The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the New Buildings Institute have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship. NBI works collaboratively with industry market players to promote advanced design practices, innovative technologies, public policies and programs that improve energy efficiency.
The MoU was signed May 14 by 2018-2019 ASHRAE President Sheila J. Hayter, P.E., and NBI CEO Ralph DiNola in Seattle. The agreement defines parameters on how the two organizations will collaborate more closely to continue to advance and promote the mutual interests of their respective members and stakeholders.
This agreement compliments Hayter’s theme for the society this year, “Building Our New Energy Future,” and is focused on three main areas of collaboration that will be further detailed in a future partnership agreement:
- Zero-energy/emissions building leadership and market development;
- Education and design guidance; and
- Advancing codes and policies.
“ASHRAE believes in the impact of our collaborative efforts in accelerating meaningful progress toward optimizing the design and performance of buildings,” Hayter said. “NBI’s commitment to better energy performance and emission reductions in buildings aligns well with ASHRAE’s industry longstanding leadership in advancing the growth and innovation of the built environment. We are pleased to sign this MoU and look forward to working with NBI.”
Parameters of the agreement include but are not limited to: general advocacy; joint conferences and meetings; chapter collaboration; publication development and distribution; education and training programs; technical activities coordination and research.
“We value this partnership with ASHRAE and are excited to leverage this collaboration to better support ASHRAE’s members with tools, resources, training and education to rapidly scale zero-energy and zero-emissions buildings,” DiNola said. “This MoU will focus our efforts and help us to plan our successful collaboration into the future and significantly increase our impact.”