Welcome all to a new calendar year of ASHRAE!  It will be a unique year for sure, but also an interesting one for our industry as well. 

COVID-19 is impacting all of our lives in many ways, including influencing how we are designing new HVAC systems and/or retro-fitting solutions into existing systems.  There is a lot of data to process related to the contagion and a lot of products coming to market that say they can combat infectious diseases.  With this way of thinking being new to many of us, it is important that we get reliable research performed to vet the good from the poor, and get informed guidance from industry leaders in developing standards, such as ASHRAE.

Contributing to ASHRAE’s Research Promotion (RP) campaign is a great way to ensure that funding continues for this important research.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 has disrupted a few of our normal RP fund raising techniques, such as golf tee flags and vendor tables at meetings.  The RP committee is committed to discovering new approaches and will implement new strategies in the future.  However, donating doesn’t need to occur at an event.  It is as simple as going to ASHRAE.ORG/CONTRIBUTE.

The Northeast Chapter has an RP fund raising goal of $11,500 for this year and an immediate goal of hitting 30% ($3,450) by December 1st. 

Our Chapter is well on its way to achieving Full Circle Plus this year!  Chapter Officers, Board of Governors members, Committee Chairs, along with other Chapter members have already contributed to Research Promotion in solidarity.

Please note that donations to RP do not go solely into research.  RP funding also goes toward other great elements of ASHRAE such as developing learning and educational programs, scholarships, and the support of Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA).

If you have any questions regarding Research Promotion, please do not hesitate to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you for your continued support!

Andrew Wilsey

2020-2021 Treasurer / RP Committee Chair

Get to Know your ASHRAE Board : Octobers Monthly Interview

Starting this ASHRAE year each month one of our many volunteers on our Northeast ASHRAE Board, who help make the Chapter what it is, will be interviewed. Not only will this give our other members an opportunity to get to know them better (especially while we have virtual meetings), but it will also give the opportunity to learn more about what each person is involved in within our Chapter. Learning about the positions within our Chapter Board is a great starting place to getting involved!

This months interview is with Marianne Schumacher, who is our Chapters current Vice President. The questions are the black underline, and her responses are in blue underneath.

1.    What is your current role with our ASHRAE Chapter and what does that entail for Board responsibilities?

My currently role with the chapter is VP / Newsletter Editor. Each month I participate in chapter meetings as well as post articles on our chapters website and create the newsletter that gets sent out to each member.

2.    How long have you been in the industry / ASHRAE and what experience do you have?

I first joined the HVAC industry after graduating from Clarkson University in 2014. That was also the time I first joined ASHRAE out in the Rochester, NY chapter. For work experience I was first an account manager and helped customers design / provide building automation systems. Within the ASHRAE chapter I also became the Research Promotion Chair. I then transitioned into engineering project layouts for building automation systems and did that for a few years with two different companies which lead me to move to the Albany area. I transitioned roles within my company about a year ago and now support our internal engineers and account managers in use of our internal toolsets. Within our Northeast ASHRAE Chapter, I have been the Research Promotion chair for many years previously and excited to now be in this VP position.    

3.    What do you enjoy to do in your spare time?

I have lived in the Saratoga Springs area for almost 4 years now since moving out this way and enjoy doing multiple different things depending on the season. I have liked going to ski at the mountains out this way or in VT, hike the ADK’s with my pup named Meeka, and enjoy concerts at SPAC.  

4.    What is your favorite thing about being involved in ASHRAE?

I have really enjoyed meeting others within the industry and learn about their experiences. ASHRAE is the foundation for our industry’s knowledge base and its great to work alongside people that recognize this and are eager to help promote this organization.

 

ASHRAE TURNS 125 Years Old in 2020!

Fun Facts about the founding of ASHRAE below: 

·         ASHRAE was founded in 1894 as the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE). Ten years later the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) was organized in December 1904. Although there were many members who had membership to both societies and discussions about a merger; it wasn't until 1959 that there was a final agreement and the two organizations merged to form ASHRAE. 

 

·         ASHVE was first talked of, at least with the idea of at once forming such society, in the summer of 1894. It was thought that the time was ripe for a pure engineering society. Composed of the active workers in the field of heating and ventilating, meetings subjects most interesting to the engineer would be discussed. As the result of the interchange of ideas, it was decided to ask the opinions of 50 or 75 engineers known to be much interest in their chosen line of work, as to the advisability of forming such an organization.  

 

·         So many favorable replies were received that invitations were sent out to about 25 persons in New York city to come together at the office of Heating and Ventilation, 146 World Building, New York, Thursday, August 2, 1894. The first regular meeting was called to order at the Broadway Central Hotel, New York, at 3 P. M., September 10, 1894. The first annual meeting of The American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers was held at No. 12 West 31st street, New York city, January 22, 23, and 24, 1895

 

To learn more details and to watch a video of ASHRAE Celebrates 125 Years, visit the ASHRAE website at the link below:

https://www.ashrae.org/about/mission-and-vision/ashrae-industry-history/celebrating-125-years

NORTHEAST CHAPTER HISTORY REPORT 

The installation of the Northeast Chapter Officers and BOG was held at the virtual BOB meeting on August 25, 2020.  Stan Westhoff presided over the oath of office and swearing in ceremony.

The chapter held a golf outing on September 18, 2020 at the Western Turnpike Golf Course.   There were a number of restrictions and no dinner, but we are happy that we had one thanks to Kevin Houghtaling's efforts.

More COVID 19 restrictions and problems have postponed the AHR EXPO scheduled for January 2021 in Chicago.  At present, it will be postponed until the Spring of 2021.  Questions remain on when and how the Winter Meeting will be accomplished.  More information should be out in the near future on the EXPO and the Winter Meeting.

Chapter History & Past Presidents night is planned for December.  The Life Members night is planned for April.  More details will be forthcoming as the dates approach.  It is possible that Society President Chuck Gulledge will be attending one of our meetings. 

Submitted by Chapter Historian,

Stan Westhoff (10/5/20)

 

October’s monthly meeting will feature David Schurk ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer to talk about the transmission of various pathogens (especially SARS-COV-2) through the air. David will present on best practices at reducing occupant exposures to airborne diseases in various buildings and facilities based on the ASHRAE Position Document on infectious Aerosols. 

 

Topics addressed will include:

  • The latest ASHRAE guidelines and recommendations
  • Mechanical filtration upgrades
  • Proper humidity design & control
  • UVGI systems for coil, in-duct, and upper room use
  • Bipolar Air ionization & other advanced IAQ technologies
  • Ozone considerations, concerns, and regulations
  • Specific COVID-19 recommendations
  1. September President Message - Welcome Members!
  2. September Chapter History - Virtual CRC
  3. 2020-2021 Officers
  4. ASHRAE Northeast - 2020-2021 Officers & BOG Ballot