What is Decarb?
Building decarbonization describes methods that reduce human made green house gas (GHG) emissions related to buildings.
The Challenge
The Presidential Initiative Challenge (previously the Decarbonization Challenge) is a year-long competitive fund ($1,000 - $10,000) program to implement projects within local chapters that are tied to the year's presidential theme. Sarah Maston has annouced her presidential themes, Retro-Commissioning and Decarbonizing the Built Environment. This year's program will be centered around implementing decarbonization retrofit projects. This program is implemented through the YEA committee with grass roots outreach through the YEA chairs/committees at each chapter.
Challenge Timeline
The intent of the program is to receive, review, award, and implement the funded projects within a single society year. Applicants are expected to meet the schedule below, and incorporate the schedule into their proposed projects:
- November 2nd, 2026: Applications due
- December 14th 2026: Intimation to selected chapter / team
- February 2027: Winning applicants in attendance at the 2027 Winter Conference in Chicago to be recognized by ASHRAE President at President’s Lunch
- February 2027: Awards made with funds going to local chapter for use on the project after the conclusion of the Winter Conference
- February 2027 and June 2027: Projects will be completed
- Spring of 2027: Project Teams will be requested to submit a mid-project update with a short narrative and photos
- June 2027: Project Teams will be invited to participate in a panel at the 2027 Annual Conference in New Orleans to discuss the implementation of their Project
Challenge Requirements
Application submissions must meet the following criteria:
1. The primary applicant must be a Full, Associate, or Affiliate member of ASHRAE.
2. All mandatory questions within the application must be completed.
Application Review
Applications are reviewed using a scoring system that awards a dedicated number of points to each question/qualification based on
this rubric. Only applications which submit all required documents and information will be considered. Each application will be independently scored by multiple reviewers. Consideration will also incorporate the relative impact and the scalability of the project.
Applications close on November 2nd, 2026
APPLY HERE
ASHRAE Presidential Initiative Challenge Q & A
Coming soon! Be on the lookout for two webinars to be scheduled in September. The purpose of these webianrs is to share details about this year’s challenge including the program summary, timeline, link to apply, as well as application tips. There will also be a Q & A portion of the webinar to allow for attendees to get their questions answered regarding the challenge and the application process. After the webinars take place, the recordings will be posted here.
Examples of Eligible Submissions
Decarbonizing the built environment will require an incredibly broad array of actions! Applicants are encouraged to think creatively about their submissions, collaborate with other local engineering and community organizations, and engage industry partners to maximize impact and visibility of ASHRAE decarbonization efforts.
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A college ASHRAE chapter uses funding to build and test a combination solar hot water heater & oven which can take the place of burning biofuels for communities which do not have access to electrical infrastructure for decarbonizing water and food generation. The design is published as a free open source resource with construction instructional videos provided by the project team.
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A local consulting firm donates time and expertise to conduct an energy audit of an existing community center. Project funds are used with matching funds from equipment manufacturers & contractors to install recommended equipment resulting from energy audit. Use the project as a community education tool/space for occupants/community members, while reducing operational carbon emissions.
- A community garden is built with a compost, rainwater harvesting sytem, and/or educational tools for maintenance showcasing the carbon drawdown and community benefit. The funds provided by ASHRAE are matched by a local building supply store, and a local trade school or trade skills program at a High School is engaged to design and construct the gardening and rainwater harvesting systems.
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