ASHRAE, DOE Cement Partnership Advancing Energy Efficiency

Developing next-generation refrigerants is just one of the goals set in writing in a new memorandum signed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The agreement, signed in June at ASHRAE’s 2011 Annual Conference in Montreal, updates an agreement signed in ’07 and commits the association and the federal government department to further improve efficient use of energy.

Among the goals of the memorandum is an agreement for the two organizations to “support the development and implementation of next-generation refrigerants that achieve low-global warming potential targets and concurrently improve equipment energy efficiency.”

ASHRAE and the DOE state they will work cooperatively to improve the efficient use of energy, improve the visible and widespread use of renewable energy sources, and minimize the impact of energy use on the environment.

Specifically, the agreement notes that ASHRAE and the DOE are committed to working together on specific goals which promote and support the continued development of ASHRAE standards related to energy efficiency They include building design, indoor air quality, data communication, smart-grid information, training programs, and building codes. Full details are here.