ATLANTA, Georgia, United States, 28 June 2024: ASHRAE said it concluded a successful 2024 ASHRAE Annual Conference, held from June 22 to 26 June in Indianapolis, in the US state of Indiana. Making the announcement through a Press Release, ASHRAE said 2,040 registered HVAC&R and building science professionals and supporters gathered at the event to discuss key topics, such as legislative initiatives, building decarbonisation and artificial intelligence.

According to ASHRAE, registrants explored more than 80 sessions across eight technical tracks. The top-attended sessions, ASHRAE said, included:

• Seminar 19: LIVESTREAM: Farewell VRP: Paving the Way for Indoor Air in the Future of Ventilation and Air Quality
• Seminar 41: LIVESTREAM: Advancements of Low-GWP Refrigerants 
• Seminar 39: Simplifying the Electrification of Hydronic Systems 
• Seminar 42: LIVESTREAM: Changing World for Electric and Thermal Batteries 
• Seminar 12: How High Can You Get with High Temperature Heat Pumps? 

In addition to being able to attend the Annual Conference, ASHRAE said, registrants had full access to the 2024 ASHRAE Conference For Integrated Design, Construction & Operations (CIDCO), held from June 24 to 26 in Indianapolis. CIDCO Seminar 1: AI and Building Performance: An Overview and Practical Application drew strong attendance, ASHRAE said.

Registration is still available for virtual access to both conferences, which includes technical session quizzes and PDH certificates, ASHRAE said.

The main event also saw the installation of M. Dennis Knight, Fellow Life Member, ASHRAE, as 2024-25 ASHRAE Society President. During his inaugural address as President, Knight introduced ASHRAE’s new Society Year theme, “Empowering Our Workforce: Building a Sustainable Future”. He highlighted the importance of identifying and attracting more professionals to the HVAC&R industry in order to meet growing demand precipitated by world events, ASHRAE quoted him as saying.

Knight said: “Over the last several years, we accepted the challenge of being vital players in addressing the most severe threats to our planet in our lifetimes: The COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. That said, our industry is facing its own crisis. One that will hinder our ability to meet the challenges we have accepted, the targets we have set and the commitments we have made. That crisis is with our workforce – or more appropriately, the lack of skilled people like you, who have the capability and desire to choose a career in Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVACR). The truth is, we need more people like YOU. Your skills, your passion and your commitment are what will drive our industry forward and ensure its viability for years to come.”

A highlight of the Conference was the 2023-24 Decarbonization Challenge Project Review, ASHRAE said, adding that through the Decarbonization Challenge, introduced by Presidential Member Ginger Scoggins, Fellow ASHRAE, and administered by the Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA), selected chapters were awarded grants to assist with the implementation of community-based decarbonisation projects. During the livestreamed review session, the nine awarded chapters shared updates and project lessons learnt, ASHRAE said. The Challenge awarded a total of USD 65,850, with additional matching funds from partnering organisations of the selected projects, and is expected to save 2.3 million kilograms of CO2, ASHRAE said.

ASHRAE said that in her final State of the Society address, Presidential Member Ginger Scoggins provided an overview of the accomplishments made during the 2023-24 Society Year.

Scoggins said: “Reflecting on the past year, we have made significant strides in our efforts to advocate for expanded decarbonization of buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We wanted to provide an understanding of how climate change affects building planning, design, construction and operation and how building decarbonization will be necessary to properly execute projects, going forward. I am pleased to say that ASHRAE committed – YOU committed – to equipping yourselves the knowledge and tools needed to design and operate low-carbon buildings. ASHRAE members worldwide have accepted the challenge of providing meaningful leadership, action, resources, and advocacy to the global built environment. I am very proud of what we have accomplished during this Society Year.”

ASHRAE said that the AHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) offered 8 courses during the Conference. The top-attended courses, ASHRAE said, were:

• V in HVAC – Health and Energy Improvements Using the Indoor Air Quality Procedures
• Building Energy Modelling Fundamentals and Applications
• Variable Refrigerant Flow System Design & Application

All registered attendees, both in-person and virtual, will have access to the virtual conference platform during the conference and 12 months post-conference, AHRAE said.

ASHRAE informed that the 2025 ASHRAE Winter Conference will take place from February 8 to 12 in Orlando, in the US state of Florida. The AHR Expo will take place from February 10 to 12, 2025.