2026 AHR Expo Panel Video & Recap: The Evolution of ERVs in Modern HVAC
Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are rapidly advancing as a cornerstone of modern HVAC design, decarbonization strategy, and indoor air quality (IAQ) compliance. RenewAire President Scott Forest joined executive industry leaders at the 2026 AHR Expo Education Series & Leadership Panel for an interactive session exploring ERV market trends, building management system (BMS) integration, and emerging ventilation technologies.
Watch the Full 2026 AHR Expo Panel
Featured ERV Expert Panelist
Scott Forest | President
Scott Forest, President of RenewAire LLC since 2018, is dedicated to providing and promoting sustainable and energy-efficient indoor air quality solutions. Under his stewardship, RenewAire has achieved consistent growth and record revenues by focusing on the environments where people work, live, and play.
Scottโs commitment to operational excellence was evidenced during his tenure as VP of Operations, when he guided the team into a new facility that earned LEEDยฎ Gold status, three Green Globes, and Energy Star ratings. His expertise in manufacturing is rooted in his time as Global Director of Continuous Improvement at Trek Bicycle, a Black Belt in Lean/Six Sigma, and a Level II instructor certification in Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM), a system central to RenewAire’s agility and success.
Prior to 2013, Scott served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, commanding at several levels. He earned three Masterโs degrees, including an M.B.A.ย Scott attended Stanford University, earning a B.S. degree from the Aero/Astro Engineering Department.ย Scott has been a member of ASHRAE since 2018.ย
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the AHR Expo Panel Series?
The AHR Expo Panel Series features live, interactive panel discussions led by association leaders, chief engineers, and executive manufacturers during the annual AHR Expo Education Program. The series covers major macroeconomic shifts, technical challenges, and emerging trends across the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry.
What topics were explored during the 2026 AHR Expo Panel Series?
The 2026 AHR Expo Panel Series featured a wide array of specialized sessions covering core industry challenges, including:
2026 State of the Industry: Todayโs Market, Challenges, Opportunities & Whatโs Ahead: Market forecasts, macro trends, and executive leadership perspectives from HARDI, ASHRAE, and AHRI.
The Evolution of Ventilation & Energy Recovery: The Growing Role of ERVs in HVAC: The expanding role of ERVs in HVAC design, BMS integration, IAQ codes, and decarbonization (featuring RenewAire President Scott Forest).
State of Play: Refrigerant Policy in the U.S. โ Federal and State Activity: Federal and state regulatory updates regarding low-GWP and A2L refrigerant transitions.
The Installers Guide to Navigating the Refrigerant Rollercoaster: Practical field guidance for contractors and technicians navigating new refrigerant equipment requirements.
Heat Pumps: Scaling for Commercial and Residential Markets: Advancing thermal energy storage and high-efficiency electrification across residential and commercial spaces.
Data Center Demands: Cooling Solutions, BMS Advancement and the Next Generation of HVAC: High-density climate controls, liquid cooling integration, and advanced facility automation.
The Great Disconnect: Are We Ready for Buildings That Think for Themselves?: Self-optimizing building automation networks, AI-driven controls, and system integration.
Next-Gen HVACR: Developing Skills, Opportunity, Innovation and Collaboration for Sustainable Growth: Solving trade labor shortages, upskilling the workforce, and empowering future industry talent.
Mitigating Misinformation: Customer Communication That Scales: Strategies for clear messaging, building trust, and educating customers on rapidly changing HVAC technologies.
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What were the main objectives of the 2026 AHR ERV Panel session?
Led by industry panelists Scott Forest (RenewAire), Ken Nelson (Panasonic Ecosystems), Trevor Schick (AIIR Holdings), and moderator Drew Champlin (ASHRAE Journal), the session โThe Evolution of Ventilation & Energy Recovery: The Growing Role of ERVs in HVACโ addressed six core industry pillars:
Market Awareness & Training: Evaluating current ERV adoption rates and contractor education needs.
Decarbonization & Net-Zero HVAC: Utilizing total energy exchange cores to reduce peak equipment loads and building energy intensity.
BMS Integration: Optimizing automated building management networks with dynamic ventilation controls.
Regulatory Compliance & IAQ Best Practices: Meeting ASHRAE 62.1 standards and local building ventilation codes.
Cost Analysis & Utility Incentives: Evaluating initial capital investment against long-term lifecycle ROI and rebate programs.
Emerging Technologies: Addressing equipment limitations and reviewing next-generation static-plate research.
How do Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) support HVAC decarbonization and building energy codes?
Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) can recycle the heating and cooling energy from exhaust air to temper incoming outdoor ventilation air. By pre-conditioning outdoor air without cross-contaminating airstreams, static-plate ERVs dramatically reduce peak heating and cooling loads on primary HVAC equipment. RenewAire ERVs, for example, can save up to 70% on heating/cooling loads.ย This enables building owners to downsize equipment, meet strict ASHRAE 90.1 and 189.1 energy targets, and achieve net-zero carbon goals.