ORLANDO FL (February 11, 2025) — ASHRAE today announced the establishment of The Gordon Holness Presidential Fund, designed to drive the successful implementation of chapter-led projects across the globe.
Established through a generous $1 million endowment, the fund will provide $50,000 annually in perpetuity to support the ASHRAE Presidential Challenge. This initiative encourages chapters to develop and execute innovative solutions to some of the industry’s most pressing building challenges.
Gordon Holness, who served as ASHRAE President during the 2009-10 Society Year, joined 2024-25 ASHRAE President M. Dennis Knight, P.E., BEMP, Life Member ASHRAE, to officially announce the fund’s creation during the 2025 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Orlando.
“This fund will significantly empower our members to bring forward creative solutions that address critical building issues,” said Knight. “We are profoundly grateful to Mr. Holness for his dedication and remarkable contribution to ASHRAE and the industry at large.”
Holness' presidential theme, Sustaining Our Future By Rebuilding Our Past: Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings—Our Greatest Opportunity for a Sustainable Future, underscored the substantial role that improving energy efficiency in existing structures plays in reducing energy demand.
The Gordon Holness Presidential Fund builds upon ASHRAE’s previous support of chapter projects through the Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) Decarbonization Challenge, launched by 2023-24 ASHRAE Presidential Member Ginger Scoggins, P.E. ASHRAE has allocated between $50,000 and $75,000 annually for project awards under this initiative.
The new fund will ensure ongoing support by awarding grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to support project implementation.
About ASHRAE
ASHRAE is an international society of more than 50,000 heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning professionals from over 132 nations dedicated to serving humanity and promoting a sustainable world.
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.
The Society is showcasing integrated building solutions and sustainability in action through the opening of the ASHRAE Global Headquarters building in metro-Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on ASHRAE, visit ashrae.org and connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.
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