Presidential focus on energy in buildings
USA: The importance of the role buildings will play in our energy future will be the theme of new ASHRAE president Sheila J Hayter.
An ASHRAE fellow, Hayter will continue her role as a group manager with the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. She will also serve as chair of ASHRAE’s board of directors and executive committee.
Speaking at the annual ASHRAE conference in Houston at the end of June, Hayter announced her term’s theme will be Building Our New Energy Future. The theme focuses on the important role buildings will play in our energy future as the traditional electrical grid continues to evolve toward a smart grid with advances in renewable energy.
“ASHRAE is eager to establish new networks and partnerships as we expand the society’s opportunities to engage the many industry sectors that have a stake in our new energy future,” she said. “We will strengthen our leadership position by serving as a bridge that connects buildings, energy and the environment to new ideas and technologies to advance toward a more sustainable world for future generations.”
During his state of the society address, outgoing president Bjarne W Olesen spoke on the society’s expanding partnership with the UN Environment, which includes training courses and resources to support the phase-out activities of ozone-depleting substances around the world. In addition to highlighting the recent opening of new offices in Washington, DC and Dubai, Olesen emphasised ASHRAE’s engagement in Europe by stationing staff in Brussels beginning in July.
