On June 12, Stephen Yurek, President of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), alongside the AHRI management team, visited Midea Air Conditioning Headquarters.
The delegation shared AHRI’s global organizational structure and mission, discussing future collaboration with Midea to advance regional energy efficiency standards and streamline regulatory pathways for market access across global regions.
AHRI also recognized Midea for achieving 100% compliance in AHRI’s three consecutive years of certification testing in VMAC, PTHP, PTAC and other categories. Midea attendees included Louis Zhao, President of the Residential Air Conditioning Division; Vincent Chou, Vice President of the Residential Air Conditioning Division; and Dennis Lee, Vice President of Midea Building Technologies Division International Business.
AHRI’s recognition of Midea’s leadership
The meeting with AHRI leadership represents a pivotal step toward co-developing global standards
The meeting with AHRI leadership represents a pivotal step toward co-developing global standards and advancing international collaboration in high-performance HVAC solutions.
With over 330 member companies in North America alone, AHRI standards cover 95% of HVACR products in the region.
With its global service framework expansion, it establishes localized efficiency standards and market access rules, ensuring high-efficiency products enter markets smoothly. Choosing Midea as the first stop of its China visit reflects AHRI’s recognition of Midea’s leadership in driving energy efficiency upgrades and standard development globally.
Exploring collaboration frameworks
During the closed-door meeting, both parties explored collaboration frameworks for three market types:
- Developing Markets: Accelerate electrification and inverter technology adoption through high-efficiency solutions
- Extreme-Climate Markets: Jointly develop practical efficiency and quality standards based on local usage insights
- Markets Without Unified Standards: Build foundational regulatory systems to foster healthy competition
The discussions focused on leveraging AHRI’s expanding footprint (including new Singapore/Dubai offices) to accelerate regulatory harmonization. This alignment ensures Midea’s advanced systems qualify for key incentive programs like federal/regional heat pump rebates tied to high-efficiency standards.
pioneering heat pump innovation
Stephen Yurek outlined AHRI’s global structure, highlighting offices in the U.S., China, India, UAE, and Mexico. He praised Midea’s heat pumps delivering up to 100% heating output at -31°F and up to 100% cooling output at 140°F, expressing interest in deeper global collaboration.
“Midea commits to pioneering heat pump innovation for unprecedented efficiency and environmental adaptability, while tailoring localized solutions to meet global efficiency regulations”, said Louis Zhao, President of Midea’s Residential Air Conditioning Division.
“We’re honored to support AHRI’s worldwide strategy by combining our technical expertise with market experiences.”
Elevating the partnership
AHRI’s visit elevates the strategic partnership between both parties to new heights
AHRI’s visit elevates the strategic partnership between both parties to new heights. For over a decade, the two organizations have been trusted allies in advocating for high-efficiency, low-carbon transformation.
Since 2017, Midea has collaborated with AHRI to actively participate in developing standards for multiple projects, including high-efficiency low-temperature heating, eco-friendly refrigerants, and CVP, jointly advancing industry energy efficiency models using the new R454B eco-friendly refrigerant.
Active involvement from Midea
Midea also actively participates in key leadership and technical forums, including standing committees on Certification and Global Services and a broad range of working groups.
This active involvement culminated in a major landmark: Midea became the first Chinese brand admitted into AHRI’s Central Ducted Systems Unitary Section Leadership Council.
Leveraging AHRI’s influential global platform and standards expertise alongside Midea’s technological innovation capabilities and market insights, this collaboration will create greater value for global users and inject strong momentum into sustainable industry development.
