Hello and welcome to the February edition of the MNASHRAE Newsletter!  You can still sign up today for the Refrigeration Seminar next week!  Click here for registration.  We hope to see you there!

Technology Awards

Each year the ASHRAE Technology Award program recognizes ASHRAE members and projects that utilize innovative HVAC/R systems in new buildings, existing buildings, and existing building commissioning. Society presents awards in six categories: Commercial Buildings, Institutional Buildings, Health Care Facilities, Industrial Facilities or Processes, Public Assembly Facilities, and Residential Buildings.

There is no need to be overwhelmed by the application process, even if you have never been involved before! The application is basically a 2 or 3 page description of the project (short form), and if the project wins an award at regional level, a more complete submittal (long form) is required for the project to be forwarded to Society. The short form is attached to this email.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email the CTT committee at [email protected]

Click here to see to the ASHRAE website that contains specific information on the application process (just scroll down to the Technology Awards Program)

Refrigeration Seminar

The Refrigeration Seminar is next week on Tuesday February 11th.  Register today to make sure that you are around to hear from all of our excellent speakers including Julian deBullet, an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer!

Cost: $100 for all chapter members, $130 for all nonmembers and student members are FREE! Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, chapter business and 4 presentations. 4 PDHs will be issued. The cost of lunch, chapter meeting, and luncheon speaker is only $35 for members, $50 for nonmembers.

7:30-8:15   Registration

8:15-9:15  HFO Refrigerants

Speaker: Chuck Allgood - Chemours

9:15-9:30  Break

9:30-10:30  R-410A Refrigerant Replacements

Speaker: Steve Kujak - Trane

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-11:45  CO2 For Ice Rink Applications

Speaker: John Collins & Adam Ciesielski – Zero Zone

11:45-12:30  Lunch and Chapter Business

Speaker: Rick Hermans – ASHRAE Region VI DRC

12:30-1:30  Responsible Use of Refrigerants - Updated

Speaker: Julian deBullet – ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Vendors: Tabletops will be $300 which includes one lunch and $150 for ASHRAE research. First come, first served with vendors as there is a 6 tabletop limit.

Reservations: Please sign up by Thursday, February 6th if you plan on attending.  Checks and cash will also be accepted on site.  Please make checks payable to MN ASHRAE.

MN ASHRAE Day on the Hill

Minnesota’s ASHRAE GAC is happy to host our inaugural Day on the Hill event this year! 

Did you know that building connections with representatives from relevant government entities is a critical goal of ASHRAE for the adoption and use of our Standards, Guidelines, and other technical and educational resources?  Please join us as we meet and hear from select MN Representatives.  The goal will be to raise awareness of local ASHRAE expertise in the built environment.

Participants are encouraged to schedule an office appointment with their local Representatives, before or after ASHRAE's event, to introduce themselves and raise awareness of ASHRAE's areas of expertise and policy interests.  Talking points and flyers will be provided.  To find your Representative, click here 

Coffee and Bagels will be provided. 

Click here for registration.

53rd Annual Golf Outing

Save the Date!  The Annual Golf Outing will be held at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake, MN on Wednesday June 3rd, 2020

We have moved the time of the Shotgun start up to 10:00 AM

Continental breakfast will be served prior to start

Buffet will be served immediately following golf

More details to come.

The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) Corner

Minnesota’s ASHRAE GAC is happy to host our inaugural Day on the Hill event this year!

Did you know that building connections with representatives from relevant government entities is a critical goal of ASHRAE for the adoption and use of our Standards, Guidelines, and other technical and educational resources? Please join us as we meet select MN Representatives and raise awareness of local ASHRAE expertise in the built environment.

When: March 11, 2020, 9:30-11 AM

Where: State Office Building, Room 300N

100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

St. Paul, Minnesota 55155

1. On January 15, NASA and NOAA reported that 2019 was the second warmest year since 1880, when record-keeping began. 2016 was the hottest year. The federal agencies also reported that the past decade (2010–2019) was the hottest decade on record. More information about temperature records and the state of the climate can be found here.
2. On January 15, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing titled “An Update on the Climate Crisis: From Science to Solutions.” You can view the hearing and review hearing statements here.
3. On January 8, Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee released a legislative framework of its plan to tackle the climate crisis which includes a section on buildings. The legislation was developed after committee staff issued a questionnaire and held several meetings with stakeholders, including ASHRAE. On January 16, House Republicans held a conference-wide meeting on the issue of climate change to outline a proposal for climate legislation. The gathering featured presentations from Climate Crisis Committee Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA); Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR); and Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR).
4. On January 9, the Trump administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would revise regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct environmental assessments for major Federal actions. The proposed changes by the White House Council on Environmental Quality would no longer require any form of federal environmental review of construction projects that lack substantial government funding. The change would also widen the category of projects that will be exempt from NEPA regulations. The deadline to submit comments on the proposed rule change is March 10, 2020. More information about the proposed rule and how to submit comments can be found here.
5. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published new rules that will go into effect on March 10 that set energy efficiency standards for equipment such as commercial packaged boilers, portable air conditioners, industrial air compressors, and uninterruptible power supplies. The rules were published following decisions from both a federal district court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last year after they were delayed by DOE.