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logoShaping Tomorrow’s Global Built Environment Today

2025-26 Presidential Initiative Challenge

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What is IEQ?

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) refers to the overall quality of the air, thermal conditions, lighting, and acoustics within a building, and how these factors affect the occupants' health, comfort, and well-being.

For more information and technical resources visit the Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization (CEBD) website and knowledge hub.

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. Bill McQuade has annouced his presidential theme, Indoor Environmental Quality. This year's program will be centered around implementing IEQ 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:

  1. November 3rd, 2025: Applications due
  2. December 15th 2025:  Intimation to selected chapter / team
  3. January 2026: Awards made with funds going to local chapter for use on the project
  4. February 2026: Winning applicants in attendance at the 2026 Winter Conference in Las Vegas to be recognized by ASHRAE President at President’s Lunch
  5. February 2026 and June 2026: Projects will be completed
  6. Spring of 2026: Project Teams will be requested to submit a mid-project update with a short narrative and photos
  7. June 2026: Project Teams will be invited to participate in a panel at the 2026 Annual Conference in Austin 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 3rd, 2025

APPLY HERE

ASHRAE Presidential Initiative Challenge Q & A

Coming soon! Be on the lookout for a webinar in September. After the webinar, the recording with be posted here. 

 Examples of Eligible Submissions

Improving the indoor environmental quality of 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 indoor environmental quality efforts.

  • 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.
  • 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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Congratulations to the 2024-2025 winning chapters!
Thank you to all participants! 

The following six projects were awarded funds:

  • The Cedar Valley Chapter installed a new solar photovoltaic array at Ullo Senior High School. The award amount was $10,000.
  • The Central Pakistan Chapter established a solar-powered community fridge in urban Pakistan. The award amount was $2,970.
  • The Bangalore Chapter designed and implemented a net-zero energy cooling system. The award amount was $10,000.
  • The Central New York Chapter conducted an energy survey for a Habitat for Humanity house to improve the house’s energy efficiency through methods such as increasing insulation, updat-ing appliances, and upgrading HVAC systems. The award amount was $10,000.
  • The Nebraska Chapter conducted a preliminary environmental impact study on inCommon owned properties. From that study, a list of energy improvement measures were identified for implementation. The award amount was $10,000.
  • The Nigeria Chapter installed a solar-powered water pumping system to supply 100,000 liters of portable water daily from a borehole to the Oko-Oba Abattoir community in Lagos. The award amount was $7,000. 

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