Enviropundit: Green Building Blog

Archives: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)



Wednesday, October 26, 2005

ASHRAE: Engineering for Sustainability

ATLANTA – The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has launched a new campaign emphasizing its role as “the engineering engine that drives sustainability.”

As part of ASHRAE’s stronger focus on its involvement in green buildings, the Society has introduced a new logo, theme, Engineering for Sustainability, and Website, Engineering for Sustainability. These will be used to identify ASHRAE products and services related to sustainability.

“ASHRAE has long provided ‘engineering for sustainability’ by applying its diverse technology assets to the sustainability movement in energy efficiency, indoor environment and industrial processes,” Ron Jarnagin, chair of a committee developing a roadmap for sustainability for the Society, said. “With growing focus in the industry on the green movement, we need to emphasize that ASHRAE is the engineering engine that drives sustainability.”

Jarnagin noted that the Society’s recent efforts include publishing and working on the Advanced Energy Design Guide series, Standard 90.1, which contains a section guiding designers on how to meet requirements for building rating programs, and the ASHRAE GreenGuide, all part of an ASRHAE green “toolkit.”

Sustainability also is addressed through other standards and special publications, ASHRAE Journal articles, ASHRAE Learning Institute courses and in the ASHRAE Handbook.

Opportunities for involvement in shaping ASHRAE’s sustainability future include technical committees and local chapters.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. Its sole objective is to advance through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve the evolving needs of the public.