Jan. 23, 2008

As I look out the window of my hotel room tonight, I am reminded of a quote from Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. She wrote “I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York’s skyline. The shapes and the thought that made them. The sky over New York and the will of man made visible. What other religion do we need?”

The skyline is breathtaking. But it’s equally breathtaking to think that the work done by our members this week in this city impacts every single building I see in that skyline. Imagine – there is not a single building in the world not somehow touched by ASHRAE’s guidance related to energy, indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort, refrigeration.

As Presidential Member Bill Coad reminded us on Monday, it was 113 years ago that 25 men met together in this city to discuss forming a society to give consideration to engineering matters related to heating and ventilation.

Look how far we’ve come. From 25 men in one city to 50,000 men and women worldwide.

Thank you for your work in helping ASHRAE engineer the skyline of the world.