EPEE and EVIA release Visionary Paper

A new paper released today by EPEE and EVIA attempts to predict the HVAC and refrigeration needs of future generations.

Jointly developed by the two associations, the Visionary Paper is based on the discussions held during Eureka 2016, a collective industry event that took place in December in The Hague.

Eureka 2016 saw the whole HVACR sector – including industry, academia, political decision-makers, and civil society – coming together to share their vision of the future and the upcoming challenges. The Visionary Paper is the result of those discussions. It is described as a unique tool aiming to help the industry adapt their products and services to the requirements and demands of future consumers.

“The Visionary Paper aims to provide an outlook to 2030 based on what future customers will want and expect,” said EPEE director general Andrea Voigt. “It is clear that maintaining the status quo is not an option, and that the industry will need to transform itself in order to be truly resilient and sustainable.”

The Visionary Paper focuses on the needs of so-called Generation Z, namely those born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. According to the new document, they are likely to be even more demanding than current customers, and their expectations will fundamentally change the way the HVACR industry operates. 

“Our Visionary Paper states that future customers will want the industry to provide a full service, not just products; be offered a service which is tailored to their needs; prefer locally-sourced products; and want to live more sustainably,” said Russell Patten, secretary general of EVIA. “Being thus prepared, the sector can turn challenges into opportunities and continue to provide heating, cooling and ventilation every day across the world”.

The Visionary Paper illustrates the future trends as seen through the eyes of the actors in the HVACR sector today, and presents their applications in the key areas addressed during EUREKA 2016.

“Food waste, refrigerants, energy efficiency in buildings, and indoor air quality are not only areas at the heart of the HVACR sector,” said Andrea Voigt. “They also have a major impact on the lives of the generations to come.”

The next edition of EUREKA, which will take place in Berlin in December, will be discussing and seeking input from participants on how Gen Z’ers actually perceive the world and environment in which they grew up  how they view the challenges that industry should address as a priority.

To download the Visionary Paper click here