will provide opportunities for papers of varying levels across a large topic base. Concepts, design elements and shared experiences for theoretical and applied concepts of HVAC&R design are included.
• The “HVAC&R Systems and Equipment” track will focus on the development of new systems and equipment, improvements to existing systems and equipment and the proper application and operation of systems and equipment.

Abstracts (400 words or less) are due May 27, 2026. If accepted, final conference papers (8-page maximum) are due September 2, 2026.

Accepted papers will be considered for publication in Science and Technology for the Built Environment.

For more information on the call for abstracts and the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Conference, visit ashrae.org/2027Winter

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