ASHRAE membership hits 14-year high

USA: Membership of ASHRAE is said to have exceeded 56,000 – its highest level for 14 years.

While some industry societies are struggling to retain members, ASHRAE’s membership now stands at 56,105. In addition to its increased membership, ASHRAE also boasts 181 chapters, 41 sections and 234 student branches around the globe, with members in 130 countries.

“This growth reflects ASHRAE’s influence on building standards and best practices around the world,” claimed ASHRAE president Tim Wentz. “Our members recognise that the Society increasingly provides opportunities to network with the global built environment’s best and brightest.”

Membership remains predominantly North American with 79% of ASHRAE’s total membership based in the US and Canada, but overseas interest has increased from 18% two years ago.

ASHRAE’s Region-at-Large, which encompasses the Middle East, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Africa and Europe, had the largest percent gain in membership in the Society year of 2015-16.

“From expansion into residential markets to providing resources for the quickly changing refrigerant industry, ASHRAE will continue to use the expertise of its members to further the technology of tomorrow,” Wentz said. “At the same time, ASHRAE is partnering with other organisations dedicated to working toward a more sustainable environment, creating a worldwide best-practices databank of innovative and successful technologies that will serve the built environment community.”