ASHRAE Annual Conference June 22-26; Features Building Efficiency, Research Summit

ASHRAE invites its members to share some "lofty" ideas and high-level concepts on what’s new in the building industry during its 2013 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, June 22-26, at the Sheraton Denver Hotel.

The program includes:

Building Efficiency that Goes Beyond “Mile-High”

The Technical Program kicks off early Sunday, June 23, with a new format: special hour-long interactive sessions with audience participation, followed by a networking coffee break. The Technical Program addresses the practitioner’s needs for the built environment industry with such tracks as "Building Energy Modeling vs. Measurement and Verification"; "Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources"; and the "Mile-High Efficiency and Equipment" track. Additionally, an Integrated Project Delivery mini-conference, which takes place Sunday-Monday, presents success and lessons learned. The Technical Program runs June 23-26.



The Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources track looks into new advances in alternative energy equipment and new design strategies for engineers.  Sessions cover:

• Renewable Energy Systems in an Era of Low PV and Natural Gas Prices
• Moving Buildings and the Grid to a Renewable Future
• Optimization of Thermal and Renewable Energy Systems
• Heat and Resource Recovery in Industrial Air-Conditioning Applications
• Energy Efficiency Financing
• Large-Scale Thermal Systems
• Geothermal Heat Pump Systems.

The Mile High Efficiency and Equipment track looks into new breakthroughs in equipment and building systems that contribute to a building’s overall high-efficiency performance.  These sessions include:

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Research Support Facility, the “largest zero-energy office building in the world”
• Case Studies
• Higher Efficiencies in Unitary and Water Heating Equipment
• Free Cooling
• Evaporative Cooling
• Advanced Energy Design for Hospitals.

HVACR Systems & Equipment and Fundamentals & Applications tracks again feature a wide range of current practices and trends in the industry.  Highlights include:

• Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems
• Moisture Problems
• Variable Refrigerant Flow
• Commissioning
• Microchannel Heat Exchangers
• Economizers
• Controls
• Commissioning
• Natural Ventilation
• Noise Control
• Radiant Cooling
• Commercial Kitchen Ventilation
• Passive Chilled Beams
• Variable Frequency Drives
• Refrigeration.

Research Summit

A new Research Summit, which comprises a major portion of the technical program with some 30 sessions scheduled, 22 of which are paper-based sessions—brings together distinguished researchers to present and discuss the latest research results, innovative research techniques and forecast future research directions. Topics include:cutting edge absorption and adsorption cooling technologies in cogeneration and trigeneration, replacement refrigerants for R410A and low GWP refrigerants through the Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation Program (AREP), ASHRAE District Heating and District Cooling Design guides, presentations of selected papers published in HVAC&R Research, ASHRAE’s research journal, and modeling transient conditions.



Paper sessions address energy modeling, smart grid, heat transfer, thermal energy, field research on window shades and plug load control, ventilation, climate impacts of refrigeration systems, climatic data, fire and smoke management, indoor air flows, performance of heat exchanger designs, variable refrigerant flow, data centers, predictive energy and comfort simulation methods, and calibrating energy simulation models using field measurements.

In addition, sessions on ASHRAE’s research program describe its strategic plan, including where ASHRAE research is headed and current projects, and how to apply for ASHRAE research grants.  The Society spends $2 million annually on research projects.

Presidential Luncheon

Attendees can welcome new ASHRAE president William P. “Bill” Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, ASME Fellow, as he introduces his theme for the year, “Shaping the Next.” The theme focuses on embracing our responsibility to “Our World”—fellow humans and the earth, to make buildings safe, healthy, productive, comfortable environments in harmony with nature. To do this, he believes we must develop “Ourselves”—the human resource of the professional community, and transform “Our Work”—what we do, how we do it, and who we do it with, by becoming more global in outlook, broader in scope, and more collaborative in approach.

TO REGISTER, VISIT THIS ASHRAE CONFERENCE LINK