ASHRAE Insights

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?”

So goes the song from the hit play “Rent.” But at ASHRAE, we’ve measured the past year in dollars: $2,081,422 to be exact. Exceeding the 2007 – 2008 fiscal year’s $2 million goal, ASHRAE’s efforts on the chapter and Society level for raising funds for research have led to a record-breaking year.

“Surpassing our goal for Research Promotion truly signifies the dedication of our volunteer base,” said Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president. “ASHRAE volunteers are the backbone of our Research Promotion program, which is a grassroots effort. I thank each of the 160 dedicated fundraising volunteers on the chapter level for helping fund our research program, which is widely respected in the building industry.”

With 6,500 total donations for the year, nearly half came from individual ASHRAE member donations, with corporate donations comprising the remainder. With an increase of nearly $300,000 over the previous year, the money raised will fund research projects beginning in the 2008 – 2009 fiscal year.
ASHRAE conducts about $8 million in research in any given year, with projects often spanning several years. Currently, there are 92 active research projects, including ones focusing on hospital operating room air distribution and air quality onboard commercial aircraft.

Individual chapters raise funds in a variety of ways, including golf tournaments, auctions and educational seminars. ASHRAE’s Region VIII, which covers Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, led the regions in total funds raised with $375,591.

The Pinnacle Award goes to the National Capital Chapter, which raised $73,552, the most money raised by any chapter in Research Promotion Campaign history.

ASHRAE Research Promotion thanks the individuals and companies who contributed. A complete listing of donors will be included in the October issue of ASHRAE Journal. To learn more about donating, visit www.ashrae.org/researchpromotion.