ASHRAE Journal - April 2021 - 6

INDUSTRY NEWS

Decarbonization Task Force
To Guide, Develop Resources
ATLANTA-ASHRAE has formed a task
force to address climate change
through responsible decarbonization strategies for the built
environment. The ASHRAE Task
Force for Building Decarbonization
has been established to develop
technical resources and provide
leadership and guidance in mitigating the negative carbon impact
of buildings on the environment
and people.
Donald Colliver, Ph.D., P.E.,
Presidential Member/Fellow
ASHRAE, and Thomas H. Phoenix,
P.E., BEMP, Presidential/Fellow/Life
Member ASHRAE, will co-chair the
task force.

The task force's responsibilities
include providing recommendations and practices for industry
stakeholders in decarbonization of
the built environment. The group
is expected to identify and quantify
knowledge gaps for policy makers
and stakeholders who are tackling building decarbonization and
develop resources to address these
gaps.
" In a similar vein to how ASHRAE
took the lead in responding to the
energy crisis of the 1970s era and
defined the energy-efficiency journey, ASHRAE has much to offer
with respect to paths for responsible decarbonization strategies, "

Industry Roundup
Harnessing Cooling Technology With
Solid-Based System
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.-Researchers are investigating a cooling
method that could be more efficient and environmentally friendly than a traditional cooling process.
Researchers from Florida State University and University of Barcelona are developing a solid-based cooling
system with magnets, which could avoid the use of
greenhouse gases. The researchers found applying pressure to iron-based molecules arranged in a
crystalline lattice could produce a large cooling effect.
Source: Florida State University

Robot Dog Could Change How
Buildings are Constructed
LONDON-A London architecture firm is using a dog-

like robot to scan and analyze buildings that are
under construction. The robots, called Spot, can be
programmed to follow a pre-mapped route through
the construction site, scanning the progress of the

ASHRAE JOURNAL

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APRI L 2021

Donald Colliver, Ph.D., P.E.,
Presidential Member/Fellow
ASHRAE

Thomas H. Phoenix, P.E., BEMP,
Presidential/Fellow/Life Member
ASHRAE

said ASHRAE President Charles
E. Gulledge III, P.E., HBDP, Fellow
ASHRAE. " The challenges of decarbonization are complex, but this
task force is positioned to offer
actionable technical guidance to
improve how buildings are built and
operated. "
For more information about the
task force, visit https://tinyurl.com/
a2zz98zj

building and comparing it to the original design.
By monitoring the construction process every week,
the architects can see if and how the physical building is deviating from the plans, and then make
adjustments to account for variations. Source: Fast
Company

NY's BuildSmart2025 Paying Off
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-The New York Power Authority has
made 'significant progress' reducing energy consumption at state buildings. During its first year,
BuildSmart2025 has resulted in energy savings of
more than 4 trillion Btus. The goal is to reduce energy use by 34% from a baseline year of 2015. Source:
New York Power Authority

Salt Lake City Adopts New Off-Site
Construction Standards
SALT LAKE CITY- The Salt Lake City Council voted in early
March to become the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to
adopt new standards for off-site construction. Source:
International Code Council

https://www.tinyurl.com/a2zz98zj https://www.tinyurl.com/a2zz98zj http://www.ashrae.org

ASHRAE Journal - April 2021

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