What outcomes would you like to achieve through the conference?

The conference will address the changes to buildings created by the pandemic and will present papers and programs that are pertinent to the future of the built-environment, including decarbonization.

Kristen Cetin

In 2022, we continue to face climate extremes and natural disasters along with the aftermath of the pandemic. As we spend the large majority of our time in buildings, they continue to be critical to our everyday lives. Yet these – commercial, industrial and residential buildings – face an increasingly complex set of competing priorities to balance, as well as an increasing number of technologies and solutions to use and implement. The 2022 ASHRAE Annual Conference focuses on such diverse priorities and methods to address them, while considering the dynamic nature of such priorities over time.

The hope is the outcome of the conference is the sharing of knowledge and information across the building and HVAC&R industry to support improvements to our built-environment in the face of current challenges. 

In what way has the pandemic forced a change in thinking when it comes to MEP design and installation?

The pandemic has brought to public awareness of, and appreciation for, the importance of IAQ, filtration, ventilation and HVAC&R topics, in general. During and in the wake of COVID-19, there has been/is substantial motivation to make changes in how IAQ is managed. This is an opportunity to improve and support better IAQ practices in buildings while also supporting energy efficiency and resilience.

Is there a greater emphasis on IAQ than ever before, given the fact that energy efficiency traditionally has received disproportionate importance on the back of strong climate change mitigation and Total Cost of Ownership narratives?

There is more public awareness and appreciation of IAQ now than pre-pandemic. We now have the opportunity to join the IAQ and energy fields to support healthier and more efficient buildings. There are emerging technologies, controls and best practices that support this. We should take this opportunity to achieve more sustainable IAQ.

Earlier talk of IAQ revolved around the presence of excessive CO2, CO, radon and those allergens that triggered allergic rhinitis and asthma. Has the pandemic heightened awareness on infectious disease control in the builtenvironment to not only protect occupants from life-threatening illnesses but also minimise economic disruption, in the case of commercial buildings?

Yes, I would say so.