ASHRAE's new president, David Underwood, has different goals during his year as the association's leader.
by Duván Chaverra Agudelo
ACR LATIN AMERICA had the opportunity to speak with the new president of the American Society for Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating (ASHRAE), David Underwood, who took office on July 1 and for a period of one year.
With David we talked about his projects, the aspects that he has been doing well and that must be improved, the support to Latin America, among other topics of interest.
ACR: What does it mean to you to be the new leader of ASHRAE?
David Underwood: I am very honored to be the new leader of ASHRAE. As President, I will actively promote three ASHRAE value propositions: research, standards, and sharing our knowledge.
For example, in the context of my presidential motto: Making Connections, we will investigate new ways to offer our chapter education programs in a way that is cost-effective for our members and for ASHRAE. In Colombia this means making cooperative translation agreements that also encourage more active participation in all activities of local ASHRAE chapters.
ACR: As the new leader of ASHRAE, what are your main challenges and projects?
David: ASHRAE's challenges include:
• Apparent difficulty in demonstrating to the public our value in energy conservation. ASHRAE's mission is to ensure technological advances to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) – certainly a benefit to the public.
• Encourage greater use of the bEQ (ASHRAE Building Labeling Program) what are the models and measures of energy consumption, as well as tenant comfort and air quality by improving marketing. bEQ will support our members to better serve their customers.
• Review our certification program and how we can extend its use in more languages.
• Use our ASHRAE Technical Industry Value Leadership (VITAL) to encourage employers to keep their employees who are ASHRAE members, both current and future.
ACR: What has ASHRAE been doing well and in what ways does it need to improve to continue growing the association?
David: ASHRAE is well recognized for the following:
• Cutting-edge research. We are currently funding more than 60 projects, some of which are directly related to improving indoor air quality.
• Standards, based on the best available evidence. AsHRAE's core standards are 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential), 62.1 (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality), 55 (Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy) and 189.1 (Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings). Our challenge is to adopt or adapt our standards to fit into different global contextual situations.
• Share our knowledge. We disseminate our state of the most advanced knowledge, mainly through educational programs, our guide and our magazine. We are currently looking for even more effective ways to offer these educational products to local chapter members.
We are aggressively implementing our new 2014 Strategic Plan, which includes broad strategies to connect, adapt, scale and educate. While we are actively working on all of these strategies, my presidential year will emphasize making the connections.
ACR: Where is the HVAC/R industry going?
David: ASHRAE recognizes that contributions in HVAC/R cannot work in isolation.
For example:
• We seek cooperation with other participants in the construction industry in the development of standards and dissemination through the development and promotion of: standards that apply to entire buildings, i.e. 189.1. This standard, in turn, if adopted, will reduce energy consumption.
Holistic total building standards or for residential use, i.e. Standard 90.2. This ASHRAE standard improves the presence in the residential environment where a significant portion of energy is consumed.
• We are systematically increasing ASHRAE's global contributions using the following steps:
• Evaluate facilities and barriers to the participation of ASHRAE members from outside North America in conferences and other events.
• Identify opportunities and implement strategies to increase co-sponsorship and other support mechanisms to improve the profile of ASHRAE at international events, including ASHRAE events. Encourage/facilitate the participation of international members in ASHRAE North American events.
• Evaluate through internationally applicable monitoring standards and the participation of ASHRAE members outside of North America in ASHRAE and other ASHRAE events.
ACR: How can Latin America help you achieve your goals?
David: The leaders and members of AHSRAE Region XII (Latin America) are very important to help us achieve our goals through:
• Work in collaboration with our publications department on the translation of standards and educational products.
• Work with government agencies for the acceptance of technology that leads to reduced energy consumption.
• Carry forward regional and societal movements that will benefit grassroots members.
ACR: About your visit to ExpoACAIRE, what do you expect from the event and what would you like to give to the Colombian HVAC sector?
David: We had the pleasure of being invited to attend XIV EXPOAICARE by the Colombia chapter. After several proposals, personally, Jane and I are very happy to be able to participate in this important event for their chapter and for the association.
The conference gives us an excellent opportunity to talk about the latest HVAC&R technologies with manufacturers, contractors, building owners, consultants, government officials.
ACR: What would you say to readers who are not members of ASHRAE, to encourage them to become a member?
David: Investigate three ASHRAE value propositions: research, standards and knowledge sharing. ASHRAE membership offers valuable opportunities to both learn and share knowledge with experts. They will find grassroots member opportunities for the development of skills and knowledge beyond what is learned on the job.
To highlight
President ASHRAE Colombia Chapter
José Luis Correa took the presidency, for one year, of the Colombia Chapter of ASHRAE since July 1. The engineer spoke about his challenges and perceptions of the sector in this country.
ACR: What does it mean to you to be the new leader of ASHRAE?
José Luis Correa: It means a great opportunity that ASHRAE Colombia members give me, so that our sector continues to grow in the implementation of good practices in HVAC / R. My presidential theme is "ASHRAE Colombia for its members", which is aimed at ASHRAE and ACAIRE members. The theme focuses on members feeling the added value of their membership and thus participate and nourish themselves from the activities aimed at forging the needs of the Colombia of tomorrow today.
ACR: As the new leader of ASHRAE Colombia, what are your main challenges?
Jose Luis: The main challenge facing ASHRAE Colombia is to achieve the knowledge and application of the ASHARE standards in the daily practice of the sector in Colombia. To face this challenge, activities are being organized from each of the asHRAE Colombia committees. Thus, the Student Activities committee is integrating university students related to the sector into the activities of ASHRAE Colombia. Additionally, the Technology Transfer Committee is finalizing the training agenda that includes monthly virtual conferences and technical conferences with distinguished ASHRAE speakers. Finally, the Government Activities Committee continues to promote the inclusion of ASHRAE standards in Colombian technical regulations.
ACR: What has ASHRAE Colombia been doing well and in what aspects should it improve?
Jose Luis: ASHRAE Colombia has an excellent presence in the HVAC/R sector, which we will continue to improve through training and partnership with other entities in the sector. The virtual training will be extended to our multiple events and thus be able to reach many more people. We want ASHRAE topics to reach more and more professionals related to them, for which we want to integrate with all entities related to the HVAC / R sector and thus reach their associates.
ACR: Where is the HVAC/R industry going?
Jose Luis: The HVAC/R in Colombia is aimed at the implementation of systems and equipment that contribute to the sustainability of buildings. Users ask for sustainable designs, society does the same and ASHRAE is able to provide the reference material to achieve this. Sustainable projects that not only prove to be economically viable, but also provide comfort to users and low impact on the environment, have more and more market share and will soon become the usual practice of our sector.
