Climate Is Changing, Are You Ready for Change? : HVAC Summit 2026 Attracted Strong Industry Participation
Held for the second time on May 5, 2026, at Wyndham Grand Istanbul Levent under the theme “Climate Is Changing, Are You Ready for Change?”, the HVAC Summit brought together nearly 600 professionals from the air conditioning, refrigeration, and ventilation industries. The summit, which attracted significant participation and interest, addressed the current agenda of the industry through a multidimensional perspective.
The full-day event consisted of four sessions in total, with two sessions held before lunch and two after lunch. Throughout the summit, industry experts discussed a wide range of critical topics, from HVAC industry and Türkiye’s macroeconomic data to heat pumps, cold chain applications, and indoor air quality.
Industry Data and Türkiye’s Economic Outlook Discussed
During the opening session of the summit, moderated by İSKİD Board Member Ece Uluğtekin, the industry’s production and export performance was discussed based on data provided by İSKİD (Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Climate Control Manufacturers Association) and İSİB (Turkish HVAC&R Exporters Association). İSKİD Chairman Tunç Korun and İSİB Vice Chairman Mehmet Şanal shared the latest industry figures and market insights with participants.
İSKİD Chairman Tunç Korun shared the latest industry figures with participants:
"In the global air-conditioning industry, covering both commercial and residential applications, the projected total demand across all split air conditioner categories is expected to reach 182 million units in 2026, compared to 161 million units in the previous year. China accounts for the largest share of this total with 78 million units and remains the world’s largest producer.
Looking at the VRF market, Türkiye currently holds the position of the largest VRF market in Europe. Globally, the number of VRF outdoor units installed reached approximately 3 million in 2025, while the total market value amounted to USD 21 billion.
The split air-conditioning market in Türkiye has maintained a long-term growth trend, driven by increasing temperatures and rising comfort expectations. The domestic market, which stood at approximately 2.5 million units in 2024, reached 3 million units in 2025. Although this growth is largely import-driven, exports continue to demonstrate positive development. Türkiye is also Europe’s largest producer of split air conditioners."
Addressing Türkiye’s HVAC industry export figures, İSİB Vice Chairman Mehmet Şanal stated that the sector continues to maintain healthy growth, noting that exports increased from USD 7.1 billion in 2024 to USD 7.4 billion in 2025, despite challenging market conditions. Şanal also pointed out that during the January–March period of 2026, industry exports declined by 4.9% due to ongoing regional conflicts in neighboring countries and contraction in the European market.
Özyeğin University Lecturer and TÜSİAD Chief Economist Gizem Öztok Altınsaç shared her insights regarding Türkiye’s economy and the future outlook of the HVAC industry. Altınsaç stated:
"Rising geopolitical tensions on a global scale, ongoing uncertainty particularly in the Middle East, and disruptions in trade routes continue to put pressure on the economic outlook. On the other hand, tax reductions and incentives aimed at supporting exports and financial centers provide a favorable framework for the Turkish economy. However, weakening industrial production, softer domestic demand, and a deteriorating inflation outlook indicate that a cautious economic environment continues to prevail."
During the same session, “Data Center Cooling and Artificial Intelligence” was presented by İSKİD member Emre Soykan in light of the increasing importance of data centers. Soykan emphasized that, in parallel with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, the number of data centers is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, making this field an increasingly important market for the HVAC industry.
Heat Pumps and Green Transformation Took Center Stage
During the second session, moderated by Pınar Gürler, Chair of the İSKİD-DOSİDER Heat Pump Commission, heat pump technologies were comprehensively discussed under the theme “Green Transformation and Environmentally Friendly Technologies in the HVAC Industry.”
Eleonora Shehu, Senior Policy Advisor at European Heat Pump Association: EHPA, highlighted that environmentally friendly R290 heat pumps are becoming increasingly widespread in Europe in line with current market developments. However, due to the refrigerant’s high flammability characteristics, she emphasized that the EU-funded SKILLSAFE EU project aims to facilitate the safe implementation of this technology in residential applications by developing industry-wide safety guidelines and strengthening training activities covering design, installation, transportation, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal processes.
Burhan Güldibi, Group Coordinator of the Energy Efficiency and Environment Department, discussed the role of heat pumps within the scope of the National Energy Action Plan. In his presentation, Güldibi stated:
"In line with the 2053 Net Zero target, a comprehensive improvement plan focusing on the rehabilitation of existing buildings and enhancement of energy efficiency will be implemented. Within this framework, in addition to structural strengthening measures, technical studies will be carried out to expand the deployment of heat pump systems, while the current insulation loan mechanisms available for residential buildings will be reviewed and improved to increase their effectiveness."
Meanwhile, Gazi Çelebi and Zühtü Ferah shared important insights during their presentations on hybrid systems, integrated solutions, the use of high-temperature heat pumps in industrial facilities, and energy recovery applications.
Cold Chain and Food Safety Discussed in Detail
The panel titled “Refrigeration Applications in Food Safety”, held in the afternoon session, was moderated by Selçuk Savaş, Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration Systems Commission. During the panel, the critical role of the cold chain was evaluated from the perspectives of various stakeholders.
Serpil Ürek, Quality and Environmental Management Director at Migros, shared the retail sector’s perspective and emphasized the critical importance of cold chain systems. Referring to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ürek highlighted that approximately 14% of food produced globally is lost due to inadequate cold chain practices throughout the supply chain, emphasizing that this represents not only an economic loss but also a significant public health risk.
Prof. Dr. Onur Devres, President of EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) Türkiye, emphasized the importance of refrigeration applications in ensuring food safety.
In his presentation, Devres stated:
"Cold chain systems are evolving into structures where secure traceability is achieved through real-time monitoring enabled by IoT-based applications, carbon and water footprints are reduced through sustainability-focused solutions, and operational efficiency is improved through automation and robotic systems. In addition to smart packaging technologies and sensor-supported systems, innovative applications such as drone deliveries utilizing thermoelectric cooling are also playing a significant role in transforming the sector."
Esma Sağ from the Ministry of Trade shared recent regulatory developments, while Thomas Michineau, Refrigeration Director at Eurovent Certification, provided insights into European standards and practices. Selçuk Savaş also shared the industrial perspective with participants.
Indoor Air Quality and Health Relationship Highlighted
The final session of the summit addressed the topic of indoor air quality under the title “Are You Sure About the Quality of the Air You Breathe?” Moderated by Emre Kandemir, Chairman of the Eurovent AHU Mirror Commission, the session featured Yamaç Özbilen, who shared the industry perspective, while Eurovent Certification President Sylvain Courtey provided insights into European perceptions and regulatory developments.
During the panel focused on the health dimension, Dr. Hacer Ofluoğlu and Prof. Dr. Cansın Saçkesen evaluated the impact of indoor air quality on respiratory health, lung function, and allergic diseases based on scientific findings.
Filiz Pehlivan also presented a case study on indoor air quality applications in schools. In her presentation, she emphasized the importance of school architecture supported by HVAC and ventilation systems designed in accordance with climate conditions and local requirements. She highlighted that strong collaboration between public institutions, local authorities, and the private sector is essential to promote the widespread adoption of well-designed school buildings.
Throughout the event, indoor air quality measurements were conducted within the summit venue. The results showed that CO₂ levels remained below 800 ppm, while ideal temperature and humidity values were maintained through the venue’s well-designed HVAC systems.
A Strong Networking Platform for the Industry
HVAC Summit 2026 brought together local and international experts, public sector representatives, and industry professionals on a common platform, providing a strong environment for knowledge exchange and networking opportunities. The summit concluded successfully as a comprehensive event where strategic topics shaping the future of the HVAC industry were discussed, collaborations were strengthened, and innovative solutions were shared.
A large majority of participants expressed satisfaction with the success of the event, while many stakeholders also stated their intention to participate in next year’s summit.
Gold Sponsors: Arçelik, Daikin, Eurovent Certification, Form, Hitachi, SolarEast, York
Silver Sponsors: Atlantik Group, BRC Refrigeration, Friterm, Danfoss, Karyer, Hannover Fairs Turkey, Midea Region Türkiye, Sakura Klima, Termofan, Testo, Üntes
Session Sponsors: Alarko-Carrier, Amca Middle East, Doğu İklimlendirme, Siemens, Trane, Vaillant
Logo Sponsors: Demirdöküm, Elektroteknik Klima, Erbay, General Filter Havak, GSMU Mekatronik, Johnson Controls, Savaşlar, TLC Klima
Supporting Organizations: Turkish Contractors Association, İMSAD, İSİB
