QUEENS, N.Y. — On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Queens, New York, Midea held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its first national showroom and distribution center.

“With this being the first one, there is no better place than New York,” said David Rames, senior product manager for Midea. “First, there is a lot of people here. And second, New York has been on the cutting edge of heat-pump adoption. There are heavy rebates and incentives in New York for customers to make that change. It is a great spot.”

Kyle Gargaro, editorial director of The ACHR NEWS, speaks during the opening of the Midea showroom and distribution center in Queens, New York.
Photo courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Midea

The goal of the showroom is to offer a unique opportunity for both HVAC professionals and consumers to get hands-on experience with the latest in heat-pump technology, from ducted and ductless whole-home heating and cooling systems to heat-pump water heaters and window heating and cooling units specifically designed to support multi-family buildings' transition toward electrification.

Among the notable products on display is a new cold climate heat pump, a participant in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge that achieved 118% of rated capacity heating output at -15°F. The showroom also features the Midea Packaged Window Heat Pump (PWHP) — winner of the 2024 AHR Innovation Award and a component of New York State’s Clean Heat for All Challenge — as well as the new EVOX G³ ducted heat-pump system. The showroom will educate homeowners and contractors by illustrating the versatility of heat-pump applications across different scenarios. From optimizing comfort in single-zone residential spaces to implementing comprehensive multi-zone heat-pump systems, the displays are compatible with a wide range of climate conditions and living environments.

The facility will be home to heat-pump solutions designed with the future in mind to help users meet the stringent demands of increasing energy efficiency and sustainability requirements. The showroom will serve as a center for contractor training programs, equipping industry professionals with the necessary expertise for installation and maintenance, while also offering personalized consultation and services for customers in the New York metropolitan area to ensure they find the most effective heating and cooling solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.

Midea is heavily involved in the New York market with energy-efficient heat pumps, highlighted by its involvement in the Clean Heat for All Challenge. Spearheaded by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Clean Heat for All Challenge aligns with New York City and state mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by the year 2030. Midea was designated as a primary partner to develop and deliver 20,000 cold-climate packaged window heat pump units that can better serve the heating and cooling needs of existing multifamily buildings and help expedite the transition away from fossil fuels.

The Midea showroom, operated in tandem with Ai-Midea Air Conditioning, is located at 158-15 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 11366.