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Policy Positions and Issues

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ASHRAE Position Statements

Written materials, approved by the Society’s Board of Directors (such as ASHRAE Position Statements, Position Documents and Position Briefs), officially represent the Society’s position on a technical subject. These are timely position documents, which have been developed by technical experts within the Society on major industry issues, also have been approved by the ASHRAE Board of Directors. These Board-sanctioned materials can be used (in whole or in part) in comments given by local chapters without seeking permission.

View the complete list of ASHRAE Position Documents

ASHRAE’s Positions and Resources

pdf_icon.png 2023–24 Public Policy Priorities

Letters and Testimony Sent to Policymakers

ASHRAE Position Documents

ASHRAE Public Policy Issue Briefs

Widely Used Standards

Standards Referenced in Code

ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines

ASHRAE Papers, Articles, Reports, and Seminar Recordings

ASHRAE UNEP Portal

Letters and Testimony/Proclamations and Resolutions

ASHRAE Government Affairs staff regularly tracks activities within Congress. and Federal, State and Provincial legislative bodies, and local government agencies that are of importance to ASHRAE members. When warranted, letters and testimony are prepared to express ASHRAE’s stance on a particular issue. The most recent letters or testimony appear below.

Request a Proclamation

For information on how to send a proclamation to be signed by elected officials, and for proclamation templates, go to the Advocacy Toolkit page

Government Affairs Impact Brochures

If you wish to obtain additional copies, email GovAffairs@ashrae.org. Please limit quantities to 25 per request.

pdf_icon.png Region XIII — Global Alliances for Sustainability

pdf_icon.png Region-at-Large — Global Alliances for Sustainability

pdf_icon.png Government Affairs Impact Brochure

pdf_icon.png Government Advocacy Flyer

pdf_icon.png ASHRAE Canadian Impact Brochure

ASHRAE Public Policy Issue Briefs

In an effort to translate ASHRAE’s positions and activities into easily understood and communicated concepts, the Society has developed a series of Public Policy Issue Briefs. These documents are intended for distribution to government officials and others with limited technical expertise, but who would benefit from information regarding ASHRAE and its activities.

All files updated June 30, 2023

pdf_icon.png Building Decarbonization

pdf_icon.png Building Electrification

pdf_icon.png Building Energy Benchmarking

pdf_icon.png Climate Change and the Built Environment

pdf_icon.png Consensus Standards- Expert Solutions to Meet Global Needs

pdf_icon.png Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

pdf_icon.png Indoor Air Quality

pdf_icon.png Indoor Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

pdf_icon.png Refrigerants and Their Responsible Use

pdf_icon.png Resiliency in the Built Environment

pdf_icon.png STEM Education & Workforce

Minimizing the Risk of Legionnaire's Disease

The risks of legionellosis can be minimized if requirements are followed during the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion of new and existing buildings and their water systems and components. ASHRAE is asking its Chapters to get involved by encouraging municipal, state, and federal governments and legislative bodies to adopt Standard 188 into law. Don’t wait until an outbreak occurs, talk to your government about minimizing the risk of legionnaires’ disease.

Based on ASHRAE Standard 188, CDC’s toolkit “Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth and Spread in Buildings: A Practical Guide to Implementing Industry Standards.” This guide provides a checklist for building owners and managers to help identify if a water management program is needed, examples to help identify where Legionella could grow and spread in a building and ways to reduce risk the of contamination. Download the CDC Toolkit

If you'd like more information about Standard 188, request a distinguished lecturer visit to educate your fellow chapter members at ashrae.org/distinguishedlecturers.

Legionellosis: Making Building Water Systems Safer through Regulation

The risks of Legionellosis–or Legionnaire’s Diseases–can be minimized if requirements are followed during the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion of new and existing buildings and their water systems and components. But governments don’t need to wait until an outbreak occurs, so ASHRAE is asking its Chapters to get involved by encouraging municipal, state, and federal governments and legislative bodies to adopt Standard 188 into law.

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