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2026 ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference

September 23-25, 2026 | Seattle, WA

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2026 ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference

September 23-25, 2026 | Seattle, WA

The call for presentations is now CLOSED.
 

Register Now

  • About Conference

    The 2026 ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference is where vision meets execution. Designed as a dynamic exchange of ideas, insights, and real-world solutions, this premier event brings together leaders across the built environment to tackle the most pressing challenges in energy efficiency, occupant health and comfort, and greenhouse gas reduction—across both new and existing buildings.

    Now in its 6th year, the conference places a strong spotlight on what actually works, moving decisively from policy to projects to performance. Attendees will dive into proven strategies, case studies, and scalable solutions across a broad mix of building types, including data centers, municipalities, airports and transportation hubs, hospitals, laboratories, higher education campuses, and K-12 school districts.

    This conference uniquely convenes HVAC engineers, technical solution providers, building owners, utility program managers, local governments, and financial services leaders—professionals who are under growing pressure to meet aggressive decarbonization mandates without sacrificing performance or profitability. If you’re looking for practical, cost-effective pathways to comply with evolving regulations while delivering measurable results, this is the room you need to be in.

    2026 Theme: Decarbonization That Delivers: From Policy to Projects to Performance

  • Conference News
  • Technical Program
  • Registration

    Register Now

     Early Bird Registration: (Ends July 31) Rate

    Member

    $725.00

    Non-Member

    $825.00

    Regular Registration: (Starts August 1) Rate

    Member

    $775.00

    Non-Member

    $875.00

    Other Registration: Rate

    Speaker

    $400.00

    Student Member & Non Member

    $100.00

    One Day Member (Available Onsite Only)

    $350.00

    One Day Non Member (Available Onsite Only)

    $400.00


    In-person Conference registration includes the following:

    • On-site Access to Technical Program from September 23-25, 2026.
    • Interactive Conference App: ASHRAE 365.
    • Welcome Reception on Tuesday evening, September 22, 2025. 
    • Networking Reception on Thursday evening, September 24, 2025
    • Light Breakfast, Lunch and Coffee Breaks Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 24.
    • Light Breakfast and Coffee Break on Friday, September 25.

    Become a Member

  • ASHRAE 2026 Building Decarbonization Conference Student Travel Grant

    ASHRAE is pleased to offer travel grants for students to attend the 2026 Building Decarbonization Conference. The conference will be held Sept. 23-25, 2026, in Seattle, WA 

    The awards will cover: 

    • The cost of registration for all awardees
    • $400 USD to subsidize airfare, ground travel, and lodging for awardees traveling from out of town

    Applications are due June 12, 2025.  

    Eligibility 

    Recipients must be either:

    • a full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an accredited college or university during the Fall 2026 term, in a course of study that traditionally has been a preparatory curriculum for the HVAC&R profession

    What’s Covered

    • Free conference registration, and
    • For recipients requiring travel to attend the conference: Up to $400 USD to subsidize the costs of:
      • Hotel room costs for the duration of the conference.
      • Travel: airfare and ground transportation to the conference.

    How to Apply

    • Fill out our APPLICATION FORM HERE
    • You will be asked to provide:
      • ASHRAE membership number (membership is not required but provide if you have one)
      • A letter describing your background and motivation for attending the conference (up to one page)
      • CV or Resume
      • Title of your conference presentation or paper (if applicable)
      • Contact information for a faculty sponsor or employer (faculty sponsors or employers may be contacted to confirm eligibility).

    Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

    • Professional Relevance: How relevant is the conference to the applicant’s background, current work, and future career goals?  
    •  Engagement and Leadership Potential: Has the applicant demonstrated prior involvement or leadership in ASHRAE or another organization?  
    • Conference Involvement: Is the applicant a presenter for an accepted presentation, or, a major contributor to a presentation, at the ASHRAE 2025 Building Decarbonization Conference?  If not, has the applicant attended or presented at a previous ASHRAE Conferences? 

    Earlier application submissions will receive priority.

    What Happens if You Receive an Award?

    Successful applicants will be notified by July 8, 2026.  Awardees will be expected to attend the full conference and participate in conference activities supporting students and emerging professionals.  

    Timing

    • June 12, 2026 – Applications due by 11:59 pm PDT
    • July 8, 2026 – Awards announced
    • September 23-25, 2026– Conference Dates

    Questions

    Direct questions to: meetings@ashrae.org 

  • Call for Presentations

    The call for presentations is now CLOSED.

    ASHRAE’s 6th building decarbonization conference will be an information and idea exchange between stakeholders in the built environment industry concerning the improvement of energy efficiency, health, comfort, and reduction of GHG emissions in new and existing buildings and systems. The scope of the conference covers a range of building types and includes topics on data centers, municipalities, airports/transportation, hospitals, laboratories, higher education and school districts.

    This year’s theme is: “Decarbonization That Delivers: From Policy to Projects to Performance”.

    Tracks and subtopics include:

    Business Strategy, Finance & Accountability
    (For executives, investors, owners, real‑estate leaders)

    • ROI, valuation, and performance disclosure requirements
    • Investor confidence & access to capital
    • Enterprise risk, grid reliability, resiliency, liability considerations
    • Business cases for decarbonization IEQ and resilience
    • Decarbonization stakeholder engagement and change management
    • Market drivers (Net Zero Carbon Events, disclosure rules, standards)

    Technical Solutions, Retrofit Delivery & Emerging Technology
    (For engineers, designers, sustainability and operations practitioners)

    • Retrocommissioning (RCx)
    • Fuel switching & beneficial electrification
    • Thermal comfort & PNW climate change and cooling needs (Seattle focus)
    • Data centers & waste heat recovery
    • District energy and system integration
    • Whole life carbon and Life‑cycle cost analysis (LCCA) 
    • Workforce, commissioning, and operational readiness challenges

    Policy, Standards & Public‑Sector Infrastructure
    (For government, civic agencies, code officials, policy advisors)

    • Public‑sector & civic infrastructure decarbonization
    • Infrastructure that supports decarbonization (grid, thermal, district)
    • Accountability & reporting frameworks
    • Translating high‑level mandates into project pathways
    • Building performance standards and codes for building decarbonization

    Portfolio Planning, Archetypes & Real‑World Case Studies
    (For portfolio managers, planners, and cross‑functional leadership teams)

    • District energy and infrastructure
    • Archetypes: data centers, municipalities, airports/transportation, hospitals, laboratories, higher education and school districts
    • Route‑to‑implementation strategies across a portfolio
    • Implementation Showcase - projects in progress with real results and next phase solutions
    • Incentives, tax credits, and capital-stacking strategies

     

     

  • Sponsorship

    The conference organizers are pleased to offer several sponsorship opportunities to engage industry participation. All sponsors will have their company logo and name on the event flyer, the conference web site and recognition during the conference. A summary of the specific benefits of each sponsorship level is included. If you have questions or are interesting in being a sponsor, please contact Staci Loeffler sloeffler@ashrae.org.

    Sponsorship Opportunities

  • Hotel + Travel

    Conference Hotel

    Hotel reservations can be made at the conference hotel

    Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport

    1053 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, WA 98056

    ASHRAE has a block of rooms available at the negotiated group rate of $294 + tax per night. (Includes daily Destination fee)

    To make reservations at the group rate click below: https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/SEARL/G-ASHR

    Room reservations must be made by Monday, August 31, 2026. to guarantee availability and the negotiated room rate.

  • Thank You To Our Sponsors

    Platinum Level


    Gold Level


    Silver Level


    Lanyard Level


    Bronze Level

  • Steering Committee

    Ginger Scoggins, Chair

    Carrie Brown, Vice Chair

    Nancy Kohout

    Fiona Martin

    Ghina Annan

    Krishnan Gowri

    Sierra Spitulski

    Brad Lentz

    Emily Osurman

    Hashani De Silva

  • Presentation Templates
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