January 21, 2008

If you’ve ever been to New York City, you know how busy the streets are. With the people coming and going at all hours, it’s truly an exciting place. This week’s ASHRAE meeting is rivaling New York City in its buzz and excitement.

We have more than 2,600 people here. The hallways are filled with groups of folks chatting, debating and arguing about how to move our Society forward and back our industry better. As I write this, I hear three gentlemen debating how to improve the efficiencies of 90.1. And ASHRAE and its role in the future of sustainable design is the talk of the meeting.

Sunday’s technical program included a technical plenary focused on New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s sustainability plan, plaNYC. One of the speakers talked about the importance of ASHRAE’s role in reducing energy use, saying “the world’s attention is turned to what you do……”

I echoed that sentiment today in my state of the Society address. Now more than ever, ASHRAE needs to provide leadership. This leadership will require a steady vision, technical credibility, proper direction and collaboration with other organizations – with immediate action in many areas.

I know that we are ready for this challenge. When we do what is right, burden changes to benefit.

It is truly a wonderful time to be an ASHRAE member. Just think about the difference we can make.

Tomorrow’s schedule includes the annual ASHRAE press breakfast where we share with HVAC&R trade editors an update on our work. This year, the breakfast focuses on our efforts related to net-zero-energy use. Tomorrow is also the opening day of the AHR Expo, which is virtually sold out with 1,876 exhibitors. It is the sixth-largest ever with 363,205 of net square feet of exhibit space. This is 8.3 acres. In terms of exhibitors, it is nearly as large as the record-setting 2006 Show in Chicago that had 1,989 exhibitors.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow.