From August 6 to 8, 2025, the Cold Climate HVAC & Energy 2025 International Conference was grandly held in Harbin. The event was organized by the School of Architecture and Design at Harbin Institute of Technology, and attracted over 230 experts and scholars from 15 countries and regions to the “Ice City,” to jointly explore cutting-edge technologies and future development trends in the fields of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and energy for cold climate zones. The conference received 134 academic papers, with a program comprising 8 plenary sessions, 18 thematic workshops, and a total of 140 presentations, covering topics such as heat pump technologies, renewable energy development in cold regions, smart energy system construction, and net-zero (zero energy consumption) building practices. The event presented the latest research achievements and technological breakthroughs in HVAC and energy for cold climates worldwide.
Opening Ceremony
Shi Zhaohui, Party Leadership Group member and Vice Minister of Heilongjiang Provincial Science & Technology Department, and Liu Ting, Vice President of HIT, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Also present were: Academician Jiang Yi (Tsinghua University), Professor Peter V. Nielsen (Aalborg University, Denmark), Academician Risto Kosonen (Aalto University, Finland; President of SCANVAC), Wang Haiquan (Director of Foreign Experts Service and External Cooperation, Heilongjiang Provincial Science & Technology Department), Prof. Sun Cheng (Dean, School of Architecture and Design, HIT), Zhao Hengyi (Vice Chairman & Secretary General, Heat Pump Special Committee of China Association of Energy Conservation), along with other renowned experts, scholars, and industry representatives. The ceremony was presided over by the conference chair, Prof. Ni Long of the School of Architecture and Design, HIT.
Shi Zhaohui, in his address, stated that combining green low-carbon transformation with the energy revolution in cold climate zones is a common global challenge. He expressed hope that all parties will use the conference as a platform to promote multinational and interdisciplinary technical cooperation, centering on zero-carbon buildings, smart heating, high-efficiency heat pumps, and utilization of renewable energy, so that residents in cold regions can enjoy warm winters while embracing blue skies and white clouds.
Speech by Shi Zhaohui
Liu Ting, in his speech, pointed out that HIT, as a century-old institution, has long served major national strategic needs. As one of the founding disciplines of the university, the School of Architecture and Design traces its origins to the Railway Architecture Department during the China-Eastern Railway period in 1920. Through a century of tradition, hardship, and refinement, it has developed into one of the leading teaching and research institutions among its peers, with the most comprehensive professional offerings and distinctive disciplinary features. In areas such as architectural optimization for cold climates, enhancement of living environments, integration of computational design and smart construction, breakthroughs in clean low-carbon heating technologies, and construction of building energy-saving systems, the school has produced key technical achievements and successful demonstration projects that provide solid support for regional green transition.
Speech by Liu Ting
In the session awarding outstanding papers and certificates to volunteers, Prof. Sun Cheng, Dean of the School of Architecture and Design, HIT, addressed the gathering, welcoming international guests to Harbin. He pointed out that this conference brought together elite talent and built a high-quality platform for disciplinary advancement. He thanked partners for their collaboration in organizing the event, praised the volunteers for their contributions to advancing the agenda, and wished the conference to pioneer new directions in the application of HVAC and energy technologies in cold regions.
Speech by Prof. Sun Cheng
This conference provided a global platform for exchange in the field of HVAC and energy under cold climate conditions, fostering technological innovation and sustainable development. It also helped the School of Architecture and Design enhance its disciplinary influence and contribute to green development in cold regions.
