ASHRAE Insights

CHICAGO—ASHRAE has launched a new magazine to help decision-makers in the building community learn about the latest developments in innovative technologies and energy-efficient design and operation.

Targeted at building owners, facility managers, architects and engineers, High Performing Buildings features working case studies of exemplary buildings developed by leading practitioners in the sustainability movement.

“It is essential that ASHRAE share both the technologies and measured performance of high-performance buildings to change the status quo and help transform the building industry to a more sustainable built environment,” said ASHRAE President Kent Peterson, P.E.

ASHRAE’s goal is to advance the concept of integrated building design with a focus on measured building performance, not just design of sustainable buildings. The case studies featured will provide performance data, verifying actual sustainability performance.

“This magazine illustrates that true leaders must be willing to share both the performance and the lessons learned on these innovative projects in our quest for sustainable buildings,” said Peterson.

The magazine debuted at the Greenbuild Expo in November in Chicago.

“The response to HPB’s launch at Greenbuild was outstanding,” said Jeff Littleton, ASHRAE executive vice president and secretary. “The buzz of the new publication was terrific. Attendees were literally waiting in line at the ASHRAE booth to sign up for a subscription. They were particularly pleased to hear that we are committed to showcasing sustainable projects with proven, measured performance and that we will provide that performance data in the case history articles. There are a lot of claims about green buildings, and HPB is committed to separating fact from fiction.

“The case history format of the magazine is ideal. It inspires the full spectrum of sustainable building design and engineering professionals with examples of what worked and what could have been improved upon.”

Included in each article is a “lessons learned” section where building designers and operators explain what went right, what went wrong, how problems were resolved and what could have been done better.

The cover story of the first issue focuses on Heifer International. By providing gifts of livestock and plants to financially disadvantaged families around the world, Heifer teaches sustainability by showing recipients how to use those gifts wisely.

The importance of passing on the gift of sustainability is also highlighted in the organization’s Arkansas headquarters, which features earth-friendly designs such as a constructed wetlands, a gray-water tower and energy-saving techniques.

“One thing that Heifer understands is that if we are going to have a lasting impact on world hunger, everything we do must be sustainable. That is, the means for production of food and income must renew the environment and not deplete it,” said Jo Luck, Heifer’s CEO and president. “In conceiving and constructing our new office building, we are striving to live up to the aspirations of Heifer’s own mission of ending hunger and saving the earth.”

“HPB is very different from other ASHRAE publications,” said Littleton. “It was clear from the reaction at Greenbuild that the publication’s strategy to reach outside of traditional ASHRAE audiences will pay great dividends. ASHRAE’s technical guidance is crucial to the engineering of sustainable buildings. HPB will make entirely new segments of the built environment aware of all that ASHRAE has to offer to green building professionals.”

ASHRAE members will receive a free digital subscription. Members seeking a printed magazine will need to purchase it.

 To learn more about High Performing Buildings, visit www.HPBmagazine.org.