New ASHRAE Fund to Support Projects in its Chapters
ATLANTA — ASHRAE announced the establishment of The Gordon Holness Presidential Fund, designed to drive the implementation of chapter-led ASHRAE projects across the globe.
The fund, established through a generous $1 million endowment, will provide $50,000 annually in perpetuity to support the ASHRAE Presidential Challenge. This initiative encourages chapters to develop and execute innovative solutions to some of the industry’s most pressing building challenges, a press release from ASHRAE said.
Gordon Holness, a former ASHRAE president, joined 2024-25 ASHRAE President M. Dennis Knight, to announce the fund’s creation.
“This fund will significantly empower our members to bring forward creative solutions that address critical building issues,” said Knight. “We are profoundly grateful to Mr. Holness for his dedication and remarkable contribution to ASHRAE and the industry at large.”
Holness' presidential theme, “Sustaining Our Future By Rebuilding Our Past: Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings — Our Greatest Opportunity for a Sustainable Future,” underscored the substantial role that improving energy efficiency in existing structures plays in reducing energy demand, the press release said.
The Gordon Holness Presidential Fund builds upon ASHRAE’s previous support of chapter projects through the Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) Decarbonization Challenge, launched by 2023-24 ASHRAE presidential member Ginger Scoggins, the press release said. ASHRAE has allocated between $50,000 and $75,000 annually for project awards under this initiative.
The new fund will ensure ongoing support by awarding grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for project implementation at the chapter level.
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