Policy Positions and Issues

ASHRAE Position Statements | ASHRAE’s Positions and Resources | Letters and Testimony | Government Affairs Impact Brochures | ASHRAE Public Policy Issue Briefs | Minimizing the Risk of Legionnaire's Disease | ASHRAE Standard Fact Sheets

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

2021–22 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.

Region XIII — Global Alliances for Sustainability

Region-at-Large — Global Alliances for Sustainability

Government Affairs Impact Brochure

Government Advocacy Flyer

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 July 1, 2021

Building Decarbonization

Building Energy Benchmarking

Climate Change and the Built Environment

Consensus Standards- Expert Solutions to Meet Global Needs

Environmental Tobacco Smoke 

Indoor Air Quality

Refrigerants and Their Responsible Use

Resiliency in the Built Environment

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.