ATLANTA, United States, 26 October 2023: ASHRAE has unveiled the preliminary technical programme for its highly anticipated 2024 ASHRAE Winter Conference, taking place from January 20 to 24, 2024, in Chicago, IL. Making the announcement through a Press release, ASHRAE said the technical programme can be found online and in the ASHRAE 365 app.

ASHRAE said with a focus on addressing the pressing challenges of decarbonisation and climate change, the conference will feature 11 technical tracks and over 100 sessions, offering attendees a wealth of knowledge and insights. The Society said participants will have the opportunity to earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) while exploring tracks such as decarbonisation and climate change, clean spaces and mission critical facilities, tall buildings design, Artificial Intelligence, refrigeration and refrigerants and more.

Suzanne LeViseur, Chair, ASHRAE Winter Conference 2024, said: ”The conference gives attendees an unparalleled opportunity to discover practical and timely solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing the built environment. Moreover, ASHRAE’s decarbonisation focus is included within all of the technical tracks so that we can provide effective strategies on a variety of topics through the conference sessions.”

According to ASHRAE, some examples of decarbonisation-related sessions include:

• Decarbonisation in Cold Chain Process (Refrigeration and Refrigerants Track)
• The Logical Way to Tap Into Decarbonisation: Hydronic District Energy Systems (Hydronic Systems Track)
• Beneficial Electrification (HVAC&R Systems and Equipment Track)
• Grid-Interactive Buildings for a Decarbonised World (Decarbonisation and Climate Change Track)

According to ASHRAE, additional trending sessions include:

• Laboratory Superhero: The Critcal Plan to Save
• Pulling Back the Curtain on DEI
• Standard 241: You Have Questions; We Have Answers
• Artificial Intelligence for Buildings Performance Simulation
• Harmony in Action: ASHRAE Standards Paving the Way for Building Decarbonisation
• What’s the Fuss About Zero Trust Cyber Security for BAS Control Systems
• Who’s Afraid of the Net Zero Wolf?

During the Plenary session, ASHRAE said, Canadian climate change solutions expert, Chris Turner will give a keynote presentation on the global shift towards clean energy. Furthermore, ASHRAE said Jeff Littleton, Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Society, will provide its updates in his report, and the accomplishments of ASHRAE’s members will be recognised during the Honours and Awards ceremony.

The Society said at the President’s Luncheon, Ginger Scoggins, ASHRAE President, ASHRAE, 2023-24, will deliver her State of the Society address, marking progress toward initiatives outlined in the current Society theme, “Challenge Accepted: Tackling the Climate Crisis.”

ASHRAE said its Learning Institute will offer 18 courses during the conference, and all courses are approved for continuing education credits towards maintaining P.E. licensure. 

According to ASHRAE, the four new courses being offered are: 

• Starting the Path to Net-Zero Buildings Using ASHRAE 90.1-2022 
• Understanding ASHRAE Standard 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols – Background, Overview, and Key Requirements
• V in HVAC – Health and Energy Improvements Using the Indoor Air Quality Procedures
• Is Your Building Ready? Applying ASHRAE Standard 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols – Facility Assessment, Planning, and Implementation
  

ASHRAE said its certification exams will also be administered during the week, and business, committee, and technical meetings will be conducted in the weeks leading up to and during the conference.