Society News

Contact: Jodi Scott
Public Relations
678-539-1140
jscott@ashrae.org

ATLANTA – ASHRAE is pleased to see the passage on Wednesday by the U.S. Senate of the Energy Policy Modernization Act, marking an important step toward making buildings in all sectors more energy efficient.

The Senate passed the Act by a vote of 85 to 12. The bill contains numerous building energy code provisions that were supported by ASHRAE.

“The passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act demonstrates the power of persistent bipartisan leadership by many leaders throughout the Senate. Each of these senators understands the need for reform and the dangers that lie ahead if we do not change,” ASHRAE President David Underwood said. “This accomplishment is shared by hundreds of stakeholders who have connected with members of Congress, helping them understand the complexities and likely impacts of legislation on the building and many other industries. ASHRAE congratulates the Senate on this accomplishment and stands ready to assist as leaders in both chambers work to produce a final bill that the President can sign, and which truly advances the arts and sciences of HVAC&R to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.”

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its more than 55,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. More information can be found at www.ashrae.org/news.

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New ASHRAE Members and Associates who join ASHRAE by Friday, May 13, 2016 will be eligible to win a LulzBot ® Mini Desktop 3D Printer. The winner will be contacted by Wednesday, June 8, 2016.  

Click here for more info

 

Register today for the ASHRAE Conference in St. Louis. Take advantage of the opportunity to discuss and examine the latest topics in the building industry and earn professional development credits.

Early bird registration, offering the lowest Conference rates, ends April 26. Register early! www.ashrae.org/stlouis

The Conference Technical Program offers an excellent opportunity to learn the results of cutting-edge research and the latest standards that affect the built environment.  Topics include nearly every technology used in HVAC&R including alternative refrigerants, fire and smoke control, smart control systems and sources and efficient utilization of renewable energy. In addition, learn the personal and business skills necessary to become and remain a leader in our industry.

The Technical Program features eight tracks, 108 sessions and more than 400 speakers.

Check out the new interactive Technical Program to find the topics, sessions and speakers of most interest to you! Featuring options to search by track, program type, date and keyword, the interactive Technical Program provides a detailed look at each session from color-coded tracks to sponsoring committees. Access, browse and bookmark the feature on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

The interactive Technical Program is available at www.ashrae.org/stlouisinteractivetechprogram.

167 Professional Development Hours Available
PDHs recognized by most U.S. states, AIA LUs and LEED®AP credits are available through ASHRAE Learning Institute courses and Technical Program sessions.

Here are a few more reasons to join ASHRAE in St. Louis.

Network and Attend a Society Meeting – ASHRAE has some 100 technical committees to address your technical area of interest. Attend a meeting or two and meet new colleagues. The meetings are open to all. This may be your best networking opportunity!

ASHRAE Learning Institute – choose from two full-day professional development seminars and eight half-day short courses to stay current on new HVAC&R technologies.

ASHRAE Certification – apply by June 6 to sit for an ASHRAE Certification exam in one of these key built environment fields: Energy Assessment l Energy Modeling l Commissioning l Healthcare Facility Design l High Performance Building Design l Building Operations.

www.ashrae.org/stlouis 

Connect-a-Colleague is an easy-to-use referral tool that links members' colleagues to the Society. By simply entering a colleague's name and email, ASHRAE members can have a prewritten invitation to join ASHRAE sent on their behalf. Users have the option to add a custom message, and reference a technical committee section that may be of interest to their colleague. Member referrals are the top reason new members join ASHRAE.

https://www.ashrae.org/membership--conferences/connect-a-colleague                                   

The 2016 ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Systems and Equipment will begin being mailed to members in May. To ensure proper delivery, members are encouraged to check their ASHRAE online profile at the "My Membership" page prior to April 15 to verify their mailing address. In addition, if members have not paid their annual dues, they are encouraged to do so by May 31 to ensure they receive a Handbook. Dues can be paid online on the "My Membership" page. Members entitled to receive the ASHRAE Handbook can choose a one-year subscription to the Handbook Online with CD package as their benefit instead of the print/CD combination in place for many years. Another option is the print/CD/online package—a combination of all three formats—for an additional cost. 

https://www.ashrae.org/resources--publications/periodicals/enewsletters/esociety/2016-04-16-articles/2016-handbook-to-be-mailed-in-may 

ASHRAE members will vote on nominees for the 2016–17 Board of Directors via electronic ballots being emailed in April. Emails containing a link to the electronic ballot will begin being sent on April 28 to all qualified voting members with valid email addresses in the Society database. Voting members who do not have valid email addresses in the Society database will receive a print mailing with a Web address to the electronic ballot and log-in credentials. Nominations for officers and directors are made by the Nominating Committee from a list recommended by individual members and from Chapters Regional Conferences. Additionally, any voting member of the Society may write in the name of an individual for any office. 

https://www.ashrae.org/resources--publications/periodicals/enewsletters/esociety/2016-04-16-articles/voting-opening-for-2016-17-bod

Contact: Jodi Scott
Public Relations
678-539-1140
jscott@ashrae.org

ATLANTA – Building on past outreach, ASHRAE and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing them to working together in a variety of built environment areas.

The MOU recently was signed by ASHRAE President David Underwood and AIA President Russ Davidson. The agreement states the two organizations will work jointly in areas related to development of young professionals, advocacy and public outreach, publications, education, technical activities and research.

“ASHRAE and AIA share many common technical interests, including health and safety, energy efficiency, and resilience,” David Underwood, ASHRAE president, said. “This agreement formalizes our plans to foster technical cooperation in these areas, providing needed guidance to the industry.”

“We are at a pivotal juncture as an industry to address the growing number of design challenges,” said AIA President, Russ Davidson, FAIA.  “The extension of this agreement is important for our organizations to continue to work together to further sustainable design strategies, to be active on building codes related issues, as well as for providing tangible resources that are useful for our respective members in their daily practice.”

In past projects with a focus on improving energy efficiency of buildings and systems, ASHRAE and AIA are part of a group that is developing a new version of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) sponsored by the International Code Council (ICC), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The code, scheduled to be released in 2018, will be powered by ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/IES/USGBC Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings developed using the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved ASHRAE consensus process.

ASHRAE and AIA also joined together with IES, USGBC and the Department of Energy (DOE) in developing the Advanced Energy Design Guide series. The nine books in the series provide recommendations for achieving 50% and 30% energy savings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its more than 55,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. More information can be found at www.ashrae.org/news.

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Contact: Jodi Scott
Public Relations
678-539-1140
jscott@ashrae.org

ATLANTA – Multifamily units in all types of buildings are now covered in the scope of ASHRAE’s residential indoor air quality standard, marking one of the biggest changes to the recently published 2016 version.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2016, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings, defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in residential buildings.

Prior to this edition multifamily residential buildings four stories or above fell under the scope of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. 

Now the dwelling units themselves are covered by 62.2 regardless of building height, while common areas of those buildings remain in the scope of 62.1, according to Paul Francisco, chair of the Standard 62.2 committee.

Francisco said the change provides consistency of ventilation requirements for dwelling units regardless of building height.  For new construction, this will result in a change of requirements for dwelling units in 4 story and above buildings.  For the retrofit market, this change will result in coverage by ASHRAE ventilation standards for the first time in residential dwellings in 4 story and above story buildings. The 2016 standard also includes a method of claiming an infiltration credit for horizontally-attached units.

Another major change in the standard provides a means of determining equivalency for a variety of ventilation scheduling strategies.  This change also includes a maximum short-term exposure to make sure that meeting annual equivalence does not unduly compromise short-term IAQ.

The cost of Standard 62.2-2016, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings, is $54, ASHRAE members ($64, non-members). To order, visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore or contact ASHRAE Customer Contact Center at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide) or fax 678-539-2129.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its more than 55,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. More information can be found at www.ashrae.org/news.

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Contact: Jodi Scott
Public Relations
678-539-1140
jscott@ashrae.org

ATLANTA — The 13th book in ASHRAE’s Datacom Series, “IT Equipment Design Impact on Data Center Solutions,” is now available. The book was developed by ASHRAE’s Technical Committee 9.9, Mission Critical Facilities, Data Centers, Technology Spaces and Electronic Equipment.

“Technology in general, including the data center industry, changes faster than other industries,” Don Beaty, publications chair of TC 9.9, said. “Disruption is around the corner in all aspects of our lives:  social media, online retail, access to information and entertainment.  With everything from smartphones to thermostats generating data, backend IT systems are experiencing massive hardware demands.  Data centers must have a footprint that is flexible, scalable and adaptable.  They must be able to move as fast as new applications are developed and keep up with new ideas, new architectures, and new ways of thinking – all in real time.”

Beaty explains how this is being addressed in this new publication. 

“Book 13 is focused on the IT equipment impact on data center solutions,” he said. “Although software is moving faster than hardware, hardware is still moving much faster than facilities.  This book draws upon the foundations laid in the previous 12 Datacom books along with significant updated and new material to provide valuable insight to address this challenge with chapters on IT equipment, its thermal design and interactions between IT systems and the data center.”

The cost of “IT Equipment Design Impact on Data Center Solutions” is $50, ASHRAE members ($59, non-members). To order, visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore or contact ASHRAE Customer Contact Center at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide) or fax 678-539-2129.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its more than 55,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. More information can be found at www.ashrae.org/news.

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Contact: Jodi Scott 
Public Relations 
678-539-1140 
jscott@ashrae.org

ATLANTA – A proposal that would set lighting requirements for high-rise dwellings in the energy standard published by ASHRAE and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is open for industry comment.

Fourteen addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, are open for public comment from March 25 until April 24, 2016.  To comment or learn more, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.

Among them is addendum do.  Currently, lighting in dwelling units in high-rise buildings is exempt in both Standard 90.1 and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.2, Energy Standard for Low-Rise Residential Buildings.

“In general, lighting within someone’s personal dwelling unit (home) has been exempt because it was not considered commercial, which is the focus of 90.1,” Eric Richman, chair of the standard’s lighting subcommittee, said. “The International Energy Conservation Code with its residential component and other similar state codes developed some basic requirements for dwelling unit lighting several years ago that addressed product efficacy.  At the time, it was difficult to develop requirements that would ensure savings and still be practical for personal spaces. Over time, the lack of dwelling unit requirements in 90.1 presented a potential gap in energy savings.  These new requirements would set efficacy minimums and/or controls for the lighting in dwelling unit spaces covered in the standard’s scope, which includes multi-family structures of four stories or above.”

The proposed requirements are similar to those in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program for high efficacy lighting. They are simplified to apply to dwelling units in commercial buildings and to support compliance as well as being conservative to allow design flexibility. The proposed efficacy requirements will effectively eliminate the use of incandescent/halogen sources as well as less efficacious products in the compact fluorescent (CFL) andlight emitting diodes (LED) categories.

Also among the addenda open for public comment is addendum ei, which tightens requirements to ensure that non-historic elements or areas of buildings meet the applicable requirements. Currently, the historic building exemption can allow for exempting the entire building, including parts that may be new additions or not part of the historic element, according to Richman.

Other addenda open for public comment until April 24, 2016, are:

• Addendum bd requires monitoring chiller plant efficiency in large electric motor driven chilled water plants for plants with a peak chilled water output based upon equipment type and climate zone. The change is designed to help commissioning and ongoing operations of the aforementioned chilled water plants.
• Addendum dw adds efficiencies for hydraulic elevator motors. The efficiency for the motors used in hydraulic elevators is substantially different than the motor efficiencies used for traction elevators. In addition the hydraulic elevator motors are usually not a type covered by the standard.
• Addendum dz provides clarifications only to changes made as a result of addendum cp. This addendum does not change the criteria of the standard. The base assembly for metal building walls is clarified and reference to all insulation methods is recognized in Section A3.2 rather than indicating one insulation methodology as the “base assembly,” which is not intended.
• Addendum ea addresses minor inconsistencies in terminology in sections 5 thru 11 that have developed over time.
• Addendum eb addresses minor inconsistencies in terminology in Appendices C and G that have developed over time.
• Addendum ec. When preparing documentation to explain the derivation of each number in Table 4.2.1.1 (Building Performance Factors), a single number was found to be inconsistent with the derived values. This addendum corrects that inconsistency.
• Addendum ed adds HVAC System Types 11, 12 and 13 to Section G.3.1.3.18 Dehumidification.
• Addendum ef changes Table G3.1.1-2, based on updated 2012 U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Energy Consumption (CBECS) information for baseline service water heating systems.
• Addendum eg removes a sentence that is no longer necessary since the most common building energy modeling programs are able to simulate integrated water economizers.
• Addendum ej modifies the text to use correct terminology for LED drivers.
• Addendum ek establishes baseline commercial refrigeration limits for Appendix G, which are based on the California Energy Commission Appliance Efficiency Regulations 2005.
• Addendum el adds a mandatory requirement for air-cooled direct expansion cooling units with economizers to have basic fault detection and diagnostic systems and were developed in consultation with unitary system and economizer control manufacturers.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its more than 50,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. For more information, visit www.ashrae.org/news.

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