ATLANTA – Major actions taken at ASHRAE’s 2014 Annual Conference included introduction of its strategic plan, creation of a new indoor air quality alliance, and announcement of a milestone related to its research program and Foundation.
Some 1,700 people attended the Conference, held June 28-July 2 in Seattle, Wash.
During the Conference, ASHRAE introduced its newly adopted Strategic Plan. The plan’s four strategic goals—connect, educate, extend, and adapt—serve as broad statements of what the organization most wants and expects to accomplish over the next several years. The goals are supported, in each case, by a handful of objectives that further define specific accomplishments to pursue within the plan horizon.
2013-14 President Bill Bahnfleth noted that the Society has had many significant accomplishments this year, but he views the most important one to be the new plan. The plan can be viewed at www.ashrae.org/strategicplan.
“Planning provides our map from the present to the future,” Bahnfleth said. “In laying the ground-work for the new plan that can guide us over the next three to five years, we asked key questions of ourselves and others. Who are our members and what are their needs? How do we structure our Society to be truly global and financially sound? ASHRAE is a conservative organization and has a strong reputation and good financial health to show for it. However, there are times when we have to venture beyond certainties to meet new challenges and take advantage of critical opportunities. I believe we have been in such a period for nearly a decade. This plan allows us to be more proactive in shaping our future.”
Coincidentally, Bahnfleth’s father, Presidential Member Don Bahnfleth, oversaw creation of the Society’s first strategic plan adopted in 1985. “We could not fully capitalize on the strength of our members’ volunteer commitment if we did not provide a stable platform on which progress toward a collective goal could be built on from year to year,” Don Bahnfleth said back in 1985 about the importance of planning.
The adoption of the new plan also shows how times have changed: the Society used ASHRAExCHANGE, its member-based social media platform, to engage the membership in discussion about the plan and how ASHRAE should evolve to meet industry and professional needs. ASHRAExCHANGE completed its first year of operation June 22, 2013, attracting 15,120 users who generated a total of 80,082 page views, during that period. The Society also used its Association App to make attendees aware of the new plan.
In other news, it was announced that ASHRAE’s 2013-14 RP campaign reached a new high of $2.35 million donated by members, chapters and companies. ASHRAE RP Campaign funds are used to support ongoing research projects, ASHRAE Learning Institute, YEA Leadership activities and scholarships. In addition, the ASHRAE Foundation also surpassed a significant milestone — more than $10 million in funds and endowments. These funds are used to support the Society’s scholarships and educational programs.
In addition, a memorandum of understanding creating the Indoor Environment Quality Global Alliance was signed. Other groups joining the Alliance are the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC), the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA), the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) and the Federation of European Heating and Air-Conditioning Associations (REHVA). The newly formed Alliance seeks to serve as a global source for information, guidance and knowledge on indoor environmental quality. More information can be found at www.ieq-ga.net.
The new president for 2014-15 is Thomas H. Phoenix, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, ASHRAE-Certified Building Energy Assessment and Building Energy Modeling Professional, principal and vice president, Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates, Greensboro, N.C. His presidential theme is People, Passion, Performance. The speech is available at www.ashrae.org/phoenix.
The Conference featured one Professional Development Seminar and seven Short Courses from ASHRAE Learning Institute. The most popular courses were “Commissioning for High-Performance Buildings,” “Designing High-Performance Healthcare HVAC Systems,” and “Exceeding Standard 90.1-2013 to Meet LEED® Requirements.”
Best selling publications in the bookstore at the Conference included ASHRAE Green Guide, 4th ed., Pocket Guide, 8th ed.; District Heating and Cooling Guides Set; ASHRAE Guide for Buildings in Hot & Humid Climates, 2nd ed.; Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; and the newly published Standard 90.1-2013 User’s Manual; Guideline 13-2014, Specifying Building Automation Systems; and Guideline 0-2013, The Commissioning Process.
ASHRAE also offered its certification exams for the first time at an Annual Conference. Exams administered in Seattle were the Building Energy Modeling Professional and Building Energy Assessment Professional.
ASHRAE’s 2015 Winter Conference takes place in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 24-28, at the Palmer House Hilton. Held in conjunction with the Winter Conference is the AHR Exposition, Jan. 26-28, at McCormick Place.
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. More information can be found at www.ashrae.org/news.
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Source: www.ashrae.gov; July 21, 2014.
