ATLANTA, Georgia, United States, 1 July 2024: ASHRAE launched a Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization (CEBD), which it said would drive the adoption of climate change- mitigation policies and reinforce its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for all new buildings by 2030.

Making the announcement through a Press Release, ASHRAE said the CEBD’s primary activities include:

• Strategy: Guide ASHRAE’s building decarbonisation efforts and integrate relevant goals into the Society’s strategic plan. Develop, lead and collaborate on strategic initiatives with partner organisations to accelerate and advance global building decarbonisation.
• Thought Leadership: Track emerging issues and trends to showcase ASHRAE’s leadership position.
• Collaboration: Coordinate joint initiatives, events and projects with US and international organisations that compliment ASHRAE’s building decarbonisation efforts.
• Public Advocacy: Provide reliable technical information on decarbonisation to policymakers, media and the public.

Dennis Knight, President, ASHRAE, said: “Our decision to establish the ASHRAE Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization represents a strategic move towards amplifying our impact on climate change mitigation in the built environment. By making building decarbonization a focal point of our technical resources and advocacy, we are broadening our capacity to drive systemic change. The CEBD signifies ASHRAE’s dedication to empowering stakeholders with essential resources and educational opportunities and underscores our pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future.”

AHRAE said the CEBD is releasing two new technical guides:

• Decarbonizing Hospital Buildings: Available now, the guide assists hospital facility managers, planners, architectural and engineering teams, and other stakeholders in reducing GHG emissions.
• Decarbonizing Building Thermal Systems: A How-To Guide for Heat Pump Systems and Beyond: Coming soon, the guide supports design engineers and building operators in decarbonisation efforts, covering application, sizing, system configuration, refrigerants, electrical requirements and control strategies.

Meanwhile, ASHRAE said it has reinstated its ASHRAE Decarbonization Challenge Fund for a second year. The year-long competitive grant programme implements decarbonisation projects within local ASHRAE chapters, for which CEBD has also welcomed donations to further impact initiatives, ASHRAE said.

Members of the ASHRAE CEBD are:

• Kent Peterson, Presidential Fellow ASHRAE, chair
• Blake E. Ellis, Fellow ASHRAE, vice chair
• Ghina Annan, M.Eng., Applied Energy
• Constantinos Balaras, Ph.D., Tech Council liaison
• Carrie Brown, Ph.D.
• Kayleigh Houde, MEP liaison
• Luke Leung, Fellow ASHRAE
• Bing Liu, Fellow ASHRAE
• Bill McQuade, Members Council liaison
• Clay Nesler
• Rajan Rajendran, Ph.D.
• Stet Sanborn
• Ginger Scoggins, Presidential Fellow, ASHRAE
• Jeremy Smith, Tech Council liaison