ASHRAE’s mission statement is, “With more than 50,000 members from over 132 nations, ASHRAE is a diverse organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.” Sustainability is right there in that core mission!

ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap follows a set of overarching goals:

• Expand our efforts to foster sustainable buildings.
• Conduct our own affairs in a sustainable manner.
• Lead in researching technologies that enable the design and application of sustainable HVAC&R equipment and systems.
• Integrate building sustainability principles, effective practices and emerging concepts into all appropriate ASHRAE standards, guidelines, research, Handbook chapters and publications.
• Partner with appropriate sustainability advocacy organizations where our strengths are complementary.
• Develop materials and programs related to sustainability to educate and inspire the current and next generation of members.

In the Boston Chapter, our Sustainability committee aims to incorporate all aspects of sustainability- environmental, economic, and equity.

This year’s sustainability project is a partnership with the Boston Green Academy, a local charter school focused on introducing students from underserved communities to green jobs. ASHRAE Boston and BGA will host a career fair and professional panel to showcase the variety of roles connected to the HVAC industry and the various paths one might take to get there.

To see other examples of community sustainability projects please visit ashrae.org/community.

If you have any general suggestions, ideas for future projects, or just want to learn more, feel free to contact me!

Sustainability Committee Chair,

Kiersten Washle, CMTA