In this issue

March 2026 Print

Contents

  • Contents - a list of highlights in this newsletter!  * NEW *
  • Section Links - quick links to go to a section of interest!  * NEW *
  • Greetings - Welcome to MN ASHRAE March 2026 Newsletter. Highlights in this newsletter.
  • Chapter Announcement - Dr. Jun Li of University of Minnesota receives the ASHRAE 2025-2026 New Investigator Award, MN Chapter Member Grace Bailey featured in "Faces of ASHRAE" in Jan'26 ASHRAE Insights E-News.
  • Upcoming Events - March 11, 2026 - YEA - Target Field Tour, March 17 Rochester: ASHRAE Heat Balance Method for Load Calculations, Mechanical HVAC Equipment Sizing and ASHRAE 90.1 by N Kegel, March 18, 2026 - ASHRAE Volunteer Committee Event - Feed My Starving Children, March 19, 2026 - MN ASHRAE - CO2 Heat Pump World Seminar, March 27, 2026  - Stud. Activ. & Young Eng. in ASHRAE - 2026 ASHRAE Curling Event, April 15, 2026  - 2026 Spring Education Seminar - DoubleTree Roseville, May 7-9, 2026 - ASHRAE Region VI Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) in St. Louis - Early Bird Rates End April 3!,May 13, 2026 Dr. Jun Li ASHRAE Research New Investigator Award Winner Lecture and Lab Tour at Univ. of MN ME lab,  May 20-22, 2026 IBPSA SIMBUILD 2026 - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, May 21, 2026 - MN ASHRAE Chapter Installation of Officers, June 2, 2026 Rochester: Engineering Ethics for PE's by David Schultz, Hamline University, Jun 3, 2026 -2026 MN ASHRAE Golf Outing - Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake, June 27 - July 1, 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference Austin TX
  • Committee Spotlight - Government Affairs(see Feb 19 ASHRAE Day on the Hill), Refrigeration Committee - Historical Committee
  • Recent Events -  Feb 17, 2026 - 2026 MN ASHRAE Refrigeration Seminar, Feb 19, 2026 ASHRAE Day on the Hill,  Feb 24, 2026 Food Repacking 2nd Harvest Heartland, Brooklyn Park, 
  • Job Board - Advertise Your Internships and Entry-Level Positions for Free on MNASHRAE.org!
  • 2025-2026 MN ASHRAE Board of Directors - Listing of Board of Directors and Committee Chairs
  • This Month in HVAC History -  
  • Newsletter Submission Deadline - Due the first Wednesday of each month!

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Section Links

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Greetings

Welcome to the MN ASHRAE newsletter for March 2026!  The newsletter this month has some great features on upcoming events!  The Minnesota Chapter will be featuring a seminar March 19 "What's New in the CO2 Heat Pump World".  April 15 will be the 2026 Spring education Seminar at the DoubleTree Roseville, and  on May 7-9 is the Region VI CRC in St. Louis -- CRC Early Bird Rates End April 3!  The Ever-popular 2026 ASHRAE Golf outing will be held June 3 at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake.
Thank you for your participation and support of ASHRAE and the ASHRAE Minnesota Chapter and ASHRAE Rochester MN Region!

Submitted by Mike Pouchak

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Chapter Announcements

Feb'26 Dr. Jun Li of University of Minnesota receives the ASHRAE 2025-2026 New Investigator Award!

Prof. Jun Li is the 2025–2026 recipient of the ASHRAE New Investigator Award. The ASHRAE New Investigator Award (NIA) assists new university faculty members to develop research capabilities in HVAC&R related fields. The award comes with a base grant of $50k per year for two years. Congratulations to Dr. Li!   Dr. Jun Li serves on the Faculty at the University of Minnesota Department of Mechanical Engineering  and holds the position of Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor. Dr. Li was selected as the recipient of the 2025-2026 ASHRAE Research New Investigator Award. The ASHRAE New Investigator Award (NIA) assists new university faculty members to develop research capabilities in HVAC&R related fields.  The ASHRAE New Investigator Award (NIA) is a prestigious grant designed to assist new university faculty members in developing research capabilities in HVAC&R related fields. The award aims to foster "blue sky" research, helping early-career academics establish a research foundation in areas relevant to ASHRAE's goals.

Areas of Research for Dr. Li include: Heat and mass transfer, Surfaces/interfaces, Functional polymers, Membrane separation, and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R).  Dr. Jun Li is the student branch advisor for the University of Minnesota.  https://cse.umn.edu/me/news/jun-li-receives-2026-27-ashrae-new-investigator-award-0
Each year, ASHRAE invites applicants for the $125,000 "ASHRAE New Investigator Award".  At most, one award will be awarded each year.
Details  of NIA: Award Amount: The grant provides a base of $50,000 per year for the first two years. A third year of funding ($25,000) is available if matched by another source, for a maximum potential award of $125,000.; Duration: Typically, it is a 2 to 3-year project, enabling the investigator to conduct feasibility studies and initiate research, Frequency: Generally, one award is granted per year.

Minnesota chapter member grace bailey featured in "faces of ashrae" in jan '26 ashrae insights e-news

FACES OF ASHRAE: Grace Bailey

Grace Bailey, Associate Member ASHRAE, is a Technical Lead for Building Controls and Embedded Software at Trane Technologies. She has been in the HVAC&R industry for seven years and has been a member of ASHRAE for two years.

What is your current job? I work on the Building Controls and Embedded Software team for Commercial HVAC at Trane. As a Technical Lead, I am a software engineer and lead a team working on some of our controls applications.
What is your level of education? I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Computer Engineering and a minor in Sustainability Studies.
ASHRAE Chapter Minnesota ASHRAE Chapter
How long have you been an ASHRAE member? Two years! My first ASHRAE conference was in Tampa, Summer 2023. I was very inspired and eager to get more involved, so I officially joined as a member.
What technical committees or other parts of ASHRAE are you involved with?  BACnet Standard Committee , TC 1.4 Controls Theory & Applications
What got you into the industry?  I always knew I wanted to work on something tangible that has an impact on the world, and in college I took a course on sustainable housing that really sparked my interest in how we can make buildings better. Then, once I heard about Trane and talked to them at my school’s career fair, I felt that it would be a great fit for me. Through my internships at Trane, I saw the impact I could have by applying my computer engineering degree to projects that I was passionate about.
What is one thing you wished you knew when you started in the industry? How much engineering and innovation goes into making spaces comfortable, healthy, and efficient.
What is your favorite part of your job? Every day I am learning something new and collaborating across teams on complex projects. I love the problemsolving aspects of my work and understanding the impact our teams have on the efficiency, usability, and reliability of our systems.
What has been your favorite part of being an ASHRAE member? The conferences and committee meetings are such valuable resources for learning and developing connections. I also really value learning about different players in the industry and seeing the excitement people share for the future. Plus, there are amazing tours!
What advice do you have to young people starting out in ASHRAE? Explore and ask questions! Find your people. There are other people that are always looking at (and taking pictures of) HVAC equipment.
How do you think the industry can best Empower Our Workforce? One way to promote our industry and empower our future workforce is to engage with students earlier and across engineering disciplines. I think two big keys to this are outreach to local universities and strong internship programs that show students the opportunities and impact of our expanding industry. I’ve been a leader in our controls and software engineering internship program, and there are a lot of passionate students out there that just haven’t thought about the world of HVAC&R.
What are your goals in ASHRAE? I am looking forward to becoming more involved with my local chapter and with the technical committees and finding more ways to contribute.
What do you enjoy doing when you are away from work? Away from work I love to travel, spend time outdoors, and volunteer with local robotics teams. 

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Upcoming Events

Full List of upcoming events
  1. March 11 2026 - YEA - Target Field Tour
  2. March 17 Rochester: ASHRAE Heat Balance Method for Load Calculations, Mechanical HVAC Equipment Sizing and ASHRAE 90.1 by Nathan Kegel, IES
  3. March 18, 2026 - ASHRAE Volunteer Committee Event - Feed My Starving Children
  4. March 19, 2026 - MN ASHRAE - CO2 Heat Pump World Seminar
  5. March 27, 2026  - Stud. Activ. & Young Eng. in ASHRAE - 2026 ASHRAE Curling Event
  6. April 15, 2026  - 2026 Spring Education Seminar - DoubleTree Roseville
  7. May 7-9, 2026 - ASHRAE Region VI Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) in St. Louis - Early Bird Rates End April 3!
  8. May 13, 2026 Dr. Jun Li, ASHRAE Research New Investigator Award Winner Lecture & Lab Tour
  9. May 20-22, 2026 IBPSA SIMBUILD 2026 - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
  10. May 21, 2026 - MN ASHRAE Chapter Installation of Officers
  11. June 2, 2026 Rochester: Engineering Ethics for PE's by David Schultz, Hamline University
  12. Jun 3, 2026 -2026 MN ASHRAE Golf Outing - Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake
  13. June 27 - July 1, 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference Austin
see below for details:

1) March 11, 2026 - Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) - Target Field Tour - NEW DATE!!

YEA - Target Field Tour

March 11, 2026, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Target Field, 1 Twins Way, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Directions

Join YEA for a behind-the-scenes tour of Target Field! View the mechanical systems that keep Target Field operational.

Register Now

2) March 17, 2026  Rochester: ASHRAE Heat Balance Method for Load calcs.  Equip Sizing & ASHRAE 90.1 - Kegel

https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=417

March 17 Rochester Section Monthly Seminar: ASHRAE Heat Balance Method for Load Calculations, Mechanical HVAC Equipment Sizing and ASHRAE 90.1 by Nathan Kegel, IES
March 17, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Bleu Duck Kitchen, 14 4th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902, https://www.bleuduckkitchen.com/             Register Now
Load calculations and HVAC system sizing are fundamental tasks in designing HVAC systems for all buildings.  Considering load calculations have a dramatic impact on HVAC equipment size and HVAC system first cost, energy consumption, refrigerant quantity, and carry a significant amount of liability for the Engineer of Record, determining accurate loads is essential to any building, building owner, and design team.  Methods for calculating loads have changed significantly over time.  “Traditional” methods assumed near instantaneous heat transfer or simplified the methods of estimating time-delay through weighting factors.  These simplifications were made for a number of reasons including limited access to computing power and a lack of empirical tests for calculation methods.Over 20 years ago, ASHRAE published (in the Handbook of Fundamentals) the Heat Balance Method for calculating loads.  This method is considered to be the most accurate and has some empirical testing to validate the calculation methodology.This session explores how the Heat Balance Method is different from other methods, how energy code has impacted HVAC sizing calculation assumptions, and the impact of oversized and undersized systems on energy, comfort, and environmental impact.
The new ASHRAE HQ building is used as a case study in applying the Heat Balance Method for calculating loads for a building.

SPEAKER- Nathan has over 20 years of design and building performance simulation experience using a variety of design and modeling tools and platforms.   He is ASHRAE BEMP certified, a LEED AP, and a RESET AP and serves as the co-chair of the Data Analysis and Reporting Working Group.
Please RSVP by EOD on March 13th. 

3) March 18, 2026  aSHRAE volunteer committee event: feed my starving children

When:Wed, Mar 18, 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Event: Feed My Starving Children Food Packing 
Location: Feed My Starving Children Warehouse, 990 Lone Oak Road, Suite 136 Eagan, MN 55121
Activity: We will hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets and shipped to incredible partners who distribute the food to children who need it around the world. Through volunteering at FMSC, we’ll get the chance to impact hundreds of kids in just 1.5 hours per packing shift. We’ll experience what it’s like to make a tangible difference today.
If interested in joining: Please email [email protected] by March 13th.

4)March 19, 2026 - MN ASHRAE - Whats new in the co2 heat pump world

This will feature a speaker on What's New in the CO2 Heat Pump World -- Information to be announced shortly!

5)March 27, 2026 - student activities (Sa) & Young eng. in ashrae - 2026 ASHRAE Curling Event

https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=413
March 27, 2026 , 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Frogtown Curling Club, 743 Western Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55103
Back by popular demand! ASHRAE Student Activities and Young Engineers in ASHRAE committees are happy to host our 5th Annual ASHRAE Engineers Week Curling Event. ASHRAE members, Young Engineers in ASHRAE, and university students will be networking, laughing, and hearing from our university chapter students. When registration opens don’t delay securing your spot and SWEEP!  Registration Fee: $20 (FREE for college and university students with a valid student email)  Max Attendance: 42 People  **We have heavily subsidized the cost of this event, as such, there is limited space. Please make sure to show up if you register! Bring a pair of clean tennis shoes to wear on the ice. Event Program 3:00 | Register, stretch, and prepare to take the sheet!, 3:15 | Curling lesson from Frogtown staff, 3:30 | Team curling, 6:00 | Dinner and drinks,  | Welcome and local student winter conference presentation, 7:00 | Open ice, 9:00 | Event conclusion  Sponsors Needed!  Gold: $600 (Only One for the Evening!) - Help directly lower the registration fee for 20 young engineers. Includes (2) attendance tickets for this event.  Will be directly mentioned during the evening along with their logo displayed throughout the venue Silver: $400 (Three Sponsors Needed!) Help cover dinner during the event!, Includes (1) attendance ticket for this event, Will be thanked for their donation for the food and have their logo displayed throughout the venue Bronze: $200 (Five Sponsors Needed!), Help cover the cost of beverages throughout the evening!, Includes (1) attendance ticket for this event, Will have their company logo displayed throughout the venue, Register now

6)April 15'26 2026 Spring Education Seminar - DoubleTree Roseville - 

"Building More Efficient Systems Together"

https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=421
April 15, 2026, 10:30 AM - 5:30 PMDoubleTree by Hilton Roseville, 2540 North Cleveland Ave, Roseville, MN 55113  Directions
Join us at the DoubleTree in Roseville for the 2026 Spring Education Seminar hosted by ASHRAE.  This year there will be four educational and technical topics offered with our theme focusing around "Building More Efficient Systems Together" with presentations focusing on heat pump and electrification systems in design, local code application to designs, and troubleshooting systems and design to promote proper operation and longevity of systems. For program details, please see the flyer attached. 4 PDHs are available for attending this event.Register Now

7) May 7-9, 2026 ASHRAE Region VI Chapters regional conference (CRC) in St. Louis

COMPLETE REGISTRATION BY APRIL 3, 2026 TO GET EARLY BIRD RATES!!!
https://ashraeregionvicrc.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=26
Thursday, May 7th – Saturday, May 9th, Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis
Official Visitors: ASHRAE President Elect Sarah Maston and ASHRE VP Devon Abellon , ASHRAE Staff: Stephanie Reiniche
Early Bird Full Registration $375.32 incl. $25.32 Fee - Sales end on Apr 3, 2026
Early Bird Companion Registration $215.26 incl. $15.26 Fee , Sales end on Apr 3, 2026 Early Bird Tech Session Only $268.61 incl. $18.61 Fee ,Sales end on Apr 3, 2026

Full Registration $482.02 incl. $32.02 Fee, Sales end on May 7, 2026
Full Registration Companion  $268.61 incl. $18.61 Fee -Sales end on May 7, 2026
Tech Session Only $375.32 incl. $25.32 Fee -Sales end on May 7, 2026
Where: Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, Book your stay here.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!  ASHRAE CRC (Chapters Regional Conference) is an annual, in-person gathering of ASHRAE members, chapter leaders, and regional officers. It focuses on networking, training, technical sessions, and regional business, often culminating in the awarding of the "Golden Gavel" to the top chapter. Key aspects of an ASHRAE CRC include:Networking & Socializing: Provides a platform for members to connect and share experiences across different chapters.Workshops & Education: Offers technical sessions, tours, and training for chapter officers. Regional Business: Includes meetings for chapter delegates and alternates, featuring a nominating caucus for leadership positions.Awards: Recognizes outstanding contributions from chapters and individuals in the region.Leadership Presence: Features addresses from ASHRAE society officers and staff. Each year, a different chapter within the specific region acts as the host for the event. Technical presentations:  Automatic Control Valves, Chilled Water Plants, Next Gen Chiller Plants: AI Driven Optimization & Decarbonization, Legionella risk management, Smart Steam Plants: IoT & predictive maintenance for Boilers, Grid Impacts from increasing electricity demand, Data Center Updates, Steam 101 - Steam System Basics,  Heat Pump Applications - Types of Heat Pump Equipment - From Ducted to Chillers, Modern Motor Technology, Adiabatic Fluid Coolers, The Power of Hybrid Solutions: Benefits of Supplementing Heat Pumps with Boilers, Maximizing Airside Efficiency Through Optimized Water Flow, Decarbonizing Existing Buildings w/ Air to Water Heat Pump Chillers, Pam Duffy DL : Ethical Dilemmas in our Modern World, How to Prioritize When "Everything is Important", Generations in the Workplace and What We Know about Gen Z (so far!); Interpersonal Communications, Coaching Capabilities. Thursday May 7th, 2026: 11am - 5pm Registration 11-5, 6pm - Welcome Party (Sport & Social)Friday May 8th, 2026: 8am - 9am: Breakfast & Keynote, 9am - 4pm: Companion Event and Companion Lunch, 9am - 12pm: Technical Talks (see topics below, 3 tracks available, PDHs), 12pm - 1pm: Presidential Lunch, 1pm - 430pm: Technical Talks (see topics below, 3 tracks available, PDHs),6pm - 8pm: Awards Dinner, 8pm: After Party  Saturday May 9th, 2026: 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Leadership Training, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM: President Elect Training, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: CRC Debrief

8)May 13, 2026 Dr. Jun Li ashrae research new investigator award winner lecture and lab tour, university of Minnesota me lab

May 13, 2026, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
University Of Minnesota ME Building --Room ME125, 111 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Join us for lecture, lunch, and lab tour of Dr. Jun Li's Engineering Lab at the University of Minnesota. Prof. Jun Li is the 2026–2027 recipient of the ASHRAE New Investigator Award. The ASHRAE New Investigator Award (NIA) assists new university faculty members to develop research capabilities in HVAC&R related fields. The award comes with a base grant of $50k per year for two years.  Jun Li's research aims to reduce energy consumption and assist in the decarbonization for the society.  Registration will be limited to 15 people!  Lunch  with sandwiches and drink will be served at the meeting.   Cost to attend is $10.  This is a student-friendly event!   See the Chapter Announcement section above for more information on Dr. Jun Lin and the ASHRAE Research New Investigator Award.  This event is being sponsored by the Student Activities Committee, Research Promotion Committee and Historical Committee. Contact Mike Pouchak at [email protected]


9)May 20-22, 2026 IBPSA SIMBUILD 2026 - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis - Early bird rate ends March 16, 2026!

IBPSA SIMBUILD 2026
May 20-22, 2026, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Get ready for SimBuild 2026!
https://simbuild.ibpsa.us/
What Is SimBuild?  From Models to Reality: Bridging Simulation and Operational Performance
SimBuild is the preeminent event for building performance simulation in the US. It provides a forum for sharing and publishing scientific work, announcing breakthroughs in research and software development, informing policymakers, and bridging research and practice. It is a place where building performance simulation practitioners, researchers, and students can network with peers, clients, and employers. IBPSA-USA will host the SimBuild 2026 conference May 20th to 22nd, 2026, in Minneapolis.
SimBuild: May 20—22, 2026, hackSimBuild: May 18—19, 2026, Workshops and Tours: May 19, 2026   Registration is Open! https://simbuild.ibpsa.us/
Early Bird Rate Deadline: March 16, 2026 Early Bird Rate
IBPSA-USA Member $775 $925
Non-member $995 $1,145
IBPSA-USA Student Member $375 $425
Student Non-member $475 $525
Sponsor/VIP $0 $0

10)May 21, 2026 Installation of Officers 

May 21'26 Installation of Officers Placeholder
Venue TBD!  Look for details coming soon!
The Installation of Officers event has a long standing tradition within our chapter. Every year past presidents of the chapter and current leadership get together to take part in the installation ceremony. This event is also a place where members are recognized and celebrated for their contributions to the chapter and to ASHRAE. Please join us to meet and chat with past leadership and your next leaders that will continue pushing ASHRAE forward!
Lunch will be served at 11:00 with the installation ceremony and awards following.

11) June 2 Rochester: Engineering Ethics for Pe's by David Schultz, Hamline University

https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=412
ASHRAE Minnesota Chapter - Rochester Section , Engineering Ethics for PEs 
Tuesday, June 2, 2026  1 pm – 3 pm , Speaker: David Schultz, Hamline University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies, University of Minnesota Professor of Law.  Speaker Biography: David has authored more than 45 books and 200+ articles on various topics, including ethics. Among David’s secrets is that he has a master’s degree in astronomy. Ethics for professional engineers.  Agenda: Ethics: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm  Location: Rochester Public Utilities , Community Room , 4000 East River Rd NE , Rochester, MN 55906  Cost: No Charge ;  Parking: Rochester Public Utilities Parking Lot , Overflow parking at Foster Ahrend Park . Please RSVP by EOD Friday, May 29, 2026 at mnashrae.org  
 

12) Jun 3'26 -2026 MN ASHRAE Golf Outing - Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake

https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=419

2026  MN ASHRAE GOLF OUTING
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The 59th Annual MN Chapter of ASHRAE Golf Outing has been set for June 3, 2026 at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake. Dust off the clubs and start working out the kinks in your back swing because spring will come eventually, and when it does it will be time for some golf!  Join us for a day of golfing, networking, and supporting your local chapter of ASHRAE.
Registration details coming soon.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact [email protected] with inquiries.
 Opportunities for sponsorships are available for this event. We are also looking for donations for raffle prizes; individual prizes should have a minimum value of $50. For sponsorship or raffle information, please contact [email protected]. 

13) June 27 - July 1, 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference Austin TX

80+ Technical Sessions (Technical Program)Meeting of the Members Plenary Session + Keynote , Networking , Coffee Break, PDH Certificates of all attended Technical Sessions, Access to Member Lounge (Complimentary morning coffee and snacks)All Benefits of the Virtual Package |   | 80+ Technical Session Recordings*80+ Downloadable Conference Papers, Access to Technical Session Quizzes and PDH Certificates*Recording of the Meeting of the Members Plenary Session*Recording of 2025-2026
President Bill McQuade’s Presidential Address**On Demand after the Conference for 1 year.  Refunds and Cancellations | Events Available for Purchase
Cancellations must be made by email to [email protected] by January 12, 2026 to receive a full refund. No refunds will be issued on cancellations after January 12, 2026.Substitutions are accepted in lieu of cancellations. No refunds will be issued for Social Event tickets or Tours. | ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) Short Courses (2-3 hours) and Professional Development Seminars (6 hours)General and Technical Tours

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Committee Spotlight

Refrigeration Committee 
Committee Chairs: Rolf Blom and Melissa Mehaffey

The Refrigeration Committee is dedicated to promoting the importance of refrigeration technology within the chapter. This committee organizes an annual half day seminar in February that highlights advances in refrigeration systems and their role in the HVAC&R industry.
----
Thank you to all who attended the 2026 MN ASHRAE Refrigeration Seminar held on 2/17 at the Brookview Golf Course.  I would also like to extend a big thank you to the presenters, vendors, and the House Committee for their contributions to make the event a success– greatly appreciated!  We had good attendance and four very good presentations focusing on the latest in refrigerants and regulations affecting the various sectors of the refrigeration industry. Alessandro Silva from Bitzer shared what is happening in the component/compressor world. Sharon Haeg with Daikin updated us on air conditioning systems side. Ben Fisher with Zero Zone presented the latest for commercial refrigeration systems. Francis Dietz representing AHRI wrapped up the seminar with a report on refrigerant regulations that the manufacturers association is involved with.  Plan for attending next year’s Refrigeration Seminar which is tentatively set for 2/16/2027. Keep checking the chapter website for updates.
Regards,  Rolf Blom  2025/2026 MN ASHRAE Chapter President
Email Contact: [email protected]

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Historical Committee

The Historical committee has been working on finding our Charter!  The last letter on this topic indicated the charter from ASHRAE (created by ASHRAE in 1918) was lost as of 1977.   Further investigation is ongoing.  Historical information is being investigated from past rosters.  New sections for the upcoming CRC conference history display is being worked on!

Submitted by Mike Pouchak   [email protected]

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Recent Events

Feb 17, 2026 MN ASHRAE refrigeration seminar

https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=411

The 2026  MN ASHRAE Refrigeration Seminar was held February 17, 2026
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM at the Brookview Golf Course & Lawn Bowling Center in Golden Valley.  The Technical program provided 4 PDHs for the following topics: "Refrigerant Policy Changes Impact Business Decisions", "Navigating the Hurdles of Low GWP Refrigerant Retrofits", "ASHRAE 15 Updates", and "The Refrigerant Transition and New Refrigerant Research"

Thank you to all who attended the 2026 MN ASHRAE Refrigeration Seminar held on 2/17 at the Brookview Golf Course.  I would also like to extend a big thank you to the presenters, vendors, and the House Committee for their contributions to make the event a success– greatly appreciated! We had good attendance and four very good presentations focusing on the latest in refrigerants and regulations affecting the various sectors of the refrigeration industry. Alessandro Silva from Bitzer shared what is happening in the component/compressor world. Sharon Haeg with Daikin updated us on air conditioning systems side. Ben Fisher with Zero Zone presented the latest for commercial refrigeration systems. Francis Dietz representing AHRI wrapped up the seminar with a report on refrigerant regulations that the manufacturers association is involved with.  Plan for attending next year’s Refrigeration Seminar which is tentatively set for 2/16/2027. Keep checking the chapter website for updates.

Submitted by  Rolf Blom,  2025-26 MN ASHRAE Chapter President [email protected]

Feb 19, 2026 ASHRAE Day on the Hill

The MN Chapter Government Affairs team spent the date at the MN state capitol on Thursday 2/19 with ASHRAEs Manager of Government Outreach Jacob Karson.   During the day the team met with 15 different MN state senators and representatives with about equal representation between the two political parties.  There are no current bills that we were advocating for or against so the time focused on making sure the lawmakers know about ASHRAE and that we are a nonpartisan organization that can support them with technical knowledge as needed.  We also discussed ASHRAE’s public policy priorities:

  1. Advance design and construction of resilient buildings and communities
  2. Promote healthy buildings and reduce disease risk
  3. Strengthen and expand the HVAC&R workforce
  4. Support sustainable building practices
  5. Ensure the orderly and safe phasedown of high GWP HFC refrigerants
  6. Support adoption of the latest edition of ASHRAE’s standards

Overall there were eight people that came to meet with the lawmakers and I think we all had a great time talking to the lawmakers and spreading the word about ASHRAE.  We will likely do this again next year and I encourage others to join us to get a glimpse into the MN government.


ASHRAE Day on the Hill provides members with an opportunity to engage directly with Minnesota state leaders and staff to share ASHRAE’s mission and expertise. Participants will help raise awareness of the Society’s role in advancing building energy efficiency, sustainability, indoor air quality, and resilient design. This event strengthens relationships with policymakers and positions ASHRAE MN as a trusted technical resource for current and future building-related legislation.
Participation is being coordinated by the Government Affairs Committee.

Submitted by Brian Feeman, GA Chair

Feb 24, 2026 Food Repacking Shifts - 2nd Harvest Heartland Brooklyn Park

The MN ASHRAE Held their volunteer event at the Second Harvest Heartland
Brooklyn Park, MN ,  The team assisted with sorting, labeling, weighing and packing various food items to meet immediate needs and help feed our hungry neighbors. For future volunteer events , contact [email protected]

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Job Board

Advertise Your Internships and Entry-Level Positions for Free on MNASHRAE.org!
Are you looking to bring fresh talent into your company? MNASHRAE is committed to helping students and young professionals kick-start their careers in the HVAC&R industry. We are offering free advertising for internships and entry-level positions on our website, MNASHRAE.org. This is a great opportunity for companies to connect with eager students and recent graduates who are passionate about HVAC&R and ready to contribute to the industry. To post a position or learn more, please submit an ad on the website, https://mnashrae.org/jobs, or contact Rolf directly at [email protected] Let’s work together to build the next generation of HVAC&R professionals!

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2025-2026 Board of Directors

Board of Directors
https://mnashrae.org/board

Rolf J Blom
President
[email protected]

Travis DeWeese
President-Elect
[email protected]

Jacob Sevelius
Treasurer
[email protected]

Mark Jirak
Secretary
[email protected]

Jett Roeser
Board of Governors
[email protected]

Jane Opoien
Past President
[email protected]

Committee Chairs
Eric Johansen
Chapter Technology Transfer Chair
[email protected]
Elyse Malherek
Communications Chair
[email protected]
Levi Tuecke
DEI Chair
[email protected]
Kevin Kerrigan
Education Chair
[email protected]
Eric Johansen
Energy Expo Co-Chair
[email protected]
Duane P Rothstein
Finance Chair
[email protected]
Nick Davis
Golf Chair
[email protected]
Eric G Nachbar
Golf Chair
[email protected]


Brian Freeman, PE
Government Affairs
[email protected]
Michael A Pouchak, PE
Historical Committee Chair
[email protected]
Brian Jennissen
Honors & Awards
[email protected]
Michael Lind
House Chair
[email protected]
Daniel Chudecke
Membership Promotion Chair
[email protected]
Rolf J Blom
Refrigeration Chair
[email protected]
Melissa Lynn Mehaffey
Refrigeration Chair
[email protected]
Russell W Landry
Research Promotion Chair
[email protected]
Ryan C Benning
Rochester Section President
[email protected]

Travis DeWeese
Rochester Section Treasurer

Hooman Daneshmand
Student Activities Co-Chair
[email protected]
Joe Scull
Student Activities Co-Chair
[email protected]

Nathan Kegel
Sustainability Chair
[email protected]

Allison Peterson
Volunteer Outreach Chair
[email protected]

Anthony James Hughes
Young Engineers in ASHRAE Co-Chair
[email protected]

Jake Strawhecker
Young Engineers in ASHRAE Co-Chair
[email protected]

Ryan Traeger
Young Engineers in ASHRAE Co-Chair
[email protected]

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This Month in History

  • 1906: The term "air conditioning" is coined by Stuart Cramer.
  • 1914: The first, massive residential air conditioner is installed in a Minneapolis mansion.
  • 2006: The U.S. Department of Energy sets new minimum energy efficiency standards for HVAC units Appel Heating & Air Conditioning
Submitted by Mike Pouchak  [email protected]

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Newsletter Submissions Deadline

The ASHRAE newsletter submission deadline is by Close of Business on the 1st Wednesday of each month for the Newsletter for that month!  Submit your newsletter articles to [email protected] .

Upcoming Newsletter committee reports:
Mar: Refrigeration,
Apr: Sustainability
May: Golf

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