The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) continued its push for energy efficiency and healthy buildings.

Under a recently signed partnership agreement, ASHRAE and the Mexico Green Building Council (CMES) said they will work together to promote buildings “that are healthful, environmentally responsible, comfortable and productive, and profitable.” ASHRAE said the agreement is part of its new strategies for a global environment, “committing the society to working with organizations with shared objectives.”

“Both ASHRAE and CMES have an essential role to play in achieving energy-efficiency improvements in all types of buildings,” stated Kent Peterson, P.E., president of ASHRAE.

“We will work together in promoting smart design practices regarding energy usage, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible buildings.”

Cesar Ulises Trevino, president of CMES, said the agreement with ASHRAE “releases a vast range of stimulating opportunities to facilitate our shared missions of taking sustainability issues to the mainstream in the building and construction industries and across boundaries.”

In Trevino’s estimation, it’s time for action.

“Let us jointly reinforce our pledge by collaborating towards mind-shifting professional education and by setting exemplary practice in the field of HVAC and related disciplines,” said Trevino.

“We look forward to challenging initiatives that shall accomplish the ultimate goals of improved quality of life for humanity while restoring nature’s precious balance. We are proud to merge efforts with ASHRAE, and jointly continue the leading role that is urgently required for a positive transformation of the built environment.”

ASHRAE has some 350 members in Mexico in its three chapters in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. The society sponsors the AHR Mexico Exposition every two years, next scheduled for Sept. 23-25, 2008.

CMES is a nongovernmental organization of leading professionals in the Mexican construction industry who have joined efforts to investigate and promote sustainable building technology, policy, and best practices.



PARTNERS WITH DOE

In another move, ASHRAE said it will be working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to increase building energy-efficiency standards for the year 2010 by 30 percent over 2004 standards.

This recently signed memorandum of understanding commits the two parties to improving the efficient use of energy and the viable and widespread use of renewable energy sources. Together, the two said they are trying to minimize the impact of energy use on the environment.

“DOE and ASHRAE have been working together in advancing energy conservation technology since the initial energy crisis of the 1970s,” said Peterson.

“This new initiative provides an opportunity for ASHRAE and DOE to expand our collective energy conservation efforts, our energy conservation education initiatives, and strategic research program focus in leading our country and the world toward a sustainable energy future.”

Under the agreement, Peterson said ASHRAE and the DOE are committed to the following goals:

•Promoting and supporting the continuing development of ASHRAE standards related to energy efficiency, IAQ, and sustainability.

•Supporting implementation of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 (“Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings”) through training programs.

•Supporting the development of guidance for exceeding the minimum efficiencies set by Standard 90.1, and new performance metrics and protocols for building energy efficiency and environmental impact.

•Cooperating in and supporting research into clean and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency in buildings and equipment, and environmental impact of energy and material use.

•Cooperating in promotion of ANSI/ASHRAE standards adoption in International Organization of Standardization (ISO) standards.

•Working within the building community and related professions to encourage the interoperability of building-related software and integrated solutions to increase energy efficiency, health, and productivity in new and existing buildings.

•Ensuring sufficient numbers of qualified building design professionals by promoting and encouraging the study of mathematics and science to pre-college students, the study of building design within college curricula, and the pursuit of continuing education by practicing design professionals.

•Providing and supporting technology transfer to building owners and management about the interrelationships between mechanical systems and building operating costs, noting energy, workplace performance, client satisfaction, and public safety.

•Monitoring the operational, energy, and environmental impacts of new counterterrorism design features, and promoting minimization of those impacts.

Publication Date:09/10/2007