2025 has been a strong year of learning for the ASHRAE Ozark Chapter, with programs that delivered real, practical value to our members. We started with our own Chris Ruth presenting “Accountable Indoor Air Quality,” highlighting how building automation, better sequences of operation, and smart ventilation strategies work together to support healthier, more efficient buildings. Chris focused on how owners and facility teams can use data and controls to make indoor air quality measurable, manageable, and aligned with both comfort and energy goals.
Next, we dove deeper into hydronics and airside comfort with two highly technical but very approachable sessions. David Bledsoe helped attendees better understand pump curves by breaking down the differences between control curves and control areas and tying those concepts directly to ASHRAE 90.1 prescriptive path requirements for chilled water and hot water systems. He compared multiple pump control strategies, including pump head control, system flow sensors, sensorless options, and differential pressure reset, showing which approaches best support energy savings. Ron Will followed with “Humidification Fundamentals, Systems, and Equipment,” sharing more than four decades of HVAC experience as he walked through isothermal and adiabatic humidification, solid and liquid desiccant dehumidification, load calculations, sizing, controls integration, and key installation details that engineers and contractors can apply right away.
We wrapped up the 2025 program year with Clifford Holcomb and his session on “ASHRAE15-2024 A2L VRF Application,” which guided members through the transition to A2L refrigerants by focusing on safety requirements, VRF design, refrigerant charge limits, and practical application details for A2L-ready systems. Together, these four programs created a well-rounded mix of IAQ, hydronics, humidification, and refrigerant safety topics. Thank you to everyone who attended our meetings, asked great questions, and supported the chapter throughout the year. Be on the lookout after the first of the year for announcements about our next round of exciting speaker events, we are already working on a strong lineup for 2026.
